Launceston vs West Launceston

In Launceston, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. In West Launceston, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. On these figures, Launceston tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Launceston has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • West Launceston has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 38%)

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

First-home buyers

West Launceston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($470,000 vs $558,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Launceston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

Launceston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 65/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Launceston

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 16%)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 65/100)

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

Investors

West Launceston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.5% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Launceston West Launceston
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.

Launceston West Launceston
Walkability 91 / 65
Launceston — Walkability: 91/100 West Launceston — Walkability: 65/100
Low fire risk 83 / 57
Launceston — Low fire risk: 83/100 West Launceston — Low fire risk: 57/100

Demographics

West Launceston has more residents (4,316 vs 3,110).

Launceston West Launceston
Population 3,110 4,316
+39% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.6% +2.5%
Median age 41 42
Median household income $74,828/yr $76,336/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $310/wk
+3% vs other
 $300/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Launceston West Launceston
0-4 2.7% / 4.9%
Launceston — 0-4: 2.7% West Launceston — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 6.0% / 10.5%
Launceston — 5-14: 6.0% West Launceston — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 5.0% / 5.6%
Launceston — 15-19: 5.0% West Launceston — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 7.7% / 6.4%
Launceston — 20-24: 7.7% West Launceston — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 21.2% / 13.6%
Launceston — 25-34: 21.2% West Launceston — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 11.5% / 12.4%
Launceston — 35-44: 11.5% West Launceston — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 11.5% / 14.0%
Launceston — 45-54: 11.5% West Launceston — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 15.3% / 14.4%
Launceston — 55-64: 15.3% West Launceston — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 12.5% / 11.2%
Launceston — 65-74: 12.5% West Launceston — 65-74: 11.2%
75-84 5.0% / 5.1%
Launceston — 75-84: 5.0% West Launceston — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 1.8% / 2.0%
Launceston — 85+: 1.8% West Launceston — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Launceston 58.0% lone person
Launceston — Lone Person: 58.0% Launceston — Couple Families: 18.3% Launceston — One Parent Families: 11.9% Launceston — Group Household: 10.9% Launceston — Other Families: 0.9%
West Launceston 44.5% lone person
West Launceston — Lone Person: 44.5% West Launceston — Couple Families: 33.8% West Launceston — One Parent Families: 13.8% West Launceston — Group Household: 6.6% West Launceston — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Launceston 52.5% renting
Launceston — Owned Outright: 30.9% Launceston — Mortgage: 16.6% Launceston — Renting: 52.5%
West Launceston 31.2% renting
West Launceston — Owned Outright: 36.6% West Launceston — Mortgage: 32.1% West Launceston — Renting: 31.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Launceston West Launceston
Bachelor Degree 21.2% / 17.5%
Launceston — Bachelor Degree: 21.2% West Launceston — Bachelor Degree: 17.5%
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 15.1%
Launceston — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% West Launceston — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Postgraduate Degree 10.5% / 6.4%
Launceston — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5% West Launceston — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 8.1%
Launceston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% West Launceston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.5%
Launceston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% West Launceston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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.

Launceston West Launceston
England 3.3% / 3.8%
Launceston — England: 3.3% West Launceston — England: 3.8%
India 2.7% / 0.7%
Launceston — India: 2.7% West Launceston — India: 0.7%
Nepal 2.5% / 0.8%
Launceston — Nepal: 2.5% West Launceston — Nepal: 0.8%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.9%
Launceston — New Zealand: 1.4% West Launceston — New Zealand: 0.9%
China 1.8% / —
Launceston — China: 1.8% West Launceston — China: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.6%
Launceston — Scotland: not among its largest West Launceston — Scotland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Launceston 38.1% houses
Launceston — Houses: 38.1% Launceston — Townhouses: 33.1% Launceston — Flats / Apartments: 28.8%
West Launceston 84.3% houses
West Launceston — Houses: 84.3% West Launceston — Townhouses: 8.4% West Launceston — Flats / Apartments: 7.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Launceston West Launceston
Median house price $697,500 $658,000
Median unit price $558,000 $470,000
Median land price — $337,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 36 sales
 21 days
from 52 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.

