South Hobart
Property here has appreciated 671.6% since 1996, when the median sat at $116,000, a compound rate of 7.0% a year over three decades that now lands the median house price at $895,000. The footprint stays low-rise: 71.1% of dwellings are separate houses against just 13.2% apartments, spread across 9.13 km2 at only 645 residents per km2. University qualifications reach 60.8%, which is 30.7 points above national, and the suburb scores decile 10 on the IEO education and occupation index. The median age of 38 runs 2.0 years below national, younger than the established-wealth profile would suggest.
Population
5,886
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,787/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$895K
YTD 2026
The $895,000 median house price reflects a market that has cooled from its 2024 peak of $910,000, dipping to $851,000 in 2025 before recovering to $895,000, so current buyers enter 1.6% below the peak. Stock favours families: 71.1% are separate houses and 40.0% carry three bedrooms, with 4-plus bedroom homes a further 21.2%, far above the 13.2% apartment share. Affordability still works because monthly mortgage repayments average $1,648, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite household income sitting in the 63.2nd percentile nationally. Outright owners at 35.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 30.8%, a sign that much of the housing is held by established, debt-free owners rather than recent buyers competing at the top.
For Buyers
The $895,000 median house price reflects a market that has cooled from its 2024 peak of $910,000, dipping to $851,000 in 2025 before recovering to $895,000, so current buyers enter 1.6% below the peak. Stock favours families: 71.1% are separate houses and 40.0% carry three bedrooms, with 4-plus bedroom homes a further 21.2%, far above the 13.2% apartment share. Affordability still works because monthly mortgage repayments average $1,648, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite household income sitting in the 63.2nd percentile nationally. Outright owners at 35.7% outnumber mortgage holders at 30.8%, a sign that much of the housing is held by established, debt-free owners rather than recent buyers competing at the top.
For Investors
A 33.5% renter share gives landlords a reasonable tenant pool, but the yield math is tight. Weekly rent of $378 against the $895,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.2%, low even by Hobart standards, because purchase prices have run ahead of rents over the long climb. The 7.3% vacancy rate is moderate rather than oversupplied, and rent has grown 43.1% over the decade, so the income case rests on escalation more than entry yield. Development is thin at just 3 applications in 12 months, which constrains new supply and supports existing values. Demand is underpinned by overseas migration averaging 252 residents a year, well above the net internal outflow of 187, leaving population growth positive and tenant demand steady against limited stock.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
6
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 South Hobart iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
South Hobart Primary School
K-6 · 436 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, unusual for an established suburb, and the working-age share actually rose 2.0 points over the decade even as the senior share climbed 4.1 points. University qualifications at 60.8% run 30.7 points above national, among the highest in Tasmania. Overseas-born residents reach 25.1%, which is 3.5 points above national, and ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (2,516), Scottish (776) and Irish (748), with Chinese (328) the largest non-European group. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (81), Nepali (47) and German (32). Average household size is 2.3, which is 0.2 below national, consistent with a mix of professional couples and families where couples with children (1,584) outnumber couples without (1,278).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.1%
Houses
15.2%
Townhouse
13.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits close to even thirds: 35.7% own outright, 30.8% carry a mortgage and 33.5% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held, debt-free wealth rather than a churn of new buyers. The stock is overwhelmingly low-density, 71.1% separate houses and 15.2% semi-detached, leaving apartments at just 13.2%, which keeps detached-house prices firm through scarcity. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 40.0% and 4-plus bedroom homes reach 21.2%, while one-bedroom and studio stock is only 11.5%. The median rose from $116,000 in 1996 to $895,000 in 2026, a 671.6% gain, though it has eased 1.6% from the 2024 peak. Mortgage-to-income at 21.3% and rent-to-income at 21.2% both sit comfortably below the 30% stress line.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,648
Rent / wk
$378
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$891
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.3%
Unoccupied
182
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.8%
Couples, no children
3,901
