Kingston vs Taroona

Kingston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 47 in Taroona. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Taroona: a median of $950,000, against $763,000 in Kingston, and rent is higher there too. Taroona is closer to the city centre: 11.1 km, against 14.3 km. On these figures, Kingston tends to suit 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

Kingston

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Kingston

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($607,500 vs $1,092,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($763,000 vs $950,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Taroona

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (51/100 vs 21/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (11.1 km vs 14.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Kingston has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • Taroona is more walkable (51/100 vs 21/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Kingston is growing faster (18.1% vs 1.7%)
  • Taroona returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Kingston and Taroona 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 Taroona
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 Taroona
Walkability 21 / 51
Kingston — Walkability: 21/100 Taroona — Walkability: 51/100
Low fire risk 8 / 3
Kingston — Low fire risk: 8/100 Taroona — Low fire risk: 3/100

Demographics

Kingston has more residents (12,288 vs 3,121); Taroona skews older (47 vs 36).

Kingston Taroona
Population 12,288
+75% vs other
 3,121
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +18.1% +1.7%
Median age 36 47
Median household income $78,884/yr $95,940/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $420/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kingston Taroona
0-4 5.8% / 3.9%
Kingston — 0-4: 5.8% Taroona — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 11.8% / 11.4%
Kingston — 5-14: 11.8% Taroona — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 5.6% / 7.6%
Kingston — 15-19: 5.6% Taroona — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 5.8% / 5.0%
Kingston — 20-24: 5.8% Taroona — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 18.1% / 8.0%
Kingston — 25-34: 18.1% Taroona — 25-34: 8.0%
35-44 13.8% / 10.5%
Kingston — 35-44: 13.8% Taroona — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 11.0% / 15.3%
Kingston — 45-54: 11.0% Taroona — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 9.7% / 14.6%
Kingston — 55-64: 9.7% Taroona — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 9.8% / 13.7%
Kingston — 65-74: 9.8% Taroona — 65-74: 13.7%
75-84 6.2% / 6.2%
Kingston — 75-84: 6.2% Taroona — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 2.4% / 3.4%
Kingston — 85+: 2.4% Taroona — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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%
Taroona 44.9% couple families
Taroona — Couple Families: 44.9% Taroona — Lone Person: 35.4% Taroona — One Parent Families: 14.5% Taroona — Group Household: 3.7% Taroona — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Taroona 15.7% renting
Taroona — Owned Outright: 51.3% Taroona — Mortgage: 33.1% Taroona — Renting: 15.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kingston Taroona
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 25.5%
Kingston — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Taroona — Bachelor Degree: 25.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.6% / 13.0%
Kingston — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6% Taroona — Postgraduate Degree: 13.0%
Certificate III & IV 12.2% / 6.0%
Kingston — Certificate III & IV: 12.2% Taroona — Certificate III & IV: 6.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 7.2%
Kingston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Taroona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 5.5%
Kingston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Taroona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.5%).

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 Taroona
England 4.3% / 6.4%
Kingston — England: 4.3% Taroona — England: 6.4%
China 6.5% / 2.6%
Kingston — China: 6.5% Taroona — China: 2.6%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.2%
Kingston — New Zealand: 1.1% Taroona — New Zealand: 1.2%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.0%
Kingston — South Africa: 1.0% Taroona — South Africa: 1.0%
Nepal 1.5% / —
Kingston — Nepal: 1.5% Taroona — Nepal: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.2%
Kingston — Germany: not among its largest Taroona — Germany: 1.2%
India 1.1% / —
Kingston — India: 1.1% Taroona — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.5%).

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%
Taroona 96.8% houses
Taroona — Houses: 96.8% Taroona — Townhouses: 2.5% Taroona — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kingston Taroona
Median house price $763,000 $950,000
Median unit price $607,500 $1,092,500
Median land price $466,000 $520,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 126 sales
 42 days
from 18 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.

