Sheffield - Railton
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Sheffield - Railton's population is approximately 6,943 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 324 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,619. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates of 6,905 in June 2024 and 79 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 6.0 persons per square kilometer. Sheffield - Railton's growth rate of 4.9% since the 2021 census exceeds both the SA4 region (4.7%) and the state average, indicating it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 96.0% of 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 post-2032 growth by age group, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 using 2021 as the base year are adopted with adjustments made via weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Based on projected demographic shifts, non-metropolitan areas nationally are anticipated to have lower quartile growth. The area is expected to grow by 84 persons to 2041, recording a total gain of 0.7% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Sheffield - Railton when compared nationally

Sheffield - Railton has seen approximately 29 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, with a total of 147 homes approved between FY-21 and FY-25, and one home approved so far in FY-26. On average, around 2.9 people have moved to the area per new home constructed each year during this period, indicating strong demand which may support property values. The average construction cost of these new homes has been $248,000.

In terms of commercial development, $19.2 million in approvals have been registered during FY-26, suggesting moderate levels of activity. Compared to the rest of Tasmania, Sheffield - Railton has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it within the 50th percentile nationally. All newly constructed dwellings have been detached homes, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character and appealing to those seeking family homes with space.

With an estimated 340 people in the area for each dwelling approval, the development environment is quiet and low-activity. Population forecasts indicate that Sheffield - Railton will gain approximately 46 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current projections.

Sheffield - Railton has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 11thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include Don Irrigation Scheme, North West Hospitals Masterplan - Mersey Community Hospital, Bass Highway Cool Storage Development, and Latrobe Flood Levees Project. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Sheffield - Railton has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Sheffield-Railton has a diverse workforce with both white and blue-collar jobs, predominantly in manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.7%, lower than the Tasmanian average of 3.9%.

In June 2025, 3277 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.5% compared to Tasmania's 3.9%. Workforce participation was at 53.1%, slightly below Tasmania's 55.7%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and accommodation & food services. Agriculture, forestry & fishing have a higher employment share than the regional average, while health care & social assistance is underrepresented with only 13% of the workforce compared to Tasmania's 16.5%.

Employment opportunities may be limited locally as indicated by Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2%, labour force by 2.3%, while unemployment remained unchanged. In comparison, Rest of Tas. saw a 0.5% decline in employment and 0.6% decrease in labour force with marginal unemployment fall. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sheffield-Railton's industry mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.5% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Sheffield - Railton is lower than average on a national basis. The median income is $43,798 while the average income stands at $50,331. This contrasts with Rest of Tas.'s figures where the median income is $47,358 and the average income is $57,384. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates as of September 2025 would be approximately $49,855 (median) and $57,292 (average). Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Sheffield - Railton all fall between the 12th and 14th percentiles nationally. The data shows that 28.7% of the population (1,992 individuals) fall within the $800 - 1,499 income range, differing from the metropolitan region where the $1,500 - 2,999 category predominates at 28.5%. While housing costs are modest with 88.5% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 19th percentile nationally.

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

Sheffield - Railton's dwelling structure, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 96.4% houses and 3.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Tas. had 90.3% houses and 9.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sheffield - Railton stood at 49.3%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (37.8%) or rented (12.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,253, lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,300. The median weekly rent figure for Sheffield - Railton was $230, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $250. Nationally, mortgage repayments in Sheffield - Railton were significantly lower at $1,253 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Sheffield - Railton has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 72.2% of all households, including 26.6% couples with children, 36.6% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 27.8%, with lone person households at 25.1% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 15.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 10.0% and certificates at 32.2%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 2.4% in tertiary education. The area has educational provisions such as Sheffield School and Wilmot Primary School, serving a total of 407 students. Educational conditions vary across the area, with a mix of 1 primary and 1 K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 5.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 14.1, leading many families to travel for schooling.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Sheffield - Railton faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46%, covering about 3,207 people, compared to 48.3% across the Rest of Tas. The national average is 55.3%.

Arthritis and mental health issues are most common, affecting 11.7% and 9.0% respectively. About 62.7% report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Rest of Tas.'s 61.1%. The area has a high proportion of seniors, with 24.8% aged 65 and over (1,718 people).

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

Sheffield-Railton, surveyed in 2016, had low cultural diversity with 88.5% citizens, 86.9% born in Australia, and 95.7% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion at 39.8%. Judaism, at 0.1%, was marginally higher than Rest of Tas's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups were English (33.6%), Australian (33.5%), and Scottish (7.7%). Notable divergences included Dutch (1.7% vs region's 1.4%), Australian Aboriginal (4.4% vs 4.7%), and Hungarian (0.3% vs 0.1%).

Sheffield - Railton hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Sheffield - Railton's median age is 49 years, significantly higher than the Rest of Tas. average of 45 and considerably older than the Australian median of 38. The 55-64 cohort is notably over-represented at 18.0% locally compared to the Rest of Tas. average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 9.4%. This concentration in the 55-64 age group is well above the national average of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 6.5% to 8.3% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 14.1% to 12.2%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 11.1% to 10.1%. By 2041, Sheffield - Railton is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 75 to 84 age group will grow by 40%, reaching 813 people from 579. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 56% of projected growth. Conversely, both the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.