Latrobe
Statistical Area - sa2

Latrobe lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Latrobe's population, as of August 2025, stands at around 6,013 people. This figure reflects an increase of 628 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,385 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,756 in June 2024 and an additional 204 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 27 persons per square kilometer. Latrobe's growth rate of 11.7% since the 2021 census exceeds that of its SA4 region (4.5%) and the state, positioning it as a growth leader in the area. Interstate migration contributed approximately 82.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 to estimate growth by age group post-2032, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 and adjusted using a weighted aggregation method from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to increase by 564 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of approximately 5.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Latrobe among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Latrobe has seen approximately 55 new homes approved annually. Development approval data, produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totals 275 approvals across the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with an additional five approvals in FY-26 so far. On average, 2.5 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these past five financial years, indicating solid demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $368,000.

This year has seen $16.8 million in commercial approvals registered, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of Tasmania, Latrobe has 72.0% more construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. New development consists of 98.0% detached dwellings and 2.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 132 people per approval, Latrobe reflects a developing area.

By 2041, Latrobe is expected to grow by 301 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Latrobe has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 12thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects that may affect the region. Notable projects include North West Hospitals Masterplan - Mersey Community Hospital, Bass Highway Cool Storage Development, Latrobe Flood Levees Project, and Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme Augmentation. Below is a list of those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Latrobe remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Latrobe has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar employment. The manufacturing and industrial sectors are strongly represented in the area.

As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 3.3%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.8% over the past year. This rate is 0.7% lower than Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation in Latrobe is on par with Rest of Tas., at 55.7%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Notably, the transport, postal & warehousing industry has employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, education & training employs only 7.1% of local workers, below Rest of Tas.'s 8.8%. While there are employment opportunities in Latrobe, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 1.8%, while the labour force increased by 2.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Tas. experienced an employment decline of 0.5% and a labour force decline of 0.6%. State-level data from Sep-25 shows TAS employment grew by 0.77% year-on-year, adding 1,170 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%. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025, national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Latrobe's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Latrobe's median income among taxpayers in financial year 2022 was $48,268. The average income stood at $59,524 during the same period. In comparison, Rest of Tas.'s median and average incomes were $47,358 and $57,384 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.94% since financial year 2022, estimates for March 2025 indicate Latrobe's median income would be approximately $54,031 and the average would be around $66,631. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Latrobe fall between the 13th and 16th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 29.0% of Latrobe's community, with 1,743 individuals in this category. After housing costs, 85.5% of income remains, which ranks at the 15th percentile nationally.

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

As per the latest Census evaluation in Latrobe, 93.5% of dwellings were houses while 6.5% comprised semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This differed slightly from Non-Metro Tas., which had 90.3% houses and 9.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Latrobe stood at 37.6%, with mortgaged properties at 34.9% and rented dwellings at 27.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, aligning with Non-Metro Tas., while the median weekly rent was $250, also matching Non-Metro Tas.'s figure. Nationally, Latrobe's median monthly mortgage repayments were lower at $1,300 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and its median weekly rents were substantially lower at $250 versus the national figure of $375.

Latrobe has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 69.1% of all households, including 24.9% couples with children, 31.2% couples without children, and 11.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.9%, with lone person households making up 28.9% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which matches the average for the Rest of Tas.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 13.0%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.4%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.4%) and certificates (32.1%). Educational participation is high, with 25.0% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.6%), secondary (7.4%), and tertiary (2.2%).

Latrobe's five schools have a combined enrollment of 1,370 students. The educational mix includes three primary, one secondary, and one K-12 school. As an education hub, Latrobe has 22.8 school places per 100 residents, exceeding the regional average of 14.1 and attracting students from nearby communities.

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

Latrobe has two operational public transport stops, both of which are bus services. These stops collectively facilitate 181 weekly passenger trips via a single route. Transport accessibility is restricted, with residents generally located 1144 meters from the nearest stop.

The average service frequency across all routes is 25 trips per day, translating to approximately 90 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Latrobe faces significant health challenges, as indicated by health data. Both younger and older age groups have high rates of common health conditions.

Approximately half of Latrobe's total population (about 2,976 people) has private health cover, which is lower than the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 12.0% and 9.0% of residents respectively. However, 60.4% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 61.1% in the rest of Tasmania. Latrobe has a higher proportion of seniors, with 25.3% (1,521 people) being aged 65 and over. The health outcomes among seniors present similar challenges to those seen in the general population.

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

Latrobe, as per the census conducted on 29 August 2016, showed low cultural diversity with 91.0% of its population being Australian citizens, 90.5% born in Australia, and 95.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 41.8% of Latrobe's population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to regional figures, with 0.1% in Latrobe versus 0.1% across Rest of Tas..

In terms of ancestry, Australians comprised 35.5%, English 34.6%, and Irish 7.5% of the population. Other ethnic groups showed variations: Australian Aboriginal was slightly overrepresented at 5.1% (versus 4.7%), Dutch had identical representation at 1.4%, and Welsh were moderately overrepresented at 0.5% (versus 0.4%).

Latrobe hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Latrobe's median age, at 44 years, is comparable to the Rest of Tasmania's figure of 45 but significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The age group of 15-24 years shows strong representation in Latrobe at 11.3%, compared to the Rest of Tasmania. However, the 55-64 age cohort is less prevalent in Latrobe at 12.0%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.8% to 9.1% of Latrobe's population, while the 5 to 14 age cohort has declined from 11.7% to 11.1%. By the year 2041, Latrobe is expected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 38%, increasing from 547 to 757 people. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 63% of the projected growth in Latrobe's population. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 65-74 and 0-4 age cohorts.