Oakdowns
With a median age of 33, Oakdowns sits 7 years below the national figure, making it one of the younger residential pockets in Hobart's eastern corridor. The suburb packs 1,897 residents into just 0.77 square kilometres, a density of 2,467 people per km2. Household income lands at the 62.7th percentile nationally, a comfortable middle-income position, while an unusually low 11.4% overseas-born rate, compared to the national average of around 21.6%, shapes a predominantly Australian-born community. Nearly all homes are separate houses at 97.8%, and 50.9% of households carry a mortgage, reflecting a suburb in the active family formation stage.
Population
1,897
Median Age
33.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,778/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Separate houses dominate at 97.8% of the housing stock, so buyers are almost exclusively purchasing detached homes rather than units or apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 61.0% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms reach 15.3%, making this a family-sized housing market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable compared to many mainland capitals. With 50.9% of households on mortgages versus only 21.6% owning outright, the suburb has a younger, still-paying buyer profile rather than established wealth. Only 2.2% of homes are semi-detached, so supply is almost entirely in the detached category.
For Buyers
Separate houses dominate at 97.8% of the housing stock, so buyers are almost exclusively purchasing detached homes rather than units or apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 61.0% of dwellings and four-plus bedrooms reach 15.3%, making this a family-sized housing market. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.7% stays below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing costs are manageable compared to many mainland capitals. With 50.9% of households on mortgages versus only 21.6% owning outright, the suburb has a younger, still-paying buyer profile rather than established wealth. Only 2.2% of homes are semi-detached, so supply is almost entirely in the detached category.
For Investors
Rental demand is moderate, with 27.5% of households renting at a median of $400 per week. The vacancy rate of 3.4% sits above the commonly cited 3% balanced-market threshold, suggesting a slight surplus of available rental stock compared to tighter markets. Rent-to-income at 22.5% is below the 30% stress level, so existing tenants are not under financial pressure that would drive sudden exits. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, indicating limited new supply entering the market. The suburb's young median age of 33, below the national average by 7 years, points to ongoing household formation demand as residents progress through family life stages.
Demographics
The median age of 33 is 7 years lower than the national figure, driven by a household composition where 46% of families are couples with children, higher than a typical aging suburb. English ancestry leads at 884 residents, followed by Irish (180) and Scottish (149), placing the area well below the national overseas-born rate of roughly 21.6%: only 11.4% of Oakdowns residents were born overseas, which is 10.2 percentage points below national. University qualifications reach 27.7%, slightly below the national average by 2.4 percentage points. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure precisely. The volunteering rate of 15.1% indicates moderate community participation.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.8%
Houses
2.2%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Oakdowns is overwhelmingly a detached-house suburb: 97.8% of dwellings are separate houses, with only 2.2% semi-detached and negligible apartment stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 61.0% of the market and two-bedroom homes for 23.7%, giving a stock profile suited to families rather than singles or downsizers. Tenure splits to 50.9% mortgaging, 21.6% owning outright and 27.5% renting. The 50.9% mortgage rate is high relative to the 21.6% outright ownership figure, consistent with a suburb that has attracted buyers in recent decades rather than long-term settled residents. Monthly repayments of $1,517 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.7% confirm that servicing costs remain affordable by national standards.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$959
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.4%
Unoccupied
27
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.6%
Couples, no children
1,554
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local employment base at 18.7% of workers (136 people), followed closely by Public Administration at 14.2% (103) and Education at 14.0% (102). Construction accounts for 11.3% and Professional/Tech for 7.7%, giving the suburb a public-sector and services tilt compared to manufacturing-heavy outer areas. By occupation, Professionals (214) and Clerical/Admin staff (198) are the largest groups, above manual trades in absolute numbers. The unemployment rate of 3.7% is low and the participation rate of 70.2% is solid. Full-time employment runs at 66.0% of those employed, with 340 part-time workers rounding out the base. Household income sits at the 62.7th percentile nationally, above the median but not in the top income tier.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.0%
Part-time
30.3%
Participation
70.2%
Employed
1,001
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.7%
Postgraduate
7.3%
Born Overseas
11.4%
Dwellings
756
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 90.0% of commuters driving, well above the national average, and only 3.8% use public transport. This reflects the typical Tasmanian suburban pattern where bus frequency is limited and distances to the CBD favour private vehicles. No schools are listed within the Oakdowns boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby schools in adjacent suburbs. Crime statistics are not available for Oakdowns specifically. Rent-to-income sits at 22.5%, below the 30% stress threshold, so renters face manageable costs. The need-for-assistance rate of 3.7% (68 residents) is consistent with a young, working-age population. Volunteering participation at 15.1% suggests a moderate level of community engagement for a suburb of this size.
Drive
90.0%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Oakdowns compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Oakdowns a good suburb to live in?
Oakdowns suits families and working-age residents well. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.7% is below the 30% stress threshold, housing costs are manageable, 97.8% of homes are detached houses, and the unemployment rate is low at 3.7%. Household income sits at the 62.7th percentile nationally, a comfortable middle-income position.
What is the median house price in Oakdowns?
A specific median house price is not available for Oakdowns in the current dataset. As an indication of costs, the average monthly mortgage repayment is $1,517 and weekly rents average $400. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.7% suggests purchase prices remain affordable relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Oakdowns?
No schools are recorded inside the Oakdowns boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs within the Hobart eastern corridor. The suburb has 27.7% of residents holding university qualifications, slightly below the national average by 2.4 percentage points.
Is Oakdowns safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Oakdowns. The suburb has a low unemployment rate of 3.7%, a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.7% below financial stress levels, and a 70.7% residential stability rate, all factors associated with lower social stress in comparable Australian suburbs.
Is Oakdowns good for property investment?
Rental yield potential is moderate: weekly rent averages $400 and the vacancy rate of 3.4% is slightly above the 3% balanced-market benchmark. The 27.5% renter share provides a tenant base, and no development applications in the past 12 months limits new competing supply. The young median age of 33, below national by 7 years, supports ongoing rental demand as residents form households.
How is Oakdowns's population changing?
Forward population forecasts are not available in the current dataset. However, 70.7% of residents stayed at the same address over the prior 5-year period, indicating a stable community with moderate 29.3% turnover. The young median age of 33 and high proportion of couples with children, 46% of families, suggest the suburb is in an active household formation phase.
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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