Chigwell
A younger, house-led pocket north of Hobart, Chigwell has a median age of 33, which is 7 years below the national benchmark. Its 2,050 residents live at 681.2 people per sq km across 3.01 sq km, giving it a compact but still suburban feel. Compared with nearby Glenorchy and Claremont, Chigwell reads more residential because 81.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 81.0% of commuters drive. Household income sits at the 27.1 percentile, so affordability matters more than prestige.
Local council: Glenorchy
Population
2,050
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,232/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
For homebuyers, Chigwell is defined by lower carrying costs rather than premium price signals: monthly mortgage costs are $1,300 and mortgage-to-income is 24.4%, below common stress levels. The housing stock is practical, with 81.0% separate houses and 68.2% three-bedroom dwellings, while 4-plus bedrooms make up only 10.0%. Ownership with a mortgage is 39.0%, higher than the 22.4% owned outright share, so the suburb suits buyers who need manageable repayments.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Chigwell is defined by lower carrying costs rather than premium price signals: monthly mortgage costs are $1,300 and mortgage-to-income is 24.4%, below common stress levels. The housing stock is practical, with 81.0% separate houses and 68.2% three-bedroom dwellings, while 4-plus bedrooms make up only 10.0%. Ownership with a mortgage is 39.0%, higher than the 22.4% owned outright share, so the suburb suits buyers who need manageable repayments.
For Investors
Investor demand has a clear rental base, with 37.7% of homes rented compared with 22.4% owned outright. Median rent is $300 a week, so yields depend heavily on purchase price discipline rather than high rent levels. Vacancy is 5.5%, which is above what a tight market usually looks like, and development activity is 0 approvals over 12 months, limiting new competition. The risk is that tenant demand is price-sensitive because household income is only at the 27.1 percentile.
Demographics
Chigwell is younger and more locally born than the national pattern: median age is 33, 7 years below national, and 14.5% were born overseas, 7.1 percentage points below national. University attainment is 20.1%, 10.0 points lower than national, which aligns with the occupations mix. English ancestry is the largest group at 835 people, followed by Irish at 171 and Scottish at 154. No religion leads with 1,056 people, compared with 717 identifying with Christianity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
81.0%
Houses
12.7%
Townhouse
6.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing in Chigwell is detached-dominant and family-sized: 81.0% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 12.7% semi-detached and 6.3% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 68.2%, so the suburb is more about standard family stock than large executive housing. Tenure is evenly contested, with 39.0% mortgaged and 37.7% renting, while 22.4% is owned outright. Rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income are both 24.4%, below acute stress settings, which supports affordability.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$667
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
47
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.9%
Couples with children
28.3%
Couples, no children
33.3%
Single parent
523
Total families
Economy & Employment
Chigwell's workforce leans into essential and hands-on sectors. Healthcare is the largest industry at 21.4%, followed by construction at 12.7%, education at 9.8%, public admin at 8.7% and hospitality at 7.8%. Occupations reinforce that pattern, with 160 trades workers, 153 community and personal service workers, and 150 labourers. The unemployment rate is 8.1% and participation is 61.0%. SEIFA sits below average across all 4 measures, with IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD each in decile 2.
Unemployment
8.1%
Labour Force
981
Unemployed
79
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
57.2%
Part-time
36.4%
Participation
61.0%
Employed
902
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.1%
Postgraduate
7.5%
Born Overseas
14.5%
Dwellings
805
Transport to Work
Chigwell is car-oriented, with 81.0% of commuters driving, well above public transport use at 5.8%. Walking and cycling account for 1.8% and working from home is 3.1%, so daily convenience depends on road access to Glenorchy services and the wider Hobart network. Density of 681.2 people per sq km over 3.01 sq km keeps trips relatively short, but the IRSAD decile of 2 is below average, meaning household resources are thinner than in more advantaged suburbs.
Drive
81.0%
Public Transport
5.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
3.1%
Growth Outlook
Growth pressure looks steady rather than speculative. The annual trend is 0.57%, the 10-year population change is 7.6%, and the trajectory is Stable, so demand is rising but not running ahead of the suburb's established housing pattern. Overseas migration is the primary driver, which can lift rental demand when arrivals are strong. Rent growth of 67.6% and affordability moving from 39.5 to 44.6 show pressure above income comfort, while the current gentrification score is 0 and stage is Not gentrifying.
Population trend: Glenorchy council area
Chigwell sits in the Glenorchy council area. These are the council area's residents, not Chigwell's.
Residents 2025
50,450
Growth, 5 yr average
-0.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.5%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Chigwell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chigwell a good suburb to live in?
Chigwell can suit households wanting detached housing and lower carrying costs, with 81.0% separate houses and mortgage-to-income at 24.4%. The trade-off is higher car reliance, with 81.0% driving, and household income at the 27.1 percentile.
What is the median house price in Chigwell?
A reliable median house price is not available for Chigwell, so recent settled sales should be checked before making an offer. Local affordability context is $300 weekly rent, $1,300 monthly mortgage costs, and 24.4% for both rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income.
What schools are in Chigwell?
School choice should be checked address by address with current Tasmanian catchment advice. Chigwell covers 3.01 sq km and has 2,050 residents, so commute times and enrolment options can differ compared with nearby Glenorchy or Claremont.
Is Chigwell safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Chigwell, so safety should be checked street by street and at inspection time. The suburb has 2,050 residents across 3.01 sq km, and local conditions can vary compared with broader Glenorchy area averages.
Is Chigwell good for property investment?
Chigwell has rental depth, with 37.7% of homes rented and median rent at $300 a week. Investors should price carefully because vacancy is 5.5%, above tight-market conditions, while 0 development approvals over 12 months limits new local supply.
How is Chigwell's population changing?
Chigwell has 2,050 residents today, with the broader growth trend running at 0.57% a year and a 10-year population change of 7.6%. The trajectory is Stable, and overseas migration is the primary driver rather than a large local development cycle.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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