🏙️ Top 25 Most Densely Populated Suburbs in Tasmania
Population density — the number of residents packed into each square kilometre — is one of the clearest signals of how a suburb lives. High-density suburbs are built around apartments, walkable streets, public transport and close-in amenities; low-density suburbs spread out into detached houses, bigger blocks and a reliance on the car. This ranking lists the 25 most densely populated suburbs in Tasmania, calculated from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census population divided by each suburb's gazetted land area.
Glebe leads with about 3,465 residents per square kilometre — 570 people living across just 0.16 km². That is well ahead of the midpoint of this list (Sandy Bay, ~1,763/km²). The densest suburbs cluster tightly around inner-city apartment precincts and high-rise renewal areas, where former industrial land has been rebuilt into vertical living.
Only suburbs (ABS SAL geographies) with a Census 2021 population of at least 500 residents and a land area above 0.1 km² are included, which keeps the list to genuine residential neighbourhoods and removes tiny localities whose density figures would be statistical noise. Note that area covers the whole gazetted locality — including any parks, water or non-residential land — so the lived density of the built-up core can be even higher than the figure shown.
Glebe TAS 7000
Glebe is a small, historic suburb situated immediately adjacent to Hobart's city centre, within the City of Hobart local government area. Sharing postcode 7000 with the Hobart CBD, it is one of the most centrally located residential localities in Tasmania, bounded by Brooker Avenue to the west and the Tasman Highway to the south. With a population of approximately 570 residents, Glebe is a compact urban pocket — covering just 0.16 square kilometres — characterised by impressive Victorian and Federation-style terraced houses, some rising four storeys above street level.
Battery Point TAS 7004
Battery Point is one of Hobart's most historic and prestigious inner suburbs, situated on a small peninsula just south of Salamanca Place and approximately 1 kilometre from the Hobart CBD within the City of Hobart. With a population of around 2,096, the suburb has a mature demographic profile — median age 43 — drawing a mix of long-term residents, professionals, and retirees who value its heritage character and central location. The suburb's tight-knit street grid is lined with beautifully preserved Georgian and Victorian cottages, sandstone terraces, and Federation-era homes, making it one of Australia's finest intact historic precincts.
North Hobart TAS 7000
North Hobart is a vibrant inner-city suburb located just 1.5 kilometres north of the Hobart CBD in Tasmania. With a population of approximately 2,600 people (2021 Census), it is one of Hobart's most eclectic and culturally rich neighbourhoods, known for its distinctive Victorian and Edwardian architecture alongside contemporary cafes and creative businesses. The suburb sits at the foot of the Wellington Range foothills, giving it a characterful topography of sloping streets and leafy residential lanes.
West Moonah TAS 7009
West Moonah is a compact and culturally diverse suburb located approximately five kilometres north-west of Hobart's CBD within the City of Glenorchy. Home to 4,522 residents across just 1.8 square kilometres, it is one of the more densely populated areas of Greater Hobart, with a notably young median age of 34 years. The suburb has seen significant growth in its migrant community, particularly from Nepal and India, making it one of Tasmania's most multicultural neighbourhoods.
Oakdowns TAS 7019
Oakdowns is a residential suburb on Hobart's Eastern Shore, located within the City of Clarence approximately 10 kilometres north-east of the Hobart CBD. With a population of 1,897 and a median age of just 33, Oakdowns is notably younger than many Tasmanian suburbs, reflecting its appeal to young families and first-home buyers attracted by relatively affordable housing. The suburb falls within Greater Hobart's urban footprint and offers a mix of detached homes and newer residential development typical of Clarence's growth corridors.
Mount Stuart TAS 7000
Mount Stuart is a hillside suburb of Hobart, located on a ridge extending from a foothill of Mount Wellington known as Knocklofty. With a population of around 2,400 residents, it sits within the City of Hobart just 2 kilometres northwest of the CBD. The suburb has historical significance as traditional land of the Mouheneenner band of the South East Aboriginal Tasmanian tribe.
Mayfield TAS 7248
Mayfield is a modest residential suburb on the northern fringe of Launceston, Tasmania's second-largest city, located approximately 4 kilometres from the city centre. With a population of around 1,525 residents spread across less than a square kilometre, it is a compact urban community within the City of Launceston. The suburb has a young demographic profile with a median age of just 34, and a notable Indigenous population representing around 8 per cent of residents.
