Ravenswood
Ravenswood sits in the bottom decile nationally on all four SEIFA indexes, yet its median house price has climbed 660% since 1996, reaching $452,500 in 2026. The suburb's 3,804 residents are younger than the national average at a median age of 36, and more than half rent, reflecting an affordability profile where household incomes fall in the 6.4th percentile nationally. Healthcare employs 26.9% of local workers, more than any other single sector, anchoring the local economy to a relatively stable, publicly-funded workforce. Vacancy sits at 5.5% and population has slipped 4.2% over the decade, two structural signals that caution against treating recent price momentum as demand-driven.
Population
3,804
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$858/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$452K
YTD 2026
The median house price reached $452,500 in 2026, up from $360,000 in 2024 and $425,000 in 2025, a 25.7% rise across two years. Separate houses dominate at 79.7% of dwellings, giving buyers genuine choice in detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 69.3% of the housing mix, which narrows competition to a relatively standard product. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, below the 30% stress threshold and significantly lower than most capital-city suburbs. Outright owners make up 22.1% of households compared to 26.6% carrying a mortgage, while 51.3% rent, meaning most residents have not entered the purchase market. The 30-year price compound annual growth rate of 7.0% from $59,500 in 1996 shows sustained long-run appreciation.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $452,500 in 2026, up from $360,000 in 2024 and $425,000 in 2025, a 25.7% rise across two years. Separate houses dominate at 79.7% of dwellings, giving buyers genuine choice in detached stock. Three-bedroom homes account for 69.3% of the housing mix, which narrows competition to a relatively standard product. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, below the 30% stress threshold and significantly lower than most capital-city suburbs. Outright owners make up 22.1% of households compared to 26.6% carrying a mortgage, while 51.3% rent, meaning most residents have not entered the purchase market. The 30-year price compound annual growth rate of 7.0% from $59,500 in 1996 shows sustained long-run appreciation.
For Investors
A 51.3% renter share, one of the highest in Tasmania, supports consistent tenant demand. Weekly rent averages $225, modest in absolute terms but relative to a $452,500 median that implies a gross yield near 2.6%, comparable to regional Tasmanian norms. The 5.5% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants monitoring, because it signals supply slightly exceeds demand at current rents. Rent growth of 55.2% over the recorded period shows landlords have been able to lift rents substantially. Net internal migration averages negative 12 residents per year, partially offset by 10 overseas arrivals annually, leaving the population growth rate near zero. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, which limits new supply competition but also signals limited infrastructure investment.
Schools in Ravenswood iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Ravenswood Heights Primary School
K-6 · 264 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure, meaning Ravenswood skews younger than most of Australia. Overseas-born residents account for 7.2%, which is 14.4 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the suburb's Anglo-Celtic character: English ancestry leads at 1,763 residents, followed by Irish (290) and Scottish (260). University qualifications reach only 11.8%, compared to the national average of 30.1%, a gap of 18.3 percentage points that is consistent with the decile 1 IEO score. Household size averages 2.3, slightly below the national 2.5. Couples with children number 782 and couples without children 600, and 10.7% of residents volunteer, broadly similar to community averages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.7%
Houses
4.9%
Townhouse
15.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits strongly toward renters: 51.3% rent, 26.6% carry mortgages and 22.1% own outright. The preponderance of renters over outright owners points to a suburb that has not accumulated wealth across generations at the same rate as higher-decile areas. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 69.3%, and 79.7% of dwellings are separate houses, so the stock is conventional and relatively accessible. The price rose from $47,000 at the 2001 trough to $452,500 in 2026, an increase of 862.8%. The 30-year CAGR of 7.0% from 1996 is respectable, though the current price of $452,500 is at its all-time peak. Rent-to-income at 26.2% stays below the 30% stress threshold despite the renter-majority population.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General (YTD 2026)
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$225
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$496
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
90
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.5%
Couples, no children
2,795
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 26.9% of the workforce (164 workers), followed by Retail and Education both at 9.8% (60 workers each), then Construction at 9.3% and Hospitality at 6.4%. By occupation, Labourers lead at 297 workers, Community and Personal Service workers at 218, and Machinery and Drivers at 141, a blue-collar profile that aligns with the decile 1 IRSAD disadvantage score. The unemployment rate is 15.4%, significantly higher than the national average of approximately 4%, and the participation rate of 44.6% is well below the national norm. Weekly personal income averages $496 and household weekly income $858, placing households in the 6.4th percentile nationally. Real income grew 12.3% over the decade, which has not been enough to close the gap with national levels.
