South Hobart

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of South Hobart is around 6,006, reflecting an increase of 120 people since the 2021 Census. The population was reported as 5,886 in the 2021 Census. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 5,991 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), and an additional 17 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 653 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, South Hobart has demonstrated a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

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 a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to increase by just below the median of Australian statistical areas, with an expected increase of 809 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 14.8% over the 17 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

South Hobart has seen approximately 10 new homes approved annually, with a total of 51 homes approved between the financial years FY-21 to FY-25, and one more in FY-26. Each dwelling is estimated to house an average of 2.6 new residents per year over these past five years, indicating steady demand which supports property values. The average construction cost value for new homes is $242,000.

In the current financial year, there have been $1.6 million in commercial approvals, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Hobart, South Hobart records about 62% of building activity per person, placing it among the 13th percentile nationally, indicating limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing dwellings. This level is below the national average, reflecting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. All new construction in the area has been standalone homes, maintaining its traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

Developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (71.0% at Census), suggesting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1220 people, reflecting South Hobart's quiet and low-activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is forecasted to gain 891 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

South Hobart has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 42ndth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 19 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the South Arm Highway Upgrade (Acton Road and South Arm Road intersection), the Greater Hobart Urban Growth Boundary Extension, the Southern Outlet Transit Lane, and Roches Beach Living. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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The employment environment in South Hobart shows above-average strength when compared nationally

South Hobart has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.0%, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 3,503 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.0% below Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in South Hobart is 69.9%, compared to Greater Hobart's 63.8%. According to Census responses, 13.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety. Professional & technical services show notable concentration with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 4.3% versus the regional average of 8.7%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 1.1%, employment declined by 0.7%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.4 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Hobart recorded employment decline of 0.7%, labour force decline of 0.9%, with unemployment falling 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. 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, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

South Hobart suburb has one of Australia's highest incomes based on latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Median income among taxpayers is $52,291 and average income stands at $79,623. These figures compare to Greater Hobart's median of $54,577 and average of $65,190 respectively. Based on a 9.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $57,311 (median) and $87,267 (average). Census 2021 income data shows incomes in South Hobart cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. The earnings profile indicates that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.5% of residents (1,951 people), aligning with regional figures where this cohort also represents 32.2%. After housing expenses, 86.4% of income remains for other expenses. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places 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 stood at 36.1%, similar to Hobart metro, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.8% and rented ones at 33.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,648, higher than Hobart metro's $1,517. Median weekly rent in South Hobart was $378, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, South Hobart's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,648 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $378 compared to 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 constitute 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 the remaining 38.3%, with lone person households at 30.5% and group households comprising 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 residents aged 15+ have a higher proportion with university qualifications than Tasmania (TAS) or Australia. Specifically, 57.0% of South Hobart residents hold such qualifications compared to 25.5% in TAS and 30.4% nationwide. The area's educational attainment is strongest in bachelor degrees at 32.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 18.3% and graduate diplomas at 5.8%. Vocational pathways account for 19.4% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.0% and certificates at 11.4%.

Educational participation is notably high in South Hobart, 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 served by 105 different routes, providing a total of 8,459 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 138 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. As a 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. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 13.9% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 1,208 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 115 weekly trips per individual 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 superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notably low across both younger and older age cohorts.

Approximately 59% of South Hobart's total population (3,526 people) has private health cover, which is higher than the Greater Hobart average of 51.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 9.9 and 8.3% of residents respectively. Notably, 70.2% of South Hobart residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% across Greater Hobart. The under-65 population in South Hobart exhibits better than average health outcomes. The area has 17.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,069 people), lower than the Greater Hobart average of 19.9%. Health outcomes among seniors in South Hobart are above average, aligning with national rankings for 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 exhibited above-average cultural diversity, with 25.1% of its population born overseas and 15.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in South Hobart, comprising 25.9% of its population. However, Judaism showed the most significant overrepresentation, making up 0.1% compared to the region's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (30.0%), Australian (24.2%), and Scottish (9.3%). Notably, French (0.8%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 0.3%, Dutch at 1.9% versus 1.5%, and Polish at 1.0% versus 0.8%.

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 in South Hobart is notably higher at 15.1% compared to Greater Hobart's average. Conversely, the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 8.5%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.7% to 15.1%, while the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 10.9% to 9.4% and the 25-34 group has dropped from 17.4% to 15.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in South Hobart's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is expected to expand by 339 people (46%), growing from 744 to 1,084. Meanwhile, the 35-44 group is projected to decrease by 162 residents.