Ravenswood

Ravenswood is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Ravenswood stands at approximately 3,950 as of May 2026. Since the 2021 Census, which counted 3,804 people, the population has expanded by 146 individuals, representing a 3.8% rate of growth. This update is calculated by combining the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 3,950 with 51 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. With these figures, the population density reaches 394 persons per square kilometer, indicating a spacious environment with capacity for future growth. The 3.8% increase in Ravenswood since the 2021 Census outpaced the broader SA3 area's rate of 2.6%, positioning the locality as a regional leader in expansion. Natural increase was the primary contributor to these gains, accounting for roughly 55.9% of the overall population growth during recent periods.

Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 with a 2022 base year, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 locality. Where these datasets are unavailable, and to calculate age-specific growth after 2032, regional and LGA projections from the Tasmania State Government released in 2022 using a 2021 base year are applied, incorporating adjustments via weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 divisions. Looking ahead, demographic patterns indicate that population growth will track slightly under the median for regional parts of Australia, with the local population projected to grow by 266 individuals by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP statistics, representing a total rise of 6.7% over the 16-year timeframe.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Ravenswood according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Ravenswood has recorded an average of approximately 17 dwelling approvals annually, resulting in a total of 89 residences over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, a total of 8 approvals have been documented. With an average of 1.7 new residents per year arriving for each new home between FY-21 and FY-25, demand and supply appear to be in equilibrium, fostering steady market conditions, although this has shifted to -2 people per dwelling over the last 2 financial years to suggest a more balanced supply-demand dynamic. The average construction value for development projects stands at $131,000, which is below regional benchmarks and points to more budget-friendly housing options for buyers. Furthermore, commercial approvals of $80,000 have been logged this financial year, pointing to a market that is overwhelmingly residential.

In comparison to the Rest of Tas., Ravenswood maintains a comparable rate of residential construction on a per capita basis, preserving a market balance aligned with the wider region, even though building activity has slowed down in recent times. Detached houses account for 82.0% of new construction while attached structures make up the remaining 18.0%, maintaining the low-density character of the suburb and attracting buyers who prioritize space. A relatively low-intensity development climate is highlighted by the ratio of 363 people in the area for every single dwelling approval.

Projections indicate that Ravenswood is set to grow by 266 residents by 2041, starting from the most recent quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. If the current pace of construction persists, the supply of new housing is expected to easily satisfy this demand, maintaining favorable conditions for purchasers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current demographic forecasts.

Ravenswood has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 7thth percentile nationally

Developments in local infrastructure, key projects, and planning changes have a major influence on local performance. AreaSearch has tracked 9 projects with the potential to affect the area. Notable projects include the Ravenswood Subdivision, the Housing Land Supply Ravenswood Order, the 38A Faulkner Road Rural Living Rezoning and Subdivision, and the UTAS Stadium Redevelopment, with the most significant listed below.

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

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

The local workforce is split between white-collar and blue-collar roles across a variety of sectors, alongside an unemployment rate of 13.4%. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,392, while the local unemployment rate stood 9.4% higher than the Regional Tas. rate of 3.9%, pointing to capacity for improvement. Furthermore, workforce participation is low, standing at 51.1% compared to 58.8% in Regional Tas. Census data shows that a minimal 2.5% of workers worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. The suburb exhibits a clear specialization in administrative & support services, where the employment concentration is 2.6 times the regional average. Conversely, only 2.9% of local workers are employed in agriculture, forestry & fishing, which is lower than the 8.4% recorded across Regional Tas. The relationship between the Census working population and the resident population suggests that local employment opportunities within the immediate area are relatively constrained.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that over the 12-month period, the local labor force contracted by 1.5% and total employment dropped by 0.7%, which combined to lower the unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. During the same timeframe in Regional Tas., employment rose by 1.8%, the labor force grew by 1.7%, and unemployment saw a minor decline. Projections for future labor demand in Ravenswood can be informed by Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts released in May-25. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model future growth trends. Nationally, employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with significant variation across different industries. Weighting these projections to fit the industry distribution of Ravenswood suggests that local employment would rise by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, serving as a basic weighted extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The latest postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year show that incomes in the Ravenswood SA2 are below national benchmarks, with a median of $36,616 and an average of $45,603. In comparison, Regional Tas. recorded a median income of $49,689 and an average of $59,358. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since the 2023 financial year, estimated figures as of March 2026 would stand at approximately $40,625 for the median and $50,597 for the average. Census records show that household, family, and individual incomes in Ravenswood are situated between the 0th and 3rd percentiles on a national scale. The local earnings distribution shows that the $400 - 799 weekly income bracket contains 34.5% of the population, which equals 1,362 individuals, whereas the regional trend shows 28.5% of residents earning within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. This economic profile highlights widespread financial strain, with 46.9% of households living on modest weekly budgets of less than $800. Additionally, housing costs place a heavy burden on residents, leaving only 80.3% of income remaining after housing expenses, a figure that ranks in the 3rd percentile.

