Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
West Hobart
4 km²
Walking to a park, school or the local shops is a central part of daily life in West Hobart, where almost every home is within a short stroll of essential services. This is a highly educated and affluent community of about 6,400 people, with over half of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. While the population is younger than the state average, it has become increasingly diverse and secular over the last decade. The area's professional character is reflected in its high typical incomes and a strong presence of skilled workers.
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The typical resident is 38, making the area noticeably younger than the state average. While the population grew by 10% since 2011, there are now fewer children under 15, and de facto relationships are much more common here than in most similar areas.
People born overseas make up 22.8% of the community, a figure that has risen by 6.2 percentage points since 2011 and is well above the Tasmanian average. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
Around 13.7% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is well above the state average. This reflects the growth in overseas-born residents, although very few people in the area speak little or no English.
A huge 64.7% of people report no religion, a figure far above both the state and national averages. This trend has grown significantly, rising 18 percentage points since 2011.
This is a highly qualified community where 51.6% of adults have a bachelor degree or higher, far exceeding the national figure. Year 12 completion is also much higher than most areas, at 77.5%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,994, which is well above the state average. This wealth is evident in the 28% of households earning $3,000 or more a week, a figure that has risen 16 percentage points since 2011.
People needing help with daily activities are much less common here than in most areas. However, mental health conditions are more frequent, affecting 11.4% of residents.
Volunteering is very common, with 25.4% of people pitching in—a rate far above the national figure. Interestingly, fewer people here do unpaid housework or care for children compared to most areas.
First Nations residents in the area have a Year 12 completion rate of 64%, which is far above the state and national averages. Typical personal income for this group is also higher than in most other areas.
Homes here are slightly smaller than the national average, with 2.3 people per household. About 29.1% of people live alone, though this has fallen slightly since 2011.
Renters are more common here than in most areas, and typical weekly rent of $400 is well above the state average. Homes are more likely to be smaller, with 62.6% having three or more bedrooms, which is far below the national figure.
Many residents prefer not to drive; 23.3% walk to work and 9% of homes have no motor vehicle. The area is very close to the city, with a typical five-minute drive time.
The area is quite mobile, with 43.4% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 16.6% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Working or looking for work is much more common here than in most areas, with 68.6% of adults active in the workforce. Many residents are professionals, with 41% working in professional occupations.
The area is ranked as having very high overall advantage, largely driven by its exceptional levels of education and job skills, which are higher than 90% of similar areas.
Temperatures here are generally milder than the state average, and annual rainfall is about the same as the rest of Tasmania.
West Hobart is very walkable, with 92.4% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries and 100% within reach of a park. This high accessibility is despite the local terrain having a fairly steep average slope.