East Devonport
With all four SEIFA indexes sitting at decile 1, East Devonport ranks among the most disadvantaged suburbs nationally, yet 43% of residents rent at just $235 per week, well below the national average, making it one of Tasmania's most affordable coastal entry points. The population of 4,384 covers 12.14 km2 at a density of 361 residents per km2, lower than most urban areas. Household income lands in the 7.6th percentile nationally, meaning 92% of Australian suburbs earn more. The identity signals point to a detached-dominant, Anglo-leaning suburb on an aging trajectory with slow growth, where 85.7% of dwellings are separate houses and the median resident age of 44 sits 4 years above the national figure.
Population
4,384
Median Age
44.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$900/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median house price data is not available for East Devonport in this dataset, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,059, which implies a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting purchases remain serviceable for residents on local incomes. The housing stock is 85.7% separate houses and 9.6% semi-detached, with very few apartments, so buyers access detached housing at relatively accessible entry costs compared to mainland capitals. The bedroom split favours 3-bedroom homes at 55.4%, followed by 2-bedroom at 22.5% and 4-plus at 14.3%. Outright owners make up 34.2% of households while 22.8% carry a mortgage, a balance that reflects the suburb's older demographic and lower price base rather than high recent turnover.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for East Devonport in this dataset, but monthly mortgage repayments average $1,059, which implies a mortgage-to-income ratio of 27.2%, below the 30% stress threshold, suggesting purchases remain serviceable for residents on local incomes. The housing stock is 85.7% separate houses and 9.6% semi-detached, with very few apartments, so buyers access detached housing at relatively accessible entry costs compared to mainland capitals. The bedroom split favours 3-bedroom homes at 55.4%, followed by 2-bedroom at 22.5% and 4-plus at 14.3%. Outright owners make up 34.2% of households while 22.8% carry a mortgage, a balance that reflects the suburb's older demographic and lower price base rather than high recent turnover.
For Investors
A 43% renter share gives East Devonport one of the higher tenant proportions in regional Tasmania, and weekly rent of $235 sits at an affordable level that supports stable occupancy. However, a vacancy rate of 8.4% is elevated, signaling more supply than demand at present, which limits upward rent pressure. Population growth runs at 0.32% annually, adding roughly 17 residents per year, and the 10-year change is just 3.3%, so organic demand growth is slow. Net overseas migration averages 26 per year while internal migration averages 12, both modest numbers relative to mainland markets. Rents rose 38.8% over the measured period, well above real income growth of 9.8%, which has compressed affordability and may eventually support firmer vacancy rates if supply does not increase further.
Schools in East Devonport iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
East Devonport Primary School
K-6 · 198 students
Demographics
The median age of 44 is 4 years above the national figure, and the aging trajectory is clear: the senior share rose 6.4 points while the young share fell 4.5 points over the decade. University qualifications reach only 15.1%, which is 15 points below the national average, reflecting the workforce profile of a regional port and services area. Overseas-born residents account for 13.3%, which is 8.3 points below the national figure, and ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,797 residents), Scottish (375) and Irish (367). Average household size is 2.2, which is 0.3 below national, consistent with more couples without children (31% of families) and smaller family units in an older, slower-growing suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.7%
Houses
9.6%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The dominant tenure type is renting at 43%, above the national average for regional areas, while outright ownership sits at 34.2% and mortgages at 22.8%. Separate houses account for 85.7% of dwellings, the highest proportion across tenure types, and semi-detached at 9.6% covers most of the remainder. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 55.4%, followed by 2-bedroom at 22.5% and 4-plus at 14.3%. Rent-to-income sits at 26.1%, below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 27.2% is similarly comfortable, meaning housing costs remain proportionate to local incomes even at the suburb's low income base. The high renter share combined with an 8.4% vacancy rate points to a soft rental market where supply is running ahead of current demand.