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce concentrates in public-facing knowledge sectors: Healthcare leads at 20.5% (508 workers), Education follows at 17.5% (434) and Public Admin at 12.9% (319), with Professional/Tech at 12.7% and Hospitality at 6.0%. By occupation, Professionals (1,302) and Managers (401) dominate, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Participation reads 62.7% and the full-time rate is 52.6%, with 1,531 employed full-time against 1,382 part-time, a heavier part-time mix than typical for a high-skill area. Unemployment is elevated at 7.2%, above the state average, partly because the proximity to Hobart's hospitals and university draws students and casual workers. One anomaly: the IER economic-resources index sits at decile 4 against decile 10 on IEO, because the 33.5% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
5,826
Unemployed
302
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.6%
Part-time
40.2%
Participation
62.7%
Employed
2,913
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.8%
Postgraduate
21.6%
Born Overseas
25.1%
Dwellings
2,296
Transport to Work
Active transport is unusually well used: 28.2% of residents walk or cycle to work and 6.8% take public transport, while 58.2% drive, below the national reliance on cars and a function of the suburb's proximity to the Hobart CBD and the Pinnacle and rivulet trails. The area earns decile 8 on the IRSAD advantage index and decile 8 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, both high tiers meaning few residents face deprivation, and only 4.4% (248 people) need daily assistance. Volunteering runs at 28.9%, well above typical urban rates. No schools are recorded inside the 9.13 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in central Hobart, a short trip given the compact 645 residents per km2 density.
Drive
58.2%
Public Transport
6.8%
Walk / Cycle
28.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.27%/yr
(+118 people/yr)
EstablishedSouth Hobart is a steady grower rather than a boom suburb: the trend forecast adds about 118 residents a year, or 1.27% annually, and the broader catchment has expanded 21.3% over the past decade. Medium projections lift the SA2 population from 9,619 in 2026 toward 10,210 by 2031, a continuation of that gentle climb. Overseas migration of 252 a year is the primary driver, offsetting a net internal outflow of 187 as some residents move to outer suburbs for space. The gentrification stage reads early signs with a score of 32, supported by population up 20% since 2011 and an acceleration in price growth from 4% to 15%. Affordability has worsened from 43.2% in 2011 to 49.1% in 2021, the natural cost of that demand pressure.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+252
Net Internal / yr
-187
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +20% since 2011, Net internal outflow -187/yr, Strong overseas inflow +252/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 15%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Hobart compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Hobart a good suburb to live in?
South Hobart scores decile 10 on the IEO education index and decile 8 on IRSAD advantage, both high tiers, with university qualifications at 60.8%, which is 30.7 points above national. Active transport is strong, with 28.2% walking or cycling. The main trade-off is a $895,000 median house price.
What is the median house price in South Hobart?
The median house price is $895,000 as of 2026, down 1.6% from the 2024 peak of $910,000 after dipping to $851,000 in 2025. Over 30 years it has risen 671.6% from $116,000 in 1996, a compound annual rate of 7.0%. Weekly rent averages $378.
What schools are in South Hobart?
No schools are recorded inside the 9.13 km2 South Hobart boundary in this dataset, so families typically use schools in central Hobart nearby. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 60.8%, which is 30.7 points above the national figure.
Is South Hobart safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for South Hobart in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a high tier, and only 4.4% of its 5,886 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is South Hobart good for property investment?
Rent of $378 a week against the $895,000 median gives a gross yield near 2.2%, low, while the 7.3% vacancy rate is moderate. Overseas migration of 252 residents a year supports tenant demand, but with only 3 development applications in 12 months, returns lean on capital growth more than yield.
How is South Hobart's population changing?
The catchment is growing about 1.27% a year, adding roughly 118 residents, with the SA2 population projected to rise from 9,619 in 2026 to 10,210 by 2031. Growth is driven by overseas migration of 252 a year, which offsets a net internal outflow of 187 residents annually.
How much development is happening in South Hobart?
Only 3 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, a low rate that reflects the established, low-density character where 71.1% of dwellings are separate houses. Recent applications include a subdivision for one new lot and a change of use to visitor accommodation.
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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