Hadspen
Only 6.8% of Hadspen residents were born overseas, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national figure, making this one of Tasmania's most Anglo-Celtic communities with English, Irish and Scottish ancestry dominating. The median house price of $595,000 sits well below the national average for comparable regional towns, yet the area carries a SEIFA IRSD decile of 5, placing it in the middle range nationally on relative disadvantage. Population grew 13.5% over the decade, and the suburb shows early signs of gentrification, with rent rising 35.9% over the same period. At 2,429 residents across 10.69 km2, Hadspen is a compact, detached-house dominated town on the outskirts of Launceston.
Population
2,429
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,483/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$595K
YTD 2026
The median house price of $595,000 in YTD 2026 reflects a 7.0% decline from the 2024 peak of $640,000, creating a post-peak entry window compared to recent buyers who paid more. Separate houses make up 84.0% of dwellings, far above the national share, so the typical purchase here is a freestanding home on land rather than a unit or apartment. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.8% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 24.9%, giving homebuyers good family-sized choices. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,356, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Since 1996, prices have grown 539.8% from $93,000, a CAGR of 6.4% over 30 years, suggesting long-term capital growth is well established.
For Buyers
The median house price of $595,000 in YTD 2026 reflects a 7.0% decline from the 2024 peak of $640,000, creating a post-peak entry window compared to recent buyers who paid more. Separate houses make up 84.0% of dwellings, far above the national share, so the typical purchase here is a freestanding home on land rather than a unit or apartment. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.8% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 24.9%, giving homebuyers good family-sized choices. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,356, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Since 1996, prices have grown 539.8% from $93,000, a CAGR of 6.4% over 30 years, suggesting long-term capital growth is well established.
For Investors
Rents of $250 per week against a $595,000 median imply a gross yield around 2.2%, below typical regional benchmarks, because house prices have run faster than rents over the past decade. The vacancy rate of 5.9% is elevated and signals softer rental demand than supply, a caution for yield-focused investors. Only 19.7% of residents rent, well below national norms, meaning the tenant pool is structurally smaller here than in urban centres. Net internal migration averages 6 persons per year and overseas migration adds another 6, providing balanced but modest demand support. Rent grew 35.9% over the decade, faster than income growth of 11.3% in real terms, suggesting rents have room to compress margins if affordability bites.
Demographics
The median age of 39 is 1.0 year below the national figure, but the trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 5.0 points and the working-age share falling 3.3 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents at 6.8% run 14.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting an overwhelmingly locally born population. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic: English (1,159 people), Irish (230) and Scottish (226) are the top three groups, consistent with Tasmania's colonial settlement pattern. University qualifications at 19.7% are 10.4 points below the national rate, which aligns with the IEO (education and occupation) score of decile 2, placing Hadspen in the bottom 20% nationally on education and occupational advantage. Average household size of 2.5 matches the national figure, and couples with children (868 families) outnumber couples without children (559).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.0%
Houses
11.5%
Townhouse
2.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure data shows 33.9% of households own outright, 46.3% carry a mortgage and 19.7% rent, giving Hadspen a mortgage-belt profile where owner-occupiers with debt dominate. This compares to a national renter share typically above 30%, so Hadspen's 19.7% renting rate is lower than average, reflecting strong owner-occupier demand. Separate houses at 84.0% dominate the stock, with semi-detached at 11.5% and apartments at just 2.5%. Prices peaked at $640,000 in 2024 and have since eased 7.0% to $595,000, though the 30-year record from $93,000 in 1996 represents 539.8% total growth at a CAGR of 6.4%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.1% and rent-to-income ratio of 16.9% both sit below stress thresholds, making housing costs manageable relative to local incomes.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,356
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$771
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.9%
Unoccupied
59
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.9%
Couples, no children
2,001