Launceston West Launceston
2 bed $610K / $611K
Launceston — 2 bed: $610K (29 sales) West Launceston — 2 bed: $611K (20 sales)

29 vs 20 sales

3 bed $762K / $637K
Launceston — 3 bed: $762K (40 sales) West Launceston — 3 bed: $637K (74 sales)

40 vs 74 sales

4 bed $980K / $765K
Launceston — 4 bed: $980K (19 sales) West Launceston — 4 bed: $765K (30 sales)

19 vs 30 sales

5 bed $1.32M / $920K
Launceston — 5 bed: $1.32M (7 sales) West Launceston — 5 bed: $920K (7 sales)

7 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Launceston has more rural and farming land (28% vs 0%); West Launceston has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 1%).

Launceston West Launceston
Residential 35% 61%
Rural and farming 28% 0%
Environmental 1% 19%
Parks and recreation 8% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 2%
Commercial 10% 0%
Industrial 4% 0%
Other and special use 1% 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

Launceston West Launceston
New dwellings approved 208
across Launceston
same for both
Approvals change year on year -29%
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.

Launceston West Launceston
Houses 4.1%
$555/wk on $699K
 4.2%
$600/wk on $750K
Units 3.8%
$425/wk on $575K
 4.5%
$415/wk on $479K

Ranking within TAS

Launceston West Launceston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 64% of TAS —
Schools Higher than 8% of TAS —
Walkability Higher than 99% of TAS Higher than 95% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 73% of TAS
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of TAS Higher than 97% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 46% of TAS Higher than 47% of TAS
Rental yield (units) Higher than 16% of TAS Higher than 47% of TAS

Liveability

Launceston is more walkable (91 vs 65); West Launceston scores higher overall (63 vs 58).

Launceston West Launceston
Grade B A
Score 58/100 63/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

West Launceston carries more bushfire risk (43 vs 17).

Launceston West Launceston
Bushfire Low
17/100
 Moderate
43/100
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 11
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Launceston West Launceston
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Launceston, 0.0 km
 1
Launceston, 2.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 1.6%

Schools in Launceston

  • Sacred Heart Catholic School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Launceston College Government · Secondary
  • Indie School - Devonport (Launceston Campus) Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in West Launceston

  • West Launceston Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Launceston West Launceston
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 114 1
Parks & reserves 8 4
Childcare 4 2
GPs 8 0
Pharmacies 11 0
Hospitals 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 0
Fuel stations 5 1
EV chargers 2 1

Mobility

Launceston West Launceston
Walkability score 91/100 65/100
Distance to Hobart 201.4 km 201.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 142 min 140 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 65/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 202.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 23.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 7250
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 7250
same for both

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.

Launceston West Launceston
Car (driver) 54.0% / 75.5%
Launceston — Car (driver): 54.0% West Launceston — Car (driver): 75.5%
Walked Only 27.1% / 6.6%
Launceston — Walked Only: 27.1% West Launceston — Walked Only: 6.6%
Worked from Home 10.8% / 9.2%
Launceston — Worked from Home: 10.8% West Launceston — Worked from Home: 9.2%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 6.2%
Launceston — Car (passenger): 5.8% West Launceston — Car (passenger): 6.2%
Bus 1.3% / 1.2%
Launceston — Bus: 1.3% West Launceston — Bus: 1.2%
Bicycle 1.0% / 1.2%
Launceston — Bicycle: 1.0% West Launceston — Bicycle: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.5%).

Setting

Launceston West Launceston
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 187 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 43.9 km
3.7 km to a named beach
 44.8 km

NBN connectivity

Launceston West Launceston
Connectivity score 99/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 96%
4,015 premises
 100%
2,086 premises

Climate

Launceston West Launceston
Annual rainfall 676 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Launceston West Launceston
Average residential rate $2,075/yr
same for both
Council Launceston
same for both

Federal electorate

Launceston West Launceston
Division Bass
same for both
Member Jess Teesdale
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Launceston West Launceston
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Launceston

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Nightlife Parks Professionals River Townhouses Transport Hub

West Launceston

Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Launceston

Launceston vs Newstead Launceston vs South Launceston Launceston vs Trevallyn Launceston vs Mowbray Launceston vs Ravenswood Launceston vs Invermay

Other comparisons with West Launceston

West Launceston vs South Launceston West Launceston vs Trevallyn West Launceston vs Summerhill West Launceston vs Prospect
Full data on Launceston Full data on West Launceston
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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