Kingston vs Fern Tree

Kingston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 45 in Fern Tree. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Fern Tree, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Fern Tree tends to suit couples.

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

Kingston

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 5)
  • But Fern Tree has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 89%)

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

First-home buyers

Fern Tree

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 25%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kingston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kingston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 12/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (21 min vs 27 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kingston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 12/100)

Weighs who already lives there, GPs, and walkability.

Investors

Kingston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (18.1% vs 5.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kingston Fern Tree
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.

Kingston Fern Tree
Walkability 21 / 12
Kingston — Walkability: 21/100 Fern Tree — Walkability: 12/100
Low fire risk 8 / 3
Kingston — Low fire risk: 8/100 Fern Tree — Low fire risk: 3/100

Demographics

Kingston has more residents (12,288 vs 763); Fern Tree has higher household incomes ($103,480 vs $78,884).

Kingston Fern Tree
Population 12,288
+94% vs other
 763
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +18.1% +5.1%
Median age 36 45
Median household income $78,884/yr $103,480/yr
+31% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $450/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kingston Fern Tree
0-4 5.8% / 3.0%
Kingston — 0-4: 5.8% Fern Tree — 0-4: 3.0%
5-14 11.8% / 15.5%
Kingston — 5-14: 11.8% Fern Tree — 5-14: 15.5%
15-19 5.6% / 6.0%
Kingston — 15-19: 5.6% Fern Tree — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 5.8% / 4.8%
Kingston — 20-24: 5.8% Fern Tree — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 18.1% / 8.3%
Kingston — 25-34: 18.1% Fern Tree — 25-34: 8.3%
35-44 13.8% / 13.1%
Kingston — 35-44: 13.8% Fern Tree — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 11.0% / 19.8%
Kingston — 45-54: 11.0% Fern Tree — 45-54: 19.8%
55-64 9.7% / 12.8%
Kingston — 55-64: 9.7% Fern Tree — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 9.8% / 13.0%
Kingston — 65-74: 9.8% Fern Tree — 65-74: 13.0%
75-84 6.2% / 4.7%
Kingston — 75-84: 6.2% Fern Tree — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 2.4% / 0.4%
Kingston — 85+: 2.4% Fern Tree — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kingston 39.0% couple families
Kingston — Couple Families: 39.0% Kingston — Lone Person: 37.2% Kingston — One Parent Families: 17.2% Kingston — Group Household: 5.3% Kingston — Other Families: 1.4%
Fern Tree 54.8% couple families
Fern Tree — Couple Families: 54.8% Fern Tree — Lone Person: 31.0% Fern Tree — One Parent Families: 8.3% Fern Tree — Group Household: 6.0% Fern Tree — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kingston 29.8% renting
Kingston — Owned Outright: 34.0% Kingston — Mortgage: 36.1% Kingston — Renting: 29.8%
Fern Tree 8.0% renting
Fern Tree — Owned Outright: 43.4% Fern Tree — Mortgage: 48.5% Fern Tree — Renting: 8.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kingston Fern Tree
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 25.3%
Kingston — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Fern Tree — Bachelor Degree: 25.3%
Postgraduate Degree 8.6% / 16.6%
Kingston — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6% Fern Tree — Postgraduate Degree: 16.6%
Certificate III & IV 12.2% / 7.1%
Kingston — Certificate III & IV: 12.2% Fern Tree — Certificate III & IV: 7.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.7%
Kingston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Fern Tree — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 4.1%
Kingston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Fern Tree — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.3%).

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.

Kingston Fern Tree
England 4.3% / 8.5%
Kingston — England: 4.3% Fern Tree — England: 8.5%
China 6.5% / —
Kingston — China: 6.5% Fern Tree — China: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.4%
Kingston — New Zealand: 1.1% Fern Tree — New Zealand: 1.4%
India 1.1% / 0.9%
Kingston — India: 1.1% Fern Tree — India: 0.9%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.0%
Kingston — South Africa: 1.0% Fern Tree — South Africa: 1.0%
Nepal 1.5% / —
Kingston — Nepal: 1.5% Fern Tree — Nepal: not among its largest
Scotland — / 1.2%
Kingston — Scotland: not among its largest Fern Tree — Scotland: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kingston 89.1% houses
Kingston — Houses: 89.1% Kingston — Townhouses: 10.0% Kingston — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Fern Tree 100.0% houses
Fern Tree — Houses: 100.0% Fern Tree — Townhouses: 0.0% Fern Tree — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kingston Fern Tree
Median house price $763,000 $802,000
Median unit price $607,500 —
Median land price $466,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 126 sales
 13 days
from 5 sales

Zoning mix

Fern Tree has more land zoned for conservation (87% vs 57%).