Unemployment
13.4%
Labour Force
1,606
Unemployed
216
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
50.6%
Part-time
34.0%
Participation
44.6%
Employed
1,128
Occupations
Top Industries
University
11.8%
Postgraduate
2.7%
Born Overseas
7.2%
Dwellings
1,539
Transport to Work
Ravenswood is highly car-dependent, with 84.8% of residents driving to work, well above the national rate, and public transport use at just 2.7%. Walking and cycling account for 2.8% of journeys. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the lowest tier nationally, indicating concentrated relative disadvantage. Around 10.3% of residents (362 people) need daily assistance with core activities, and 10.7% volunteer. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on schools in surrounding areas within the Launceston metropolitan region. Crime data is not available for Ravenswood in this dataset. The rent-to-income ratio of 26.2% and mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes despite the low-income base.
Drive
84.8%
Public Transport
2.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.05%/yr
(-2 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has declined 4.2% over the past decade, from 3,979 residents in 2023 to a current 3,804, and the medium forecast projects a continued gradual decline to approximately 3,881 by 2031 at a rate of negative 0.05% per year. Net internal migration averages negative 12 residents annually, partly offset by 10 overseas arrivals. The young-adult share fell 3.8 percentage points while the senior share rose 4.4 points over the decade, an aging trajectory that typically compresses future household formation. The gentrification score from the shift model stands at 47 with an Active stage classification, driven by 55.2% rent growth and an affordability trend worsening from 40.4% in 2011 to 45.4% in 2021. Price appreciation of 660.5% since 1996 shows the suburb has moved structurally, even as population shrinks.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+10
Net Internal / yr
-12
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Ravenswood compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ravenswood a good suburb to live in?
Ravenswood offers affordable housing with a $452,500 median and mortgage repayments averaging $867 per month, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb scores decile 1 on IRSAD, the lowest advantage tier nationally, and unemployment sits at 15.4%. It suits buyers prioritising affordability and proximity to Launceston over higher-amenity or higher-income surroundings.
What is the median house price in Ravenswood?
The median house price is $452,500 as of 2026, up from $360,000 in 2024 and $425,000 in 2025. Weekly rent averages $225 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $867. The 30-year compound annual growth rate is 7.0%, with prices rising 660.5% from $59,500 in 1996.
What schools are in Ravenswood?
No schools are recorded inside the Ravenswood boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring Launceston suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 11.8%, which is 18.3 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the blue-collar occupational profile of residents.
Is Ravenswood safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Ravenswood in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 1 on IRSD, the bottom disadvantage tier nationally, and the unemployment rate of 15.4% is significantly higher than the national average. These factors are typically associated with elevated crime risk compared to higher-decile suburbs.
Is Ravenswood good for property investment?
The 51.3% renter share provides a large tenant pool, and rent growth of 55.2% over the recorded period shows strong rental appreciation. At $225 per week rent against a $452,500 median, gross yield is near 2.6%. The 5.5% vacancy rate is elevated, and population is declining at 0.05% per year, so capital growth depends on broader Launceston market conditions rather than local demand fundamentals.
How is Ravenswood's population changing?
Population has fallen 4.2% over the past decade and currently sits at 3,804. The medium forecast projects a continued gradual decline to around 3,881 by 2031, at a rate of negative 0.05% per year. Net internal migration averages negative 12 residents annually. The suburb is on an aging trajectory, with the senior share rising 4.4 percentage points and the young-adult share falling 3.8 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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