Old Beach
A striking 90.5% of Old Beach dwellings are separate houses, making it one of Tasmania's most thoroughly detached suburbs with a density of just 174.6 persons per square kilometre across 25.17 km2. The median house price reached $720,000 in 2026, up from $105,000 in 1996, a 585.7% gain and a 6.6% compound annual growth rate over 30 years. Household income sits at the 67.4th percentile nationally, above average without being top-tier, while 35.7% of owners hold their property outright, a sign of long-term settlement. Population grew 33.8% over the decade to around 5,286 residents, and forecasts project continued growth toward 5,992 by 2031.
Population
4,394
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,865/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$720K
YTD 2026
The median house price is $720,000 in 2026, up from $689,500 in 2024 and $715,500 in 2025, a steady upward move. The peak was $757,000 in 2022, and current prices sit 4.9% below that peak, suggesting the market has partially corrected and may be approaching a stable entry point. Separate houses account for 90.5% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes dominating at 56.1% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 30.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income stands at 21.4%, also unstressed. The suburb leans toward owner-occupiers: 35.7% own outright and 52.4% carry mortgages, while only 11.9% rent.
For Buyers
The median house price is $720,000 in 2026, up from $689,500 in 2024 and $715,500 in 2025, a steady upward move. The peak was $757,000 in 2022, and current prices sit 4.9% below that peak, suggesting the market has partially corrected and may be approaching a stable entry point. Separate houses account for 90.5% of stock, with 3-bedroom homes dominating at 56.1% and 4-plus bedroom homes at 30.3%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Rent-to-income stands at 21.4%, also unstressed. The suburb leans toward owner-occupiers: 35.7% own outright and 52.4% carry mortgages, while only 11.9% rent.
For Investors
The renter share is just 11.9%, which is low compared to most metro suburbs, limiting the landlord pool but also limiting competition for rental stock. Weekly rent is $400 against a $720,000 median, implying a gross yield around 2.9%, modest but higher than many coastal TAS suburbs. The vacancy rate of 3.8% indicates some slack in the rental market, though not severe oversupply. Net migration runs at an average of 32 internal and 14 overseas arrivals annually, supporting steady demand. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so supply from new construction is not a near-term pressure. Over 30 years the capital growth CAGR of 6.6% shows consistent long-term appreciation above typical inflation.
Demographics
The median age is 40, matching the national figure exactly, while the senior share rose 7.2 points over the decade, signalling an aging trajectory. The overseas-born share is just 11.0%, which is 10.6 percentage points below the national average, reflecting a predominantly locally born population. English ancestry leads at 2,054 residents, followed by Irish (430) and Scottish (352), a strongly Anglo-Celtic profile. University qualifications reach 25.0%, which is 5.1 points below the national figure, consistent with a trade and public sector employment base. Average household size is 2.6, slightly above the national average of 2.5. Volunteering runs at 14.0% and 7.2% of residents need daily assistance.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
90.5%
Houses
1.2%
Townhouse
8.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Old Beach is a mortgage-belt suburb: 52.4% of households carry a mortgage, 35.7% own outright, and just 11.9% rent. That tenure split, combined with 90.5% separate houses, describes a settled owner-occupier community rather than a transient rental market. Three-bedroom homes account for 56.1% of stock and 4-plus bedroom homes for 30.3%, skewing toward family-sized properties. The price history runs from $105,000 in 1996 to $720,000 in 2026, a 585.7% total gain. The peak of $757,000 was reached in 2022, and prices are now 4.9% below that. Turnover is relatively low, with 80.3% of residents having stayed in place, which limits listing frequency and can support price stability.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$887
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.8%
Unoccupied
64
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.8%
Couples, no children
3,680
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 20.7% of the workforce (317 workers), well above typical suburban shares, followed by Public Admin at 12.7% (194), Construction at 11.8% (181), Education at 10.9% (167), and Professional/Tech at 6.3% (96). This public-sector skew is consistent with Old Beach's role as a commuter suburb of Hobart, where government employment concentrates. The top occupations are Clerical/Admin (418), Professionals (383), and Community/Personal services (327). The unemployment rate is 3.7% and full-time employment runs at 66.0%. The SEIFA IER (economic resources) decile of 8 is notably higher than the IEO (education/occupation) decile of 5, meaning residents have solid asset and income resources even if formal qualifications are below the national median.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
2,944
Unemployed
64
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
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
64.3%
Employed
2,209
Occupations
Top Industries
University
25.0%
Postgraduate
5.8%
Born Overseas
11.0%
Dwellings
1,619
Transport to Work
Old Beach is a car-dependent suburb: 91.6% of residents drive to work, with only 2.2% using public transport and 0.3% walking or cycling. That transport profile is typical of low-density outer TAS suburbs rather than a drawback specific to Old Beach. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families commute to nearby Hobart metro schools. The SEIFA IRSD decile of 8 means Old Beach ranks above 80% of Australian suburbs on the relative disadvantage index, a solid advantage position. The IRSAD decile of 6 reflects a more middle-of-the-distribution advantage score when education and occupation factors are weighted in. Housing stress is absent on both measures: mortgage-to-income at 18.8% and rent-to-income at 21.4% are both below stress thresholds.
Drive
91.6%
Public Transport
2.2%
Walk / Cycle
0.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.99%/yr
(+105 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 33.8% over the decade, reaching an estimated 5,286 in 2025, and forecasts under the medium scenario project 5,992 residents by 2031, an increase of roughly 706 people. Annual growth runs at 1.99% per year, adding around 105 persons annually. Internal migration contributes an average net 32 arrivals per year and overseas migration 14, together providing a balanced demand base. Rent grew 25.0% over the period and real incomes rose 12.2%, both outpacing inflation. The gentrification score of 28 places Old Beach in an early-signs stage, with signals including 39% population growth since 2011 and an accelerating professional share (15% to 21%). Affordability improved from 50.0% in 2011 to 45.3% in 2021, trending in the right direction.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
+32
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +39% since 2011, Accelerating: 15% → 21%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Old Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Old Beach a good suburb to live in?
Old Beach scores decile 8 on the IRSD index, ranking above 80% of Australian suburbs on relative disadvantage. Household income sits at the 67.4th percentile nationally, housing stress is low (mortgage-to-income 18.8%), and the suburb covers 25.17 km2 of low-density detached housing at 174.6 persons per km2.
What is the median house price in Old Beach?
The median house price is $720,000 as of 2026, up from $689,500 in 2024. Prices peaked at $757,000 in 2022 and are currently 4.9% below that peak. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,517, and the long-run price gain since 1996 is 585.7% at a CAGR of 6.6%.
What schools are in Old Beach?
No schools are recorded inside the Old Beach suburb boundary in this dataset. Residents commute to schools in the broader Hobart metro area. University qualifications among residents reach 25.0%, which is 5.1 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Old Beach safe?
Specific crime statistics for Old Beach are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the SEIFA IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the upper tier nationally. Only 7.2% of residents (306 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a stable community.
Is Old Beach good for property investment?
The 30-year CAGR of 6.6% and a total gain of 585.7% from 1996 to 2026 show consistent long-run capital growth. Weekly rent of $400 against a $720,000 median implies a gross yield of around 2.9%. The renter share is only 11.9%, limiting tenant demand, but the vacancy rate of 3.8% is not severe.
How is Old Beach's population changing?
Population grew 33.8% over the decade and sits at approximately 5,286 in 2025. Annual growth is 1.99%, adding around 105 people per year. Medium forecasts project 5,992 residents by 2031. The suburb receives a net average of 32 internal and 14 overseas migrants annually.
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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