Snug
Compared with larger nearby Kingston and Margate, Snug reads as a smaller, more house-based settlement: 1,440 people across 23.04 sq km, density of 62.5 per sq km, and 94.0% separate houses. The 42.1% mortgage share is higher than outright ownership at 33.1%, so local affordability is shaped by repayments rather than investor churn. Income sits at the 46.1 household percentile, below the national middle, while growth runs at 1.51% a year.
Local council: Kingborough
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
4
Homebuyers face a market built around freestanding homes rather than compact stock: 94.0% are separate houses, compared with 2.1% semi-detached homes, and 49.6% have 3 bedrooms. Larger households are plausible because 25.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and average household size is 2.7. The $1,600 monthly mortgage benchmark equals 24.9% of income, while household income at the 46.1 percentile is below the national middle, so budget discipline matters.
For Buyers
Homebuyers face a market built around freestanding homes rather than compact stock: 94.0% are separate houses, compared with 2.1% semi-detached homes, and 49.6% have 3 bedrooms. Larger households are plausible because 25.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and average household size is 2.7. The $1,600 monthly mortgage benchmark equals 24.9% of income, while household income at the 46.1 percentile is below the national middle, so budget discipline matters.
For Investors
Investors should treat Snug as an owner-led rental market: renting is 19.9%, lower than the 42.1% mortgaged share and 33.1% owned outright share. Weekly rent is $350 and vacancy is 4.0%, so yields depend on careful stock selection rather than deep tenant churn. Only 4 development applications in 12 months point to limited new competition, while the 32.1% rent growth signal shows demand has risen from a comparatively small base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
4
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
Demographics
Snug's demographic profile is more locally rooted than migrant-led: 13.8% were born overseas, 7.8 percentage points below the national rate, and no non-English language group is large enough to appear separately. Median age is 38, 2.0 years below national, but the forecast trajectory is aging. University attainment is 28.7%, 1.4 points below national, while household size is 2.7, 0.2 above national, because couples with children make up 48.8% of families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
94.0%
Houses
2.1%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Snug's housing stock is more ownership-oriented than rental-oriented: 42.1% of homes carry a mortgage, 33.1% are owned outright and 19.9% are rented. Detached houses dominate at 94.0%, far above the 2.1% semi-detached share, which limits choice for downsizers or renters seeking smaller formats. Affordability pressure is moderate because mortgage costs take 24.9% of income and rent takes 23.6%, with 3-bedroom homes the main format at 49.6%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
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
48.8%
Couples with children
35.8%
Couples, no children
13.8%
Single parent
369
Total families
Economy & Employment
Snug's economy is anchored by healthcare at 15.8%, construction at 14.4%, education at 13.4%, public admin at 9.2% and professional/tech at 7.3%. Professionals number 131, higher than trades at 97, but trades remain important because construction accounts for 14.4% of jobs. Unemployment is 4.0% and participation 58.0%. SEIFA is mixed: IEO decile 7, IER 8 and IRSD 8 sit above average, while IRSAD decile 6 is lower, matching a middle-income household percentile of 46.1.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
627
Unemployed
25
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
51.2%
Part-time
40.9%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
602
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.7%
Postgraduate
7.5%
Born Overseas
13.8%
Dwellings
480
Transport to Work
Daily life in Snug is car-led: 77.8% drive to work, higher than 1.8% using public transport and 4.0% walking or cycling. That pattern fits the 23.04 sq km footprint and low density of 62.5 people per sq km, because errands and school trips often require distance. There are 0 schools inside the suburb boundary, while 10.4% work from home. IRSAD decile 6 is above the middle deciles but not top-tier affluent, pointing to comfortable rather than luxury livability.
Drive
77.8%
Public Transport
1.8%
Walk / Cycle
4.0%
Work from Home
10.4%
Growth Outlook
Growth in Snug is steady rather than speculative: the trend runs at 1.51% a year and 10-year population change is 19.7%, with migration labelled Balanced rather than dominated by a single inflow. The trajectory is Aging, because senior share has lifted 5.2 points while young share has fallen 2.9 points. Gentrification is scored 7 and staged Not gentrifying, so change is more about household life-cycle turnover than a fast price-led reset.
Population trend: Kingborough council area
Snug sits in the Kingborough council area. These are the council area's residents, not Snug's.
Residents 2025
41,628
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.8%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.4%
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 Snug compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Snug a good suburb to live in?
Snug suits households wanting detached housing and space, with 94.0% separate houses and an average household size of 2.7. Car access matters more than public transport, since 77.8% drive to work.
What is the median house price in Snug?
A current median house price is not available for Snug. The clearest local cost markers are a $1,600 monthly mortgage benchmark, $350 weekly rent and mortgage costs at 24.9% of income.
What schools are in Snug?
Snug has 0 schools within the suburb boundary. Family demand is still visible, with couples with children making up 48.8% of families and 3-bedroom homes forming 49.6% of dwellings.
Is Snug safe?
Snug's suburb-level crime rate is not stated, so it should not be ranked against other suburbs on crime alone. Residential stability is relatively high, with 82.7% staying at the same address and 17.3% turnover.
Is Snug good for property investment?
Snug is more suited to selective, long-hold investment than high-volume rental churn. Renters make up 19.9%, vacancy is 4.0%, weekly rent is $350 and only 4 development applications were recorded in 12 months.
How is Snug's population changing?
Snug is growing steadily, with a 1.51% annual trend and 19.7% change over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with senior share up 5.2 points and young share down 2.9 points.
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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