Geilston Bay vs Risdon Vale

Risdon Vale is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 43 in Geilston Bay. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Geilston Bay: a median of $750,000, against $525,000 in Risdon Vale, and rent is higher there too. Geilston Bay is closer to the city centre: 8 km, against 11.7 km. On these figures, Geilston Bay tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Risdon Vale suits young adults and buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Risdon Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)

Weighs schools, house stock, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Risdon Vale

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($253,500 vs $725,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($525,000 vs $750,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Risdon Vale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $380/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Geilston Bay

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (44/100 vs 24/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (8 km vs 11.7 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (13 min vs 18 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Geilston Bay

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 11%)
  • is more walkable (44/100 vs 24/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Risdon Vale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.1% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Geilston Bay and Risdon Vale drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Walkability 44 / 24
Geilston Bay — Walkability: 44/100 Risdon Vale — Walkability: 24/100
Low fire risk 35 / 33
Geilston Bay — Low fire risk: 35/100 Risdon Vale — Low fire risk: 33/100

Demographics

Geilston Bay has higher household incomes ($83,720 vs $61,724); Geilston Bay skews older (43 vs 34).

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Population 3,461
+8% vs other
 3,171
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.5% +10.4%
Median age 43 34
Median household income $83,720/yr
+26% vs other
 $61,724/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+16% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
0-4 5.2% / 6.1%
Geilston Bay — 0-4: 5.2% Risdon Vale — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 10.9% / 12.7%
Geilston Bay — 5-14: 10.9% Risdon Vale — 5-14: 12.7%
15-19 4.4% / 5.4%
Geilston Bay — 15-19: 4.4% Risdon Vale — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 5.6% / 7.3%
Geilston Bay — 20-24: 5.6% Risdon Vale — 20-24: 7.3%
25-34 12.5% / 20.4%
Geilston Bay — 25-34: 12.5% Risdon Vale — 25-34: 20.4%
35-44 13.3% / 16.7%
Geilston Bay — 35-44: 13.3% Risdon Vale — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 11.4% / 11.0%
Geilston Bay — 45-54: 11.4% Risdon Vale — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 13.2% / 10.0%
Geilston Bay — 55-64: 13.2% Risdon Vale — 55-64: 10.0%
65-74 12.0% / 5.5%
Geilston Bay — 65-74: 12.0% Risdon Vale — 65-74: 5.5%
75-84 8.7% / 3.9%
Geilston Bay — 75-84: 8.7% Risdon Vale — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 2.6% / 1.2%
Geilston Bay — 85+: 2.6% Risdon Vale — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Geilston Bay 41.5% lone person
Geilston Bay — Lone Person: 41.5% Geilston Bay — Couple Families: 38.4% Geilston Bay — One Parent Families: 15.0% Geilston Bay — Group Household: 3.3% Geilston Bay — Other Families: 1.9%
Risdon Vale 33.4% lone person
Risdon Vale — Lone Person: 33.4% Risdon Vale — Couple Families: 31.7% Risdon Vale — One Parent Families: 28.4% Risdon Vale — Group Household: 4.0% Risdon Vale — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Geilston Bay 16.9% renting
Geilston Bay — Owned Outright: 41.2% Geilston Bay — Mortgage: 41.9% Geilston Bay — Renting: 16.9%
Risdon Vale 35.0% renting
Risdon Vale — Owned Outright: 22.7% Risdon Vale — Mortgage: 42.4% Risdon Vale — Renting: 35.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Certificate III & IV 14.8% / 14.7%
Geilston Bay — Certificate III & IV: 14.8% Risdon Vale — Certificate III & IV: 14.7%
Bachelor Degree 14.2% / 5.1%
Geilston Bay — Bachelor Degree: 14.2% Risdon Vale — Bachelor Degree: 5.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 3.1%
Geilston Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Risdon Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.1%
Postgraduate Degree 4.7% / 1.3%
Geilston Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7% Risdon Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 0.5%
Geilston Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Risdon Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
England 3.4% / 1.7%
Geilston Bay — England: 3.4% Risdon Vale — England: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.6%
Geilston Bay — New Zealand: 1.0% Risdon Vale — New Zealand: 0.6%
China 1.1% / 0.4%
Geilston Bay — China: 1.1% Risdon Vale — China: 0.4%
India 0.8% / 0.4%
Geilston Bay — India: 0.8% Risdon Vale — India: 0.4%
Philippines 0.6% / 0.4%
Geilston Bay — Philippines: 0.6% Risdon Vale — Philippines: 0.4%
Germany 0.4% / 0.4%
Geilston Bay — Germany: 0.4% Risdon Vale — Germany: 0.4%
Nepal 0.7% / —
Geilston Bay — Nepal: 0.7% Risdon Vale — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Geilston Bay 96.9% houses
Geilston Bay — Houses: 96.9% Geilston Bay — Townhouses: 2.2% Geilston Bay — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Risdon Vale 94.1% houses
Risdon Vale — Houses: 94.1% Risdon Vale — Townhouses: 5.9% Risdon Vale — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Median house price $750,000 $525,000
Median unit price $571,000 $535,000
Median land price $725,000 $253,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 30 sales
 24 days
from 59 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
3 bed $723K / $527K
Geilston Bay — 3 bed: $723K (47 sales) Risdon Vale — 3 bed: $527K (94 sales)

