Mount Nelson vs Tolmans Hill

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Tolmans Hill, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Tolmans Hill: a median of $1.23 million, against $950,000 in Mount Nelson, and rent is higher there too. Tolmans Hill is closer to the city centre: 5.6 km, against 7.2 km. On these figures, Mount Nelson tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Tolmans Hill suits 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

Tolmans Hill

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (81% vs 54%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (99% vs 81%)
  • But Mount Nelson has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

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

  • Mount Nelson has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,225,000)
  • Tolmans Hill leaves households under less mortgage stress (17% vs 22%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mount Nelson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $625/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Nelson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 36/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Nelson

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 36/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
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.

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Walkability 61 / 36
Mount Nelson — Walkability: 61/100 Tolmans Hill — Walkability: 36/100
Low fire risk 3 / 0
Mount Nelson — Low fire risk: 3/100 Tolmans Hill — Low fire risk: 0/100

Demographics

Mount Nelson has more residents (2,749 vs 647); Tolmans Hill has higher household incomes ($172,432 vs $87,724).

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Population 2,749
+76% vs other
 647
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.2% +13.9%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $87,724/yr $172,432/yr
+97% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk $625/wk
+95% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
0-4 4.8% / 5.7%
Mount Nelson — 0-4: 4.8% Tolmans Hill — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 12.5% / 11.6%
Mount Nelson — 5-14: 12.5% Tolmans Hill — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.6% / 9.4%
Mount Nelson — 15-19: 5.6% Tolmans Hill — 15-19: 9.4%
20-24 6.0% / 4.9%
Mount Nelson — 20-24: 6.0% Tolmans Hill — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 13.3% / 9.1%
Mount Nelson — 25-34: 13.3% Tolmans Hill — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 13.7% / 13.3%
Mount Nelson — 35-44: 13.7% Tolmans Hill — 35-44: 13.3%
45-54 13.3% / 19.6%
Mount Nelson — 45-54: 13.3% Tolmans Hill — 45-54: 19.6%
55-64 11.7% / 13.4%
Mount Nelson — 55-64: 11.7% Tolmans Hill — 55-64: 13.4%
65-74 12.5% / 9.0%
Mount Nelson — 65-74: 12.5% Tolmans Hill — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 5.2% / 3.1%
Mount Nelson — 75-84: 5.2% Tolmans Hill — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 1.6% / —
Mount Nelson — 85+: 1.6% Tolmans Hill — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Nelson 39.0% couple families
Mount Nelson — Couple Families: 39.0% Mount Nelson — Lone Person: 37.8% Mount Nelson — One Parent Families: 15.1% Mount Nelson — Group Household: 6.1% Mount Nelson — Other Families: 1.9%
Tolmans Hill 72.8% couple families
Tolmans Hill — Couple Families: 72.8% Tolmans Hill — Lone Person: 17.0% Tolmans Hill — One Parent Families: 8.2% Tolmans Hill — Group Household: 2.0% Tolmans Hill — 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.

Mount Nelson 28.6% renting
Mount Nelson — Owned Outright: 40.2% Mount Nelson — Mortgage: 31.2% Mount Nelson — Renting: 28.6%
Tolmans Hill 7.8% renting
Tolmans Hill — Owned Outright: 37.8% Tolmans Hill — Mortgage: 54.4% Tolmans Hill — Renting: 7.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Bachelor Degree 21.9% / 24.3%
Mount Nelson — Bachelor Degree: 21.9% Tolmans Hill — Bachelor Degree: 24.3%
Postgraduate Degree 14.7% / 14.2%
Mount Nelson — Postgraduate Degree: 14.7% Tolmans Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 14.2%
Certificate III & IV 7.0% / 8.2%
Mount Nelson — Certificate III & IV: 7.0% Tolmans Hill — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.3%
Mount Nelson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Tolmans Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.7% / 2.5%
Mount Nelson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7% Tolmans Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.3%).

