Taroona
With 60.9% of residents holding university qualifications, Taroona sits 30.8 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Tasmania's most highly educated suburbs. Household income ranks at the 66.8th percentile nationally, and the suburb scores decile 9 on both IRSAD and IRSD, placing it firmly in the top advantage tier. Owner-occupiers dominate at 84.4% combined (outright plus mortgage), while renters account for only 15.7%, far lower than state or national norms. The median age of 47 is 7 years above the national figure, reflecting a settled, professional resident base that has deliberately chosen this river-facing enclave south of Hobart.
Population
3,121
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,845/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$880K
YTD 2026
The median house price reached $880,000 in 2026, down from a 2022 peak of $1,150,000 and currently 23.5% below that peak, which may represent re-entry opportunity for buyers who missed the cycle. Prices climbed from $140,000 in 1996 to the current level, a 30-year CAGR of 6.3%, comparable to many mainland markets. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.8%, leaving apartments at just 0.7%. Three-bedroom homes represent 45.0% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes a further 36.3%, so larger family homes dominate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable relative to median household income of $1,845 per week.
For Buyers
The median house price reached $880,000 in 2026, down from a 2022 peak of $1,150,000 and currently 23.5% below that peak, which may represent re-entry opportunity for buyers who missed the cycle. Prices climbed from $140,000 in 1996 to the current level, a 30-year CAGR of 6.3%, comparable to many mainland markets. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 96.8%, leaving apartments at just 0.7%. Three-bedroom homes represent 45.0% of dwellings and four-plus bedroom homes a further 36.3%, so larger family homes dominate. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold, making repayments manageable relative to median household income of $1,845 per week.
For Investors
Rental demand in Taroona is structurally thin. Renters make up just 15.7% of all dwellings, well below the national average, and the vacancy rate is 6.2%, a level that typically gives tenants negotiating power. Weekly rent averages $420, which against an $880,000 median implies a gross yield around 2.5%, low by national standards. Net internal migration runs at negative 35 annually while overseas migration contributes a positive 27, leaving the suburb with near-flat natural growth of about 3 persons per year. The 10-year population change of 3.7% is slow. Development applications in the past 12 months were nil, so no new supply is entering the market. The investment case here rests on capital preservation and steady income rather than yield or volume growth.
Schools in Taroona iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Taroona Primary School
K-6 · 274 students
Taroona High School
7-12 · 1134 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 is 7 years higher than the national figure, and the aging trajectory is clear with the senior share rising 3.9 points and the working-age share falling 2.6 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents make up 25.1%, some 3.5 percentage points above national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,442), Scottish (459) and Irish (448). University qualifications at 60.9% run 30.8 points above the national figure, among the highest in Tasmania. Average household size is 2.5, equal to the national figure, but 30.2% of families are couples without children, pointing to an older-couple profile that suits the quiet, leafy setting. Volunteering runs at 30.6%, a notably high civic engagement rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.8%
Houses
2.5%
Townhouse
0.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Outright owners account for 51.3% of all dwellings and mortgage holders a further 33.1%, giving owner-occupiers a combined 84.4% share versus the national ownership rate, which is well below that figure. Renters at 15.7% are the smallest tenure group. Separate houses dominate at 96.8%, with semi-detached at 2.5% and apartments at just 0.7%, so the suburb is effectively a detached-house market. Three-bedroom homes account for 45.0% of stock and four-plus bedroom homes 36.3%, with smaller two-bedroom dwellings at 13.9%. Price history runs from $125,000 in 1998 to a 2022 peak of $1,150,000 and a current level of $880,000, a 23.5% correction from peak but still a 6.3% CAGR over 30 years. Rent-to-income at 22.8% keeps tenants below the 30% stress threshold.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$861
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.2%
Couples, no children
2,466
Total families
Economy & Employment
Education employs 21.5% of Taroona workers (261 residents), Healthcare 18.8% (228), Professional and Technical services 14.5% (176) and Public Administration 13.4% (162), a pattern consistent with the University of Tasmania and Hobart government-sector economy nearby. By occupation, Professionals (635) and Managers (237) dominate, accounting for the bulk of employed residents. The unemployment rate is 5.6% and the participation rate is 56.9%, with 993 residents not in the labour force, reflecting the older median age of 47. The SEIFA IRSAD score of 1,083 and decile 9 ranking confirms strong socioeconomic advantage relative to national norms. Real income growth of 4.2% over the decade is modest but positive, consistent with the stable, established nature of the local workforce.
Unemployment
1.8%
Labour Force
1,882
Unemployed
34
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.0%
Part-time
42.4%
Participation
56.9%
Employed
1,420
Occupations
Top Industries
University
60.9%
Postgraduate
20.6%
Born Overseas
25.1%
Dwellings
1,193
Transport to Work
Car dependence is lower than typical for a Tasmanian suburb at 74.8% driving to work, with 9.0% using public transport and 8.2% walking or cycling, all above average for the state. The IRSAD decile 9 ranking places Taroona in the top tier of socioeconomic advantage nationally. Only 4.2% of residents (128 people) need daily assistance despite a median age of 47, indicating a healthy and capable population. Housing stress indicators are both comfortable: rent-to-income at 22.8% and mortgage-to-income at 21.7% are both below the 30% threshold. No schools are recorded in the suburb boundary dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a reasonable trade-off given Taroona's proximity to the Hobart school network. The vacancy rate of 6.2% and low renter share of 15.7% point to a stable, owner-dominated environment.
Drive
74.8%
Public Transport
9.0%
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.08%/yr
(+3 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is essentially flat at 0.08% annually, equivalent to 3 additional persons per year. Over the past decade, population rose 3.7%, and the medium forecast holds residents near 3,662 by 2031, a marginal gain from the current 3,621. The aging trajectory is the dominant structural shift, with the senior share up 3.9 points and young adults declining 3.2 points over the period. Net internal migration runs negative at 35 per year, offset by overseas migration of positive 27. The gentrification score of 29 and stage of early signs suggest the suburb is already well-established, with affordability worsening from 42.5% in 2011 to 48.6% in 2021. No gentrification signals are present in the data, confirming this is a stable, mature suburb rather than one undergoing rapid transition.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+27
Net Internal / yr
-35
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Taroona compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Taroona a good suburb to live in?
Taroona ranks at SEIFA decile 9 on both IRSAD and IRSD nationally, placing it in the top advantage tier. University qualifications reach 60.9%, some 30.8 points above the national average. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 22.8%, both well under the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Taroona?
The median house price is $880,000 as of 2026, down from a 2022 peak of $1,150,000, a 23.5% correction. Prices have delivered a 30-year CAGR of 6.3% from $140,000 in 1996. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,733.
What schools are in Taroona?
No schools are recorded within the Taroona boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs, including those accessible via the Sandy Bay corridor to Hobart. The resident population is highly educated, with 60.9% holding university qualifications, which is 30.8 points above the national figure.
Is Taroona safe?
Detailed crime statistics for Taroona are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage nationally, and only 4.2% of its 3,121 residents (128 people) require daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable community.
Is Taroona good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $420 against an $880,000 median implies a gross yield near 2.5%, below national averages. The vacancy rate of 6.2% and a renter share of just 15.7% signal thin rental demand. Net internal migration is negative 35 per year, and population growth is near-flat at 0.08% annually, so returns depend on long-term capital appreciation rather than yield.
How is Taroona's population changing?
Population growth is 0.08% annually, adding about 3 persons per year. Over the past 10 years, the population rose 3.7%. The trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 3.9 points and young adult share down 3.2 points over the decade. Medium forecasts project around 3,662 residents by 2031.
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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