Moonah

Moonah has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Moonah's population is 5,554 as of May 2026. This figure reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census count of 5,737 people, a change inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses since then. The population density stands at 1,990 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration accounted for approximately 77.8% of recent population gains in the area. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area.

For areas not covered, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are adopted and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Future demographic trends suggest a population increase just below the median of national statistical areas, with an expected growth of 356 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 6.4% over 16 years based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

The level of residential development activity in Moonah is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Moonah has recorded approximately 12 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, 61 homes were approved, with a further 12 approved so far in FY-26. The average construction value of these new properties is $306,000.

In terms of commercial development, Moonah has recorded $11.3 million in approvals this financial year. Compared to Greater Hobart, Moonah has significantly less development activity, at 53.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings, which is also below national averages, indicating the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 55.0% detached dwellings and 45.0% medium to high-density housing, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 84.0% houses. This change suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. Moonah has approximately 1813 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market.

Population forecasts suggest Moonah will gain 356 residents by 2041. Construction is maintaining pace with projected growth, but buyers may face increasing competition as the population grows.

Moonah has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that may impact this region. Notable ones include Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor (NSTC), Hobart City High School redevelopment, TasWater Infrastructure Upgrades, and Moonah Arts Centre. The following list details those most likely relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Moonah has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Moonah has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.1% as of a recent period. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.6%.

As of December 2025, 3,077 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 5.2%, higher than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Moonah was 69.5%, compared to Greater Hobart's 63.7%. According to Census responses, a low 7.1% of residents worked from home. Key industries of employment among residents were health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade.

Notably, accommodation & food had an employment concentration of 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, construction showed lower representation at 7.0%, compared to the regional average of 8.7%. The area hosted 1.1 jobs per resident as of the Census, functioning as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. In a 12-month period, employment increased by 0.6% while labour force decreased by 0.2%, leading to a unemployment fall of 0.8 percentage points. This compares to Greater Hobart where employment grew by 0.1%, labour force contracted by 0.1%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest Moonah's employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Moonah's employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Moonah SA2's median income among taxpayers was $53,718 in financial year 2023, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This figure is below the national average. The average income for Moonah SA2 stood at $58,604 during this period. In comparison, Greater Hobart's median and average incomes were $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Moonah SA2 would be approximately $59,600 (median) and $65,021 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Moonah rank modestly, between the 30th and 35th percentiles. The largest segment comprises 33.7% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,871 residents), mirroring regional levels where 32.2% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Moonah, with only 83.5% of income remaining after expenses, ranking at the 29th percentile.

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

Moonah's dwellings, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 84.5% houses and 15.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Hobart metro's 84.5% houses and 15.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Moonah was at 28.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.5% and rented ones at 40.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,387, lower than Hobart metro's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Moonah was recorded at $330, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, Moonah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Moonah features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 60.9 percent of all households, including 23.2 percent couples with children, 23.1 percent couples without children, and 13.1 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 39.1 percent, with lone person households at 33.3 percent and group households making up 5.8 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Greater Hobart average.

Moonah shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

Moonah's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 36.1% have university qualifications, compared to 23.3% in the SA3 area and 25.5% in Tasmania overall. University graduates make up 20.1%, postgraduate degree holders are at 12.8%, and graduate diplomas account for 3.2%. Vocational credentials are prominent, with 27.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas comprise 8.5% and certificates make up 19.0%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.3% currently enrolled in formal education: 8.7% in primary, 5.7% in secondary, and 5.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Moonah has 45 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 73 different routes that collectively facilitate 4,470 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 171 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 76%, followed by buses at 14% and walking at 6%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7.1% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 638 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 99 weekly trips per stop.

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

Moonah faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,688 people), compared to 51.7% in Greater Hobart and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (10.7%) and arthritis (8.7%), while 68.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% in Greater Hobart. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. As of the assessment date, the area has 16.1% of residents aged 65 and over (894 people), lower than the 20.0% in Greater Hobart. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Moonah was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Moonah has a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 28.8% of its population born overseas and 26.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Moonah, comprising 35.6% of people. Hinduism is notably overrepresented, making up 8.9% of the population compared to the Greater Hobart average of 2.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (27.1%), Australian (23.4%), and Other (14.3%), which is higher than the regional average of 7.4%. Some ethnic groups have significant representation in Moonah: Polish at 1.3% (vs 0.8% regionally), Vietnamese at 1.0% (vs 0.3%), and Indian at 2.9% (vs 1.2%).

Moonah's population is younger than the national pattern

Moonah's median age is 35, which is lower than Greater Hobart's figure of 39 and Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 21.1% of Moonah's population, higher than Greater Hobart but below the national average of 14.6%. The 15-24 cohort makes up 8.8% of Moonah's population. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.9% to 17.4%, while the 65-74 cohort has risen from 8.4% to 9.6%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 23.8% to 21.1%, and the 55-64 group has fallen from 11.2% to 9.2%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Moonah's age structure. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 58% (361 people), reaching 989 from 627. Meanwhile, both the 25-34 and 65-74 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.