South Hobart

Population growth drivers in South Hobart are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of May 2026, South Hobart's estimated population is around 5,934. This reflects an increase of 48 people (0.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,886 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 5,931 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 645 persons per square kilometer. South Hobart's 0.8% growth since census positions it within 1.0 percentage points of the SA3 area (1.8%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Moving forward with demographic trends, South Hobart is expected to increase by just below the median of Australian statistical areas, with an expected increase of 653 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 10.9% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in South Hobart, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in South Hobart shows approximately 10 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 52 homes were approved, with a further 2 approved so far in FY-26. On average, 1.8 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these years. However, this decreased to -6.6 people per dwelling in the past two financial years.

The average construction value of new properties is $242,000. This year, there have been $1.6 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Hobart, South Hobart has about 63% of the building activity per person and ranks at the 15th percentile nationally for housing choices, suggesting potential planning limitations. All new constructions since FY-21 have been standalone homes, maintaining the area's low-density character.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, as South Hobart is projected to gain 650 residents by 2041. This could potentially increase competition among buyers and support stronger price growth.

South Hobart has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure significantly impacts local performance. AreaSearch identified 18 relevant projects. Key ones are South Arm Highway Upgrade (Acton Road and South Arm Road intersection), Greater Hobart Urban Growth Boundary Extension, Southern Outlet Transit Lane, Roches Beach Living. Below details the most pertinent ones.

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

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The labour market in South Hobart shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

South Hobart has a highly educated workforce with key sectors including health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.9%, lower than Greater Hobart's 4.0%. Workforce participation stands at 68.5%.

A moderate 13.9% work from home. The area has notable concentration in professional & technical jobs, at 1.7 times the regional average, but construction shows lower representation at 4.3%. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force decreased by 0.7%, employment fell by 0.1%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point drop in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.

Applying these projections to South Hobart's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.5% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The suburb of South Hobart had one of the highest income levels in Australia according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for the financial year ended June 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $52,291 and the average income stood at $79,623. This compares to figures for Greater Hobart of $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 10.95% since June 2023, estimated current incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $58,017 (median) and $88,342 (average). According to Census data from 2021, income levels in South Hobart clustered around the 58th percentile nationally. The dominant earnings bracket was $1,500 - 2,999, with 32.5% of residents (1,928 people) falling within this range, similar to the regional figure of 32.2%. After accounting for housing costs, 86.4% of income remained for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

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

South Hobart's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 71.1% houses and 28.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Hobart metro's 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Hobart aligned with Hobart metro at 36.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.8% and rented ones at 33.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,648, surpassing Hobart metro's $1,517, while the median weekly rent stood at $378 compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, South Hobart's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

South Hobart features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 61.7% of all households, including 23.2% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for 38.3%, with lone person households at 30.5% and group households making up 7.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Hobart average of 2.4.

Educational achievement in South Hobart places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

South Hobart's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 57.0% hold university qualifications, compared to 25.5% in Tasmania (TAS) and 30.4% nationally. The area's strong educational advantage is reflected in its high proportion of bachelor degree holders at 32.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 18.3% and graduate diplomas at 5.8%. Vocational pathways account for 19.4% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.0% and certificates at 11.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in tertiary education, 9.1% in primary education, and 7.0% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

South Hobart has 73 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are used by 105 different routes that together facilitate 8,459 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 138 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 62%, with walking and cycling accounting for 17% and 10% respectively. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 13.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, there are an average of 1,208 trips per day, equating to approximately 115 weekly trips per stop.

The level of general health in South Hobart is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

South Hobart shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 59% of South Hobart's total population (3,483 people) has private health cover, compared to 51.7% across Greater Hobart. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 9.9% and 8.3% of residents respectively. Around 70.2% of South Hobart residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% across Greater Hobart. The under-65 population demonstrates better-than-average health outcomes. South Hobart has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (1,074 people), lower than the 20.0% in Greater Hobart. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in South Hobart was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

South Hobart's cultural diversity is above average, with 25.1% of its population born overseas and 15.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in South Hobart, making up 25.9% of people there. While Judaism comprises only 0.1% of South Hobart's population, this is double the regional average of 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (30.0%), Australian (24.2%), and Scottish (9.3%). Notably, French (0.8%) and Dutch (1.9%) populations in South Hobart exceed their respective regional averages by 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Additionally, Polish ancestry is slightly overrepresented at 1.0%.

South Hobart's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

South Hobart's median age is 38, closely matching Greater Hobart's figure of 39 and Australia's median age of 38. The 15-24 cohort is over-represented in South Hobart at 15.1%, compared to the Greater Hobart average, while those aged 65-74 are under-represented at 8.9%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the population aged 15-24 has increased from 12.7% to 15.1%, while the 5-14 age group has decreased from 10.9% to 9.4%. By 2041, South Hobart's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 45-54 cohort is expected to expand by 287 people (40%), growing from 723 to 1,011 residents. Conversely, the 35-44 age group is projected to decrease by 188 residents.