Franklin
Franklin's standout is the age profile: a median age of 52, 12.0 years above the national benchmark, in a small Huon Valley population of 1301 spread across 45.73 sq km. Compared with nearby Huonville and Geeveston, its identity is more detached and settled, with 93.8% separate houses and 48.6% owned outright. The 10.6% vacancy rate points to some slack or seasonal use, while the household income percentile of 25.4 keeps affordability central. Growth still runs at 3.94% a year, so demand is not static.
Local council: Huon Valley
Population
1,301
Median Age
52.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,205/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers should read Franklin as a house-first market rather than an apartment market: 93.8% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 1.1% apartments and 0.7% semi-detached homes. The typical layout is practical, with 48.3% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 24.0% having 4 or more. Holding costs look contained because the median mortgage is $1300 a month and mortgage payments absorb 24.9% of income, below common stress settings. Lower incomes, at the 25.4 household-income percentile, mean renovation budgets need discipline.
For Buyers
Homebuyers should read Franklin as a house-first market rather than an apartment market: 93.8% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 1.1% apartments and 0.7% semi-detached homes. The typical layout is practical, with 48.3% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 24.0% having 4 or more. Holding costs look contained because the median mortgage is $1300 a month and mortgage payments absorb 24.9% of income, below common stress settings. Lower incomes, at the 25.4 household-income percentile, mean renovation budgets need discipline.
For Investors
Investors face a narrow tenant pool. Renting accounts for 16.6% of tenure, below the 32.3% mortgage share and far below the 48.6% owned-outright share, so liquidity depends on matching a specific renter profile rather than broad churn. Median rent is $315 a week, but the 10.6% vacancy rate is the key caution because empty weeks can offset yield. There were 0 approvals in the last 12 months, limiting new-stock competition, while rent growth of 8.2% and annual population momentum of 3.94% add a demand tailwind.
Demographics
Franklin skews older and more locally rooted than the national pattern. The median age is 52, which is 12.0 years above national, and 81.7% of residents stayed put over the mobility period. Overseas-born residents are 19.4%, 2.2 points below national, while university attainment is 27.5%, 2.6 points lower. English ancestry leads at 518 people, then Irish at 140 and Scottish at 115. Religion also leans secular, with 656 recording no religion vs 410 Christian, reflecting an older but not strongly church-centred profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.8%
Houses
0.7%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Franklin's housing stock is strongly detached and owner-heavy. Separate houses make up 93.8% of dwellings, compared with 1.1% apartments, and 48.6% of homes are owned outright. Another 32.3% carry a mortgage and 16.6% rent, so resale demand may lean toward established buyers rather than high-turnover renters. Bedroom mix is family-capable but not mansion-heavy: 48.3% are 3-bedroom homes and 24.0% have 4 or more. The $1300 median monthly mortgage and 24.9% mortgage-to-income ratio sit below stress settings.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$315
Census 2021
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$522
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.6%
Unoccupied
52
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.3%
Couples with children
50.9%
Couples, no children
14.3%
Single parent
336
Total families
Economy & Employment
Work in Franklin is spread across care, land-based activity and public-service roles rather than a single dominant employer base. Healthcare is largest at 16.0% or 52 workers, followed by agriculture at 11.0% or 36, education at 9.8% or 32, professional/tech at 9.5% or 31 and public admin at 8.0% or 26. Professionals number 88, trades 76 and managers 71. Participation is lower at 47.0% because 461 people are not in the labour force, consistent with the 52 median age. SEIFA shows education/occupation decile 4, economic resources decile 5, disadvantage decile 4 and advantage decile 4.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
531
Unemployed
33
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
48.2%
Part-time
44.4%
Participation
47.0%
Employed
498
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.5%
Postgraduate
8.2%
Born Overseas
19.4%
Dwellings
437
Transport to Work
Day-to-day livability is strongly car-oriented. Public transport use is 1.0%, below the 76.9% who drive, and only 2.1% walk or cycle, so errands and commuting work best for households with reliable vehicle access. Working from home is meaningful at 15.7%, which helps offset distance for some workers because it reduces weekly travel. The 45.73 sq km footprint and 28.5 density reinforce a low-density feel. IRSAD decile 4 and IRSD decile 4 rank below the national midpoint, while 10.4% or 119 residents need assistance.
Drive
76.9%
Public Transport
1.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
15.7%
Growth Outlook
Growth is the counterweight to Franklin's older base. The annual trend is 3.94%, and the 10-year population-change marker is 96.7%, above what a static rural profile would suggest. The main migration driver is Overseas migration, yet the shift trajectory is Declining young: the young share is down 3.4 points while the senior share is up 2.7 points. That mix matters because demand can rise without becoming a youth-led boom. Gentrification is scored 0 and staged Not gentrifying, so growth appears more about settlement patterns than price-led reinvention.
Population trend: Huon Valley council area
Franklin sits in the Huon Valley council area. These are the council area's residents, not Franklin's.
Residents 2025
19,893
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
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 Franklin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Franklin a good suburb to live in?
Yes, if a low-density, car-based Huon Valley setting suits your routine. Franklin has 1301 residents, a median age of 52 and 93.8% separate houses, but public transport use is only 1.0%, below the 76.9% drive-to-work share.
What is the median house price in Franklin?
A current median house price is not stated for Franklin. Use recent settled sales, then cross-check affordability against the $1300 median monthly mortgage, $315 weekly rent, 93.8% separate-house share and 48.6% outright ownership.
What schools are in Franklin?
Franklin has 0 schools within the suburb boundary, so families usually need to look across the wider Huon Valley. Transport planning matters because 76.9% of workers drive and only 1.0% use public transport.
Is Franklin safe?
A suburb-level crime rate is not available for Franklin, so safety should be checked through current Tasmanian police sources. Local continuity is notable, with 81.7% staying at the same address and 24.3% volunteering.
Is Franklin good for property investment?
Franklin can suit selective investors, but it is not a deep rental market. Renters are 16.6% of households, below 48.6% owned outright, with $315 weekly rent, 10.6% vacancy and 0 recent approvals shaping risk.
How is Franklin's population changing?
Franklin's population is growing strongly from a base of 1301 residents. The annual trend is 3.94%, the 10-year population-change marker is 96.7%, and the main driver is Overseas migration, while the young share is down 3.4 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).
Explore Franklin on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map