Dodges Ferry
A 21.0% vacancy rate is the standout signal in Dodges Ferry, a coastal settlement of 2646 people where 99.6% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with nearby Lewisham and Carlton, its numbers point more to a low-density owner-occupier market than a rental-led one: 34.3% own outright and 46.6% are paying a mortgage. The median age is 43, 3.0 years above national, while household income sits at the 41.0 percentile, so the suburb reads as established, car-reliant and aging rather than high-income.
Local council: Sorell
Population
2,646
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,412/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are mainly buying land and detached housing, because 99.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 51.5% have 3 bedrooms. The affordability picture is steadier than many mortgage-belt areas: the median mortgage is $1300 a month and mortgage costs take 21.3% of income, with the stress flag false. Household income at the 41.0 percentile is below the national middle, so buyers should weigh cheaper holding costs against limited dwelling variety and a car-driver commute share of 80.6%.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are mainly buying land and detached housing, because 99.6% of dwellings are separate houses and 51.5% have 3 bedrooms. The affordability picture is steadier than many mortgage-belt areas: the median mortgage is $1300 a month and mortgage costs take 21.3% of income, with the stress flag false. Household income at the 41.0 percentile is below the national middle, so buyers should weigh cheaper holding costs against limited dwelling variety and a car-driver commute share of 80.6%.
For Investors
Investors face a smaller rental market than the owner-occupier base: 17.3% of households rent, compared with 34.3% owned outright and 46.6% mortgaged. Weekly rent is $340 and rent-to-income is 24.1%, so tenant affordability is not flagged as stressed. The warning sign is vacancy at 21.0%, higher than the tight-rental story many Tasmanian coastal areas have had, and 0 development approvals over 12 months suggest supply change is not coming through new builds.
Demographics
Dodges Ferry is older and more locally born than the national pattern. The median age is 43, which is 3.0 years above national, while 9.5% were born overseas, 12.1 percentage points below national. University attainment is 26.9%, below national by 3.2 points, aligning with a workforce that includes many trades and care roles. English ancestry is the largest group at 1186 people, followed by Irish at 306 and Scottish at 251, and average household size is 2.4, 0.1 below national.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.6%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is unusually concentrated: 99.6% separate houses, with 51.5% 3-bedroom homes and 20.6% with 4 or more bedrooms. Renting at 17.3% is lower than the combined owner share, because 34.3% own outright and 46.6% have a mortgage. Holding costs look moderate for residents, with $1300 monthly mortgage payments taking 21.3% of income and $340 weekly rent taking 24.1%. The lack of apartment and semi-detached figures reinforces a detached-dominant market rather than a mixed-density one.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$340
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$775
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
21.0%
Unoccupied
273
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.9%
Couples with children
44.0%
Couples, no children
18.7%
Single parent
739
Total families
Economy & Employment
Local employment leans practical and public-service oriented. Healthcare is the largest industry at 19.0% and 164 workers, followed by Construction at 16.0% and 138, Education at 13.4% and 116, Public Admin at 9.8% and 85, and Professional/Tech at 7.4% and 64. Trades are the top occupation group at 244, slightly ahead of Professionals at 229. SEIFA shows the contrast: IEO decile 3 and IRSAD decile 3 sit below the state middle, while IER decile 5 is higher, suggesting resources are steadier than education and occupation scores.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
1,343
Unemployed
64
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.1%
Part-time
39.1%
Participation
62.0%
Employed
1,279
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.9%
Postgraduate
6.1%
Born Overseas
9.5%
Dwellings
1,028
Transport to Work
Daily life in Dodges Ferry is car-led. Car drivers account for 80.6% of commuting, far higher than public transport at 1.9% and walking or cycling at 2.5%, because the suburb is low-density at 411.8 people per sq km and separated from larger job centres. Working from home is 9.0%, which helps some households offset travel. IRSAD decile 3 is below the national middle, but volunteering at 17.8% and 80.9% residential stability point to established local routines. Crime-rate figures are not available, so buyers should check current local reports.
Drive
80.6%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
9.0%
Growth Outlook
Growth is steady rather than speculative. The annual trend is 1.63%, and the 10-year population change is 20.4%, compared with the suburb's established character and 0 recent development approvals. Migration is classified as Balanced, so growth is not dependent on a single inflow source. The shift trajectory is Aging: senior share is up 6.8 points while young share is down 3.3 points. Gentrification is at Early signs with a score of 24, because income growth of 15.6% and rent growth of 46.7% have not yet turned into a broad redevelopment cycle.
Population trend: Sorell council area
Dodges Ferry sits in the Sorell council area. These are the council area's residents, not Dodges Ferry's.
Residents 2025
18,108
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.4%
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 Dodges Ferry compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dodges Ferry a good suburb to live in?
Dodges Ferry suits buyers wanting detached housing and coastal space, with 99.6% separate houses and a median age of 43. It is less suited to car-free living, because 80.6% drive to work and only 1.9% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Dodges Ferry?
The current median house price for Dodges Ferry is not stated, so recent settled sales should be checked before bidding. Housing is still clearly detached-led, with 99.6% separate houses and a $1300 median monthly mortgage.
What schools are in Dodges Ferry?
Dodges Ferry has 0 schools within the suburb boundary. Families should plan for travel to nearby education options, which matters because 80.6% of workers already commute by car and public transport use is only 1.9%.
Is Dodges Ferry safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Dodges Ferry. Practical safety checks should include recent police updates and street inspections, while the local population of 2646 and 80.9% stayed-put rate indicate a settled residential base.
Is Dodges Ferry good for property investment?
Dodges Ferry has investment appeal through $340 weekly rent and 46.7% rent growth, but the rental base is modest at 17.3%. The main caution is the 21.0% vacancy rate, which is higher than investors usually want.
How is Dodges Ferry's population changing?
Dodges Ferry has 2646 residents today and has been growing steadily, with a 10-year population change of 20.4% and an annual trend of 1.63%. The trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 6.8 points and young share down 3.3 points.
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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