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.

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
China 5.1% / 6.5%
Mount Nelson — China: 5.1% Tolmans Hill — China: 6.5%
England 4.0% / 4.3%
Mount Nelson — England: 4.0% Tolmans Hill — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.5%
Mount Nelson — New Zealand: 1.2% Tolmans Hill — New Zealand: 1.5%
India 0.9% / 1.5%
Mount Nelson — India: 0.9% Tolmans Hill — India: 1.5%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.1%
Mount Nelson — South Africa: 0.9% Tolmans Hill — South Africa: 1.1%
Sri Lanka 0.7% / 1.2%
Mount Nelson — Sri Lanka: 0.7% Tolmans Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.2%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Nelson 81.4% houses
Mount Nelson — Houses: 81.4% Mount Nelson — Townhouses: 14.0% Mount Nelson — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Tolmans Hill 99.1% houses
Tolmans Hill — Houses: 99.1% Tolmans Hill — Townhouses: 1.9% Tolmans Hill — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Median house price $950,000 $1,225,000
Median unit price $475,000 —
Median land price $504,000 $560,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 16 sales
 30 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Nelson has more rural and farming land (13% vs 0%); Mount Nelson has more land zoned for conservation (40% vs 29%).

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Residential 30% 55%
Environmental 40% 29%
Rural and farming 13% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 9%
Parks and recreation 1% 7%
Other and special use 5% 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

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
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.

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Houses 3.6%
$680/wk on $995K
 —
Units 5.6%
$460/wk on $430K
 —

Ranking within TAS

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 80% of TAS Higher than 100% of TAS
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of TAS Higher than 90% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 100% of TAS
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of TAS Higher than 96% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 21% of TAS —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 90% of TAS —

Liveability

Mount Nelson is more walkable (61 vs 36).

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Grade B
same for both
Score 61/100 59/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Bushfire High
97/100
 High
100/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Hobart, 1.6 km
 1
Hobart, 2.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 3.6%

Schools in Mount Nelson

  • Mount Nelson Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Hobart College Government · Secondary

Schools in Tolmans Hill

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

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0

Mobility

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Walkability score 61/100 36/100
Distance to Hobart 7.2 km
+22% vs other
 5.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 10 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 36/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 45.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 7007
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 7007
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.

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Car (driver) 67.8% / 71.9%
Mount Nelson — Car (driver): 67.8% Tolmans Hill — Car (driver): 71.9%
Worked from Home 13.4% / 14.7%
Mount Nelson — Worked from Home: 13.4% Tolmans Hill — Worked from Home: 14.7%
Car (passenger) 7.7% / 10.9%
Mount Nelson — Car (passenger): 7.7% Tolmans Hill — Car (passenger): 10.9%
Bus 5.8% / 0.9%
Mount Nelson — Bus: 5.8% Tolmans Hill — Bus: 0.9%
Walked Only 3.7% / 1.6%
Mount Nelson — Walked Only: 3.7% Tolmans Hill — Walked Only: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.9%).

Setting

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Elevation 300 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 314 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.2 km
2.2 km to a named beach
 2.6 km
2.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,228 premises
 100%
248 premises

Climate

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
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

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Average residential rate $2,818/yr
same for both
Council Hobart
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Division Clark
same for both
Member Andrew Wilkie
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Nelson Tolmans Hill
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Nelson

Coastal Easy Commute Inner Premium Professionals Quiet Transport Hub

Tolmans Hill

Coastal Inner Large Blocks Luxury Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Nelson

Mount Nelson vs Sandy Bay Mount Nelson vs Kingston Mount Nelson vs Taroona Mount Nelson vs Dynnyrne Mount Nelson vs Ridgeway

Other comparisons with Tolmans Hill

Tolmans Hill vs Dynnyrne Tolmans Hill vs Ridgeway
Full data on Mount Nelson Full data on Tolmans Hill
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