Howrah
Howrah's median house price achieved a 6.7% compound annual growth rate over 30 years, rising from $123,000 in 1996 to $850,000 in 2026, now at an all-time peak. Rents surged 42.4% over the past decade, the highest rental growth in this batch, reflecting broader Hobart-region supply constraints. Yet household incomes sit at only the 59.3 percentile nationally, creating growing affordability tension. Owner-occupiers at 81.3% dominate, and just 15.1% were born overseas, 6.5 points below the national average, making it one of the most Anglo-Australian suburbs in the dataset.
Population
9,545
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,690/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$850K
YTD 2026
The $850,000 median is at its all-time peak, up from $749,000 in 2024 and $800,000 in 2025, a steady upward trajectory. Detached houses dominate at 95.2%, with three-bedroom homes comprising 53.0% and 4+ bedrooms at 31.1%. Mortgage-to-income at 23.1% is below the stress threshold but the highest among Tasmanian suburbs in this comparison, reflecting the gap between local incomes and rising prices. The 44.8% outright ownership rate signals long-held properties changing hands. Buyers face limited alternatives: just 4.7% semi-detached and 0.1% apartments, meaning if you want density you need to look elsewhere.
For Buyers
The $850,000 median is at its all-time peak, up from $749,000 in 2024 and $800,000 in 2025, a steady upward trajectory. Detached houses dominate at 95.2%, with three-bedroom homes comprising 53.0% and 4+ bedrooms at 31.1%. Mortgage-to-income at 23.1% is below the stress threshold but the highest among Tasmanian suburbs in this comparison, reflecting the gap between local incomes and rising prices. The 44.8% outright ownership rate signals long-held properties changing hands. Buyers face limited alternatives: just 4.7% semi-detached and 0.1% apartments, meaning if you want density you need to look elsewhere.
For Investors
Renters at 18.7% form a thin market compared to the national average. Weekly rent of $400 against an $850,000 median gives a gross yield of approximately 2.4%, low by national standards. Vacancy at 4.8% is slightly elevated. The 42.4% rent growth over the decade is the highest in this batch, but this historic growth may be approaching a ceiling given the 59.3 percentile household income constraint. Zero development applications in 12 months means no pipeline supply, which supports rental scarcity. Net overseas migration at 91 per year provides modest demand.
Schools in Howrah iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Howrah Primary School
K-6 · 630 students
Demographics
English (4,385), Irish (1,137) and Scottish (1,041) ancestry reflect a homogeneous Anglo-Celtic profile, with just 15.1% born overseas, 6.5 points below the national average. German (339) is the fourth-largest ancestry group. University qualifications at 38.7% sit 8.6 points above national. The median age of 43 is 3 years above the national median, and the senior share expanded 2.7 points over the decade, a moderate aging trend. Average household size of 2.4 is slightly below national. Couples without children (32.1%) and couples with children (2,967) are roughly balanced, typical of a maturing suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
95.2%
Houses
4.7%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Owner-occupiers total 81.3% (44.8% outright + 36.5% mortgage), with the high outright share indicating long settlement. Renters at 18.7% are a minority. Stock is 95.2% detached houses, 4.7% semi-detached and essentially no apartments. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 53.0%, different from the 4+ bedroom emphasis of mainland growth suburbs. The median rose from $123,000 in 1996 to $850,000 in 2026, a 591.1% total gain (6.7% CAGR over 30 years). The price-to-income ratio is approximately 9.7 times annual household income, elevated relative to the local income base.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,690
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$865
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.8%
Unoccupied
196
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.1%
Couples, no children
7,701
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates at 19.6% (660 workers), followed by Education at 14.7%, Public Admin at 14.1%, Construction at 8.0% and Professional/Tech at 7.2%. The public sector concentration (Public Admin + Education = 28.8%) reflects Hobart's government-employment base. Professionals (1,222) lead occupations, with Clerical/Admin (745) and Community/Personal (650) following. Full-time employment at 60.6% is moderate, with a relatively low participation rate of 57.7%, consistent with the older population profile. Unemployment at 4.8% is near the national average.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
6,455
Unemployed
108
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.6%
Part-time
34.6%
Participation
57.7%
Employed
4,374
Occupations
Top Industries
University
38.7%
Postgraduate
10.3%
Born Overseas
15.1%
Dwellings
3,838
Transport to Work
Car driving at 85.5% dominates commuting, with public transport at 6.2% and walking/cycling at 1.8%. The suburb has Howrah Primary School (ICSEA 1,057, Government, 630 students), above the 1,000 national benchmark. The IRSAD decile 7 and IRSD decile 8 confirm above-average socio-economic conditions. Rent-to-income at 23.7% is approaching moderate stress levels, consistent with the rapid 42.4% rent growth over the decade outpacing local income growth. Volunteering at 19.1% is well above the national average.
Drive
85.5%
Public Transport
6.2%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.4%/yr
(+170 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grows at 1.4% per year (170 persons), and the 10-year change of 20.7% is above the national average. Net overseas migration adds 91 per year, while net internal outflow of 61 partially offsets this. The gentrification score of 23 (early signs) is supported by 16.1% real income growth over the decade. The population trajectory is mixed: the senior share expanded 2.7 points while the working-age share contracted 1.1 points. Projections show growth from 12,453 in 2026 to 13,306 by 2031.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+91
Net Internal / yr
-61
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +23% since 2011, Accelerating: 8% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Howrah compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Howrah a good suburb to live in?
Howrah suits families and retirees seeking established, predominantly owner-occupied housing near Hobart. The IRSAD decile 7 indicates above-average advantage, and 81.3% of households own their home. The tradeoff is rising housing costs: the $850,000 median is at an all-time peak against incomes at the 59.3 percentile.
What is the median house price in Howrah?
The median is $850,000 as of 2026, at its all-time peak. Prices rose from $749,000 in 2024 to $800,000 in 2025 to $850,000 in 2026. Over 30 years the CAGR is 6.7%, from $123,000 in 1996. Monthly mortgage repayments are $1,690 with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.1%.
What schools are in Howrah?
Howrah hosts Howrah Primary School, a government school with an ICSEA of 1,057 and 630 students, sitting above the national 1,000 benchmark. No secondary school is located within the suburb boundaries, requiring secondary students to travel to adjacent areas.
Is Howrah safe?
Crime data is not available for Howrah. The IRSD decile 8 places it among the less disadvantaged suburbs nationally. The 81.3% owner-occupier rate and low turnover at 22.6% indicate a stable community. The 4.8% unemployment rate is near the national average.
Is Howrah good for property investment?
The gross yield of approximately 2.4% ($400/week on $850,000) is low by national standards, though the 42.4% rent growth over the decade has been strong. The 18.7% renter share limits the tenant pool. Zero DAs in 12 months means no new supply. Capital growth has been solid at 6.7% CAGR over 30 years.
How is Howrah's population changing?
Population grows at 1.4% per year (170 people). The 10-year change of 20.7% is above the national average, driven by overseas migration of 91 per year. The senior share expanded 2.7 points over the decade, indicating moderate aging. Projections show growth to 13,306 by 2031.
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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