Kingston Fern Tree
Environmental 57% 87%
Rural and farming 14% 11%
Residential 13% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 1%
Parks and recreation 4% 0%
Commercial 2% 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

Kingston Fern Tree
New dwellings approved 138
across Kingborough
 163
across Hobart
Approvals change year on year -13% -76%

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.

Kingston Fern Tree
Houses 4.2%
$640/wk on $795K
 —
Units 4.6%
$560/wk on $635K
 —

Ranking within TAS

Kingston Fern Tree
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of TAS Higher than 91% of TAS
Schools Higher than 28% of TAS —
Walkability Higher than 85% of TAS Higher than 78% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of TAS Higher than 95% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of TAS Higher than 74% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of TAS —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of TAS —

Liveability

Kingston is more walkable (21 vs 12); Fern Tree scores higher overall (55 vs 45).

Kingston Fern Tree
Grade C B
Score 45/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Kingston Fern Tree
Bushfire High
92/100
 High
97/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
 —
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Kingston Fern Tree
Inside the suburb 6 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Hobart, 6.9 km
 1
Hobart, 6.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.2%

Schools in Kingston

  • Calvin Christian School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Kingston High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Southern Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Kingston Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Calvin Christian School - Secondary Campus Independent · Secondary
  • Indie School - Glenorchy (Kingston Campus) Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Fern Tree

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Kingston Fern Tree
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 13 0
Parks & reserves 21 5
Childcare 4 0
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 5 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 14 3

Mobility

Kingston Fern Tree
Walkability score 21/100 12/100
Distance to Hobart 14.3 km
+6% vs other
 13.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 27 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 82/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 227.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 24.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 7050
 2.0%
postcode 7054
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 7050
 41
postcode 7054

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.

Kingston Fern Tree
Car (driver) 72.7% / 62.9%
Kingston — Car (driver): 72.7% Fern Tree — Car (driver): 62.9%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 19.3%
Kingston — Worked from Home: 9.9% Fern Tree — Worked from Home: 19.3%
Car (passenger) 7.0% / 6.4%
Kingston — Car (passenger): 7.0% Fern Tree — Car (passenger): 6.4%
Bus 7.7% / 5.6%
Kingston — Bus: 7.7% Fern Tree — Bus: 5.6%
Bicycle 0.4% / 5.0%
Kingston — Bicycle: 0.4% Fern Tree — Bicycle: 5.0%
Walked Only 2.3% / 0.9%
Kingston — Walked Only: 2.3% Fern Tree — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.7%).

Setting

Kingston Fern Tree
Elevation 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 263 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 6.6 km

NBN connectivity

Kingston Fern Tree
Connectivity score 96/100 42/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 93%
6,183 premises
 0%
319 premises

Climate

Kingston Fern Tree
Annual rainfall —
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Kingston Fern Tree
Average residential rate $1,735/yr $2,818/yr
Council Kingborough Hobart

Federal electorate

Kingston Fern Tree
Division Clark
same for both
Member Andrew Wilkie
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kingston Fern Tree
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kingston

Acreage Easy Commute Middle-Ring River Transport Hub

Fern Tree

Acreage Easy Commute Inner Professionals River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kingston

Kingston vs Blackmans Bay Kingston vs Margate Kingston vs Taroona Kingston vs Mount Nelson Kingston vs Kingston Beach Kingston vs Huntingfield

Other comparisons with Fern Tree

Fern Tree vs South Hobart Fern Tree vs Ridgeway Fern Tree vs Neika
Full data on Kingston Full data on Fern Tree
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.

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