Kingston Taroona
3 bed $735K / $950K
Kingston — 3 bed: $735K (133 sales) Taroona — 3 bed: $950K (11 sales)

133 vs 11 sales

4 bed $901K / $950K
Kingston — 4 bed: $901K (56 sales) Taroona — 4 bed: $950K (13 sales)

56 vs 13 sales

5 bed $995K / $1.12M
Kingston — 5 bed: $995K (10 sales) Taroona — 5 bed: $1.12M (6 sales)

10 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Kingston has more rural and farming land (14% vs 0%).

Kingston Taroona
Environmental 57% 67%
Residential 13% 26%
Rural and farming 14% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 5%
Parks and recreation 4% 2%
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 Taroona
New dwellings approved 138
across Kingborough
same for both
Approvals change year on year -13%
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.

Kingston Taroona
Houses 4.2%
$640/wk on $795K
 4.8%
$925/wk on $1.01M
Units 4.6%
$560/wk on $635K
 —

Ranking within TAS

Kingston Taroona
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 70% of TAS Higher than 87% of TAS
Schools Higher than 28% of TAS —
Walkability Higher than 85% of TAS Higher than 92% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of TAS Higher than 99% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of TAS Higher than 82% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 50% of TAS Higher than 80% of TAS
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of TAS —

Liveability

Taroona is more walkable (51 vs 21); Taroona scores higher overall (61 vs 45).

Kingston Taroona
Grade C B
Score 45/100 61/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Kingston Taroona
Bushfire High
92/100
 High
97/100
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
 Low
33/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Kingston Taroona
Inside the suburb 6 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Hobart, 6.9 km
 1
Hobart, 3.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.4%

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 Taroona

  • Taroona Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Taroona High School Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Kingston Taroona
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 13 3
Parks & reserves 21 9
Childcare 4 1
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 5 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 2 0
Beaches 0 1
Waterways 14 0

Mobility

Kingston sits further from the CBD (14.3 km vs 11.1 km).

Kingston Taroona
Walkability score 21/100 51/100
Distance to Hobart 14.3 km
+22% vs other
 11.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 22 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 227.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 57.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 7050
 2.7%
postcode 7053
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 7050
 35
postcode 7053

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 Taroona
Car (driver) 72.7% / 61.7%
Kingston — Car (driver): 72.7% Taroona — Car (driver): 61.7%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 16.4%
Kingston — Worked from Home: 9.9% Taroona — Worked from Home: 16.4%
Bus 7.7% / 8.6%
Kingston — Bus: 7.7% Taroona — Bus: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 7.0% / 6.6%
Kingston — Car (passenger): 7.0% Taroona — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Bicycle 0.4% / 5.1%
Kingston — Bicycle: 0.4% Taroona — Bicycle: 5.1%
Walked Only 2.3% / 1.7%
Kingston — Walked Only: 2.3% Taroona — Walked Only: 1.7%

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

Setting

Kingston Taroona
Elevation 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 130 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 979 m
1.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Kingston Taroona
Connectivity score 96/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 93%
6,183 premises
 36%
1,355 premises

Climate

Kingston Taroona
Annual rainfall — 559 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 22.4°C
Winter min (Jul) — 5.6°C

Council rates

Kingston Taroona
Average residential rate $1,735/yr
same for both
Council Kingborough
same for both

Federal electorate

Kingston Taroona
Division Clark
same for both
Member Andrew Wilkie
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kingston Taroona
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

Taroona

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Inner Large Blocks Parks Premium Professionals Quiet Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kingston

Kingston vs Blackmans Bay Kingston vs Margate Kingston vs Mount Nelson Kingston vs Kingston Beach Kingston vs Fern Tree Kingston vs Huntingfield

Other comparisons with Taroona

Taroona vs Sandy Bay Taroona vs Mount Nelson Taroona vs Bonnet Hill
Full data on Kingston Full data on Taroona
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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