Geilston Bay
With 96.7% of dwellings being separate houses, Geilston Bay sits near the top of Tasmania for detached-housing dominance, and the 41.2% who own outright signals a mortgage-free, long-settled community. Population reached 3,461 in the 2021 census, up 8.6% over the prior decade, and the median age of 43 runs 3 years above the national figure. Household income places at the 53rd percentile nationally, close to the middle of the national distribution. Rent-to-income at 23.6% and mortgage-to-income at 23.3% both sit comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making this one of the more financially stable suburbs in Greater Hobart.
Population
3,461
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,610/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
No current median sale price is recorded in this dataset, but the monthly mortgage repayment figure of $1,625 implies a purchase price below the Tasmanian capital city average. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 96.7% of dwellings are separate houses, compared to less than 80% nationally. Bedroom distribution leans toward 3-bedroom homes at 51.3%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up a further 25.6%, meaning the stock skews family-sized. Only 16.9% of residents rent, well below national averages, pointing to strong owner-occupier demand and limited rental turnover. Mortgage stress is absent at 23.3% of income, and 41.2% own outright, a sign of a mature, low-debt ownership base rather than a churn of first-home buyers.
For Buyers
No current median sale price is recorded in this dataset, but the monthly mortgage repayment figure of $1,625 implies a purchase price below the Tasmanian capital city average. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 96.7% of dwellings are separate houses, compared to less than 80% nationally. Bedroom distribution leans toward 3-bedroom homes at 51.3%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up a further 25.6%, meaning the stock skews family-sized. Only 16.9% of residents rent, well below national averages, pointing to strong owner-occupier demand and limited rental turnover. Mortgage stress is absent at 23.3% of income, and 41.2% own outright, a sign of a mature, low-debt ownership base rather than a churn of first-home buyers.
For Investors
A rental yield case is harder to build here: only 16.9% of dwellings are rented, one of the lower renter shares in Greater Hobart, which means landlord competition for tenants can be tighter when vacancies open. Weekly rent averages $380, modest by national standards. The vacancy rate sits at 4.0%, slightly elevated compared to tight Hobart market conditions, suggesting some softness at the rental margin. Net overseas migration adds 22 residents annually while internal migration removes 10, a broadly balanced migration dynamic. Population growth is modest at 0.82% per year, forecast to reach roughly 3,793 residents by 2031 under medium projections. The gentrification score of 19 places the suburb as not gentrifying, meaning speculative uplift is unlikely in the near term.
Schools in Geilston Bay iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Australian Christian College - Hobart
Prep-10 · 119 students
Lindisfarne North Primary School
K-6 · 321 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national figure, consistent with the aging trajectory visible in the 1.8-point rise in senior share over the decade. University qualifications reach 36.9% of residents, which is 6.8 percentage points above the national average, reflecting a modestly educated professional base. The overseas-born proportion is 13.3%, or 8.3 points below national, making this an Anglo-leaning suburb where English ancestry (1,669 residents), Irish (463) and Scottish (356) account for the top ancestries. Average household size of 2.3 is 0.2 below national, consistent with the higher share of couples without children at 32.4%. Volunteering runs at 18.8% of residents, above typical suburban rates.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.7%
Houses
2.2%
Townhouse
1.2%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split is striking: 41.2% own outright and 41.9% hold a mortgage, with renters at just 16.9%, far below the national renter share. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,625, placing debt service costs well below those seen in mainland capitals. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 51.3% of stock and 4-plus bedroom at 25.6%, giving the area a family-scale dwelling profile. Separate houses represent 96.7% of all dwellings, compared to the national average of roughly 75%, with apartments at just 1.2%. Mortgage-to-income is 23.3% and rent-to-income 23.6%, both below the 30% stress level, indicating that housing costs are manageable relative to incomes in the 53rd household income percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,625
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$845
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.0%
Unoccupied
60
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.4%
Couples, no children
2,731
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 19.7% of the workforce (236 workers), followed by Public Administration at 14.8% (177) and Education at 11.9% (143). This public-sector and health-sector concentration is typical of Hobart-area suburbs where state government employment is a major employer. By occupation, Professionals lead at 439 workers, with Clerical and Admin (269) and Community/Personal services (228) rounding out the top three. Unemployment is 5.0%, in line with Tasmanian state averages. Full-time employment runs at 62.1% of employed residents and the participation rate is 58.7%, moderate given the older age profile. The SEIFA IRSAD sits at decile 6, placing the suburb above average nationally on the combined advantage-disadvantage index.
