Hobart vs Sandy Bay

Hobart is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 39 in Sandy Bay. In Hobart, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Sandy Bay, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Sandy Bay: a median of $1.24 million, against $875,000 in Hobart, and rent is higher there too. Hobart is the city centre itself; Sandy Bay is 5.1 km out. On these figures, Hobart tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Sandy Bay suits older residents.

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

Sandy Bay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (68% vs 19%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (44% vs 20%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Hobart has cheaper houses ($875,000 vs $1,240,000)
  • Sandy Bay has cheaper units ($621,500 vs $892,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hobart

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (71% vs 35%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $418/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hobart

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (0 min vs 12 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (0 km vs 5.1 km)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 72/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Hobart

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (81% vs 32%)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 5)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Sandy Bay has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Hobart

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 2.6%)

Weighs house yield and unit yield.

Where they sit

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

Hobart Sandy Bay
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.

Hobart Sandy Bay
Walkability 95 / 72
Hobart — Walkability: 95/100 Sandy Bay — Walkability: 72/100
Low fire risk 100 / 3
Hobart — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sandy Bay — Low fire risk: 3/100

Demographics

Sandy Bay has more residents (12,315 vs 3,390); Sandy Bay has higher household incomes ($99,580 vs $76,128).

Hobart Sandy Bay
Population 3,390 12,315
+263% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +3.3%
Median age 31 39
Median household income $76,128/yr $99,580/yr
+31% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $418/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hobart Sandy Bay
0-4 2.2% / 3.4%
Hobart — 0-4: 2.2% Sandy Bay — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 2.9% / 8.9%
Hobart — 5-14: 2.9% Sandy Bay — 5-14: 8.9%
15-19 5.1% / 5.0%
Hobart — 15-19: 5.1% Sandy Bay — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 16.9% / 7.7%
Hobart — 20-24: 16.9% Sandy Bay — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 31.7% / 19.9%
Hobart — 25-34: 31.7% Sandy Bay — 25-34: 19.9%
35-44 11.8% / 10.9%
Hobart — 35-44: 11.8% Sandy Bay — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 7.9% / 10.5%
Hobart — 45-54: 7.9% Sandy Bay — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 7.7% / 11.0%
Hobart — 55-64: 7.7% Sandy Bay — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 7.0% / 11.6%
Hobart — 65-74: 7.0% Sandy Bay — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 4.1% / 7.5%
Hobart — 75-84: 4.1% Sandy Bay — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 2.8% / 3.6%
Hobart — 85+: 2.8% Sandy Bay — 85+: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hobart 56.4% lone person
Hobart — Lone Person: 56.4% Hobart — Couple Families: 11.3% Hobart — Group Household: 22.0% Hobart — One Parent Families: 8.4% Hobart — Other Families: 2.0%
Sandy Bay 41.5% lone person
Sandy Bay — Lone Person: 41.5% Sandy Bay — Couple Families: 34.9% Sandy Bay — Group Household: 13.0% Sandy Bay — One Parent Families: 8.8% Sandy Bay — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hobart 71.2% renting
Hobart — Owned Outright: 16.7% Hobart — Mortgage: 12.1% Hobart — Renting: 71.2%
Sandy Bay 35.3% renting
Sandy Bay — Owned Outright: 42.8% Sandy Bay — Mortgage: 22.0% Sandy Bay — Renting: 35.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hobart Sandy Bay
Bachelor Degree 22.8% / 25.6%
Hobart — Bachelor Degree: 22.8% Sandy Bay — Bachelor Degree: 25.6%
Postgraduate Degree 15.7% / 17.8%
Hobart — Postgraduate Degree: 15.7% Sandy Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 17.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.8% / 7.4%
Hobart — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.8% Sandy Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 5.1%
Hobart — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Sandy Bay — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 3.5%
Hobart — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Sandy Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.6%).

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.

Hobart Sandy Bay
China 10.0% / 10.2%
Hobart — China: 10.0% Sandy Bay — China: 10.2%
England 2.9% / 4.5%
Hobart — England: 2.9% Sandy Bay — England: 4.5%
India 2.8% / 2.8%
Hobart — India: 2.8% Sandy Bay — India: 2.8%
Nepal 2.2% / 1.3%
Hobart — Nepal: 2.2% Sandy Bay — Nepal: 1.3%
Malaysia 1.4% / 1.2%
Hobart — Malaysia: 1.4% Sandy Bay — Malaysia: 1.2%
Vietnam 1.4% / 0.8%
Hobart — Vietnam: 1.4% Sandy Bay — Vietnam: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hobart 18.6% houses
Hobart — Houses: 18.6% Hobart — Flats / Apartments: 66.6% Hobart — Townhouses: 14.8%
Sandy Bay 68.5% houses
Sandy Bay — Houses: 68.5% Sandy Bay — Flats / Apartments: 18.3% Sandy Bay — Townhouses: 13.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hobart Sandy Bay
Median house price $875,000 $1,240,000
Median unit price $892,000 $621,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 8 sales
 29 days
from 75 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.

