Montello
At the 13.2nd percentile for household income nationally, Montello sits well below average in spending power, yet it sustains a high owner-occupier and stable renter mix across a predominantly detached housing stock. The suburb covers just 0.74 sq km with 1,241 residents at a density of 1,688 per sq km, a compact footprint for northwest Tasmania. University qualifications reach only 18.0% of residents, which is 12.1 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting a workforce anchored in hands-on service sectors rather than professional roles. Healthcare alone accounts for 25.7% of local employment, the dominant industry by a wide margin.
Population
1,241
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,014/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
No current median house price is recorded for Montello, but affordability indicators point to a low-cost entry point relative to most Australian markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $953, well below the national median, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 89.5% of the housing stock, higher than the TAS average, with three-bedroom homes the norm at 58.1% of dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 16.4% of stock, giving buyers options above the standard three-bedroom format. At 29.5% ownership outright and 32.2% still carrying a mortgage, the suburb has an even tenure balance that reflects a settled, working-family character rather than a transient rental market.
For Buyers
No current median house price is recorded for Montello, but affordability indicators point to a low-cost entry point relative to most Australian markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $953, well below the national median, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 89.5% of the housing stock, higher than the TAS average, with three-bedroom homes the norm at 58.1% of dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes make up 16.4% of stock, giving buyers options above the standard three-bedroom format. At 29.5% ownership outright and 32.2% still carrying a mortgage, the suburb has an even tenure balance that reflects a settled, working-family character rather than a transient rental market.
For Investors
Weekly rent sits at $240, lower than most comparable Tasmanian markets, which compresses gross yields. The vacancy rate at 9.1% is elevated and should prompt caution before committing, signalling that rental demand does not strongly absorb available stock. Renters account for 38.3% of households, providing a meaningful tenant pool, yet the income base is shallow with household income at the 13.2nd percentile nationally. No development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is absent. The turnover rate of 23.2% means roughly 1 in 4 households changed last year, a higher churn than stable suburbs, which can create ongoing letting opportunities but also suggests short-hold tenancies rather than long-term leases.
Schools in Montello iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Montello Primary School
K-6 · 270 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 sits at the national average, with no significant skew toward younger or older cohorts. Overseas-born residents make up only 10.7% of the population, which is 10.9 percentage points below the national figure, and ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (548 residents), Irish (137) and Scottish (100) are the top three groups. University qualifications at 18.0% run 12.1 points below national, consistent with a trades and services workforce. Average household size of 2.2 persons is 0.3 below national, pointing to smaller family units, and 28.9% of families are couples without children. The volunteering rate of 17.2% indicates reasonable civic engagement for a low-income area.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.5%
Houses
8.8%
Townhouse
1.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Montello's housing tenure divides into 38.3% renting, 32.2% carrying a mortgage and 29.5% owning outright. The stock is overwhelmingly detached: 89.5% separate houses, 8.8% semi-detached and only 1.7% apartments, giving the suburb a single-family residential character. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 58.1%, with four-plus bedrooms at 16.4% and two-bedroom at 23.8%. No current median house price is available, but monthly mortgage repayments of $953 imply a purchase price tier well below the national median, making the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7% manageable. Rent at $240 per week translates to a rent-to-income ratio of 23.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The 9.1% vacancy rate is notably higher than tight markets nationally, suggesting supply outpaces demand at current rent levels.
Mortgage / mo
$953
Rent / wk
$240
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$624
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.1%
Unoccupied
53
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.9%
Couples, no children
910
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 25.7% of local workers (73 people), more than double the next sector, which points to nearby medical facilities anchoring the local economy. Education follows at 12.7% (36 workers), with Manufacturing and Retail each at 8.8% (25 workers) and Public Administration at 7.4% (21 workers). By occupation, Community and Personal service workers (74) slightly outnumber Professionals (73), reinforcing the care-sector orientation. The unemployment rate of 7.3% is above the national average, and the participation rate of 50.6% is low, with 407 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment accounts for 64.9% of jobs among the employed, so part-time work is limited. Household income at the 13.2nd percentile nationally signals that wages in the dominant industries sit below the Australian average.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.9%
Part-time
27.8%
Participation
50.6%
Employed
470
Occupations
Top Industries
University
18.0%
Postgraduate
2.6%
Born Overseas
10.7%
Dwellings
533
Transport to Work
Private car dependency is high at 87.2% of commuters, above the national average, which is typical for compact Tasmanian suburbs without dense public transport. Walking or cycling accounts for 4.2% of trips, a small active transport share. No schools are recorded within the Montello boundary, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring northwest Tasmanian suburbs. Crime statistics are not available for this suburb. Residents needing daily assistance account for 7.5% of the population, or 87 people, which is elevated relative to the suburb's young-to-middle age profile at a median age of 40. The rent-to-income ratio of 23.7% keeps housing costs manageable for renters, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7% similarly stays below financial stress levels, making day-to-day living costs less burdensome than in higher-priced markets nationally.
Drive
87.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.2%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Montello compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Montello a good suburb to live in?
Montello offers low housing cost pressure: mortgage-to-income at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 23.7% both sit below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb's 1,241 residents live in predominantly detached housing (89.5% of stock) at a density of 1,688 per sq km. The main drawbacks are a 7.3% unemployment rate above the national average and limited local services, as no schools are recorded within the boundary.
What is the median house price in Montello?
No current median house price is recorded for Montello in the available dataset. As an affordability proxy, monthly mortgage repayments average $953 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.7%, both well below national levels, indicating a lower-cost market compared to most Australian suburbs. Weekly rent is $240.
What schools are in Montello?
No schools are recorded within the Montello boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in neighbouring northwest Tasmanian suburbs. Locally, 18.0% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 12.1 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Montello safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Montello in the current dataset. As indirect indicators, 7.5% of residents (87 people) need daily assistance, and the suburb has a stable residential character with 76.8% of households staying put over the past year rather than moving.
Is Montello good for property investment?
Montello presents a mixed investment picture. Renters make up 38.3% of households and weekly rent is $240, but the vacancy rate of 9.1% is elevated, pointing to supply above current demand. Household income sits at the 13.2nd percentile nationally, limiting rent growth potential. No new development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply is not an immediate concern.
How is Montello's population changing?
No forward population forecast is available for Montello. The current population is 1,241 across 0.74 sq km. The annual turnover rate of 23.2% shows that roughly 1 in 4 households changed in the past year, indicating active residential movement despite the suburb's small size.
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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