Unemployment
1.9%
Labour Force
2,010
Unemployed
38
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
32.9%
Participation
58.7%
Employed
1,619
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.9%
Postgraduate
9.2%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
1,440
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 81.9% driving to work, above national norms, reflecting Geilston Bay's layout as a detached-house suburb without dense public transport coverage. Only 8.0% use public transport and 3.0% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families rely on nearby Hobart fringe schools. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb in the dataset. As an indirect measure of disadvantage, the IRSAD decile of 6 places Geilston Bay above the national median, indicating a broadly average to mildly advantaged community. The need-for-assistance rate is 6.3% (212 residents), which reflects the older age profile rather than acute social disadvantage, and housing stress ratios below 30% add to the stability picture.
Drive
81.9%
Public Transport
8.0%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.82%/yr
(+30 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 8.6% over the decade to 2021, reaching 3,461, and the forward trend points to roughly 3,793 residents by 2031, an annual increment of about 30 people or 0.82%. The migration profile is balanced, with overseas arrivals adding 22 residents per year and internal departures removing 10, producing slight net gains. The gentrification score is 19 and the stage is classified as not gentrifying, consistent with an established, low-turnover suburb where 79.6% of residents stayed in the same dwelling over the census period. Real income growth of 10.6% over the decade and rent growth of 39.2% suggest that landlords have captured income gains faster than owner-occupiers, though affordability remains stable at 42.9% of income in 2021 compared to 41.9% a decade earlier.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+22
Net Internal / yr
-10
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +13% since 2011, Accelerating: 1% → 12%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Geilston Bay compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Geilston Bay a good suburb to live in?
Geilston Bay scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 6, above the national median. Mortgage and rent costs both sit below 24% of income, well under the 30% stress threshold. The suburb has low renter turnover (79.6% stayed in place over the census period) and a high outright ownership rate of 41.2%, pointing to a stable, established community.
What is the median house price in Geilston Bay?
A current median sale price is not recorded in this dataset for Geilston Bay. The monthly mortgage repayment figure averages $1,625, which implies purchase prices below the Greater Hobart median. Weekly rent averages $380, low by national standards. The vacancy rate is 4.0%.
What schools are in Geilston Bay?
No schools are recorded within the Geilston Bay suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in the area typically use schools in neighbouring Hobart fringe suburbs. Despite the absence of local schools, 36.9% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 6.8 percentage points above the national average.
Is Geilston Bay safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Geilston Bay in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the SEIFA IRSAD index, above the national median. Only 6.3% of residents (212 people) need daily assistance, and housing stress ratios below 24% suggest financial stability across the community.
Is Geilston Bay good for property investment?
The investment fundamentals are cautious: only 16.9% of dwellings are rented, limiting the tenant pool, and the vacancy rate is 4.0%. Weekly rent of $380 is modest. Population growth of 0.82% per year is steady but not rapid, with a medium forecast of 3,793 residents by 2031. Rent grew 39.2% over the decade, outpacing real income growth of 10.6%.
How is Geilston Bay's population changing?
Population grew 8.6% over the decade to reach 3,461 in 2021. The annual growth rate is 0.82%, adding about 30 residents per year. Medium forecasts project approximately 3,793 residents by 2031. Overseas migration adds 22 residents annually while internal migration removes 10, producing a balanced but modestly growing community.
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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