Carlton
A 15.1% vacancy rate in a suburb where 100% of dwellings are detached houses is the first thing that stands out about Carlton. Located in southern Tasmania (postcode 7173), this 1,363-person suburb scores a paradoxical combination on SEIFA: decile 10 on IEO (education and occupation advantage, nationally top tier) yet decile 3 on IRSD, indicating pockets of relative disadvantage. Household income sits at the 42.1st percentile nationally, below the median, while house prices reached $692,500 in YTD 2026. The suburb has grown 18.1% over 10 years, and affordability has improved from 93.9% in 2011 to 56.0% in 2021.
Population
1,363
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,425/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$692K
YTD 2026
Carlton's median house price reached $692,500 in YTD 2026, up from $625,000 in 2023 and $670,000 in 2025. Every dwelling in the suburb is a separate house, so buyers face a uniform stock profile with no apartments or semi-detached alternatives. Three-bedroom homes account for 54.9% of stock, four-plus bedrooms 18.3%, and two-bedroom homes 22.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,347, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. With 33.0% of residents owning outright and 50.1% carrying a mortgage, ownership dominates the tenure mix. The long-run CAGR of 8.4% over 29 years, from $65,000 in 1996 to $670,000 in 2025, reflects sustained capital growth that exceeds inflation.
For Buyers
Carlton's median house price reached $692,500 in YTD 2026, up from $625,000 in 2023 and $670,000 in 2025. Every dwelling in the suburb is a separate house, so buyers face a uniform stock profile with no apartments or semi-detached alternatives. Three-bedroom homes account for 54.9% of stock, four-plus bedrooms 18.3%, and two-bedroom homes 22.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,347, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. With 33.0% of residents owning outright and 50.1% carrying a mortgage, ownership dominates the tenure mix. The long-run CAGR of 8.4% over 29 years, from $65,000 in 1996 to $670,000 in 2025, reflects sustained capital growth that exceeds inflation.
For Investors
With only 16.9% of residents renting and a weekly rent of $350, Carlton's yield profile is modest against a $692,500 median. The more concerning signal is the 15.1% vacancy rate, which is elevated compared to typical residential markets and suggests excess supply relative to current demand. The suburb shows early signs of gentrification, with a gentrification score of 20, driven by a 46.4% real income growth over the decade and an improving affordability trend. Rent growth reached 7.4% in recent periods. The working-age population share grew 9.4 points over the decade, which supports a stabilising rental demand base. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, meaning no new supply is entering the market imminently.
Demographics
Carlton's median age is 38, two years below the national average, which reflects a relatively working-age skew in a small community of 1,363 residents. Overseas-born residents make up just 9.8% of the population, 11.8 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the anglo-leaning identity. Ancestry is dominated by English (584 residents), Scottish (147), Irish (141) and German (60). University qualifications stand at 21.5%, which is 8.6 points below the national rate, while average household size of 2.4 is just 0.1 below national. Couples with children (403 families) outnumber couples without children (286), and the suburb has no one-parent families recorded, pointing to a predominantly family-oriented community. Volunteering reaches 16.0% of residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Carlton is defined by detached houses, with 100% of dwellings in that category and no apartments or semi-detached stock recorded. Three-bedroom homes make up 54.9% of all dwellings, reinforcing the family-home character. The price-to-income multiple has shifted considerably: the median house price climbed from $65,000 in 1996 to $670,000 in 2025, a 930.8% rise over 29 years, well above inflation. The current mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.8% and rent-to-income of 24.6% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, indicating housing costs remain manageable relative to local incomes. Outright owners at 33.0% and mortgage holders at 50.1% together represent 83.1% of households, well above the national renter share in similar-sized suburbs. The 15.1% vacancy rate stands out and warrants monitoring.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,347
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$746
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
15.1%
Unoccupied
91
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.5%
Couples, no children
1,004
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Carlton's employment base at 15.7% of workers (71 people), narrowly ahead of Construction at 15.5% (70 workers), with Education at 12.2%, Public Administration at 11.9% and Retail at 6.0% rounding out the top five industries. By occupation, Professionals (104) top the list, followed by Community and Personal service workers (90), Clerical and Administrative staff (80), Labourers (66) and Managers (64). The full-time employment rate is 61.0% and the unemployment rate is 4.0%, close to national levels. SEIFA presents a notable split: IEO decile 10 (education and occupation advantage at the highest national tier) combined with IRSD decile 3 suggests that while employed residents hold skilled roles, overall socioeconomic resources remain below the national median. Household income sits at the 42.1st percentile nationally.