Hobart Sandy Bay
2 bed $850K / $855K
Hobart — 2 bed: $850K (5 sales) Sandy Bay — 2 bed: $855K (14 sales)

5 vs 14 sales

3 bed $960K / $1.1M
Hobart — 3 bed: $960K (13 sales) Sandy Bay — 3 bed: $1.1M (49 sales)

13 vs 49 sales

4 bed $960K / $1.35M
Hobart — 4 bed: $960K (9 sales) Sandy Bay — 4 bed: $1.35M (47 sales)

9 vs 47 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Hobart Sandy Bay
1 bed $517K / $424K
Hobart — 1 bed: $517K (15 sales) Sandy Bay — 1 bed: $424K (22 sales)

15 vs 22 sales

2 bed $890K / $655K
Hobart — 2 bed: $890K (39 sales) Sandy Bay — 2 bed: $655K (41 sales)

39 vs 41 sales

3 bed $1.06M / $840K
Hobart — 3 bed: $1.06M (15 sales) Sandy Bay — 3 bed: $840K (18 sales)

15 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Hobart has more commercially zoned land (33% vs 1%); Sandy Bay has more land zoned for conservation (22% vs 0%).

Hobart Sandy Bay
Residential 17% 58%
Commercial 33% 1%
Other and special use 22% 6%
Environmental 0% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 19% 7%
Parks and recreation 3% 6%
Industrial 6% 0%
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

Hobart Sandy Bay
New dwellings approved 163
across Hobart
same for both
Approvals change year on year -76%
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.

Hobart Sandy Bay
Houses 3.8%
$695/wk on $950K
 2.6%
$680/wk on $1.37M
Units 4.3%
$660/wk on $808K
 4.1%
$500/wk on $635K

Ranking within TAS

Hobart Sandy Bay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 67% of TAS Higher than 90% of TAS
Schools Higher than 24% of TAS Higher than 76% of TAS
Walkability Higher than 100% of TAS Higher than 97% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 98% of TAS Higher than 99% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of TAS Higher than 89% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 27% of TAS Higher than 3% of TAS
Rental yield (units) Higher than 39% of TAS Higher than 29% of TAS

Liveability

Hobart is more walkable (95 vs 72).

Hobart Sandy Bay
Grade A
same for both
Score 71/100 67/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Sandy Bay carries more bushfire risk (97 vs 0).

Hobart Sandy Bay
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
97/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
18/100
 Low
32/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Hobart Sandy Bay
Inside the suburb 6
same for both
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Hobart, 3.5 km
 1
Hobart, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.4% 4.4%

Schools in Hobart

  • St Mary's College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Elizabeth College Government · Secondary
  • Guilford Young College - Hobart Campus Catholic · Secondary
  • St Michael's Collegiate School Independent · Combined
  • St Michael's Collegiate School - Middle School Campus Independent · Combined
  • St Virgil's College - St Virgil's Junior School Catholic · Primary

Schools in Sandy Bay

  • Princes Street Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Waimea Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount Carmel College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Fahan School Independent · Combined
  • Sandy Bay Infant School Government · Primary
  • The Hutchins School Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Hobart Sandy Bay
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 126 39
Parks & reserves 11 13
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 7 5
Pharmacies 9 2
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 3
Fuel stations 1 4
EV chargers 6 2
Beaches 0 3
Waterways 4 13

Mobility

Sandy Bay sits further from the CBD (5.1 km vs 0 km).

Hobart Sandy Bay
Walkability score 95/100 72/100
Distance to Hobart 0 km 5.1 km
(not reported on the other side)
Drive time (normal traffic) 0 min 12 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 376.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 248.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 7000
 2.6%
postcode 7005
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 7000
 20
postcode 7005

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.

Hobart Sandy Bay
Car (driver) 31.6% / 55.2%
Hobart — Car (driver): 31.6% Sandy Bay — Car (driver): 55.2%
Walked Only 48.6% / 12.0%
Hobart — Walked Only: 48.6% Sandy Bay — Walked Only: 12.0%
Worked from Home 9.8% / 13.9%
Hobart — Worked from Home: 9.8% Sandy Bay — Worked from Home: 13.9%
Bus 6.5% / 8.7%
Hobart — Bus: 6.5% Sandy Bay — Bus: 8.7%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 8.1%
Hobart — Car (passenger): 2.5% Sandy Bay — Car (passenger): 8.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.2%).

Setting

Hobart Sandy Bay
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 79 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 924 m
1.5 km to a named beach
 585 m
590 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Hobart Sandy Bay
Connectivity score 97/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 91%
5,214 premises
 63%
6,087 premises

Climate

Hobart Sandy Bay
Annual rainfall 559 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 22.4°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Hobart Sandy Bay
Average residential rate $2,818/yr
same for both
Council Hobart
same for both

Federal electorate

Hobart Sandy Bay
Division Clark
same for both
Member Andrew Wilkie
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hobart Sandy Bay
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hobart

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Inner Luxury Multicultural Parks Professionals River Students Transport Hub

Sandy Bay

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hobart

Hobart vs West Hobart Hobart vs South Hobart Hobart vs North Hobart Hobart vs Battery Point Hobart vs Glebe

Other comparisons with Sandy Bay

Sandy Bay vs South Hobart Sandy Bay vs Taroona Sandy Bay vs Mount Nelson Sandy Bay vs Battery Point Sandy Bay vs Dynnyrne
Full data on Hobart Full data on Sandy Bay
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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.

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