Moonah

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

Moonah's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 5,872 people. This figure represents an increase of 135 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 5,737. The growth from June 2024 to February 2026 is inferred from the estimated resident population (ERP) of 5,626 and 53 validated new addresses added post-census. This results in a population density ratio of 2,104 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Moonah's growth rate of 2.4% since the census is within 2.5 percentage points of its SA4 region (4.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.5% of overall population gains in 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, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on demographic trends and the latest annual ERP population numbers, Moonah is expected to grow by approximately 385 persons to reach 6,257 people by 2041. This projected increase reflects an average growth rate of around 2.4% over the next 17 years.

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 an additional 5 approved so far in FY-26. The average construction value of these new properties is $306,000.

In terms of commercial development, $11.3 million in approvals have been recorded 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 average nationally, indicating the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 55.0% detached dwellings and 45.0% medium and high-density housing, including a growing mix of townhouses and apartments. This marks a shift from the current housing pattern, where 84.0% are houses, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The location has approximately 1813 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market.

Population forecasts suggest Moonah will gain 139 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Moonah has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects that could impact the area. 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 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 a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 5.2% as of September 2025. This rate is 1.2% higher than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Moonah stands at 68.7%, slightly above Greater Hobart's 63.8%.

According to Census responses, only 7.1% of residents work from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. The key industries of employment among residents are health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, and retail trade. Notably, the accommodation and food services industry has a high concentration with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 7.0% compared to the regional average of 8.7%.

As of the Census, Moonah hosts more jobs than residents, with a ratio of 1.1 workers per resident, indicating its role as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12-month period prior to the reporting date, Moonah's labour force decreased by 1.2% alongside a 0.5% employment decline, leading to a fall in unemployment of 0.6 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Hobart experienced a 0.7% employment decrease, a 0.9% contraction in labour force, and a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment. For future insights into potential demand within Moonah, Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can be consulted. These projections estimate that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors, and applying these projections to Moonah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming no changes in population projections.

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. The average income stood at $58,604 for the same period. For Greater Hobart, these figures were $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on a 9.6% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, estimated median income is approximately $58,875 and average income is around $64,230 as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, 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 (1,978 residents), similar to regional levels where 32.2% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Moonah, with only 83.5% of income remaining after housing costs, 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, consisted of 84.5% houses and 15.5% other dwellings. Hobart metro had 85.3% houses and 14.7% 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 $1,517. Median weekly rent in Moonah was $330, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, Moonah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,387 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and 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 account for 60.9% of all households, including 23.2% couples with children, 23.1% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 39.1%, comprising 33.3% lone person households and 5.8% group households. 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

Educational attainment in Moonah is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 36.1% hold university qualifications, compared to 23.3% in the SA3 area and 25.5% in Tasmania overall. University graduates make up 20.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.8% and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 8.5% and certificates for 19.0%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary education, 5.7% in secondary education, 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 serving buses. These stops are covered by 73 routes, offering a total of 4,470 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents located an average of 171 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the primary mode of transportation at 76%, followed by bus at 14% and walking at 6%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 638 trips per day, equating to approximately 99 weekly trips per individual 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 based on 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 low at approximately 48% of the total population (~2,842 people), compared to 51.7% in Greater Hobart and a 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 declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% in Greater Hobart. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 16.0% of residents aged 65 and over (937 people), lower than the 19.9% 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's population shows high cultural diversity, with 28.8% born overseas and 26.0% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, at 35.6%. Hinduism is notably higher in Moonah at 8.9%, compared to Greater Hobart's average of 2.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top groups are English (27.1%), Australian (23.4%), and Other (14.3%), which exceeds the regional average of 7.4%. Some ethnic groups have significant representation: Polish at 1.3% (regional average is 0.8%), 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 national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 21.7% of Moonah's population, higher than Greater Hobart's percentage but slightly below the national average of 14.4%. The 55-64 cohort makes up 8.8% of Moonah's population, which is less prevalent compared to Greater Hobart. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.9% to 17.0%, while the 65-74 cohort has grown from 8.4% to 9.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 11.2% to 8.8%, and the 25-34 group has dropped from 23.8% to 21.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Moonah's age structure. The 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 52%, reaching 966 people from the current 636. Meanwhile, both the 0-4 and 55-64 age groups are projected to decrease in number.