Hobart

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

Hobart's population was 9,448 as of Feb 2026, showing an increase of 423 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 4.7% rise from the previous population of 9,025. The change is inferred from ABS data: an estimated resident population of 9,304 in June 2024 and an additional 287 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1,427 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Hobart's growth rate exceeded that of the SA3 area (2.5%), making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of this growth.

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 and post-2032 age group estimates, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Future population dynamics suggest an increase just below the median for Australian statistical areas, with Hobart expected to expand by 842 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 7.4% over 17 years based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

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

Hobart has averaged approximately 55 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 276 homes. As of FY-26 so far, 11 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.3 new residents per year arrive for each new home built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics with stable market conditions. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $261,000.

In the current financial year, there have been $184.5 million in commercial approvals, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to Greater Hobart, Hobart has 118.0% more new home approvals per person, offering greater choice for buyers despite recent moderation in development activity. The majority of new building activity consists of medium and high-density housing (89.0%), with detached dwellings making up the remaining 11.0%. This shift from the area's existing housing stock (currently 37.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 483 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established area with a stable population. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Hobart is expected to grow by 698 residents through to 2041.

With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially allowing growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Hobart has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth 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 30 such projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable among these are Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment - Stage 2, Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department Expansion, In The Hanging Garden Cultural Precinct, and Hobart City Deal. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

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. The unemployment rate was 5.2% as of September 2025. At that time, 5,509 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.2% higher than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation was at 67.6%, compared to Greater Hobart's 63.8%. According to Census responses, only 11.1% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and education & training sectors. The area has a notable concentration in accommodation & food with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.

Construction has limited presence with 3.6% employment compared to the regional average of 8.7%. There are 4.7 workers for every resident, indicating that Hobart functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.0% alongside a 0.9% employment decline, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 6.2%. In contrast, Greater Hobart experienced an employment decline of 0.7% and a labour force decline of 0.9%, with a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment rate to 4.8%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Hobart. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying 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.

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

Hobart SA2 has a high national income level according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers is $56,738, with an average income of $75,633. These figures compare to Greater Hobart's median and average incomes of $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on a 9.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $62,185 (median) and $82,894 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Hobart are at the 53rd percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 31.9% of the population, equating to 3,013 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. This aligns with the broader area where this cohort also represents 32.2%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 48th percentile. 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

Housing in Hobart, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 36.8% houses and 63.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Hobart metro's 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hobart was at 26.5%, with the rest being mortgaged (17.5%) or rented (56.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, higher than Hobart metro's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent was $415, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, Hobart's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were 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 account for 50.3% of all households, including 13.0% couples with children, 29.8% couples without children, and 6.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 49.7%, with lone person households at 37.4% and group households comprising 12.3%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Hobart average of 2.4 people.

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

Educational attainment in Hobart is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. As of the latest data, 54.9% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 25.5% in Tasmania and 30.4% nationwide. This high level of educational attainment positions Hobart strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 19.1% and graduate diplomas at 4.1%.

Vocational pathways account for 19.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 8.4% and certificates accounting for 11.4%. Educational participation is notably high in Hobart, 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. 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 of the 2021 Census, most residents commute outward, primarily using cars at a rate of 44%. Walking accounts for 43% and bus use is at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average.

A relatively low 11.1% of residents work from home. 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. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover was very high at approximately 57% of the total population, which is around 5,347 people. This compares to a rate of 51.7% across Greater Hobart. The most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 11.5% and 6.9% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 68.9% of residents declared themselves 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, which is approximately 1,696 people, 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's population was found to be diverse linguistically, with 25.9% speaking a language other than English at home as of 2016. In the same year, 35.8% of Hobart residents were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Hobart, accounting for 28.8% of the population.

However, Hinduism was overrepresented compared to regional averages, comprising 4.4% of Hobart's population versus 2.8%. The top three ancestry groups based on parental birthplaces were English (28.0%), Australian (19.7%), and Other (11.0%). Notably, Chinese (8.2%) and Polish (0.9%) populations were overrepresented in Hobart compared to regional averages of 2.7% and 0.8%, respectively. Korean residents also made up a higher proportion in Hobart at 0.5% versus the regional average of 0.2%.

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

Hobart's median age of 33 years is significantly younger than Greater Hobart's 39 years and considerably younger than Australia's national average of 38 years. The age group of 25-34 years has a strong representation in Hobart at 25.7%, compared to Greater Hobart, while the age group of 5-14 years is less prevalent at 4.7%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.4%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 16.2% to 18.4%, while the population aged 75-84 has increased from 5.1% to 6.4%. Conversely, the population aged 55-64 has declined from 10.3% to 8.3%, and the population aged 45-54 has dropped from 9.8% to 8.7%. Population forecasts for Hobart in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The age cohort of 45-54 is projected to increase substantially, with an addition of 357 people (44%), bringing the total to 1,177 from 819. Conversely, population declines are projected for the age cohorts of 65-74 and 35-44 years.