Glenorchy
Detached housing defines Glenorchy more than many inner Hobart alternatives, with 78.2% separate houses across a suburb of 12,013 residents. It feels more renter-heavy than nearby Montrose and Berriedale because 44.7% of homes are rented, while household income sits at the 21.4th percentile. The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national benchmark, and density of 1,158.2 people per sq km keeps it suburban rather than high-rise.
Population
12,013
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,143/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers get a mostly low-density market, with 78.2% separate houses, 15.4% apartments and 6.0% semi-detached homes. The bedroom mix leans practical rather than oversized: 45.3% have 3 bedrooms and 34.4% have 2. Carrying costs look below common stress thresholds because mortgage payments equal 26.3% of income and typical monthly mortgage payments are $1,300. That helps explain why Glenorchy can suit buyers seeking space at a lower income entry point than many Hobart fringe suburbs.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a mostly low-density market, with 78.2% separate houses, 15.4% apartments and 6.0% semi-detached homes. The bedroom mix leans practical rather than oversized: 45.3% have 3 bedrooms and 34.4% have 2. Carrying costs look below common stress thresholds because mortgage payments equal 26.3% of income and typical monthly mortgage payments are $1,300. That helps explain why Glenorchy can suit buyers seeking space at a lower income entry point than many Hobart fringe suburbs.
For Investors
Investor appeal is strongest in the tenant pool: 44.7% of dwellings are rented, which is higher than a typical owner-occupier suburb. Weekly rent is $320 and the vacancy rate is 5.6%, so income is accessible but leasing conditions are not especially tight. With 0 dwellings in the last 12 months of development activity, supply pressure is muted. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which can support rental demand because new arrivals often rent before buying.
Demographics
Glenorchy skews younger and more internationally connected than the national average. The median age is 35, which is 5.0 years below national, while 29.4% of residents were born overseas, 7.8 percentage points above national. University attainment is 37.1%, 7.0 points higher than national, yet household income remains at only the 21.4th percentile. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry remain prominent, while Nepali has 559 speakers, helping distinguish Glenorchy from more locally born parts of greater Hobart.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
78.2%
Houses
6.0%
Townhouse
15.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is still house-led, with 78.2% separate dwellings compared with 15.4% apartments and 6.0% semi-detached homes. Tenure is mixed: 26.4% own outright, 27.3% have a mortgage and 44.7% rent, so turnover and tenant demand are higher than in many settled family suburbs. Bedrooms reinforce affordability, since 34.4% of homes have 2 bedrooms and 45.3% have 3. Rent-to-income is 28.0% and mortgage-to-income is 26.3%, below common stress flags, which supports demand from budget-conscious households.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$320
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$616
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.6%
Unoccupied
289
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
28.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.1%
Couples with children
38.0%
Couples, no children
25.2%
Single parent
3,013
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare anchors Glenorchy's workforce with 870 workers, or 24.2%, well above any other listed industry. Hospitality follows at 10.0%, retail at 9.6%, public admin at 8.9% and education at 7.9%. Occupations are broad, led by community and personal service roles at 965, labourers at 769 and trades at 739. The anomaly is education versus income: university attainment is above national, but SEIFA remains low, with IEO decile 2, IER decile 1, IRSD decile 1 and IRSAD decile 1 because unemployment is 8.8% and participation is 57.1%.
Unemployment
8.8%
Labour Force
5,806
Unemployed
510
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.7%
Part-time
42.3%
Participation
57.1%
Employed
5,296
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
37.1%
Postgraduate
15.4%
Born Overseas
29.4%
Dwellings
4,829
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented because 73.9% of workers drive, far higher than the 7.9% using public transport and 4.0% walking or cycling. Work-from-home is 4.9%, so commuting still matters for most households. Density of 1,158.2 people per sq km keeps services within reach without an apartment-heavy feel. IRSAD decile 1 points to below-average socioeconomic advantage, which may affect local amenity depth, but household size of 2.3 supports a mix of singles, couples and smaller families.
Drive
73.9%
Public Transport
7.9%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
4.9%
Population Forecast
+0.91%/yr
(+111 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive, with the forecast trend running at 0.91% a year. The primary driver is overseas migration, which aligns with 29.4% born overseas and visible Nepali, Punjabi and Urdu language communities. The 10-year population change is 16.7%, but the trajectory is labelled Declining young because the young share has fallen by 3.5 points while the working-age share rose 5.2 points. Affordability has worsened from 46.5 to 51.8, and the current gentrification score is 5, classified as Not gentrifying.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+90
Net Internal / yr
-177
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +14% since 2011, Net internal outflow -177/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Glenorchy compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Glenorchy a good suburb to live in?
Glenorchy can suit buyers and renters wanting detached housing and Hobart access at a lower income entry point. It has 78.2% separate houses, a median age of 35 and 73.9% of workers driving, so car access matters.
What is the median house price in Glenorchy?
A reliable current median house price is not stated for Glenorchy. Market context is $320 weekly rent, $1,300 monthly mortgage payments and 78.2% separate houses, so check live sales before bidding.
What schools are in Glenorchy?
There are 0 schools recorded within the Glenorchy suburb boundary, so families usually compare nearby campuses in Moonah, Montrose and greater Hobart before choosing a catchment or commute.
Is Glenorchy safe?
A suburb-specific crime rate is not available, so safety cannot be ranked from a rate per resident. For context, Glenorchy has 12,013 residents and 73.9% of workers drive, so inspect streets at commuting and evening times.
Is Glenorchy good for property investment?
Glenorchy has investor demand signals, with 44.7% renting, $320 weekly rent and overseas migration as the primary growth driver. The 5.6% vacancy rate means careful rent and tenant assumptions matter.
How is Glenorchy's population changing?
Glenorchy has 12,013 residents today, with growth running at 0.91% a year. The 10-year population change is 16.7%, driven mainly by overseas migration, while the trajectory is labelled Declining young.
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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