East Launceston TAS 7250
East Launceston is an established inner suburb of Launceston, Tasmania's second-largest city, located approximately 2 kilometres east of the Launceston CBD within the City of Launceston local government area. Covering just over one square kilometre, it is a compact, well-connected residential neighbourhood that borders the famous Cataract Gorge Reserve. With a population of 2,270 at the 2021 Census and a median age of 41, East Launceston attracts a mix of professionals, families, and long-term residents drawn to its inner-city convenience and elevated views.
Goodwood TAS 7010
Goodwood is a small inner suburb of Hobart located in the City of Glenorchy, Tasmania, approximately 6 kilometres north of the Hobart CBD. With a population of around 1,142 residents at the 2021 census, it is a compact residential neighbourhood covering just 0.54 square kilometres. The suburb sits between Glenorchy and Moonah and is characterised by a mix of older timber homes, modest brick dwellings and some newer infill development. Its location in the greater Hobart metropolitan area makes it a practical and affordable choice for those working in Hobart or Glenorchy.
Moonah TAS 7009
Moonah is a flat, inner-urban suburb located approximately 5 kilometres north of Hobart's CBD within the City of Glenorchy council area. With a population of 5,884 and a median age of 35, it is one of Greater Hobart's most culturally diverse communities, with significant numbers of residents born in Nepal, India, China, and the Philippines. Median weekly household income of $1,421 and affordable rents averaging $330 per week make Moonah one of the more accessible suburbs in the Hobart metropolitan area.
Rose Bay TAS 7015
Rose Bay is a small, well-established suburb on the Eastern Shore of the River Derwent in Hobart, Tasmania, within the City of Clarence local government area. Covering less than one square kilometre, approximately 23 per cent of its area is designated parkland, giving the suburb an unusually green and open character for its size. With a population of 1,188 at the 2021 Census and a median age of 49, Rose Bay attracts older and established residents who value its riverside setting and proximity to Hobart's city centre.
South Launceston TAS 7249
South Launceston is a well-established residential suburb located just 2 kilometres south of the Launceston CBD in northern Tasmania. With a population of approximately 4,900, it offers an accessible urban lifestyle with a median age of 36 and a diverse mix of young professionals, families, and retirees. The suburb is home to the Launceston General Hospital and sits along the popular Charles Street café strip, giving it a vibrant, community-focused character.
Sandy Bay TAS 7005
Sandy Bay is Hobart's most prestigious suburb, stretching from the waterfront to the slopes of Mount Wellington just 3 kilometres from the CBD. The University of Tasmania campus brings academic life, while the Wrest Point casino marks the waterfront.
Bellerive TAS 7018
Bellerive is a waterfront suburb of Hobart's Eastern Shore, located within the City of Clarence approximately 5 kilometres from Hobart's CBD across the River Derwent. With a population of around 4,500, it is one of Greater Hobart's most desirable suburbs, stretching from Kangaroo Bay along the scenic Bellerive Esplanade to Bellerive Beach and Second Bluff. The suburb has a relaxed, village-like character with a mix of heritage and contemporary homes.
New Town TAS 7008
New Town is a well-established inner suburb of Hobart, located approximately 3 kilometres north of the CBD within the City of Glenorchy council area. With a population of 6,781 and a median age of 38, the suburb attracts a blend of long-term residents, young professionals, and students drawn by its proximity to the city. The median household income of around $1,596 per week is moderate, reflecting a mixed community of owner-occupiers and renters across a variety of housing types.
Montello TAS 7320
Montello is a residential suburb perched on the hillside above Burnie's city centre on Tasmania's north-west coast, falling within the Burnie City Council area. With a population of 1,241, the suburb covers just 0.74 square kilometres and offers elevated outlooks over Bass Strait and the surrounding port precinct. The median age of 40 and a median household income of around $1,014 per week reflect a working and middle-class community, with established houses and older residential stock typical of Burnie's inner hillside neighbourhoods.
