Snug
Snug's most telling statistic is not price but ownership: 34.8% of households own their home outright, well above typical mortgage-belt suburbs, and 44.3% carry a mortgage, giving a combined 79.1% owner-occupier share. At a population of 1,440 across 23 sq km, this is a low-density coastal fringe area south of Hobart with detached housing at 94% of the stock. Household income sits at the 46.1st percentile nationally, slightly below the national median, yet mortgage-to-income runs at 24.9%, well under the 30% stress threshold. The suburb's identity signals lean Anglo-heritage, aging trajectory, and strong community participation, with a volunteering rate of 21.9%.
Population
1,440
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,482/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median house price data is not available for Snug, but the monthly mortgage repayment figure of $1,600 implies entry-level borrowing costs well below the national average for detached homes. The stock is 94% separate houses, with only 2.1% semi-detached, so buyers get genuine detached product. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.6% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes account for 25.2%, giving good family-sizing options. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.9%, below the 30% national stress threshold, meaning even at current rates, buyers in Snug are not in financial pressure territory compared to capital-city markets. Rent is $350 per week, lower than the national median, indicating the suburb is more accessible than coastal Tasmania peers.
For Buyers
Median house price data is not available for Snug, but the monthly mortgage repayment figure of $1,600 implies entry-level borrowing costs well below the national average for detached homes. The stock is 94% separate houses, with only 2.1% semi-detached, so buyers get genuine detached product. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 49.6% of dwellings, and 4-plus bedroom homes account for 25.2%, giving good family-sizing options. The mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 24.9%, below the 30% national stress threshold, meaning even at current rates, buyers in Snug are not in financial pressure territory compared to capital-city markets. Rent is $350 per week, lower than the national median, indicating the suburb is more accessible than coastal Tasmania peers.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $350 and a vacancy rate of 4.0% define the investor picture. A 4.0% vacancy is at the upper edge of healthy equilibrium, higher than the tight sub-2% rates seen in high-demand urban markets. The renter share is only 20.9%, well below the national average, meaning the pool of rental demand is thin and turnover matters. Net overseas migration adds about 31 residents a year while internal migration runs at negative 11, a modest net gain. Development activity is very low at 1 application in the past 12 months, limiting speculative supply risk. The combination of low renter share, moderate vacancy, and slow population growth suggests yields are stable but capital growth prospects depend on Hobart regional demand spilling south.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Snug iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Snug Primary School
K-6 · 323 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, but the suburb's trajectory is aging: the senior share grew 5.2 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 3.2 points. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (639), Scottish (158) and Irish (150). Overseas-born residents make up 13.8% of the population, 7.8 points below the national average, consistent with a predominantly locally-born community. University qualifications reach 28.7%, which is 1.4 points below national, sitting close to the national average rather than at the professional-class heights seen in inner-city suburbs. Average household size is 2.7, marginally above the national figure by 0.2, reflecting the family-household structure of the suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.0%
Houses
2.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split strongly favours ownership: 34.8% own outright and 44.3% hold a mortgage, giving 79.1% in owner-occupied housing, well above the national rate. Only 20.9% rent, which keeps the rental market thin. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 94%, with semi-detached at just 2.1%. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.6% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes for 25.2%, suggesting that families have been the dominant buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,600 are modest by national standards, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% falls below the 30% stress threshold. Vacancy at 4.0% is elevated relative to the tightly held southeast Tasmania market, pointing to some slack in the rental segment.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$698
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.0%
Unoccupied
20
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
22.7%
Couples, no children
1,161
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads the local industry mix at 15.8% of workers, followed by Construction at 14.4% and Education at 13.4%, with Public Admin at 9.2% and Professional/Tech at 7.3% rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals are the largest group at 131 workers, then Clerical/Admin (74), Community/Personal (64), Labourers (64) and Managers (62). The unemployment rate is 4.3%, above the national average, and full-time employment reaches 55.6% of those employed. Household income sits at the 46.1st percentile nationally, slightly below median. Real income growth over the decade was 11.8%. SEIFA scores place Snug in the 8th decile on IRSD for relative advantage, above most Tasmanian suburbs, and decile 7 on IEO for education and occupation.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
4,716
Unemployed
119
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.6%
Part-time
40.1%
Participation
53.6%
Employed
554
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.7%
Postgraduate
7.5%
Born Overseas
13.8%
Dwellings
480
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high at 86.8% of residents driving to work, above the national average, with public transport use at only 2.0%, reflecting the limited bus network south of Hobart. Walking or cycling accounts for 4.5% of commuters, manageable for the relatively flat coastal areas. No schools are recorded within the Snug boundary, so families depend on nearby centres. SEIFA places Snug in the 6th decile on IRSAD, the combined advantage-disadvantage index, near the national median. The volunteering rate of 21.9% is notably high relative to national benchmarks, signalling strong community participation. Housing stress is low: rent-to-income at 23.6% and mortgage-to-income at 24.9% both sit comfortably below the 30% stress threshold.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
2.0%
Walk / Cycle
4.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.51%/yr
(+132 people/yr)
EstablishedThe population grew 19.7% over the ten-year period to reach 1,440, a strong rate compared to many regional Tasmanian areas, driven by a balanced migration pattern of 31 net overseas arrivals and negative 11 net internal annually. The annual growth trend projects 1.51%, adding roughly 132 persons a year at the SA2 level, with medium forecasts for the broader area reaching around 9,100 by 2026. The gentrification score is low at 7 out of 100 and classified as not gentrifying, though there is one positive signal: population up 21% since 2011. Rent growth of 32.1% over the decade outpaced real income growth of 11.8%, tightening affordability from 47.4% to 45.5%, though the trend is classified as stable. The affordability ratio remains lower than most capital-city suburbs.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+31
Net Internal / yr
-11
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +21% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Snug compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Snug a good suburb to live in?
Snug offers low housing stress, with mortgage-to-income at 24.9% and rent-to-income at 23.6%, both below the 30% stress threshold. SEIFA places it in the 8th decile nationally on IRSD for relative advantage, above most Tasmanian suburbs. The trade-offs are high car dependence at 86.8% and no schools recorded within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Snug?
A specific median house price is not available for Snug in the current dataset. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,600 and weekly rent is $350, suggesting prices are modest relative to capital-city markets. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.9% is below the national stress threshold of 30%.
What schools are in Snug?
No schools are recorded within the Snug suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby areas such as Margate or Kingston. University qualification rates in Snug are 28.7%, close to the national average of about 30%, indicating a reasonably educated resident base.
Is Snug safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Snug. As an indirect indicator, the suburb sits in the 8th decile nationally on IRSD, the index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage, placing it in the upper half of the national distribution and above average for Tasmania. Housing stress is low and unemployment is 4.3%.
Is Snug good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $350 and a vacancy rate of 4.0% represent the investment baseline. The renter share is only 20.9%, well below the national average, so the tenant pool is small. Population grew 19.7% over the past decade, and rent growth of 32.1% over the same period outpaced income growth of 11.8%, supporting gradual rental appreciation.
How is Snug's population changing?
The population of 1,440 grew 19.7% over the ten-year period, faster than many regional Tasmanian areas. Annual growth is trending at 1.51%. The suburb is on an aging trajectory, with the senior share up 5.2 points and the working-age share down 3.2 points over the decade. Net overseas arrivals of 31 per year offset internal outflow of 11.
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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