Dilston - Lilydale
Statistical Area - sa2

Dilston - Lilydale has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Dilston-Lilydale's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stands at 4,641 as of Aug 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 287 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,354. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,579 in June 2024 and an additional 62 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3.6 persons per square kilometer. Dilston-Lilydale's growth rate of 6.6% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state average (4.5%) and the SA4 region, positioning it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.3% to overall population gains in recent periods, with other factors such as overseas migration also playing positive roles.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 growth by age group, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 with 2021 as the base year are adopted, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Future demographic trends suggest lower quartile growth for locations outside capital cities, with Dilston-Lilydale expected to grow by 191 persons to reach 4,832 by 2041 based on the latest population numbers, indicating a total gain of 2.8% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Dilston - Lilydale when compared nationally

Dilston - Lilydale has averaged approximately 21 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 105 approvals from FY-21 to FY-25, with 3 approved so far in FY-26. Over the past five financial years (FY-21 to FY-25), an average of 3.5 new residents have been associated with each home built. This demand significantly outpaces supply, potentially exerting upward pressure on prices and intensifying competition among buyers.

New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $523,000, which is higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development. In FY-26, commercial approvals valued at $1.1 million have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Rest of Tas., Dilston - Lilydale has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks in the 61st percentile nationally when assessed against other areas.

Recent building activity comprises solely detached houses, preserving the area's traditional low-density character, which appeals to those seeking spacious family homes. The location currently hosts approximately 256 people per dwelling approval, suggesting room for growth. Population forecasts project Dilston - Lilydale to gain 129 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially exceeding current population growth projections.

Dilston - Lilydale has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 85 potential impact projects in total. Major ones include The Green, Rocherlea Subdivision, Launceston Tennis Centre Upgrades, and Newnham Creek Stabilisation Project. Relevant details are listed below.

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

Employment performance in Dilston - Lilydale exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Dilston Lilydale has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 2.3%.

In this month, 2406 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.7% lower than Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is high at 61%, compared to Rest of Tas.'s 55.7%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and manufacturing. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, accommodation & food services have lower representation at 3.9% versus the regional average of 7.7%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. In the 12 months prior to June 2025, labour force decreased by 1.4% alongside a 1.4% employment decline, with unemployment remaining largely unchanged. By comparison, Rest of Tas. saw an employment decline of 0.5%, labour force decline of 0.6%, and marginal unemployment fall. State-level data to Sep-25 shows TAS employment grew by 0.77% year-on-year, adding 1170 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, with TAS's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dilston Lilydale's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Dilston - Lilydale's median income among taxpayers is $49,796. The average income in the area is $62,116. Both figures are below national averages. Rest of Tas., on the other hand, has a median income of $47,358 and an average of $57,384. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates for Dilston - Lilydale would be approximately $55,742 (median) and $69,533 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census indicates household, family, and personal incomes in Dilston - Lilydale rank modestly, between the 34th and 40th percentiles. Income brackets show that 35.1% of the population (1,628 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing costs are manageable with 90.1% retained. However, disposable income is below average at the 48th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.

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

In Dilston-Lilydale, as per the latest Census, 99.5% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 0.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro Tas., where 92.6% were houses and 7.4% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Dilston-Lilydale stood at 49.0%, aligning with Non-Metro Tas.'s figure. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (42.6%) or rented (8.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,365, higher than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,198. Weekly rent in the area averaged at $260, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $230. Nationally, Dilston-Lilydale's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,365 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were significantly lower at $260 compared to the national figure of $375.

Dilston - Lilydale features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 78.3% of all households, including 32.1% couples with children, 37.6% couples without children, and 8.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.7%, with lone person households at 19.7% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Dilston - Lilydale fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

In Dilston-Lilydale, 22.2% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common (15.2%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 41.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 30.7%. Educational participation is high, with 27.7% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.7%), secondary (8.1%), and tertiary (2.7%).

Lilydale District School serves Dilston-Lilydale, with an enrollment of 330 students as of a recent report. All one school offers integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. The school places per 100 residents ratio is 7.1, below the regional average of 9.6, indicating some students may attend schools in nearby areas.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Dilston - Lilydale is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Dilston-Lilydale faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~2,348 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 10.4% and 8.5% of residents respectively. 65.4% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 60.6% across Rest of Tas.. As of June 2021, 22.3% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,036 people), which is lower than the 27.6% in Rest of Tas.. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Dilston-Lilydale was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 88.8% of its population born in Australia, 91.0% being citizens, and 96.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 40.7% of people in Dilston-Lilydale. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Dilston-Lilydale with 0.1%, compared to 0.0% across Rest of Tas.

The top three ancestry groups are English (34.8%), Australian (32.8%), and Scottish (8.0%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Dutch at 2.2% (vs regional 1.5%), German at 4.2% (vs 2.9%), and Australian Aboriginal at 2.5% (vs 3.0%).

Dilston - Lilydale hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Dilston - Lilydale's median age is 46 years, comparable to the Rest of Tasmania's 45 years and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 45-54 are particularly prominent, comprising 14.4%, while those aged 25-34 make up a smaller proportion at 8.3% compared to the Rest of Tasmania. Post-2021 Census data reveals that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.4% to 7.3% and the 65 to 74 cohort has increased from 12.6% to 13.8%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 17.7% to 16.5%, and the 45 to 54 age group has dropped from 15.6% to 14.4%. Demographic modeling suggests that Dilston - Lilydale's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age cohort projected to grow steadily, expanding by 157 people (46%) from 338 to 496. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 81% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, both the 5 to 14 and 25 to 34 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.