Montagu Bay TAS 7018
Montagu Bay is a small, primarily residential suburb on the eastern shore of the River Derwent, approximately 4 to 6 kilometres east of the Hobart central business district within the City of Clarence local government area. With a 2021 Census population of 718 residents across just 0.45 square kilometres, it is one of Hobart's most compact suburbs, nestled between Rosny, Lindisfarne, and Rose Bay on the scenic eastern shore. The suburb takes its name from the sheltered bay of the same name — once known as Smelting Works Bay — which features a boat ramp, jetty, and is often dotted with yachts and sailing vessels at anchor.
West Hobart TAS 7000
West Hobart is one of Hobart's most desirable inner suburbs, climbing the hillside west of the CBD just 2 kilometres from the city centre. With around 6,500 residents and a median income of $45,000, the suburb has a distinctly progressive, artistic character and attracts professionals, academics, and creatives drawn to its heritage streetscapes and community atmosphere.
Midway Point TAS 7171
Midway Point is a residential locality in the Municipality of Sorell, situated on the eastern shore of the Derwent River about 20 kilometres east of Hobart's CBD. With a population of around 3,384, it occupies a peninsula between Pitt Water and the Coal River. The suburb has grown as a popular and affordable alternative to Hobart's inner suburbs, attracting families and first-home buyers. Its central location provides easy access to both Hobart and the Sorell township.
Upper Burnie TAS 7320
Upper Burnie is a residential suburb located about 3 kilometres south of the Burnie CBD on Tasmania's north-west coast. With a population of approximately 1,890, it sits at an elevation of around 124 metres, offering views over the city and Bass Strait. The suburb is part of the City of Burnie local government area and has a quiet, established residential character.
Hobart TAS 7000
Hobart is the CBD and heart of Tasmania's capital city, centred around the historic waterfront on the River Derwent at the foot of kunanyi/Mount Wellington. The suburb itself has a resident population of around 3,400, though it serves as the commercial and cultural hub for Greater Hobart's 250,000 residents. The demographic is dominated by young professionals, students from the University of Tasmania, and apartment dwellers, with only 27% owner-occupancy.
Kingston Beach TAS 7050
Kingston Beach is a coastal suburb in the Kingborough municipality, situated approximately 15 kilometres south of the Hobart CBD on the eastern shore of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel. Home to around 2,305 residents across just 1.5 square kilometres, it is one of Greater Hobart's most popular beachside communities. The suburb takes its name from the sandy beach that stretches along its foreshore, offering sweeping views across to Bruny Island and making it one of the most scenic spots in the greater Hobart region.
Hillcrest TAS 7320
Hillcrest is a residential suburb of Burnie in northwestern Tasmania, nestled on elevated ground at around 116 metres above sea level within the Burnie urban area. With a population of approximately 1,088 residents, it is a compact suburb covering less than one square kilometre, characterised by post-war housing stock developed largely from the 1940s and 1950s. The suburb forms part of the Terrylands estate, which was developed from around 1949 by the Agricultural Bank, and sits under the local government area of Burnie City Council.
Newstead TAS 7250
Newstead is a well-established residential suburb located approximately 3 kilometres east of Launceston's CBD in northern Tasmania. Home to around 5,600 residents, it is one of the more densely populated suburbs in the Launceston local government area. The suburb has a mix of older heritage homes and newer developments, with around 66% of dwellings being owner-occupied and a professional workforce profile.
Howrah TAS 7018
Howrah is an established suburban community on the eastern shore of Greater Hobart, located within the City of Clarence approximately 7 kilometres east of the Hobart CBD. With a population of around 9,545 residents according to the 2021 Census, it is one of the larger suburbs in Clarence and forms part of the continuous coastal urban area stretching from Bellerive to Rokeby. The suburb sits at a gentle elevation above the Derwent River estuary, offering many homes pleasant water views.
đź“Š Methodology
Population density is calculated as Census 2021 total population ÷ gazetted land area (km²) for each suburb (ABS SAL geography) in Tasmania. Only suburbs with at least 500 residents and a land area above 0.1 km² are included, to avoid distortion from very small or sparsely populated localities. Ties are broken by total population (larger first). Land area covers the whole locality, including parks, water and non-residential land, so the density of the built-up residential core may be higher than shown.