New Norfolk

Population growth drivers in New Norfolk are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

New Norfolk's population is approximately 7,852 as of May 2026. From the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,293, there has been an increase of 559 people (7.7%). This growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 7,713 in June 2025 and an additional 342 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 124 persons per square kilometer. New Norfolk's growth exceeded that of its SA3 area (1.1%) and SA4 region since the 2021 census, making it a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 73.2% to overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors.

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, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are adopted, adjusted using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends suggest an increase just below the median for Australian statistical areas, with New Norfolk expected to grow by 633 persons to reach approximately 8,485 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 6.3% over the 16-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Recent residential development output has been above average within New Norfolk when compared nationally

New Norfolk has received approximately 59 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 296 homes. In the current financial year FY-26, 26 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.9 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand market with stable conditions. The average construction cost of new properties is $232,000.

This financial year has seen $8.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development compared to residential. New Norfolk has 80.0% more construction activity per person than Greater Hobart, offering buyers greater choice. However, development activity has moderated recently. The majority of new developments consist of detached houses (98.0%) with a small proportion of townhouses or apartments (2.0%), maintaining the area's traditional low density character appealing to families seeking space.

With approximately 200 people per dwelling approval, New Norfolk's market is expanding. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 494 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

New Norfolk has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified nine such projects that could impact the area. Notable projects include The Mills Precinct (including Noble Life New Norfolk Resort), Derwent Valley Health and Wellbeing Hub, The Agrarian Kitchen Expansion, and Campus7140 Education Centre. Below is a list of these projects, likely to be 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.

Employment conditions in New Norfolk face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

New Norfolk has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 7.8%. Over the past year, employment stability has been relatively consistent.

There are 3,289 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.8% higher than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation in New Norfolk lags behind Greater Hobart at 56.1% compared to 63.7%. According to Census responses, only 5.3% of residents work from home. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Notably, construction employment levels are at 1.6 times the regional average. However, professional & technical services have limited presence with 2.4% employment compared to 6.6% regionally. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.3%, while labour force decreased by 0.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Hobart saw employment rise by 0.1% and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points over the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to New Norfolk's employment mix, local employment growth rates are estimated at 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years. These estimates are based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

The New Norfolk SA2's median income among taxpayers was $49,238 in financial year 2023. The average income stood at $54,457 during the same period. These figures compare to those for Greater Hobart, which were $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $54,630 (median) and $60,420 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in New Norfolk all fall between the 11th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 29.4% of the population (2,308 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 32.2% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 13th percentile.

New Norfolk is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In New Norfolk, as per the latest Census evaluation, 92.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 7.7% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. This differs from Hobart metro's figures, which showed 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in New Norfolk stood at 33.0%, with mortgaged dwellings making up 39.1% and rented ones accounting for 27.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,200, significantly lower than the Hobart metro average of $1,517. The median weekly rent in New Norfolk was $290, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, New Norfolk's mortgage repayments were notably lower at $1,200 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

New Norfolk has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 69.6% of all households, including 24.3% couples with children, 28.3% couples without children, and 16.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.4%, with lone person households at 28.4% and group households making up 1.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Greater Hobart average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 9.9%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 6.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (7.0%) and certificates (31.2%). Educational participation is high at 27.0%, including primary education (12.0%), secondary education (7.6%), and tertiary education (2.2%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in New Norfolk is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

New Norfolk faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A variety of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 47% of the total population (~3,674 people), compared to 51.7% in Greater Hobart and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 12.0% and 11.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 59.2% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 65.5% in Greater Hobart. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 20.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,641 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The latest Census data sees New Norfolk placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

New Norfolk was found to have a cultural diversity below average, with 91.4% of its population being citizens and 92.4% born in Australia. English was spoken as the only language at home by 97.5% of residents. The predominant religion was Christianity, comprising 45.7%, compared to 39.8% across Greater Hobart.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (37.1%), Australian (35.7%), and Irish (7.0%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher than average at 4.7%.

New Norfolk's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in New Norfolk is 40 years, similar to Greater Hobart's average of 39 years but somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 55-64 age group comprises 12.8% of the population, higher than Greater Hobart's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 12.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 12.1% to 13.5% of the population, whereas the 5 to 14 age group has decreased from 12.9% to 11.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in New Norfolk. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 45%, adding 244 people and reaching a total of 785 from the previous count of 540. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 57% of the total population growth, reflecting New Norfolk's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 25 to 34 age cohorts are projected to experience population declines.