TAS 7253 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

George Town

With 4,536 residents spread across 104.66 sq km, George Town reads as an older, low-density port town compared with nearby Low Head and Bell Bay. The median age is 45, which is 5.0 years above the national figure, while household income sits at the 8.9th percentile. Housing is strongly detached at 87.0%, and apartments are only 1.4%, so the suburb's shape is practical and spacious rather than high-density.

George Town urban fabric map

Population

4,536

Median Age

45.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$901/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

0

104.66 km²· 43.3 people/km²· Family income $1,161/wk

Homebuyers are looking at low carrying costs but also lower household incomes. The typical mortgage measure is $913 a month, and mortgage repayments sit at 23.4% of income, below common stress thresholds. Separate houses dominate at 87.0%, with 3 bedroom homes making up 65.6% of stock. This suits buyers wanting a detached home, but household income of $901 a week sits at only the 8.9th national percentile, so budgeting matters.

For Buyers

Homebuyers are looking at low carrying costs but also lower household incomes. The typical mortgage measure is $913 a month, and mortgage repayments sit at 23.4% of income, below common stress thresholds. Separate houses dominate at 87.0%, with 3 bedroom homes making up 65.6% of stock. This suits buyers wanting a detached home, but household income of $901 a week sits at only the 8.9th national percentile, so budgeting matters.

For Investors

Investors get a high-renting base, with 35.2% of dwellings rented, and a low rent point of $220 a week. The caution is vacancy: 7.7% is high enough to weaken pricing power compared with tighter rental markets. New supply pressure is limited, with 0 developments in the past 12 months, while the earlier shift recorded rent growth of 29.4%. Demand is likely price-sensitive because household income ranks at the 8.9th national percentile.

Demographics

George Town is older and more locally born than the national pattern. The median age is 45, 5.0 years above the national figure, while overseas-born residents are 12.1%, which is 9.5 percentage points below national. University attainment is 12.7%, 17.4 points below national, so the labour market leans more vocational. English ancestry leads with 2,096 people, followed by Scottish at 419 and Irish at 397, reinforcing a less migrant-heavy profile than larger Tasmanian centres.

Age Distribution

0-14
17.9%
15-24
11.0%
25-44
20.9%
45-64
26.2%
65+
24.4%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.8%
2 bed
14.8%
3 bed
65.6%
4+ bed
15.8%

Dwelling Structure

87.0%

Houses

11.2%

Townhouse

1.4%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 38.9% Mortgage 24.8% Rent 35.2% Other 1.0%

Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with separate houses at 87.0%, semi-detached homes at 11.2% and apartments at just 1.4%. The stock is practical rather than dense: 3 bedroom homes account for 65.6%, while 4 plus bedroom homes are 15.8%. Ownership is relatively settled, with 38.9% owned outright and 24.8% mortgaged, compared with 35.2% renting. Affordability is helped by $913 monthly mortgages, though incomes sit below the national middle at the 8.9th percentile.

Mortgage / mo

$913

Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.

$220

Census 2021

HH Size

2.2

Personal Income / wk

$483

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

7.7%

Unoccupied

158

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

24.4%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

23.4%

Community Profile

Ancestry

English
2,096
Scottish
419
Irish
397
Ancestry NS
273
Other
177
German
123

Household Composition

29.4%

Couples with children

46.2%

Couples, no children

23.1%

Single parent

1,243

Total families

Economy & Employment

The local economy is blue-collar and service-linked. Manufacturing is the largest industry at 20.6%, followed by healthcare at 18.0%, education at 10.6%, construction at 8.9% and retail at 6.6%. Occupations match that pattern: labourers number 273, trades 228 and machinery or drivers 209. Unemployment is 13.0% and participation is 43.8%, which helps explain why IRSAD, IRSD, IEO and IER all sit in decile 1, below the state average on advantage and economic resources.

Unemployment

13.0%

Labour Force

1,628

Unemployed

211

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
1
Disadvantage
1
Economic resources
1
Education & occupation
1

Full-time

53.5%

Part-time

38.2%

Participation

43.8%

Employed

1,417

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Labourers 273
Trades 228
Machinery/Drivers 209
Community/Personal 208
Sales 124
Clerical/Admin 114
Professionals 110
Managers 104

Top Industries

Manufacturing 20.6%
Healthcare 18.0%
Education 10.6%
Construction 8.9%
Retail 6.6%

University

12.7%

Postgraduate

2.8%

Born Overseas

12.1%

Dwellings

1,896

Transport to Work

Daily life is car-oriented. Car drivers account for 83.3% of commuting, while public transport is only 0.6%, walking or cycling is 4.7% and working from home is 5.8%. That makes local access and parking more important than train-style connectivity. Social advantage is limited, with IRSAD decile 1, below the state average, so residents may prioritise affordability and essential services over premium amenity. Published suburb-level crime rates are not available.

Drive

83.3%

Public Transport

0.6%

Walk / Cycle

4.7%

Work from Home

5.8%

Population Forecast

+0.54%/yr

(+40 people/yr)

Established

Growth is slow and ageing-led rather than boom-driven. The forecast trend runs at 0.54% a year, with migration classed as Balanced, and the 10 year population change was 6.4%. The shift trajectory is Aging because the senior share rose 9.1 points while the young share fell 5.0 points and the working share fell 3.3 points. Although the historical shift showed early signs at score 23, the current gentrification setting is score 0, stage Not gentrifying, so change is gradual compared with faster renewal markets.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Balanced

Net Overseas / yr

+25

Net Internal / yr

+40

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How George Town compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 12%
Household Income
Bottom 9%
Rent Level
Bottom 37%
Apartments
Top 19%
Renters
Top 15%
Uni Educated
Bottom 12%
Public Transport
Bottom 9%
Born Overseas
Bottom 40%
Density
Top 31%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is George Town a good suburb to live in?

George Town can suit buyers who want a detached, lower-density setting, with 87.0% separate houses and a population of 4,536. The trade-off is lower income capacity, with household income at the 8.9th national percentile.

What is the median house price in George Town?

A current median house price is not available for George Town. The clearest affordability signals are a $913 monthly mortgage measure, $220 weekly rent and household income of $901 a week.

What schools are in George Town?

George Town itself has 0 schools within the suburb boundary, so families should confirm nearby enrolment options before buying. The suburb still has 4,536 residents, so school access will depend on travel patterns.

Is George Town safe?

A local crime rate is not published for George Town, so safety should be checked through current police and street-level sources. The suburb has 4,536 residents and a median age of 45, which points to an older resident base.

Is George Town good for property investment?

George Town has investor appeal through a 35.2% renting share and $220 weekly rent, but the 7.7% vacancy rate is a clear risk. With 0 developments in 12 months, supply pressure is not the main issue.

How is George Town's population changing?

George Town is growing slowly, with a forecast trend of 0.54% a year and a 10 year population change of 6.4%. The trajectory is Aging, driven by a 9.1 point rise in senior share.

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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.

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