Railton
At a median age of 45, Railton sits 5 years above the national figure, and that gap shapes almost every other characteristic of this small Tasmanian town. With 1,079 residents spread across 70.66 square kilometres, population density is just 15.3 per km2. Household income lands in the 17.1st percentile nationally, and IRSAD scores decile 2, placing it firmly in the lower-advantage tier. Offsetting the income picture, 44.4% of households own their home outright, well above national rates, and mortgage-to-income at 20.6% is below the 30% stress threshold.
Population
1,079
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,091/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median house price data is not available for Railton in this dataset, but affordability signals are relatively positive. Monthly mortgage repayments average $975, and mortgage-to-income sits at 20.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.3%, higher than in most TAS suburbs, with three-bedroom homes dominating at 59.1% of dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 15.8%. An outright ownership rate of 44.4% suggests many residents have long-established tenure rather than recent entry, which can reduce competitive pressure for buyers compared to higher-turnover markets.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for Railton in this dataset, but affordability signals are relatively positive. Monthly mortgage repayments average $975, and mortgage-to-income sits at 20.6%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 99.3%, higher than in most TAS suburbs, with three-bedroom homes dominating at 59.1% of dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 15.8%. An outright ownership rate of 44.4% suggests many residents have long-established tenure rather than recent entry, which can reduce competitive pressure for buyers compared to higher-turnover markets.
For Investors
The rental market is small but active: 18.5% of dwellings are rented at a median of $255 per week, below state averages. Vacancy sits at 6.6%, elevated compared to tight TAS markets, indicating some slack in demand. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, which limits supply-side risk but also signals limited investor activity. Net migration averages 13 internal and 24 overseas arrivals per year, sustaining a modest annual population growth of 0.8%. Rent grew 27.8% over the decade, faster than income, which at 24.6% real growth, offers a positive real yield trend for long-term holders.
Demographics
The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, and the demographic trajectory is aging: the senior share rose 6.8 points while the young share fell 4.4 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents account for 8.4% of the population, which is 13.2 percentage points below the national rate, reflecting a predominantly locally-born community. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic, led by English (483), Irish (125) and Scottish (89). University qualifications reach just 10.0%, which is 20.1 percentage points below the national figure, consistent with the blue-collar occupational base. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.3%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is among the most detached-dominant you will find: 99.3% of dwellings are separate houses, compared to national and state averages that include significant apartment and semi-detached shares. Tenure favours outright owners at 44.4%, with 37.2% on mortgages and 18.5% renting, a split typical of established rural towns where residents have long paid off their homes. Three-bedroom homes account for 59.1% of dwellings, with two-bedroom at 19.8% and four-plus at 15.8%. Median house price is not available in this dataset. Weekly rent averages $255, and rent-to-income at 23.4% stays below the 30% stress threshold.
Mortgage / mo
$975
Rent / wk
$255
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$539
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.6%
Unoccupied
29
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.3%
Couples, no children
829
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the largest employer at 15.5% of workers (34 people), followed by Transport and Other Services at 10.5% each (23 workers apiece), Agriculture at 9.1% (20) and Manufacturing at 7.8% (17). By occupation, Labourers dominate at 72 workers, ahead of Machinery and Drivers (61) and Community and Personal Services (50), a blue-collar profile consistent with a rural agricultural and industrial area. The unemployment rate is 7.7%, higher than the national average, and the labour participation rate is just 43.6%, reflecting both the aging population and limited local job diversity. SEIFA IRSD sits at decile 3, placing Railton in the lower third nationally for socioeconomic conditions.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
3,490
Unemployed
121
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
62.1%
Part-time
30.2%
Participation
43.6%
Employed
359
Occupations
Top Industries
University
10.0%
Postgraduate
2.0%
Born Overseas
8.4%
Dwellings
403
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high: 89.1% of residents drive to work, and only 1.3% use public transport, reflecting the rural location with limited transit options compared to urban TAS centres. The volunteering rate is 15.9%, suggesting a reasonably engaged community relative to population size. Rent-to-income at 23.4% and mortgage-to-income at 20.6% both fall below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset. The IRSAD decile of 2 places Railton in the lower-advantage tier nationally, and 8.3% of residents (83 people) need daily assistance, above the typical rate for similarly-sized towns.
Drive
89.1%
Public Transport
1.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.8%/yr
(+55 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth runs at 0.8% per year, adding around 55 residents annually, below the national growth rate for comparable regional towns. The 10-year change was 8.6%, moderate for a small rural town. Medium forecasts project growth from the broader SA2's current 6,911 toward approximately 7,253 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with 13 net internal arrivals and 24 net overseas arrivals per year. The gentrification score sits at 15 (not gentrifying). The affordability trend is improving, moving from 45.7% in 2011 to 38.1% in 2021, making Railton more accessible relative to income over time.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+24
Net Internal / yr
+13
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: -2% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Railton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Railton a good suburb to live in?
Railton suits buyers seeking affordable, detached housing in a rural TAS setting. Mortgage-to-income sits at 20.6%, below the 30% stress threshold, and 44.4% of residents own their homes outright. The trade-off is limited local employment, with an unemployment rate of 7.7%, and IRSAD at decile 2, placing it in the lower-advantage tier nationally.
What is the median house price in Railton?
Median house price data is not available for Railton in this dataset. Weekly rent averages $255 and monthly mortgage repayments average $975, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.6%, which is below the national stress threshold of 30%.
What schools are in Railton?
No schools are recorded inside the Railton suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically travel to nearby larger centres in the Kentish municipality for schooling. The local university qualification rate is 10.0%, which is 20.1 percentage points below the national figure.
Is Railton safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Railton in this dataset. As a context indicator, the suburb scores IRSD decile 3, in the lower third nationally for relative disadvantage, and unemployment runs at 7.7%, above the national average. Volunteering at 15.9% of residents suggests a reasonably connected community.
Is Railton good for property investment?
Rent grew 27.8% over the decade against real income growth of 24.6%, a positive trend for rental returns. Weekly rent averages $255 against manageable entry costs. Vacancy is 6.6%, elevated compared to tighter TAS markets, and zero development applications in the past 12 months limit new supply but also indicate low investor activity.
How is Railton's population changing?
Population growth runs at 0.8% annually, adding around 55 residents per year. The 10-year population increase was 8.6%. Migration is balanced, with 24 net overseas and 13 net internal arrivals per year. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 6.8 points and the young share down 4.4 points over the decade.
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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