Sheffield

Sheffield is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Sheffield's population is estimated at around 1,679 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 77 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,602 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 1,669 following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and an additional 32 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 27 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Sheffield has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.3%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 96.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, population projections indicate an increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas by 2041, with Sheffield expected to expand by 128 persons, reflecting a gain of 8.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Sheffield recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Sheffield has averaged approximately 9 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 46 homes were approved, with an additional 2 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 3.2 people have moved to the area per year for each dwelling built over these years.

This indicates substantial demand outstripping supply, leading to potential buyer competition and pricing pressures. The average construction value of new homes is approximately $458,000, suggesting a focus on premium properties. Commercial approvals totalling $3.5 million have been registered this financial year.

Sheffield's construction rates per person are similar to the Rest of Tas., indicating market stability aligned with regional patterns. All recent building activity consists of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's low-density nature and appealing to space-seeking buyers. The population per dwelling approval is estimated at 372 people. By 2041, Sheffield is projected to grow by 135 residents. Given current development trends, new housing supply should meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth.

Sheffield has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

No changes can impact an area's performance more than modifications to local infrastructure, significant projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects expected to affect this area. Notable projects include Don Irrigation Scheme, North West Hospitals Masterplan - Mersey Community Hospital, Cethana Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project, and Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation. The following list details those considered most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment performance in Sheffield has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Sheffield's workforce spans diverse sectors with balanced white and blue collar employment. The unemployment rate is 5.1% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 5.5% over the past year. As of this date, 686 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 1.3% above Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Sheffield is 50.2%, compared to Rest of Tas.'s 58.6%. According to Census responses, 14.3% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The area has a notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 13.9% of Sheffield's workforce compared to 16.5% in Rest of Tas. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population figures. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 5.5% and labour force grew by 4.8%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Tas. saw employment grow by 0.7%, labour force expand by 0.5%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across sectors. Applying these projections to Sheffield's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Sheffield is below the national average. The median assessed income is $37,344 and the average income stands at $42,914. This contrasts with Rest of Tas.'s figures where the median income is $49,689 and the average income is $59,358. Based on a 9.6% growth in wages since financial year 2023, current estimates for Sheffield would be approximately $40,929 (median) and $47,034 (average) as of September 2025. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family and personal incomes in Sheffield all fall between the 2nd and 4th percentiles nationally. The predominant income cohort spans 31.3% of locals (525 people) in the $400 - $799 weekly range, unlike regional trends where 28.5% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. This indicates that a significant proportion of residents have constrained household budgets due to lower incomes, with 40.9% earning under $800 per week. While housing costs are modest, with 88.9% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 5th percentile nationally.

Sheffield is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Sheffield's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.4% houses and 7.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Tas. had 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sheffield stood at 50.0%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (26.2%) or rented (23.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,000, lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average and significantly below the Australian average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure in Sheffield was $200, substantially lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s $250 and the national figure of $375.

Sheffield features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.8% of all households, including 19.2% couples with children, 36.4% couples without children, and 8.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.2%, with lone person households making up 31.8% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

Sheffield faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 14.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.5% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 29.3%. A total of 23.2% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 10.7% in primary, 5.8% in secondary, and 1.5% in tertiary education.

A substantial 23.2% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 10.7% in primary education, 5.8% in secondary education, and 1.5% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Sheffield is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Sheffield's health data shows significant challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 44% of the total population (~741 people), compared to 49.1% in Rest of Tas., and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (13.2%) and mental health issues (9.4%). 55.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.0% in Rest of Tas. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 35.1% of residents aged 65 and over (589 people), higher than Rest of Tas.'s 24.9%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

Sheffield is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Sheffield's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.9% of its population being citizens and 85.4% born in Australia. Additionally, 96.6% spoke English only at home. The predominant religion in Sheffield was Christianity, comprising 44.0% of the population.

However, Judaism was overrepresented, making up 0.0% compared to 0.1% across Rest of Tas.. Regarding ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three groups were English (34.7%), Australian (32.7%), and Scottish (8.7%). Notably, Welsh were overrepresented at 0.9% in Sheffield versus 0.4% regionally, as were Russian at 0.5% (versus 0.1%) and Australian Aboriginal at 3.9% (versus 4.1%).

Sheffield ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Sheffield is 54 years, which is notably higher than Rest of Tas.'s average of 45 years and significantly exceeds Australia's median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 12.5% of Sheffield's population, compared to Rest of Tas., while the 25-34 cohort makes up 8.0%. This concentration in the 75-84 age group is well above the national average of 6.1%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 10.8% to 12.5%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has risen from 8.1% to 9.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.5% to 10.6%, and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 16.7% to 14.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Sheffield's age structure, with the strongest growth projected for the 75 to 84 cohort at 37%, adding 78 residents to reach 288. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to represent 67% of this anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 age cohorts.