Waverley
Only 5.1% of residents were born overseas, so Waverley reads as one of Launceston's more locally rooted eastern fringe areas compared with more inner-city locations such as Invermay. Its 1,583 residents live at low density, 145.4 people per sq km, and housing is strongly detached at 84.0%. The median age is 35, 5.0 years below the national benchmark, while household income sits at the 12.9 national percentile. The result is an affordable, car-dependent suburb where 39.0% rent and 85.4% drive to work because local jobs and services are more dispersed than in inner Launceston.
Local council: Launceston
Population
1,583
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,007/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are looking at a house-first market: 84.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 14.0% semi-detached and just 2.0% apartments. The stock is compact rather than large, with 72.0% three-bedroom homes and only 6.2% having 4 or more bedrooms, which suits smaller families more than upgraders needing extra space. Mortgage costs average $867 a month, and mortgage-to-income is 19.9%, below income pressure points because prices and incomes sit lower than in higher-decile suburbs. Renting at 39.0% is higher than outright ownership at 27.2%, so buyers should expect a mixed owner-occupier and tenant street profile.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are looking at a house-first market: 84.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 14.0% semi-detached and just 2.0% apartments. The stock is compact rather than large, with 72.0% three-bedroom homes and only 6.2% having 4 or more bedrooms, which suits smaller families more than upgraders needing extra space. Mortgage costs average $867 a month, and mortgage-to-income is 19.9%, below income pressure points because prices and incomes sit lower than in higher-decile suburbs. Renting at 39.0% is higher than outright ownership at 27.2%, so buyers should expect a mixed owner-occupier and tenant street profile.
For Investors
Investors get a rental base but not a tight market signal. Renting covers 39.0% of homes, higher than the 27.2% owned outright share, and median rent is $237 a week. Vacancy is 6.7%, so tenant selection may take longer compared with lower-vacancy Launceston pockets. There were 0 development samples over 12 months, which limits new-supply competition but also points to modest market depth. Forecast growth is 1.17% a year, driven by overseas migration, while rent growth of 24.5% signals demand has lifted from a low base rather than from premium pricing.
Demographics
At 35, Waverley's median age is 5.0 years below the national benchmark, so it is younger than many established suburbs without having a student-heavy profile. University attainment is 12.4%, 17.7 percentage points below national, and overseas-born residents are 5.1%, 16.5 points lower than national. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 732 people, followed by Irish and Scottish at 120 each. No religion accounts for 918 residents compared with 480 Christian residents. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below national, which fits the 33.7% one-parent and 32.3% couple-without-children family mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
84.0%
Houses
14.0%
Townhouse
2.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by conventional detached stock: 84.0% separate houses compared with 14.0% semi-detached homes and 2.0% apartments. The tenure mix is less owner-heavy than many suburban markets, with 39.0% renting, 32.6% paying a mortgage and 27.2% owned outright. Three-bedroom homes make up 72.0% of dwellings, while 4 or more bedrooms are only 6.2%, so family buyers may find more standard floorplans than large upgrade homes. Rent-to-income is 23.5% and mortgage-to-income is 19.9%, because local weekly household income is $1,007 and housing costs remain comparatively low.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$237
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$569
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.7%
Unoccupied
46
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.9%
Couples with children
32.3%
Couples, no children
33.7%
Single parent
421
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy leans toward practical service and trade roles. Healthcare is the largest industry at 23.3% or 67 workers, followed by Construction at 17.4% or 50 and Retail at 10.8% or 31. Labourers are the biggest occupation group at 150, above Trades at 90 and Community or Personal roles at 87. Unemployment is 12.4% and participation is 55.1%, which helps explain why household income sits in the 12.9 national percentile. SEIFA is weak across the board: IEO decile 1, IRSAD decile 1, IRSD decile 2 and IER decile 2, so education and advantage rank lower nationally than resilience.
Unemployment
12.4%
Labour Force
702
Unemployed
87
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
53.2%
Part-time
38.2%
Participation
55.1%
Employed
615
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.4%
Postgraduate
3.6%
Born Overseas
5.1%
Dwellings
644
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-first. Work trips are 85.4% by car driver, far above public transport at 1.6%, walking or cycling at 2.1% and working from home at 2.3%. That matters because households are likely to rely on private vehicles for Launceston jobs and services rather than frequent transit. The suburb's IRSAD decile is 1 nationally and IRSD decile is 2, so amenity and support needs can differ street by street. No suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 is available, so safety checks should use inspections, lighting, road layout and current police resources rather than a single local statistic.
Drive
85.4%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
2.3%
Growth Outlook
Waverley's growth outlook is steady rather than speculative. The forecast trend is 1.17% a year, the shift trajectory is Stable, and the 10-year population change is 13.8%. Growth is driven primarily by overseas migration, even though only 5.1% of current residents were born overseas, because new arrivals can affect a small base quickly. Gentrification remains early, with a score of 32 and stage of Early signs, while rent growth of 24.5% and real income growth of 16.4% suggest improving demand without a full price reset.
Population trend: Launceston council area
Waverley sits in the Launceston council area. These are the council area's residents, not Waverley's.
Residents 2025
71,341
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
-0.3%
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 Waverley compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waverley a good suburb to live in?
Waverley can suit buyers wanting low-density housing near Launceston, with 84.0% separate houses and a population of 1,583. It is more car-dependent than inner areas, with 85.4% driving to work, so it works best for households comfortable relying on a car.
What is the median house price in Waverley?
A reliable median house price figure is not available for Waverley, so recent settled sales should be checked before pricing a home. Available cost markers are $867 median monthly mortgage payments, $237 median weekly rent and 84.0% separate houses.
What schools are in Waverley?
There are 0 schools listed within Waverley itself. Families usually need to assess options in the wider Launceston area, including travel time, sector, enrolment fit and bus or car access, because 85.4% of workers already drive to work.
Is Waverley safe?
A suburb-level crime rate per 1,000 residents is not available for Waverley, so safety should be checked at street level. Practical indicators include lighting, traffic, property condition and the fact that 84.9% of residents stayed at the last mobility measure.
Is Waverley good for property investment?
Waverley has investment signals from a 39.0% renting share and $237 median weekly rent, but the 6.7% vacancy rate is a caution compared with tighter markets. With 0 recent development samples, supply pressure looks limited but liquidity may also be thinner.
How is Waverley's population changing?
Waverley has 1,583 residents today. The forecast trend is 1.17% annual growth with a Stable trajectory, and the 10-year population change is 13.8%. Growth is primarily driven by overseas migration, while gentrification is still at Early signs with a score of 32.
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).
Explore Waverley on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map