Deloraine
With a median age of 50, Deloraine sits 10 years above the national figure, making it one of Tasmania's more distinctly older communities. Household income ranks at just the 12.6th percentile nationally, and both IRSD and IRSAD sit at decile 2, indicating well below average socioeconomic advantage compared to most Australian suburbs. Yet against that backdrop, 46.2% of households own their home outright, higher than mortgage holders at 25.2%, pointing to long-established owner-occupiers with paid-down debt. Separate houses dominate at 92.5% of all dwellings, and rent-to-income at 24.5% remains below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes being among the lowest nationally.
Population
3,035
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$990/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median house price data is not available for Deloraine in this period, but the monthly mortgage repayment figure of $1,203 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% suggest purchase prices are low enough that repayments stay below the 30% stress threshold even on below-average incomes. Outright ownership at 46.2% exceeds mortgage holders at 25.2%, which is consistent with an older, settled owner base rather than recent buyer turnover. The dwelling stock is almost entirely separate houses at 92.5%, with semi-detached at 6.3%, so buyers will find a deep supply of three-bedroom homes, which account for 50.6% of dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes reach 21.3%, above the norm for a small regional town, indicating larger farmhouse-style properties within the 90.13 km2 boundary.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for Deloraine in this period, but the monthly mortgage repayment figure of $1,203 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% suggest purchase prices are low enough that repayments stay below the 30% stress threshold even on below-average incomes. Outright ownership at 46.2% exceeds mortgage holders at 25.2%, which is consistent with an older, settled owner base rather than recent buyer turnover. The dwelling stock is almost entirely separate houses at 92.5%, with semi-detached at 6.3%, so buyers will find a deep supply of three-bedroom homes, which account for 50.6% of dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes reach 21.3%, above the norm for a small regional town, indicating larger farmhouse-style properties within the 90.13 km2 boundary.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $243 is low in absolute terms, reflecting the 12.6th percentile household income base, but the vacancy rate of 8.1% is the more pressing concern for investors. That rate signals a softer tenant market than most regional centres. On the positive side, rents grew 36.1% over the measured period, outpacing real income growth of 19.2%, which means yields have compressed on purchase prices while rents expanded. Net migration averages 21 internal and 31 overseas arrivals per year, providing a modest but steady demand base. The renter share of 28.6% and population growth of 0.63% annually are both modest. Investors considering Deloraine should weigh the rent growth trajectory against the structural vacancy and low income ceiling on tenant affordability.
Schools in Deloraine iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School
Prep-6 · 73 students
Deloraine Primary School
K-6 · 285 students
Deloraine High School
7-12 · 235 students
Demographics
The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, driven by a senior share that rose 6.0 points over the decade while the young adult share fell 3.9 points. This aging trajectory is one of the most pronounced signals in the brief. Overseas-born residents account for 14.4%, which is 7.2 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly locally-born population. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, with English (1,427), Irish (334) and Scottish (282) the top three groups. University qualifications reach 23.1%, which is 7.0 points below the national figure, consistent with a regional workforce oriented toward trade and care sectors. Average household size of 2.2 is 0.3 below national, typical of an aging population where couples without children and single-person households are more common.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.5%
Houses
6.3%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 92.5% of the housing stock, one of the highest proportions you will find in any Tasmanian suburb, while semi-detached dwellings fill just 6.3%. Three-bedroom homes are the dominant type at 50.6%, with four-plus bedrooms at 21.3% and two-bedrooms at 22.5%. Tenure structure tilts toward outright ownership: 46.2% own free and clear, compared to 25.2% with a mortgage and 28.6% renting. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,203 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 28.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, which is notable given household incomes rank at just the 12.6th percentile nationally. Rent-to-income at 24.5% is also below stress levels. The vacancy rate of 8.1% indicates there is more rental stock available than active tenants, which keeps downward pressure on weekly rents at $243.
Mortgage / mo
$1,203
Rent / wk
$243
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$559
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.1%
Unoccupied
111
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.0%
Couples, no children
2,205
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 20.0% of local employment (143 workers), well above Agriculture at 9.9%, Construction at 9.7%, Education at 8.3% and Retail at 8.1%. By occupation, Managers lead at 210 workers, followed by Community and Personal Services (180), Labourers (174) and Professionals (159). The occupational mix, skewing toward frontline services and trades rather than knowledge roles, aligns with the IEO score of decile 3, which measures education and occupation advantage. The unemployment rate of 6.1% is above average nationally, and the participation rate of 46.0% is low because 1,193 residents are not in the labour force, a direct consequence of the 50-year median age. Full-time employment runs at 55.9% of those employed, and real income grew 19.2% over the decade, though from a low base at the 12.6th household income percentile.