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 20.0% of the local workforce (147 workers), followed by Construction at 12.5% (92), Education at 10.7% (79), Retail at 7.2% (53) and Public Administration at 7.1% (52). This industry mix reflects Hadspen's function as a residential town for Launceston workers rather than a self-contained employment hub. By occupation, Professionals (184) and Clerical/Admin (176) lead, followed by Community/Personal services (142) and Sales (133). Unemployment stands at 4.8%, with 63.6% participation, and the full-time employment rate of 60.2% is moderate. Household income sits at the 46.2nd percentile nationally, meaning just under half of Australian households earn more. The IRSD decile of 5 places Hadspen in the middle tier on relative disadvantage, consistent with a working-class owner-occupier community rather than an area of acute deprivation.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
2,162
Unemployed
37
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.2%
Part-time
35.0%
Participation
63.6%
Employed
1,167
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.7%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
6.8%
Dwellings
954
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 92.7% of residents commute by car, above the national average, and only 0.9% use public transport, which reflects the town's position as a satellite community without heavy rail or bus connectivity to Launceston. Walking and cycling account for just 1.1% of trips. No schools are recorded within the Hadspen boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Launceston institutions. Crime statistics are not available for Hadspen specifically. The IRSAD decile of 4 places the suburb in the lower-middle tier nationally on combined advantage and disadvantage. Volunteering runs at 17.1% and 6.0% of residents (140 people) require daily assistance. Housing stress is low: mortgage-to-income at 21.1% and rent-to-income at 16.9% both sit comfortably below the 30% threshold.
Drive
92.7%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.07%/yr
(+41 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 13.5% over the decade, above the Tasmanian regional average, and the current trend adds approximately 41 persons per year at 1.07% annually. The medium forecast projects the broader area reaching 4,053 by 2031 from 3,828 in 2025, a steady expansion. Migration is balanced: both internal and overseas net migration average 6 persons per year, so growth is driven by natural increase and stable in-migration rather than a surge from any single source. The gentrification score of 20 classifies the suburb as showing early signs, supported by the 16% population increase since 2011 and an acceleration in turnover from near zero to 17%. Rent growth of 35.9% over the decade outpaced real income growth of 11.3%, a signal that demand has been absorbing supply. The affordability measure held near stable from 34.0% in 2011 to 33.7% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+6
Net Internal / yr
+6
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +16% since 2011, Accelerating: -1% → 17%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hadspen compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hadspen a good suburb to live in?
Hadspen suits owner-occupier families who want a detached house at a lower price than Launceston's inner suburbs. The median house price of $595,000 is below most comparable Tasmanian regional markets, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.1% keeps repayments manageable. The trade-off is high car dependence, with 92.7% of residents driving to work, and an IEO decile of 2, indicating below-average education and occupational diversity compared to national benchmarks.
What is the median house price in Hadspen?
The median house price is $595,000 as of YTD 2026, down 7.0% from the 2024 peak of $640,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,356 and weekly rent runs $250. Since 1996, prices have grown 539.8% from $93,000, a CAGR of 6.4% over 30 years.
What schools are in Hadspen?
No schools are recorded within the Hadspen suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Launceston, approximately 10 km away. University qualifications in the suburb are 19.7%, which is 10.4 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the area's working-class profile.
Is Hadspen safe?
Specific crime statistics for Hadspen are not available in this dataset. As a broader indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 5 nationally on relative disadvantage, placing it in the middle tier. Only 6.0% of the 2,429 residents (140 people) require daily assistance, and the community has a volunteering rate of 17.1%, suggesting a connected and stable population.
Is Hadspen good for property investment?
The investment case is mixed. Weekly rent of $250 against a $595,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.2%, which is low, and the 5.9% vacancy rate signals an oversupplied rental market. On the positive side, prices have grown at 6.4% CAGR over 30 years and the suburb shows early signs of gentrification with rent rising 35.9% over the decade. Only 19.7% of residents rent, so the tenant pool is structurally smaller than in urban markets.
How is Hadspen's population changing?
The population grew 13.5% over the past decade and is currently expanding at 1.07% per year, adding about 41 residents annually. The medium forecast projects the broader area reaching 4,053 by 2031. The demographic trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 5.0 points while the working-age share fell 3.3 points over the decade, similar to many regional Tasmanian communities.
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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