Urban Area · Area profile
Hobart
1,149 km²
A mix of young adults and growing diversity defines Hobart, where the typical resident is 38 and the population has grown by 13% since 2011. The city is noticeably younger than the rest of Tasmania and is seeing a surge in people born overseas. This shift is reflected in a more educated workforce and a rising number of households with higher incomes. It is a place where urban convenience meets a changing social landscape, blending a strong professional base with a growing multicultural community.
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The typical resident is 38, making the area noticeably younger than the state average. While children under 15 make up 16.7% of the population, the number of seniors has risen to 18.7% since 2011.
People born overseas make up 19.8% of the population, which is well above the state average and represents a 6.4 point increase since 2011. English, Australian, and Irish are the most common ancestries.
Language diversity is growing, with 13.8% of people using another language at home—well above the state figure. This reflects the rise in overseas arrivals, though very few people speak little or no English.
Half of the population now report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen by 21 points since 2011.
The area is highly qualified, with 30.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, well above both the state and national figures. Year 12 completion has also risen sharply to 58.1% since 2011.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,560, which is a little above the state average. Higher earners are becoming more common, with 18.1% of households now earning $3,000 or more per week.
Mental health conditions affect 11.6% of residents, which is a little above the national figure. Long-term health conditions are reported by 31.9% of people, sitting around the middle for similar areas.
Volunteering is very common here, with 18.9% of people helping out, well above the national figure. Unpaid care for children is also more frequent than in most other areas.
The usual home has 2.4 people, and about 27.8% of people live alone. Over half of all households are couples with children.
Renting is more common here than in the rest of the state, and the typical weekly rent of $350 has risen by $85 since 2016. Detached houses are the most common dwelling type at 84.1%.
Public transport use for commuting is among the highest for its level, with 4.6% of workers using it. About 8.2% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure.
The community is quite mobile, with 39.5% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 20.8% of the population, which is well above the national average.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most similar areas, though the unemployment rate of 6.2% is a little above the national figure. Health care and education are the top industries.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 88.1% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Most residents live within a 15-minute walk of a park, school, or grocery store.