Herdsmans Cove
With a median age of just 29, Herdsmans Cove skews 11 years younger than the national figure, making it one of Tasmania's youngest suburbs by demographic profile. The 1,199 residents are packed into 0.92 square kilometres at a density of 1,308 per km2, and 67.6% of households rent rather than own, well above the national average. Household income sits in the 13th percentile nationally, pointing to a working-class base where Community/Personal service (62 workers) and Labourers (59) rank as the top two occupations. Car dependence is high at 84.2% driving to work, reflecting the suburb's position as a low-income residential pocket on Hobart's northern fringe.
Population
1,199
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,012/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
No recent median house price data is recorded for Herdsmans Cove, reflecting the small transaction volume typical of a suburb with only 1,199 residents and a 67.6% renter majority. Separate houses dominate at 93.1% of dwellings, far higher than the national average, with apartments at just 4.4%. Three-bedroom homes account for 83.9% of all dwellings and two-bedroom properties make up 12.8%, leaving very little variety in stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $869, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability relative to income is a rare feature in Tasmania, though it reflects income levels in the 13th percentile nationally rather than particularly cheap prices.
For Buyers
No recent median house price data is recorded for Herdsmans Cove, reflecting the small transaction volume typical of a suburb with only 1,199 residents and a 67.6% renter majority. Separate houses dominate at 93.1% of dwellings, far higher than the national average, with apartments at just 4.4%. Three-bedroom homes account for 83.9% of all dwellings and two-bedroom properties make up 12.8%, leaving very little variety in stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $869, which translates to a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability relative to income is a rare feature in Tasmania, though it reflects income levels in the 13th percentile nationally rather than particularly cheap prices.
For Investors
A 67.6% renter share is the defining feature for investors, well above typical suburban rates, with weekly rent at $250. The vacancy rate sits at 8.9%, which is elevated and signals that demand does not strongly absorb available stock. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, indicating a static supply environment with no new dwellings coming through. The 16.7% household turnover rate means roughly 1 in 6 tenancies changed hands in the census year, creating ongoing letting activity. With an unemployment rate of 18.8%, more than 3 times the national average, tenant income risk is higher than in other markets, and the absence of recent price data makes capital growth difficult to model.
Schools in Herdsmans Cove iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
JRLF - Herdsmans Cove Primary School
K-6 · 144 students
Demographics
The median age of 29 sits 11 years below the national figure, a gap that defines the suburb's character as a young, family-oriented area. Average household size of 2.8 is 0.3 above national, consistent with the 339 couples-with-children families. University education reaches only 9.4% of residents, 20.7 percentage points below national, which aligns with the occupational mix of labourers and community service workers. Overseas-born residents make up just 4.4%, compared to the national rate of 21.6%, pointing to a predominantly Australian-born population. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, led by English (512 residents), Irish (64) and Scottish (55). Christianity is the dominant religion at 325 residents.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.1%
Houses
2.5%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses account for 93.1% of dwellings, a level significantly above the national average, and three-bedroom homes make up an unusually high 83.9% of the mix. This uniformity of housing type reflects the suburb's character as a post-war residential area built to a single template. Tenure splits heavily toward renting at 67.6%, with only 21.9% carrying a mortgage and 10.5% owning outright. Outright ownership at 10.5% is notably low compared to similar-aged suburbs, because household income in the 13th percentile nationally limits wealth accumulation. Rent-to-income at 24.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 19.8% is comfortable, both because incomes are the denominator and rent is only $250 per week.
Mortgage / mo
$869
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$503
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.9%
Unoccupied
40
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
10.0%
Couples, no children
948
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant industry at 28.2% of employed residents (42 workers), well above its national share, followed by Construction at 12.1% (18 workers) and Education at 10.1% (15 workers). By occupation, Community/Personal service leads at 62 workers, followed closely by Labourers at 59 and Machinery/Drivers at 48, an occupational mix consistent with a low-income suburb. The unemployment rate of 18.8% is more than three times the national average, and the participation rate of just 42.7% means more than half the working-age population is not seeking employment. Full-time employment accounts for 56.4% of those in work. No SEIFA decile data is available for Herdsmans Cove, but household income in the 13th percentile nationally provides a clear indication of relative disadvantage.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.4%
Part-time
24.8%
Participation
42.7%
Employed
298
Occupations
Top Industries
University
9.4%
Postgraduate
3.7%
Born Overseas
4.4%
Dwellings
407
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 84.2% of residents driving to work, above national averages, while only 4.3% use public transport and 1.4% walk or cycle. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, meaning families rely on facilities in surrounding areas of the Hobart metropolitan fringe. No crime rate data is available for Herdsmans Cove directly. The need-assistance rate of 9.1% (99 residents) indicates meaningful disability and care needs among a population of 1,199. Rent-to-income at 24.7% keeps housing stress below the 30% threshold for renters, which matters in a suburb where 67.6% of households rent. The household income percentile of 13.1 nationally means liveability here depends more on community services than purchasing power.
Drive
84.2%
Public Transport
4.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Herdsmans Cove compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Herdsmans Cove a good suburb to live in?
Herdsmans Cove suits households prioritising affordability over amenity. Rent averages $250 per week and mortgage repayments run $869 per month, with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8%, below the 30% stress threshold. Household income sits in the 13th percentile nationally, unemployment reaches 18.8%, and no schools are recorded in the suburb, so families need nearby infrastructure.
What is the median house price in Herdsmans Cove?
No recent median house price is recorded for Herdsmans Cove, reflecting the low transaction volume in a suburb where 67.6% of residents rent. Monthly mortgage repayments average $869 and weekly rent is $250, both low compared to national benchmarks.
What schools are in Herdsmans Cove?
No schools are recorded inside the Herdsmans Cove suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding suburbs. Local education attainment is low, with only 9.4% of residents holding a university qualification, which is 20.7 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Herdsmans Cove safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Herdsmans Cove. As a broader indicator, the suburb's household income sits in the 13th percentile nationally and unemployment is 18.8%, both higher-risk factors than the national average. The need-assistance rate of 9.1% (99 residents) points to meaningful welfare needs in a population of 1,199.
Is Herdsmans Cove good for property investment?
The 67.6% renter share creates a broad tenant pool, and rent of $250 per week is affordable against local incomes. However, an 8.9% vacancy rate is elevated, indicating that supply is not tight. Unemployment at 18.8% is more than 3 times the national average, raising tenant income risk. No development activity was recorded in the past 12 months, so supply pressure is limited.
How is Herdsmans Cove's population changing?
No formal population forecast is available for Herdsmans Cove. The current population is 1,199 in 0.92 square kilometres. The young median age of 29, 11 years below the national figure, and the family-forming household profile (339 couples with children) suggest a stable residential base. The 83.3% of residents who stayed at the same address in the census year indicates low mobility.
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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