Newstead
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Newstead reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Newstead's population was around 5,573 as of November 2025, reflecting a growth of 124 people since the 2021 Census. The population stood at 5,449 in the census, with an estimated resident population of 5,498 by June 2024 and an additional 45 validated new addresses since then. This resulted in a population density of 1,510 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Newstead's growth rate of 2.3% since the census was within 1.6 percentage points of the SA3 area's 3.9%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration primarily drove population growth in recent periods. AreaSearch adopted 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 post-2032 growth by age group, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections were used, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021, adjusted through weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future demographic trends anticipate lower quartile growth for non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Newstead expected to grow by 169 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, recording a total gain of 1.7% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Newstead, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Newstead has seen approximately 12 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 62 homes were approved, with none yet approved in FY-26. The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely been meeting demand, offering good choice for buyers.

The average construction cost value of new properties is $312,000. This financial year, $3.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Tas., Newstead has about half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it among the 30th percentile nationally. This results in relatively constrained buyer choice, supporting interest in existing dwellings.

The low activity level reflects market maturity and possible development constraints. Building activity shows 89.0% detached houses and 11.0% medium and high-density housing, sustaining Newstead's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. With around 576 people per dwelling approval, Newstead reflects a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 94 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Newstead has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 10thth percentile nationally

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. Eight projects identified by AreaSearch may impact the area. Key projects include Launceston Hospice, 18-20 Ellison Street Social Housing Development, Northern Heart Centre, and Launceston General Hospital Redevelopment. Below is a list detailing those likely 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.

The labour market in Newstead shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Newstead has an educated workforce with 2,766 residents employed as of June 2025. The unemployment rate is 1.9%.

It is below Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.9%, and workforce participation is similar at 55.7%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Health care & social assistance has a particularly high representation at 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is lower at 2.7% compared to the regional average of 8.4%. The area's predominantly residential nature suggests limited local employment opportunities.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, Newstead's labour force decreased by 1.5%, with employment declining by 1.2%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years for Newstead, based on its current employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows median income in Newstead is $54,397. Average income stands at $68,413. This contrasts with Rest of Tas., where median income is $47,358 and average income is $57,384. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.83% since financial year 2022, estimated current incomes are approximately $61,920 (median) and $77,875 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows Newstead's household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly, between the 33rd and 45th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 27.4% of individuals earn $1,500 - 2,999, aligning with metropolitan regions. Housing costs are manageable with 86.8% retained. Disposable income ranks at the 36th percentile and Newstead's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Newstead is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Newstead, as per the latest Census evaluation, 76.2% of dwellings were houses while 23.8% consisted of other types such as semi-detached properties and apartments. This is in comparison to Non-Metro Tas., where 82.1% were houses and 17.9% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Newstead stood at 39.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.0% and rented ones at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,408, higher than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,300. Weekly rent in Newstead was recorded at $310, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $280. Nationally, Newstead's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,408 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were significantly lower at $310 compared to the national figure of $375.

Newstead features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 62.9% of all households, including 24.7% couples with children, 26.3% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 37.1%, with lone person households at 34.1% and group households making up 3.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which matches the average for the Rest of Tas.

The educational profile of Newstead exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational attainment in Newstead is significantly higher than broader benchmarks. 33.8% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications compared to 19.3% in the Rest of Tas. and 21.7% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them – advanced diplomas at 9.3% and certificates at 18.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 4.5% pursuing tertiary education. There are 8 schools operating within Newstead educating approximately 2,301 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1052). The educational mix includes 4 primary, 1 secondary, and 3 K-12 schools. Newstead functions as an education hub with 41.3 school places per 100 residents – significantly higher than the regional average of 18.4 – attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Newstead has 28 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by a total of 92 different routes that together facilitate 7,005 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 199 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 1,000 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 250 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Newstead, with notable prevalence of common conditions across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 54% (~2,992 people) have private health cover, compared to 50.6% in Rest of Tas.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.2%) and mental health issues (9.2%). 64.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.9% across Rest of Tas. Newstead has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 24.1% (1,341 people), compared to 19.9% in Rest of Tas. Health outcomes among seniors largely align with the general population's health profile.

Newstead ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Newstead had a lower than average cultural diversity, with 88.3% of its population being Australian citizens, 83.3% born in Australia, and 91.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 42.9% of Newstead's population. Islam was overrepresented compared to the rest of Tasmania, making up 1.9% versus 1.4%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (33.3%), Australian (29.9%), and Scottish (8.7%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Dutch at 1.9% in Newstead versus 2.0% regionally, Irish at 8.4% versus 7.2%, and Korean at 0.2% versus 0.1%.

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

Newstead's median age is 43 years, which is slightly below Rest of Tas.'s 45 but significantly higher than the national average of 38. Compared to the Rest of Tas. average, Newstead has a notably higher proportion of 15-24 year-olds (13.5% locally) and a lower proportion of 65-74 year-olds (10.5%). Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.2% to 13.5%, while the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 11.8% to 10.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Newstead's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 65%, from 242 to 402 people. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 78% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 45-54 and 15-24 cohorts.