Hobart

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Hobart's population is around 9,448 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 423 people (4.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 9,025 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,304 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 287 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,427 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Hobart's 4.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (2.5%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth by age group in the years post-2032, the Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas is expected, with the area expected to expand by 842 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 7.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Hobart according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Hobart has averaged around 55 new dwelling approvals annually, totalling 276 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 12 approvals have been recorded. At an average of 1.3 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), supply and demand seem well-matched, fostering stable market dynamics, while new homes are being built at an average value of $261,000. There have also been $184.5 million in commercial approvals this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Compared to Greater Hobart, Hobart has 118.0% more new home approvals (per person), creating greater choice for buyers, though development activity has moderated in recent periods. New building activity shows 11.0% detached dwellings and 89.0% medium and high-density housing. This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 37.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 483 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area.

Looking ahead, Hobart is expected to grow by 698 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Hobart has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 30 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment - Stage 2, the Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department Expansion, In The Hanging Garden Cultural Precinct, and the Hobart City Deal, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Hobart shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Hobart has a highly educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.2%, and relative employment stability over the past year. As of December 2025, 5,524 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.2% above Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation is fairly standard (67.8% compared to Greater Hobart's 64.0%). Based on Census responses, a low 11.1% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and education & training. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average. Meanwhile, construction has a limited presence with 3.6% employment compared to 8.7% regionally. With 4.7 workers for every resident, as at the Census, the area functions as an employment hub, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.2% alongside a 0.1% employment decline, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable. In contrast, Greater Hobart experienced employment growth of 0.1% and labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.2 percentage point drop. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Hobart. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Hobart's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.5% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Hobart SA2's income level is very high nationally according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Hobart SA2's median income among taxpayers is $56,738 and the average income stands at $75,633, which compares to figures for Greater Hobart's of $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $62,185 (median) and $82,894 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Hobart cluster around the 53rd percentile nationally. Income brackets indicate 31.9% of the population (3,013 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 32.2%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 48th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Hobart features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Hobart, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 36.8% houses and 63.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Hobart metro's 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Hobart lagged that of Hobart metro at 26.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (17.5%) or rented (56.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Hobart metro average at $1,800, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $415, compared to Hobart metro's $1,517 and $350. Nationally, Hobart's mortgage repayments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 50.3% of all households, comprising 13.0% couples with children, 29.8% couples without children, and 6.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 49.7%, with lone person households at 37.4% and group households comprising 12.3% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Greater Hobart average of 2.4.

Hobart shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Hobart significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 54.9% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 25.5% in TAS and 30.4% in Australia. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 31.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational pathways account for 19.8% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (11.4%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 17.7% in tertiary education, 4.3% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing primary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 65 active transport stops operating within Hobart, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 142 individual routes, collectively providing 10,338 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 203 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 44%, with 43% walking and 6% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. A relatively low 11.1% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 1,476 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 159 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Hobart faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 57% of the total population (~5,347 people), compared to 51.7% across Greater Hobart.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 11.5 and 6.9% of residents, respectively, while 68.9% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 65.5% across Greater Hobart. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 18.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,696 people), which is lower than the 19.9% in Greater Hobart. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Hobart was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Hobart was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 25.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 35.8% born overseas. The main religion in Hobart is Christianity, which makes up 28.8% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Hinduism, which comprises 4.4% of the population, compared to 2.8% across Greater Hobart.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Hobart are English, comprising 28.0% of the population, Australian, comprising 19.7% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 28.0%, and Other, comprising 11.0% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Chinese is notably overrepresented at 8.2% of Hobart (vs 2.7% regionally), Polish at 0.9% (vs 0.8%) and Korean at 0.5% (vs 0.2%).

Hobart hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Hobart's median age of 33 years stands materially younger than Greater Hobart's 39 as well as considerably younger than the 38-year national average. The 25 - 34 age group shows strong representation at 25.7% compared to Greater Hobart, whereas the 5 - 14 cohort is less prevalent at 4.7%. This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. In the period since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 16.2% to 18.4% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 5.1% to 6.4%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 10.3% to 8.3% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 9.8% to 8.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Hobart. The 45 to 54 age cohort is projected to increase solidly, expanding by 357 people (44%) from 819 to 1,177. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 65 to 74 and 35 to 44 cohorts.