Southern Midlands
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Southern Midlands' population is approximately 7,144 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 469 people, a rise of 7.0% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 6,675. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 6,982 in June 2024 and an additional 207 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 2.7 persons per square kilometer. Southern Midlands' growth rate exceeds the state average (4.5%) and that of non-metro areas, making it a region leader in population growth. Natural growth contributed approximately 47.2% to overall population gains recently, with all drivers including interstate and overseas migration being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, basing on the 2022 year. For areas not covered, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 with a 2021 base are adopted and adjusted using weighted aggregation methods. By 2041, projections show a decrease of 273 persons in total population. However, specific age cohorts like the 75 to 84 group are expected to grow by 239 people.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Southern Midlands among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Southern Midlands has received approximately 46 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports development approval data on a financial year basis. From FY21 to FY25, Southern Midlands totalled 232 approvals, with an additional 3 approved in FY26. Over these five years, each dwelling supported an average of 2.2 new residents annually, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $365,000 during this period. In the current financial year, commercial approvals have reached $16.5 million, demonstrating steady commercial investment activity in the region. Compared to the Rest of Tas., Southern Midlands exhibits moderately higher development activity, being 32.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years.

This balance supports both buyer choice and current property values. Recent building activity comprises exclusively detached houses, preserving the area's traditional low-density character and focusing on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. With approximately 140 people per approval, Southern Midlands reflects a developing area. Given stable or declining population forecasts, housing pressure in Southern Midlands may ease, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Southern Midlands has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely impacting this region. Notable projects include Ted Jeffries Memorial Park Upgrade (scheduled for completion in late 2024), Jordan River Learning Federation School Farm Upgrade starting Q2 2023, Brighton Town Square Development set to commence in early 2025, and Federal Government Growth Precinct Infrastructure Program - Brighton South, beginning construction in mid-2026. The following list details projects most likely relevant:.

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

Despite maintaining a low unemployment rate of 2.9%, Southern Midlands has experienced recent job losses, resulting in a below average employment performance ranking when compared nationally

Southern Midlands has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs, with prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%.

As of June 2025, 3156 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.1% lower than Rest of Tas.'s 3.9%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Tas.'s 55.7%. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, accommodation & food has lower representation at 4.1% versus the regional average of 7.7%. Local employment opportunities appear limited based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over June 2024 to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 5.0%, and employment fell by 5.4%, increasing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Tas., where employment contracted by 0.5% and unemployment fell marginally. State-level data to Sep-25 shows TAS employment grew by 0.77% year-on-year, adding 1170 jobs, with a state unemployment rate of 4.3%. National unemployment is 4.5%, with TAS's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Southern Midlands' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.6%% over five years and 12.1% over ten years, using a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in Southern Midlands is below the national average. The median income is $47,375 and the average income stands at $52,857. In contrast, Rest of Tas.'s figures show a median income of $47,358 and an average income of $57,384. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.94% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $53,032 (median) and $59,168 (average) as of March 2025. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Southern Midlands all fall between the 21st and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 31.2% of the community (2,228 individuals), aligning with regional levels where this cohort likewise represents 28.5%. While housing costs are modest with 87.2% of income retained, the total disposable income ranks at just the 27th percentile nationally.

Southern Midlands is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Southern Midlands' housing structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.5% houses and 1.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s 97.8% houses and 2.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Southern Midlands was at 41.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.4% and rented ones at 13.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, higher than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,200. Weekly rent median was $250, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $240. Nationally, Southern Midlands' mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $250 compared to the national figure of $375.

Southern Midlands has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.8% of all households, including 29.7% couples with children, 32.5% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 26.2%, with lone person households at 24.5% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Rest of Tas average of 2.4.

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

The area faces educational challenges with university qualification rates at 11.6%, substantially below the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 8.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.9% and graduate diplomas at 1.1%. Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 39.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificates at 31.4%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.7% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 2.2% pursuing tertiary education. Southern Midlands has 4 schools with a combined enrollment reaching 598 students while demonstrating varied educational conditions across the area. The educational mix includes 2 primary schools and 2 K-12 schools.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

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

Southern Midlands faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 47%, covering around 3,336 individuals, compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Arthritis and mental health issues are most common, affecting 11.6% and 9.7% respectively. About 62.5% report no medical ailments, similar to the Rest of Tas figure at 62.3%. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 21.3%, or 1,522 individuals.

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

Southern Midlands had a cultural diversity index below average. Its population was predominantly citizens (91.0%) and born in Australia (93.4%), with English spoken exclusively at home by 98.5%. Christianity was the primary religion, practiced by 50.9%, compared to 49.6% regionally.

The top three ancestral groups were Australian (36.7%), English (36.3%), and Irish (7.3%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher than regional averages at 4.9%.

Southern Midlands hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Southern Midlands has a median age of 44, which is comparable to the Rest of Tasmania's figure of 45 but significantly higher than the national norm of 38. The 55-64 age group makes up 15.6% of Southern Midlands' population compared to the Rest of Tasmania, while the 75-84 cohort is less prevalent at 6.6%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.5% to 6.6% of the population in Southern Midlands, whereas the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.7% to 12.4%. By 2041, Southern Midlands is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 75 to 84 group will grow by 43%, reaching 673 people from the current figure of 471. This aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and over comprising 76% of projected growth in Southern Midlands' population. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 65 to 74 age cohorts.