Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Sandy Bay
7 km²
A far higher proportion of residents hold university degrees here than in any other part of the state, making Sandy Bay one of Tasmania's most qualified communities. It is a wealthy and diverse area where over a third of the population was born overseas. While the population is growing, it is noticeably older than the state average, with a significant number of seniors living here. This mix of high educational attainment and international backgrounds creates a distinctive, high-income suburb in Greater Hobart.
Sandy Bay is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The population has grown by 10% since 2011 to 12,326 people. It is an older community, with 22.7% of residents aged 65 or over, which is well above the national figure.
International roots are very common here, with 35.9% of people born overseas—far above the Tasmanian average of 15.4%. Chinese ancestry is particularly prominent at 14.5%.
Reflecting its international character, 27.2% of people use a language other than English at home, which is far above the state average. Mandarin is the most common non-English language at 11.2%.
The area is much less religious than the national average, with 50.4% of people reporting no religion. This figure has risen by 18 points since 2011.
Education levels are exceptionally high, with 53.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher—far above the national figure of 26.3%. This is consistent with the area's high overall advantage score.
Typical incomes are well above the state and national figures, with a typical weekly family income of $2,417. Those earning $3,000 or more per week make up 27.9% of households.
Residents generally experience better health than most, with fewer people reporting long-term health conditions (25.5%) or mental health conditions (7.2%) compared to the state average.
The community is highly active, with a volunteer rate of 27.2% that is far above the national figure. However, fewer people provide unpaid housework or childcare than in most other areas.
The First Nations population is small, numbering 100 people. This group is noticeably older than other First Nations people in Australia and has a very high Year 12 completion rate of 69.2%.
Household sizes are typical for the state, though there are more people living alone (28.1%) than the national average. One-parent families are among the lowest in the region at 8.1%.
Housing is expensive, with typical weekly rents of $419 and monthly mortgage payments of $2,167. While 41% of homes are owned outright, the area has far fewer large homes with three or more bedrooms than most of Australia.
Public transport use is much higher than in most areas, with 6.7% commuting by bus. The area is very well connected, with most people living just a one-minute walk from a stop.
The community is quite mobile, as 47% of residents moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 27.6% of the population, though this is down from 2011.
While 61.7% of adults are working or looking for work, the unemployment rate is 8.3%, which is well above the national average. Many residents work in professional roles or health and education.
The area is among the most advantaged in the country, ranking in the top 10% for both overall advantage and job skills.
The local climate is milder than the state average, with higher minimum and maximum temperatures, though it receives much less annual rainfall than most of Tasmania.
The suburb is very walkable, with 76.4% of homes within a 15-minute walk of most amenities. Almost every home is within 15 minutes of a park and 96.2% are near public transport.