Old Beach - Otago
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Old Beach - Otago's population, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 5354 people. This figure represents an increase of 365 individuals, marking a 7.3% rise since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4989. The estimated resident population of 5243 from ABS as of June 2024, along with an additional 278 validated new addresses since the Census date, contributes to this growth. This results in a population density ratio of 169 persons per square kilometer. Old Beach - Otago's growth rate of 7.3% since the 2021 census exceeds the SA4 region's 4.2%, indicating significant population expansion. Natural growth accounted for approximately 44.7% of overall population gains, with interstate and overseas migration also contributing positively.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. 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 and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. Future population trends project above median growth for the area, with an expected increase of 1085 persons to 2041 based on current numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 18.1% over these 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Old Beach - Otago among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Old Beach - Otago has seen approximately 63 new homes approved annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 317 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY21 to FY25, and 10 approvals so far in FY26. On average, 1.2 people have moved to the area per dwelling built each year over these five years. This has resulted in stable market dynamics with supply meeting demand, while new properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $404,000.

In this financial year, $75,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to residential construction. Relative to Greater Hobart, Old Beach - Otago records elevated construction activity, with 38.0% more approvals per person over the five-year period, maintaining good buyer choice and supporting existing property values. This activity is above the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes.

As of current figures, Old Beach - Otago reflects a developing area with around 66 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate that Old Beach - Otago will gain approximately 971 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.

Old Beach - Otago has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 8thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Windermere Bay Precinct, Cadbury Experience, Glenorchy Sports Centre, and Claremont Link Road Park and Ride Facility. Below is a list of those most relevant.

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

The labour market in Old Beach - Otago shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Old Beach - Otago has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of June 2025, its unemployment rate is 2.1%.

This is below Greater Hobart's rate of 4.1%, and the workforce participation rate is higher at 67.4% compared to Greater Hobart's 61.6%. The main industries for employment are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and construction. Construction, in particular, has an employment share 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, accommodation & food services have lower representation at 4.8% versus the regional average of 8.0%.

There appears to be limited local employment opportunities as indicated by a lower Census working population compared to resident population. In the 12 months prior, labour force and employment both decreased by 1.6% and 1.7%, respectively, leaving unemployment broadly flat. Greater Hobart experienced similar declines in employment and labour force, with a slight increase in unemployment. State-wide data up to Sep-25 shows Tasmania's employment grew by 0.77% year-on-year, adding 1,170 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, with Tasmania outpacing the national average employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Old Beach - Otago's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Old Beach - Otago's median income among taxpayers was $56,327 and the average was $62,595. This is just below the national average. Greater Hobart had a median of $51,272 and an average of $63,777. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.94% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for March 2025 would be approximately $63,052 (median) and $70,069 (average). Census data shows household, family and personal incomes in Old Beach - Otago cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. Distribution data indicates that 38.9% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (2,082 individuals), similar to regional levels where 32.2% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, residents retain 88.1% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. Old Beach - Otago's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

In Old Beach - Otago, as per the latest Census evaluation, 91.6% of dwellings were houses while 8.4% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes and apartments. This is similar to Hobart metro's dwelling structure which had 89.1% houses and 10.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Old Beach - Otago was at 37.7%, with mortgaged properties making up 51.0% and rented dwellings accounting for 11.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,517, higher than Hobart metro's average of $1,400. The median weekly rent figure in Old Beach - Otago was recorded at $400, compared to Hobart metro's $280. Nationally, Old Beach - Otago's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Old Beach - Otago features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households compose 79.9% of all households, including 34.5% couples with children, 35.2% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 20.1%, with lone person households at 17.9% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Hobart average.

Educational outcomes in Old Beach - Otago fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has university qualification rates of 19.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (29.4%). Educational participation is high at 26.0%, including primary education (10.5%), secondary education (6.4%), and tertiary education (3.4%).

However, educational facilities seem to be outside the immediate catchment boundaries, necessitating families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

Old Beach - Otago has 32 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes totalling 95 individual lines. Together, they facilitate 8,167 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these services is rated as moderate, with residents on average being located 404 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 1,166 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 255 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Old Beach - Otago faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is slightly lagging at approximately 51% of the total population (~2,735 people), compared to 48.1% across Greater Hobart. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.1 and 9.4% of residents respectively. 64.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.0% across Greater Hobart. The area has 21.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,173 people), which is higher than the 15.7% in Greater Hobart. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Old Beach-Otago has below average cultural diversity, with 88.5% of its population born in Australia, 93.5% being citizens, and 93.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 50.9%. This compares to 42.9% across Greater Hobart.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (34.7%), Australian (32.3%), and Irish (7.6%). Polish (0.9%) is notably overrepresented compared to regionally (0.7%), while Australian Aboriginal (2.9%) and Russian (0.3%) show notable divergences from their regional percentages of 7.4% and 0.1%, respectively.

Old Beach - Otago's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Old Beach - Otago is 41 years, which is higher than Greater Hobart's average of 39 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 8.4% of the population. Meanwhile, those aged 25-34 comprise a smaller proportion at 12.2%. Between 2021 and now, the percentage of individuals aged 75-84 has increased from 5.7% to 8.4%, while the 55-64 age group has declined from 13.5% to 11.5%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 12.5% to 11.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Old Beach - Otago's age structure. The number of individuals aged 75-84 is projected to rise by 313 people (69%), from 450 to 764. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 55% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 25-34 and 55-64 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.