47 vs 94 sales

4 bed $830K / $642K
Geilston Bay — 4 bed: $830K (15 sales) Risdon Vale — 4 bed: $642K (6 sales)

15 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Geilston Bay has more land zoned for conservation (48% vs 19%); Risdon Vale has more rural and farming land (35% vs 14%).

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Environmental 48% 19%
Rural and farming 14% 35%
Parks and recreation 12% 27%
Residential 21% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 5%
Other and special use 1% 3%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
New dwellings approved 291
across Clarence
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Houses 4.2%
$610/wk on $752K
 5.1%
$580/wk on $595K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within TAS

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 76% of TAS Higher than 39% of TAS
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 91% of TAS Higher than 86% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 84% of TAS Higher than 10% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of TAS Higher than 99% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of TAS Higher than 92% of TAS

Liveability

Geilston Bay is more walkable (44 vs 24); Geilston Bay scores higher overall (64 vs 39).

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Grade A C
Score 64/100 39/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 13
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Hobart, 9.1 km
 None

Schools in Geilston Bay

  • Australian Christian College - Hobart Independent · Combined at peers
  • Lindisfarne North Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Risdon Vale

  • Risdon Vale Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 3 9
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 4 6

Mobility

Risdon Vale sits further from the CBD (11.7 km vs 8 km).

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Walkability score 44/100 24/100
Distance to Hobart 8 km 11.7 km
+46% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 18 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 93/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 88.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 70.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 7015
 0.2%
postcode 7016
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 7015
 23
postcode 7016

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Car (driver) 74.1% / 82.0%
Geilston Bay — Car (driver): 74.1% Risdon Vale — Car (driver): 82.0%
Car (passenger) 6.4% / 7.8%
Geilston Bay — Car (passenger): 6.4% Risdon Vale — Car (passenger): 7.8%
Bus 8.5% / 4.9%
Geilston Bay — Bus: 8.5% Risdon Vale — Bus: 4.9%
Worked from Home 8.3% / 4.7%
Geilston Bay — Worked from Home: 8.3% Risdon Vale — Worked from Home: 4.7%
Bicycle 1.7% / —
Geilston Bay — Bicycle: 1.7% Risdon Vale — Bicycle: not among its largest
Walked Only 1.0% / 0.6%
Geilston Bay — Walked Only: 1.0% Risdon Vale — Walked Only: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (82.0%).

Setting

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Elevation 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 238 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km 4.2 km

NBN connectivity

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,577 premises
 100%
1,303 premises

Climate

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Annual rainfall 507 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Average residential rate $2,189/yr
same for both
Council Clarence
same for both

Federal electorate

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Division Franklin
same for both
Member Julie Collins
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Geilston Bay Risdon Vale
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Geilston Bay

Acreage Coastal Easy Commute Inner River Transport Hub

Risdon Vale

Acreage Affordable Easy Commute Middle-Ring Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Geilston Bay

Geilston Bay vs Lindisfarne Geilston Bay vs Risdon

Other comparisons with Risdon Vale

Risdon Vale vs Lindisfarne Risdon Vale vs Cambridge Risdon Vale vs Dulcot Risdon Vale vs Risdon Risdon Vale vs Grasstree Hill
Full data on Geilston Bay Full data on Risdon Vale
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or