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

Analysis from the most recent Census shows that the housing stock in Ravenswood consists of 79.7% separate houses and 20.3% other dwelling types, including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative structures, compared to 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings in Regional Tas. The home ownership rate in Ravenswood was lower than the regional benchmark, sitting at 22.2%, with the remaining properties occupied by households with a mortgage (26.4%) or renting (51.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $867 was considerably lower than the Regional Tas. average, while the median weekly rent was $225, compared to regional figures of $1,274 and $250. Nationally, the monthly mortgage costs in Ravenswood are far below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well below the national median of $375.

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

Families comprise the majority of households at 63.0%, which is made up of 18.7% couples with children, 18.7% couples without children, and 24.0% single parents. The remaining 37.0% are non-family households, consisting of lone persons at 33.6% and group households at 3.3%. The median household size stands at 2.3 people, which is identical to the average across Regional Tas.

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

The region presents low levels of formal educational attainment, with university graduation rates of 7.4% falling far short of the national average of 30.4%. This highlights a clear area for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees represent the largest share of higher education at 5.3%, with postgraduate degrees at 1.5% and graduate diplomas at 0.6%. Conversely, vocational and technical training is common, with 35.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, including 6.0% with advanced diplomas and 29.4% with certificates.

A high level of participation in education is recorded locally, with 29.6% of the population currently undertaking formal study. This student cohort includes 14.1% in primary school, 8.2% in secondary school, and 1.9% enrolled in higher education courses.

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

Analysis of local transit indicates there are 25 active bus stops operating in Ravenswood. These stops are served by 45 different routes, which together provide 2,036 passenger trips each week. Transport connection is excellent, with residents living an average of 157 meters from their nearest stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most workers commute out of the area, and private vehicles remain the primary travel mode at 91%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.1, falling below the regional benchmark. A low proportion of residents, at 2.5%, work from home based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect the impact of pandemic lockdowns.

The average frequency of public transit services is 290 trips per day across all active routes, which averages out to about 81 weekly services for each individual stop.

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

Substantial health concerns exist in Ravenswood according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and chronic disease rates, which reveal significant impacts on both younger and older residents, alongside a very low rate of private health insurance at roughly 46% of the population, representing about 1,832 people. This is lower than the 49.1% coverage rate across Regional Tas. and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health conditions and asthma are the most prevalent health issues in the area, affecting 13.4% and 12.6% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 54.2% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 62.0% in Regional Tas. Significant health challenges are observed among working-age residents, who experience higher rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 17.0% of the local population, totaling 670 people, which is below the regional figure of 24.9%. Seniors in the area face health challenges, with national health percentiles for this cohort aligning with those of the broader local population.

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

Ravenswood has a lower level of cultural diversity than average, with citizens making up 89.4% of the population, 92.8% of residents born in Australia, and 96.3% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, followed by 35.0% of the population. The most notable statistical variance is in the Other category, which represents 0.8% of residents compared to 0.7% across Regional Tas.

Regarding parent birthplaces, the three largest ancestry groups represented in the local area are English at 36.6% of the population, Australian at 34.1%, and Australian Aboriginal at 7.3%.

Ravenswood's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Ravenswood has a median age of 36, which is lower than the Regional Tas. median of 45 and slightly below the Australian average of 38. The cohort aged 5 - 14 is highly represented at 14.6% compared to Regional Tas., while the 65 - 74 age group is less common at 8.9%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 55 to 64 has increased from 10.8% to 12.1%, and those aged 75 to 84 went from 6.0% to 7.1%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 13.5% to 12.0%, and the 0 to 4 group declined from 7.0% to 5.7%. Projections suggest the local age profile will shift by 2041, led by a 13% expansion in the 15 to 24 cohort, which will grow by 71 people to reach 613 from an initial 541. Meanwhile, declines are expected in the 65 to 74 and 35 to 44 age brackets.