Region (SA4) · Area profile
Hobart
1,695 km²
A diverse mix of young adults and growing overseas arrivals makes Hobart a shifting community of 247,086 people. The city is noticeably younger than the rest of Tasmania, with a typical resident aged 39. This youthful energy is reflected in the rising number of university-qualified adults and a significant increase in people born overseas. It is a place where a highly educated workforce lives alongside a strong presence of First Nations people and a growing number of those with no religious affiliation.
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The typical resident is 39, making the area noticeably younger than the state average. While the proportion of children has fallen slightly since 2011, the number of seniors has risen to 18.8%.
Overseas births have risen to 18.9%, which is well above the state figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though arrivals from China, Nepal and India are increasing.
Around 12.8% of people use a language other than English at home, a figure that has more than doubled since 2011. This is well above the state average, although most residents still speak only English.
More than half of the population (50.4%) now report no religion, a figure that has jumped 21 points since 2011. This is far above the national average.
Hobart is much more qualified than most similar areas, with 29.2% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion has also risen significantly since 2011 to 56.7%.
Typical household weekly income is $1,542, which is a little above the state average. While incomes have risen since 2011, the number of high-earning households remains lower than in most other areas.
A higher than average 32% of people live with a long-term health condition. Mental health conditions are particularly common, affecting 11.6% of the population.
Volunteering is much more common here than in most areas, with 18.7% of people pitching in. There is also a higher than usual rate of people providing unpaid care and those who served in the Defence Force.
First Nations people make up 4.5% of the community, which is about the same as the state. Around 39.8% have completed Year 12, a figure well above the state average.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, at 16.4%. Typical homes hold 2.4 people, and about 27.7% of residents live alone.
Separate houses are very common, making up 85.1% of homes, which is far above the national figure. Typical weekly rent is $350, slightly higher than the state average.
Public transport use is much higher than in most areas, supported by a high number of bus stops and routes. However, only 8.1% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure.
The area attracts new residents, with 20.2% being recent overseas arrivals. This is well above the national average and highlights the city's growing international appeal.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, though the unemployment rate is a little above the national figure. Health care and education are the biggest employers.
The population has grown by 1.8% since 2021, though this increase is much lower than in most other areas of a similar level.
The climate is cool, with average minimum temperatures of 7.2 degrees, which is far above the state average. Annual rainfall is slightly higher than across Tasmania.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 85.6% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents can also reach a park or school within 15 minutes.