Unemployment
3.0%
Labour Force
3,029
Unemployed
90
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.9%
Part-time
38.0%
Participation
46.0%
Employed
1,121
Occupations
Top Industries
University
23.1%
Postgraduate
4.9%
Born Overseas
14.4%
Dwellings
1,244
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 85.5% of commuters driving, while only 1.0% use public transport, consistent with a regional town across a 90.13 km2 area. Walking and cycling account for 7.6%, above average for a rural setting, likely reflecting journeys within the town centre. The suburb scores decile 2 on IRSAD nationally, meaning it falls in the lower tier for relative advantage, and decile 3 on IEO, indicating below-average educational and occupational outcomes. Crime data is not available. Volunteering reaches 24.3%, above typical levels, which points to strong civic participation despite lower incomes. Rent-to-income at 24.5% keeps housing costs manageable for tenants relative to their earnings. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families would rely on schools in neighbouring areas. Assistance needs stand at 10.3% of residents (296 people), higher than average and linked to the older age profile.
Drive
85.5%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
7.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.63%/yr
(+40 people/yr)
EstablishedDeloraine is growing at 0.63% per year, adding roughly 40 persons annually. Population rose 9.4% over the past decade, and the medium forecast projects continued modest expansion from around 6,365 in 2026 to approximately 6,564 by 2031. The migration mix is balanced: net internal arrivals average 21 per year and overseas net arrivals average 31, together sustaining positive growth without dependence on a single source. However, the underlying demographic shift is an aging one, with the senior share up 6.0 points since 2011 and the working-age share down 2.0 points. Affordability has improved from 45.8% in 2011 to 42.5% in 2021, suggesting the suburb is becoming slightly more accessible relative to incomes. Resident stability is high, with 80% of residents staying in the same address, indicating low churn rather than speculative turnover.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+31
Net Internal / yr
+21
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Deloraine compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Deloraine a good suburb to live in?
Deloraine offers affordable housing with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% and rent-to-income of 24.5%, both below stress thresholds. It scores decile 2 on IRSAD nationally, indicating below-average socioeconomic advantage. The volunteering rate of 24.3% and 80% resident stability suggest a settled, committed community. The trade-offs are limited public transport (1% of commuters) and above-average unemployment at 6.1%.
What is the median house price in Deloraine?
Median house price data for Deloraine is not available in this period. However, average monthly mortgage repayments of $1,203 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 28.1% suggest purchase prices are among the most affordable in Tasmania. Weekly rent averages $243, and the vacancy rate of 8.1% reflects a softer rental market with more supply than demand.
What schools are in Deloraine?
No schools are recorded within the Deloraine suburb boundary in this dataset. Families with children would rely on schools in surrounding areas. The suburb's university qualification rate is 23.1%, which is 7.0 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the regional and trades-oriented workforce rather than a university-educated base.
Is Deloraine safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Deloraine in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 2 on IRSD, meaning it ranks in the lower tiers for socioeconomic advantage nationally, which tends to correlate with higher crime exposure than decile 8-10 suburbs. The high volunteering rate of 24.3% and low residential turnover of 20% suggest community cohesion.
Is Deloraine good for property investment?
Rents grew 36.1% over the measured period, outpacing real income growth of 19.2%, which signals improving rental returns from a low base of $243 per week. However, the vacancy rate of 8.1% is above average and the tenant pool is constrained by a household income base at the 12.6th percentile nationally. Net migration of 52 persons per year (21 internal, 31 overseas) provides modest but consistent demand support.
How is Deloraine's population changing?
Population is growing at 0.63% per year, adding around 40 persons annually. Over the past decade the suburb grew 9.4%. Medium forecasts project continued expansion from roughly 6,365 in 2026 to about 6,564 by 2031. The key structural shift is aging: the senior share rose 6.0 points since 2011 while the young adult share fell 3.9 points, and the median age is already 50, which is 10 years above the national figure.
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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