Battery Point
Half the dwellings in Battery Point are apartments yet the vacancy rate sits at 19.7%, a signal that this compact 0.68 km2 peninsula is used very differently from typical residential suburbs. The 2,096 residents lean professional and highly educated, with 65.3% holding university qualifications, which is 35.2 percentage points above the national figure. Median age of 43 runs 3 years above national, average household size is 2.0 compared to the national 2.5, and 50.6% of residents walk or cycle to work rather than drive, reflecting a walkable inner-Hobart location where car ownership is lower than almost anywhere in Tasmania.
Population
2,096
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,891/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median house price data is not captured in this dataset for Battery Point, so buyers should consult current sales records directly. What the census data does show is that only 35.2% of dwellings are separate houses, with 48.6% apartments and 16.1% semi-detached or terrace homes, meaning genuine detached houses compete for limited supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many comparable inner-city suburbs nationally. Outright owners account for 39% of households compared to just 12.8% with mortgages, suggesting long-held owner-occupier wealth rather than heavy recent debt. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 42.4% of stock, with 3-bedroom at 25.9% and 4-plus at 17.6%.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not captured in this dataset for Battery Point, so buyers should consult current sales records directly. What the census data does show is that only 35.2% of dwellings are separate houses, with 48.6% apartments and 16.1% semi-detached or terrace homes, meaning genuine detached houses compete for limited supply. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is lower than many comparable inner-city suburbs nationally. Outright owners account for 39% of households compared to just 12.8% with mortgages, suggesting long-held owner-occupier wealth rather than heavy recent debt. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 42.4% of stock, with 3-bedroom at 25.9% and 4-plus at 17.6%.
For Investors
At 48.2%, Battery Point's renter share is substantially higher than the national average of around 31%, giving landlords a large tenant pool. Weekly rent averages $450, and rent-to-income at 23.8% keeps the market comfortable for tenants without signalling distress. However, the 19.7% vacancy rate is high, pointing to genuine oversupply in the apartment segment, which makes up 48.6% of all dwellings. Development activity is very low at just 4 applications in the past 12 months, with one notable application for 8 new multiple dwellings. Net population of 2,096 in 0.68 km2 keeps density at 3,094 per km2, high by Hobart standards, but the turnover rate of 37.4% means demand cycles through renters regularly rather than building a stable long-term base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Battery Point iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Albuera Street Primary School
K-6 · 252 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, and the household composition reflects this: 53.2% of families are couples without children, and average household size of 2.0 is 0.5 below national. University qualifications reach 65.3%, which sits 35.2 percentage points above the national average, making Battery Point one of the most educated suburbs in Tasmania. Overseas-born residents account for 34.6%, running 13 percentage points above national. Ancestry is led by English (900 residents), Scottish (273) and Irish (254), with Chinese at 184. The volunteering rate of 27.6% is well above typical suburban levels, consistent with an engaged, affluent professional community. Only 3.7% of residents need daily assistance despite the older median age.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
35.2%
Houses
16.1%
Townhouse
48.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Battery Point's housing profile is apartment-dominant, with 48.6% of dwellings being apartments and only 35.2% separate houses, a reversal of the typical Australian suburban split. Two-bedroom units account for 42.4% of stock, the most common configuration, followed by 3-bedroom at 25.9% and studio or 1-bedroom at 14.2%. Ownership patterns are notable: 39% own outright versus just 12.8% carrying a mortgage, a ratio that suggests established, long-tenure owners rather than recent purchasers. Renters at 48.2% are nearly half the suburb. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,733 are moderate compared to mainland capitals, and at 21.2% of household income they remain below the stress threshold. The 19.7% vacancy rate is the key risk signal for this market, indicating more supply than current demand can absorb.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,080
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.7%
Unoccupied
244
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
53.2%
Couples, no children
1,213
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 22.4% of employed residents (198 workers), followed by Education at 13.3% (117) and Professional/Technical services at 12.6% (111). Hospitality employs 10% and Public Administration 9.6%, a profile that reflects proximity to Hobart's CBD and government precinct. By occupation, Professionals make up the largest group at 467 workers, with Managers at 190 and Clerical/Admin at 112. The full-time employment rate of 58.2% is moderate, with part-time at 439 workers reflecting significant flexibility in the workforce. Unemployment sits at 6.2%, above the national headline rate, partly because the labour force participation of 58.5% is lower than typical, with 668 residents not in the labour force, consistent with the older median age. Household income ranks at the 70.6th percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.2%
Part-time
35.6%
Participation
58.5%
Employed
1,050
Occupations
Top Industries
University
65.3%
Postgraduate
26.0%
Born Overseas
34.6%
Dwellings
985
Transport to Work
Battery Point's most distinctive livability trait is walkability: 50.6% of residents walk or cycle to work, well above the national average, because the suburb sits within walking distance of Hobart's CBD and waterfront. Only 2% use public transport and 42.3% drive, lower car dependence than almost any other Tasmanian suburb. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Hobart institutions. Crime statistics are not available for Battery Point in the current dataset. Rent-to-income at 23.8% and mortgage-to-income at 21.2% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes despite the desirable inner-city location. Household income at the 70.6th percentile nationally supports a comfortable cost-of-living position.
Drive
42.3%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
50.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Battery Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Battery Point a good suburb to live in?
Battery Point ranks in the 70.6th percentile nationally for household income and has 65.3% of residents with university qualifications, which is 35.2 points above the national average. The suburb's walkability stands out, with 50.6% of residents walking or cycling to work. The main trade-off is a 19.7% vacancy rate in its apartment-dominant housing stock, which signals that the suburb is relatively quiet rather than intensely in demand.
What is the median house price in Battery Point?
Median house price data is not available for Battery Point in this dataset. What is known is that monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.2%, below the 30% stress threshold. Only 35.2% of dwellings are separate houses, so detached property is scarce and buyers should verify current market prices directly.
What schools are in Battery Point?
No schools are recorded inside the Battery Point suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in nearby Hobart suburbs. Despite this, the suburb has one of the highest education profiles in Tasmania, with 65.3% of residents holding university qualifications, running 35.2 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Battery Point safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Battery Point in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, household income sits at the 70.6th percentile nationally and only 3.7% of the 2,096 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, professionally oriented inner-city area. Walkability and community engagement, reflected in a 27.6% volunteering rate, are also positive indicators.
Is Battery Point good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $450 and a 48.2% renter share give landlords a large tenant base, and the rent-to-income ratio of 23.8% suggests tenants can sustain current rents. However, a 19.7% vacancy rate is a significant caution signal, indicating more supply than demand in the current apartment-dominant market. Development activity is low at 4 applications in 12 months, so new supply is not the driver of that vacancy.
How is Battery Point's population changing?
Battery Point has a population of 2,096 in a 0.68 km2 footprint, giving a density of 3,094 residents per km2. The suburb's high turnover rate of 37.4% means the population cycles through regularly rather than growing, and the 19.7% vacancy rate suggests overall household demand is flat or declining rather than expanding.
What languages are spoken in Battery Point?
About 34.6% of Battery Point residents were born overseas, which is 13 percentage points above the national average. The most common non-English languages are Mandarin (45 speakers), Nepali (15), Arabic (13) and Cantonese (13), reflecting a small but internationally diverse population within a predominantly English-speaking community of 2,096 residents.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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