South Launceston
Statistical Area - sa2

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

South Launceston's population is approximately 4,896 as of Aug 2025. This marks an increase of 50 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 4,846. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 4,881 in Jun 2024 and 22 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,761 persons per square kilometer, higher than average national levels assessed by AreaSearch. South Launceston's 1.0% growth since census compares favorably to its SA3 area (3.6%), indicating strong fundamentals. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a 2022 base year. For areas not covered and post-2032 age group estimates, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 with a 2021 base year are used, adjusted via weighted aggregation. By 2041, South Launceston is projected to increase by 280 persons, reflecting a 5.4% total growth over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in South Launceston is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

South Launceston has received approximately 10 dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data from the ABS covers the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, totalling 54 approvals. As of FY26, four dwellings have been approved so far. The population decline in recent years has resulted in adequate development activity relative to other areas, benefiting buyers with more affordable housing options.

The average construction cost for new homes is $317,000, which is below the regional average. In this financial year, $10.2 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Tasmania, South Launceston has 51.0% fewer construction approvals per person, reflecting its mature and established nature, possibly due to planning constraints. Recent constructions consist of 88.0% detached houses and 12.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's suburban character and attracting space-seeking buyers. Developers are constructing more detached housing than previously indicated (72.0% at Census), suggesting strong demand for family homes.

With around 657 people per approval, South Launceston is expected to grow by 264 residents by 2041. Current development levels seem aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

South Launceston has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 12thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Launceston Hospice, Northern Heart Centre, Greater Launceston Water Improvements, and Launceston General Hospital Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 3.2%, South Launceston has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

South Launceston has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. As of June 2025, its unemployment rate is 3.2%.

The area's unemployment rate is 0.7% lower than the Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.9%, and its workforce participation rate is higher at 63.9% compared to Rest of Tas.'s 55.7%. Employment in South Launceston is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a particularly notable concentration in health care & social assistance, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 1.6% of employment compared to the regional average of 8.4%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between June 2024 and June 2025, South Launceston's labour force decreased by 1.5%, and employment decreased by 1.4%, leading to a fall in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Tas. saw employment contract by 0.5%, the labour force fall by 0.6%, and unemployment fall marginally. State-level data from Sep-25 shows that TAS employment grew by 0.77% year-on-year (adding 1,170 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.3%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, with TAS's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Launceston's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0%% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, although this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates South Launceston's median income among taxpayers is $51,428, with an average of $59,441. This is below the national average. Rest of Tas.'s median income is $47,358 and average is $57,384. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.94% since financial year 2022, estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $57,569 (median) and $66,538 (average). According to Census 2021 income data, personal income ranks at the 42nd percentile ($766 weekly), while household income is at the 26th percentile. The largest segment comprises 30.9% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,512 residents). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 26th percentile.

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

South Launceston's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 71.8% houses and 28.2% other dwellings such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro Tas., which had 82.1% houses and 17.9% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in South Launceston was 24.1%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (30.3%) or rented (45.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,290, lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,300. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $280. Nationally, South Launceston's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

South Launceston features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 57.3% of all households, including 21.6% couples with children, 23.7% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 42.7%, with lone person households at 36.7% and group households making up 5.9%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

Educational attainment in South Launceston aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

South Launceston's educational attainment is notably high, with 31.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 19.3% in the rest of Tasmania (Rest of Tas.) and 21.7% in the South Australian Statistical Division (SA4) region. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 20.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.6%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 31.6% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 22.9%. Educational participation is high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.1% in primary education, 5.9% in tertiary education, and 5.5% pursuing secondary education. Glen Dhu Primary School and John Calvin School serve the area collectively, catering to 469 students.

South Launceston demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1025) with balanced educational opportunities, comprising one primary and one K-12 school. However, school places per 100 residents (9.6) are below the regional average (18.4), indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

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

South Launceston has 32 active public transport stops currently operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes totalling 122 individual services. Every week, these routes collectively facilitate 9,333 passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport in the area is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 186 meters from their nearest stop. On average, service frequency across all routes amounts to 1,333 trips per day, which equates to approximately 291 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in South Launceston is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

South Launceston faces significant health challenges with a substantially higher prevalence of common health conditions compared to the average. This is particularly true for older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover in South Launceston is relatively low at approximately 50% of the total population (~2,423 people), while the national average stands at 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.2 and 10.1% of residents respectively. Notably, 64.8% of South Launceston residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.9% across the Rest of Tas.. The area has 16.0% of residents aged 65 and over (785 people), which is lower than the 19.9% in the Rest of Tas.. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to presenting some challenges compared to the broader population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in South Launceston was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

South Launceston had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 19.6% of its population born overseas and 13.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion in South Launceston, accounting for 35.7% of its people. Hinduism stood out as being notably overrepresented, making up 4.0% of South Launceston's population compared to 2.5% across the rest of Tasmania.

The top three ancestry groups were English at 31.5%, Australian at 28.1%, and Other at 9.1%. There were significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, with Dutch being overrepresented at 1.4% (compared to 2.0% regionally), Irish at 8.5% (versus 7.2%), and Sri Lankan at 0.2% (against 0.1%).

South Launceston's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in South Launceston is 35 years, which is considerably lower than the Rest of Tas.'s average of 45 and modestly under the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 21.2% of the population, while those aged 65-74 make up a comparatively smaller proportion at 7.2%, compared to Rest of Tas.. This concentration of individuals aged 25-34 is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of individuals aged 25 to 34 has grown from 19.1% to 21.2%, while those aged 35 to 44 increased from 13.3% to 15.1%. Conversely, the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 24 has declined from 12.1% to 10.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in South Launceston's age structure. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to increase solidly, expanding by 112 people (23%) from 500 to 613. Conversely, both the 55-64 and 35-44 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.