East Devonport

An assessment of population growth drivers in East Devonport reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

East Devonport's population was around 5,308 as of May 2026, reflecting a growth of 233 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 4.6% rise from the previous census figure of 5,075 people. The change is inferred based on an estimated resident population of 5,308 in June 2025 and an additional 158 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 401 persons per square kilometer. East Devonport's growth exceeded both its SA4 region (3.8%) and the state average during this period, positioning it as a growth leader in the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 57.3% of overall population gains recently.

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 from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are adopted and adjusted using a weighted aggregation method. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to grow by 65 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 1.2% over the 16-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within East Devonport when compared nationally

East Devonport has seen approximately 37 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 189 homes were approved, with a further 26 approved in FY26. On average, about 1.3 people moved to the area for each dwelling built over these years. However, this figure has recently eased to 0.8 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, reflecting improved supply availability.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $238,000. This year, commercial approvals totaling $951,000 have been registered, indicating East Devonport's residential focus. Compared to the rest of Tasmania, East Devonport has slightly more development activity, with 24.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period.

All new construction consists of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's low-density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space. The location has approximately 144 people per dwelling approval, confirming its low density market status. According to recent AreaSearch quarterly estimates, East Devonport is projected to gain 65 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling population growth that exceeds current forecasts.

East Devonport has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 26thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones include Devonport Mental Health Hub, Spirit of Tasmania New Vessels and Port Upgrade, TasPorts QuayLink Port Development, and Devonport Oval Sports Complex. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment drivers in East Devonport are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

East Devonport has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, diverse sector representation, an unemployment rate of 7.1%, and estimated employment growth of 6.0% in the past year (December 2024 to December 2025). As of December 2025, 2,166 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 3.2 percentage points higher than Regional Tas.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation stands at 52.3%, compared to Regional Tas.'s 58.7%.

Census responses show that only 5.5% of residents work from home, but Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries of employment are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. East Devonport has a particular specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. However, education & training is under-represented, with only 5.1% of East Devonport's workforce compared to 8.8% in Regional Tas..

Employment opportunities appear limited locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 6.0% and labour force grew by 5.7%, leading to a fall in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Tas. recorded employment growth of 1.8%, labour force growth of 1.5%, with unemployment falling by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to East Devonport's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years.

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

East Devonport SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $41,355 and an average of $48,448 in financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was lower than the national average, compared to Regional Tas.'s median income of $49,689 and average income of $59,358. By March 2026, based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95%, estimated incomes would be approximately $45,883 (median) and $53,753 (average). Census data showed that household, family, and personal incomes in East Devonport fell between the 2nd and 5th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicated that 32.9% of individuals earned between $400 - $799, contrasting with metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket was most prevalent at 28.5%. Economic pressures were evident, with 42.3% of households having weekly budgets below $800. Housing affordability was severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 4th percentile.

East Devonport is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

East Devonport's dwellings, as per the latest Census, comprised 87.5% houses and 12.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Tas.'s 87.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Devonport was 36.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.4% and rented ones at 39.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Regional Tas.'s average of $1,274. Median weekly rent in East Devonport was $236, compared to Regional Tas.'s $250. Nationally, East Devonport's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 63.5% of all households, including 18.1% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 16.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.5%, with lone person households at 32.7% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional Tasmanian average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 12.3%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 8.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 37.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (7.3%) and certificates (30.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 1.9% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

East Devonport faces significant health challenges, as per AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% of the total population (around 2,446 people), compared to 49.1% in Regional Tasmania and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 12.2% and 12.1% of residents respectively. About 56.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 62.0% in Regional Tasmania. Working-age residents have notably high chronic condition rates. The area has 25.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,353 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

East Devonport ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

East Devonport's cultural diversity was below average, with 87.0% citizens, 86.4% born in Australia, and 93.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 42.8%. The 'Other' category showed overrepresentation at 0.8%, compared to Regional Tas.'s 0.7%.

In ancestry, Australian (33.8%), English (32.6%), and Scottish (7.0%) were the top groups. Notably, Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 6.8% (vs regional 4.1%), Samoan at 0.2% (vs 0.0%), and Korean at 0.2% (vs 0.1%).

East Devonport hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

East Devonport's median age is 44, comparable to Regional Tas.'s figure of 45 but higher than Australia's national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 13.5%, higher than Regional Tas., while the 45-54 cohort constitutes 10.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has increased from 9.6% to 11.3%, and the 75-84 cohort has risen from 8.0% to 9.5%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has decreased from 14.2% to 13.1%. By 2041, East Devonport's age composition is projected to shift notably. The 75-84 group is expected to grow by 22%, reaching 618 from 506. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 88% of the population growth, while declines are forecast for the 5-14 and 0-4 age groups.