Unemployment
6.7%
Labour Force
16,266
Unemployed
1,086
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
55.3%
Employed
580
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.5%
Postgraduate
4.4%
Born Overseas
9.8%
Dwellings
511
Transport to Work
Carlton is almost entirely car-dependent, with 89.6% of residents driving to work, compared to a national figure where active and public transport play a larger role. Public transport use reaches just 2.8% and walking or cycling 1.3%, reflecting the suburban and semi-rural character of a 7.95 km2 suburb with a density of 171.5 persons per km2. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby institutions. No crime rate data is available for Carlton in this dataset. The IRSAD decile of 8 places the suburb in a relatively advantaged position nationally, above the median on combined advantage and disadvantage measures. Only 7.3% of residents (92 people) need daily assistance, and mortgage and rent stress rates both remain below the 30% threshold.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
2.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.21%/yr
(+559 people/yr)
EstablishedCarlton's population grew 18.1% over 10 years, reaching 1,363 residents, and is forecast to continue growing. The suburb shows early signs of gentrification with a score of 20, driven by 46.4% real income growth over the decade and an improving affordability trend. The working-age share of the population grew 9.4 points while the senior share increased 2.8 points, indicating both aging and working-age attraction occurring simultaneously. Affordability improved from 93.9% in 2011 to 56.0% in 2021. Annual rent growth of 7.4% signals strengthening demand. The suburb's population mobility is low, with 83.8% of residents having stayed at the same address, suggesting established households rather than transient turnover, which historically supports steady price appreciation rather than speculative cycles.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+2,515
Net Internal / yr
-468
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Net internal outflow -468/yr, Strong overseas inflow +2515/yr, COVID recovered (-19% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Carlton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carlton a good suburb to live in?
Carlton ranks at IRSAD decile 8, above the national median for combined advantage and disadvantage. Mortgage-to-income at 21.8% and rent-to-income at 24.6% both sit below the 30% stress threshold. The 1,363-person suburb is 100% detached housing with low density at 171.5 persons per km2, suiting buyers who prefer space. Car dependency at 89.6% is the main practical trade-off for those without a vehicle.
What is the median house price in Carlton?
The median house price in Carlton, TAS is $692,500 as of YTD 2026, up from $625,000 in 2023 and $670,000 in 2025. The long-run CAGR has been 8.4% per year over 29 years, growing from $65,000 in 1996. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,347 based on current prices.
What schools are in Carlton?
No schools are recorded within the Carlton, TAS boundary in this dataset, with postcode 7173 covering a relatively small area of 7.95 km2 and 1,363 residents. Families typically access schools in neighbouring suburbs. University qualifications in Carlton stand at 21.5% of the adult population, which is 8.6 points below the national rate.
Is Carlton safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Carlton, TAS in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, the suburb scores IRSAD decile 8, placing it in the upper half nationally for advantage. Only 7.3% of residents (92 people) need daily assistance, and the 83.8% residential stability rate suggests a settled, established community rather than a high-turnover area.
Is Carlton good for property investment?
Carlton shows a long-run CAGR of 8.4% over 29 years from $65,000 to $670,000, which is a strong capital growth record. However, the 15.1% vacancy rate is elevated and the weekly rent of $350 against a $692,500 median implies a modest gross yield. Early gentrification signals and 46.4% real income growth over the decade support a medium-term outlook, but the high vacancy warrants caution on short-term rental income.
How is Carlton's population changing?
Carlton's population grew 18.1% over 10 years to reach 1,363 residents. Affordability improved from 93.9% in 2011 to 56.0% in 2021, and real income growth reached 46.4% over the decade, both signals of a suburb in transition. The working-age population share grew 9.4 points, while 83.8% of residents have stayed at the same address, indicating low turnover in the established base.
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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