Primrose Sands
A median age of 54, 14 years above the national figure, is the defining feature of Primrose Sands. This is a small coastal settlement of 1,209 people, and it differs from nearby Sorell or Dodges Ferry because the housing base is more detached and more intermittently occupied. Separate houses make up 98.4% of dwellings, while the vacancy rate is 44.5%. With household income only at the 9.4th percentile, affordability and retirement living shape the suburb more than commuter growth.
Local council: Sorell
Population
1,209
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$922/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Buying here is about low-rise coastal housing rather than choice of dwelling types: 98.4% of homes are separate houses, with 42.4% having 3 bedrooms and 37.8% having 2. The $1,062 median monthly mortgage takes 26.6% of income, below the rent stress share, so debt servicing looks more manageable than leasing for many locals. Smaller households average 1.9 people, so downsizers and couples may find the stock better matched than large families needing 4 or more bedrooms, which are only 11.4%.
For Buyers
Buying here is about low-rise coastal housing rather than choice of dwelling types: 98.4% of homes are separate houses, with 42.4% having 3 bedrooms and 37.8% having 2. The $1,062 median monthly mortgage takes 26.6% of income, below the rent stress share, so debt servicing looks more manageable than leasing for many locals. Smaller households average 1.9 people, so downsizers and couples may find the stock better matched than large families needing 4 or more bedrooms, which are only 11.4%.
For Investors
Primrose Sands is a selective rental market, not a high-turnover apartment play. Renters are 17.8% of tenure and median rent is $300 a week, while the 44.5% vacancy rate is far higher than a conventional full-time suburb because many dwellings appear empty or intermittently used. With 0 recorded approvals in 12 months, supply pressure is muted, but leasing risk is above average if demand is seasonal. Investors need a tenant strategy before relying on yield.
Demographics
Primrose Sands skews older and more locally rooted than Australia overall. The median age is 54, which is 14 years above the national figure, and only 13.5% were born overseas, 8.1 percentage points below the national share. University attainment is 17.4%, 12.7 points lower than nationally, while the main ancestries are English 544, Scottish 122 and Irish 104. Couples without children make up 57.7% of families, matching the older household profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.4%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 98.4% separate houses and very little medium-density stock compared with Hobart's inner suburbs. Ownership is high: 43.0% own outright and 37.2% have a mortgage, while 17.8% rent. The bedroom mix is modest, with 42.4% 3-bedroom homes, 37.8% 2-bedroom homes and 11.4% with 4 or more. Because household income sits at the 9.4th percentile, the $1,062 monthly mortgage matters even when mortgage stress is below rent stress at 26.6% of income.
Mortgage / mo
$1,062
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$300
Census 2021
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$567
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
44.5%
Unoccupied
447
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.5% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.0%
Couples with children
57.7%
Couples, no children
20.0%
Single parent
310
Total families
Economy & Employment
The economy leans toward practical services and care work rather than office-heavy employment. Healthcare accounts for 18.9% of local workers, construction 15.3%, retail 9.5%, education 9.1% and other services 6.2%. Trades are the largest occupation group at 77 people, above professionals at 66 and community/personal roles at 65. Labour-market weakness is clear because unemployment is 10.1% and participation is 44.4%, while household income ranks at only the 9.4th percentile.
Unemployment
10.1%
Labour Force
485
Unemployed
49
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
49.1%
Part-time
41.1%
Participation
44.4%
Employed
436
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
17.4%
Postgraduate
2.8%
Born Overseas
13.5%
Dwellings
558
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-led: 83.1% drive to work, 10.2% work from home and only 0.8% walk or cycle, so convenience depends more on vehicle access than public transport. The small scale, 1,209 residents across 7.68 sq km and density of 157.5 people per sq km, supports a quieter coastal routine, but day-to-day services are lower than in larger centres such as Sorell. A 1.9 average household size also fits retirees, singles and couples better than large families.
Drive
83.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.8%
Work from Home
10.2%
Growth Outlook
Growth signals point to churn within a small base rather than rapid expansion. Primrose Sands has 1,209 residents at 157.5 people per sq km, and mobility is steady with 75.6% staying and 24.4% turning over. With 0 recorded development approvals in 12 months, new supply is lower than in build-out suburbs, so change is more likely to come from vacant homes being occupied more often. The 44.5% vacancy rate makes that reuse channel important.
Population trend: Sorell council area
Primrose Sands sits in the Sorell council area. These are the council area's residents, not Primrose Sands's.
Residents 2025
18,108
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.9%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.4%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Primrose Sands compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Primrose Sands a good suburb to live in?
Primrose Sands can suit people wanting a small coastal setting, with 1,209 residents, a median age of 54 and 98.4% separate houses. It is less suited to buyers needing big-city services because car commuting is high at 83.1% and the local population is older than national.
What is the median house price in Primrose Sands?
A reliable median house price is not stated for Primrose Sands. The available cost signals are a $1,062 median monthly mortgage and $300 median weekly rent, while 98.4% of dwellings are separate houses, so recent settled sales should guide pricing.
What schools are in Primrose Sands?
There are 0 schools recorded within Primrose Sands. Families should check travel times to nearby towns before buying, especially because 83.1% of workers drive and only 0.8% walk or cycle, pointing to lower local access than in larger service centres.
Is Primrose Sands safe?
There is no suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 residents available for Primrose Sands, so safety should be checked through current police sources and local inspection. The settled resident pattern is relevant: 75.6% stayed at the last count, and the population is 1,209.
Is Primrose Sands good for property investment?
It can work for investors with a clear leasing plan, but the risk profile is higher than a standard long-term rental market. Renters are 17.8%, median rent is $300 a week, vacancy is 44.5%, and there were 0 approvals in the past 12 months.
How is Primrose Sands's population changing?
Primrose Sands has 1,209 residents and change looks gradual rather than rapid. Mobility shows 75.6% stayed and 24.4% moved, while 0 development approvals in 12 months means population shifts are more likely through occupancy changes than new housing.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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