Mortgage / mo
$1,059
Rent / wk
$235
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$518
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.4%
Unoccupied
163
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.0%
Couples, no children
3,040
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local employment base at 22.2% of workers (187 employed), followed by Retail at 8.8% and Agriculture at 8.5%, with Hospitality and Construction each contributing around 7.6-7.8%. By occupation, Labourers (371) form the largest group, well ahead of Community/Personal service workers (224), Sales (147), Professionals (138) and Machinery/Drivers (134). All four SEIFA indexes record decile 1, the lowest nationally, indicating concentrated disadvantage across education, employment, income and access to resources. The unemployment rate of 9.7% is well above national averages, and the participation rate of only 42.2% reflects the large share of residents not in the labour force (1,663 people). Real income growth was 9.8% over the decade, but personal weekly income of $518 remains far below national medians.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
7,216
Unemployed
415
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.5%
Part-time
36.8%
Participation
42.2%
Employed
1,377
Occupations
Top Industries
University
15.1%
Postgraduate
3.1%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
1,779
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high: 83.5% of residents drive to work, well above national averages, while only 5.4% use public transport and 2.7% walk or cycle, reflecting the dispersed layout across 12.14 km2. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families draw on institutions in neighbouring Devonport areas. All four SEIFA indexes score at decile 1 nationally, placing East Devonport among the most disadvantaged suburbs in Australia on measures of education, employment and economic resources. The suburb does show some offsetting strengths: rent-to-income of 26.1% and mortgage-to-income of 27.2% stay below stress thresholds, housing stress flags are not triggered, and 12.7% of residents volunteer, above what would be expected given the low-income profile. About 11.6% of residents (470 people) need daily assistance, higher than national averages.
Drive
83.5%
Public Transport
5.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.32%/yr
(+17 people/yr)
EstablishedEast Devonport is growing slowly, adding around 17 residents per year at a 0.32% annual rate. The 10-year population change of 3.3% is modest, and the medium-scenario forecast holds the population near 5,330 by 2031 from a 2025 base of 5,308. Migration is balanced: overseas arrivals average 26 per year and internal movement averages 12. The gentrification score of 15 places the suburb at the not gentrifying stage, consistent with decile 1 SEIFA scores that leave little room for the upward socioeconomic shift that precedes gentrification. Affordability has been broadly stable, moving from 42.9% in 2011 to 44.1% in 2021. Population mobility is moderate, with 76.9% of residents staying put and a 23.1% turnover rate, relatively stable for a rental-heavy suburb.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+26
Net Internal / yr
+12
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: -6% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How East Devonport compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Devonport a good suburb to live in?
East Devonport scores decile 1 on all four SEIFA indexes, ranking among Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs for education, employment and economic resources. That said, housing affordability is a genuine strength: rent averages $235 per week with rent-to-income at 26.1%, well below the 30% stress threshold. It suits buyers or renters seeking low-cost entry to a coastal regional area rather than a high-amenity urban market.
What is the median house price in East Devonport?
A median house price is not available in the current dataset for East Devonport. As a practical reference, average monthly mortgage repayments are $1,059, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 27.2%, below the 30% stress benchmark, suggesting purchase prices remain broadly serviceable on local incomes. Weekly rent averages $235.
What schools are in East Devonport?
No schools are recorded inside the East Devonport suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically draw on schools in the broader Devonport area. The suburb's university qualification rate of 15.1% is 15 points below the national average, reflecting the workforce rather than schooling availability in the wider region.
Is East Devonport safe?
Crime statistics specific to East Devonport are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 1 on IRSD, the index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage, placing it among the most disadvantaged nationally, which tends to correlate with higher crime rates in comparable areas. About 11.6% of residents (470 people) require daily assistance, above national norms.
Is East Devonport good for property investment?
The 43% renter share and affordable rent of $235 per week provide a stable tenant pool, but an 8.4% vacancy rate signals current oversupply. Population growth is slow at 0.32% per year, adding only 17 residents annually. Rents rose 38.8% over the measured period, well above real income growth of 9.8%, but the decile 1 SEIFA profile and 9.7% unemployment rate mean demand drivers are limited compared to higher-growth regional markets.
How is East Devonport's population changing?
The population is growing slowly, currently around 5,308 and forecast to reach approximately 5,330 by 2031. Annual growth is 0.32%, or about 17 people per year, with the 10-year change at just 3.3%. The profile is aging: the senior share rose 6.4 points over the decade while the young share fell 4.5 points. Net overseas migration of 26 per year and internal migration of 12 are both modest drivers.
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.
Explore East Devonport on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map