Cressy
Agriculture dominates 36.2% of local employment in Cressy, making it one of the most farming-intensive suburbs in Tasmania, spread across 589 square kilometres with a density of just 1.9 people per km2. The population of 1,149 earns a median household income in the 30.9th percentile nationally, well below the national average, yet mortgage stress is absent: mortgage repayments consume only 21.3% of income. Ownership rates are high, with 35.5% owning outright and 37.3% on a mortgage, while the vacancy rate sits at 10.0%, above typical regional benchmarks. Median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, reflecting a relatively younger rural workforce.
Population
1,149
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,300/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Cressy has no recorded median house price in current data, which reflects the thinly traded nature of a 1,149-person rural market rather than an absence of value. Weekly rent is $230 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,200, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.8% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 1.2% and no recorded apartments. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 55.9% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 26.6%, higher than national average, which suits farming families. Outright ownership at 35.5% is strong, suggesting the existing owner base is established and debt-free, a typical pattern in regional agricultural communities.
For Buyers
Cressy has no recorded median house price in current data, which reflects the thinly traded nature of a 1,149-person rural market rather than an absence of value. Weekly rent is $230 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,200, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 98.8% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 1.2% and no recorded apartments. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 55.9% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes accounting for 26.6%, higher than national average, which suits farming families. Outright ownership at 35.5% is strong, suggesting the existing owner base is established and debt-free, a typical pattern in regional agricultural communities.
For Investors
A 27.2% renter share and $230 weekly rent define the investment baseline in Cressy. The 10.0% vacancy rate is elevated compared to metropolitan averages, signalling modest rental demand relative to supply in this rural market. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, indicating a static supply environment with no near-term oversupply risk from new builds. The low mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3% and rent-to-income at 17.7% suggest affordability is not a barrier for tenants or buyers, which can support rental stability. Household income sits in the 30.9th percentile nationally, so rent growth is constrained by local income capacity rather than demand pressure from high earners.
Schools in Cressy iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cressy District High School
K-12 · 415 students
Demographics
Cressy's median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, unusually young for a remote rural community, which may reflect farming families with children. Overseas-born residents stand at 9.8%, which is 11.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly locally born Anglo-Celtic population: English ancestry leads at 513 residents, followed by Scottish at 96 and Irish at 64. University qualifications reach just 17.3%, which is 12.8 points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar agricultural workforce where trade qualifications and practical skills matter more than degrees. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure. Couples with children make up 362 of 855 total families, representing 42.3%, higher than the couples-without-children share of 31.7%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.8%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split in Cressy leans heavily toward ownership: 35.5% own outright, 37.3% carry a mortgage, and 27.2% rent. Outright owners and mortgage holders together represent 72.8% of dwellings, well above national ownership rates, typical of rural owner-occupier communities. The stock is almost exclusively separate houses at 98.8%, with no apartments recorded, meaning buyers face a uniform detached-dwelling market. Three-bedroom homes at 55.9% are the dominant type, and 4-plus bedroom homes account for a notable 26.6%, reflecting the need for larger family homes on farm properties. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,200 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3% indicate that current owners are not under financial pressure, despite household income sitting in the 30.9th national income percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,200
Rent / wk
$230
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$751
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.0%
Unoccupied
48
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.7%
Couples, no children
855
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture is the economic foundation of Cressy, accounting for 36.2% of local employment, far above the national industry share, which is consistent with the suburb's rural location in Tasmania's northern midlands. Healthcare follows at 15.7% and Construction at 10.9%, providing secondary employment anchors. By occupation, Labourers lead at 137 workers, followed by Managers at 119 and Machinery and Drivers at 71, a profile typical of a working agricultural community. Full-time employment runs at 66.4% and the unemployment rate is just 1.4%, indicating near-full employment among those participating. The participation rate of 61.6% is moderate, with 246 residents not in the labour force, partly explained by the family and retiree composition of a small rural town.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.4%
Part-time
32.2%
Participation
61.6%
Employed
559
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.3%
Postgraduate
2.1%
Born Overseas
9.8%
Dwellings
423
Transport to Work
Car reliance defines daily life in Cressy, with 80.1% of residents commuting by private vehicle, above the national average, while only 5.7% use public transport, reflecting the limited service provision across 589 square kilometres of rural Tasmania. Walking and cycling account for a surprisingly active 8.6% of commuters. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families with children depend on schools in neighbouring towns, which is common across sparsely populated Tasmanian rural areas. Crime data is not available for Cressy. Volunteering runs at 15.5% of residents and only 4.0% require daily assistance, both indicators of a self-sufficient, connected rural population. Rent-to-income at 17.7% keeps rental housing affordable by national standards.
Drive
80.1%
Public Transport
5.7%
Walk / Cycle
8.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cressy compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cressy a good suburb to live in?
Cressy suits those seeking a quiet agricultural lifestyle in rural Tasmania. Household income sits in the 30.9th national percentile, but housing costs are low: mortgage repayments average $1,200 a month and rent is $230 a week, with mortgage-to-income at 21.3%, well below the stress threshold. The main trade-offs are limited public transport and no schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Cressy?
No current median house price is recorded for Cressy, reflecting the thinly traded nature of this 1,149-person rural market. Weekly rent averages $230 and monthly mortgage repayments run $1,200. The mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.3%, indicating affordable repayments relative to local incomes in the 30.9th national percentile.
What schools are in Cressy?
No schools are recorded within the Cressy suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby towns across Tasmania's northern midlands. University qualifications in Cressy reach 17.3%, which is 12.8 points below the national figure, consistent with a rural community where trade and agricultural skills are more common.
Is Cressy safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Cressy in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the unemployment rate is low at 1.4%, only 4.0% of residents need daily assistance, and residential mobility is stable with 82.6% of residents staying in the same location year to year, all consistent with a settled, low-stress community.
Is Cressy good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $230 and a 27.2% renter share provide a rental base, but the 10.0% vacancy rate is elevated compared to metropolitan averages. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so supply growth is negligible. Household income in the 30.9th national percentile constrains rent growth, making this a yield-stable rather than high-growth investment market.
How is Cressy's population changing?
Cressy's population of 1,149 reflects a stable rural community with low turnover: 82.6% of residents stayed in the same location over the prior year. The suburb spans 589 square kilometres at a density of 1.9 people per km2. No forecast growth data is available, and no development activity was recorded in the most recent 12-month period.
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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