Dodges Ferry - Lewisham

Population growth drivers in Dodges Ferry - Lewisham are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Dodges Ferry - Lewisham's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 9,120. This figure represents a growth of 599 people, an increase of 7.0% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 8,521. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,032 in June 2024 and an additional 69 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 28 persons per square kilometer. Dodges Ferry - Lewisham's growth rate exceeded that of both its SA4 region (4.9%) and Greater Hobart during this period, indicating it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 46.4% of overall population gains recently, with natural growth and overseas migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on projected demographic shifts and latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to increase by 1,599 persons to reach a total of 10,719 by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 16.6% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Dodges Ferry - Lewisham among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Dodges Ferry - Lewisham has recorded approximately 58 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 294 homes. In the current financial year FY-26, 10 approvals have been recorded to date. Over these five years (FY-21 to FY-25), an average of 2.9 new residents per year was gained for each dwelling built, indicating strong demand that supports property values. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $274,000.

This financial year has seen $3.7 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to Greater Hobart, Dodges Ferry - Lewisham records around 67% of building activity per person and ranks among the 69th percentile of areas assessed nationally. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low density character and attracting space-seeking buyers with an average of approximately 195 people per dwelling approval.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Dodges Ferry - Lewisham is projected to grow by 1,511 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Dodges Ferry - Lewisham has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 3rdth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified two projects that could impact the local area. Key initiatives include Sorell School Redevelopment, Tasman Highway Duplication Project, Greater Hobart Urban Growth Boundary Extension, and Tasmanian Irrigation Schemes: Tranche 3. The following details projects likely to have significant relevance.

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Employment performance in Dodges Ferry - Lewisham has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Dodges Ferry - Lewisham has an unemployment rate of 4.5%, with essential services sectors well represented in its skilled workforce. As of September 2025, there are 4,499 residents employed, while the unemployment rate is 0.5% higher than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation is similar to Greater Hobart's at 63.8%.

Census data shows that 10.5% of residents work from home. The key industries of employment among residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and public administration & safety. Construction has notably high representation with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average. However, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 13.9%, compared to the regional average of 17.3%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 0.7% and employment decreased by 0.6%, causing unemployment to fall by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Hobart recorded an employment decline of 0.7%, labour force decline of 0.9%, with unemployment falling by 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dodges Ferry - Lewisham's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

In financial year 2023, Dodges Ferry - Lewisham SA2 had a median income of $51,963 and an average income of $58,569 among taxpayers. These figures are lower than the national averages of $54,577 and $65,190 in Greater Hobart respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest median incomes would reach approximately $56,951 and average incomes $64,192, based on a 9.6% growth rate since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Dodges Ferry - Lewisham rank modestly, between the 25th and 32nd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 32.8% of the population (2,991 individuals) fall within the $1,500-$2,999 range, similar to regional levels where 32.2% occupy this range. After housing costs, 86.5% of income remains, ranking at the 29th percentile nationally.

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

Dwelling structure in Dodges Ferry - Lewisham, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.4% houses and 0.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Hobart metro's 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dodges Ferry - Lewisham was at 39.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 46.3% and rented dwellings at 14.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Hobart metro's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in the area was $330, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, Dodges Ferry - Lewisham's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Dodges Ferry - Lewisham has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 69.6% of all households, consisting of 26.0% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.4%, with lone person households at 27.8% and group households making up 2.7%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Greater Hobart average.

Educational outcomes in Dodges Ferry - Lewisham fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 19.1%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 13.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Vocational credentials are held by 43.3% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.1% and certificates at 33.2%. Educational participation is high, with 27.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (11.0%), secondary education (7.6%), and tertiary education (3.3%).

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Dodges Ferry - Lewisham's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Dodges Ferry's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a fairly standard level across both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover is found to be very low, at approximately 48% of the total population (~4,414 people), compared to 51.7% in Greater Hobart and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (impacting 11.0%) and mental health issues (10.5%). About 63.4% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% in Greater Hobart. Working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 22.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,037 people), higher than Greater Hobart's 19.9%. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The latest Census data sees Dodges Ferry - Lewisham placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Dodges Ferry-Lewisham had a cultural diversity below average, with 90.5% of its population being citizens and 90.0% born in Australia. English was the language spoken at home by 97.3%. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 38.4%.

Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Hobart, making up 0.1% versus 0.1%. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.9%), Australian (32.6%), and Irish (8.4%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal were overrepresented at 3.6%, Dutch at 1.3%, and Scottish at 7.6%.

Dodges Ferry - Lewisham's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Dodges Ferry - Lewisham is 43 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Hobart's average of 39 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Hobart, Dodges Ferry - Lewisham has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.3%). This 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group grew from 4.5% to 6.3%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 13.2% to 14.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 17.1% to 15.0%, and the 25 to 34 age group dropped from 12.0% to 10.3%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Dodges Ferry - Lewisham's age structure. The 45 to 54 age group is projected to grow by 46%, reaching 1,601 residents from 1,096. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 50% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 35 to 44 age group is projected to decrease by 198 residents.