Sandy Bay vs Taroona

Sandy Bay is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 47 in Taroona. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Sandy Bay: a median of $1.24 million, against $950,000 in Taroona. Sandy Bay is closer to the city centre: 5.1 km, against 11.1 km. On these figures, Sandy Bay tends to suit young adults and share households, while Taroona suits 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

Sandy Bay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 9)
  • But Taroona has more separate houses rather than flats (97% vs 68%)

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

  • Sandy Bay has cheaper units ($621,500 vs $1,092,500)
  • Taroona has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,240,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sandy Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 16%)

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

Commuting to the city

Sandy Bay

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (5.1 km vs 11.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (12 min vs 22 min)
  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 51/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sandy Bay

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 3%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 51/100)

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

Investors

Taroona

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 2.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Sandy Bay 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.

Sandy Bay 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.

Sandy Bay Taroona
Walkability 72 / 51
Sandy Bay — Walkability: 72/100 Taroona — Walkability: 51/100
Low fire risk 3 / 3
Sandy Bay — Low fire risk: 3/100 Taroona — Low fire risk: 3/100

Demographics

Sandy Bay has more residents (12,315 vs 3,121); Taroona skews older (47 vs 39).

Sandy Bay Taroona
Population 12,315
+75% vs other
 3,121
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% +1.7%
Median age 39 47
Median household income $99,580/yr
+4% vs other
 $95,940/yr
Median weekly rent $418/wk $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sandy Bay Taroona
0-4 3.4% / 3.9%
Sandy Bay — 0-4: 3.4% Taroona — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 8.9% / 11.4%
Sandy Bay — 5-14: 8.9% Taroona — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 5.0% / 7.6%
Sandy Bay — 15-19: 5.0% Taroona — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 7.7% / 5.0%
Sandy Bay — 20-24: 7.7% Taroona — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 19.9% / 8.0%
Sandy Bay — 25-34: 19.9% Taroona — 25-34: 8.0%
35-44 10.9% / 10.5%
Sandy Bay — 35-44: 10.9% Taroona — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 10.5% / 15.3%
Sandy Bay — 45-54: 10.5% Taroona — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 11.0% / 14.6%
Sandy Bay — 55-64: 11.0% Taroona — 55-64: 14.6%
65-74 11.6% / 13.7%
Sandy Bay — 65-74: 11.6% Taroona — 65-74: 13.7%
75-84 7.5% / 6.2%
Sandy Bay — 75-84: 7.5% Taroona — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 3.6% / 3.4%
Sandy Bay — 85+: 3.6% Taroona — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sandy Bay 34.9% couple families
Sandy Bay — Couple Families: 34.9% Sandy Bay — Lone Person: 41.5% Sandy Bay — One Parent Families: 8.8% Sandy Bay — Group Household: 13.0% Sandy Bay — Other Families: 1.8%
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.

Sandy Bay 35.3% renting
Sandy Bay — Owned Outright: 42.8% Sandy Bay — Mortgage: 22.0% Sandy Bay — Renting: 35.3%
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.

Sandy Bay Taroona
Bachelor Degree 25.6% / 25.5%
Sandy Bay — Bachelor Degree: 25.6% Taroona — Bachelor Degree: 25.5%
Postgraduate Degree 17.8% / 13.0%
Sandy Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 17.8% Taroona — Postgraduate Degree: 13.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.2%
Sandy Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Taroona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Certificate III & IV 5.1% / 6.0%
Sandy Bay — Certificate III & IV: 5.1% Taroona — Certificate III & IV: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 5.5%
Sandy Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Taroona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.5%

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.

Sandy Bay Taroona
China 10.2% / 2.6%
Sandy Bay — China: 10.2% Taroona — China: 2.6%
England 4.5% / 6.4%
Sandy Bay — England: 4.5% Taroona — England: 6.4%
India 2.8% / —
Sandy Bay — India: 2.8% Taroona — India: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.2%
Sandy Bay — New Zealand: 1.1% Taroona — New Zealand: 1.2%
South Africa 0.9% / 1.0%
Sandy Bay — South Africa: 0.9% Taroona — South Africa: 1.0%
Malaysia 1.2% / 0.5%
Sandy Bay — Malaysia: 1.2% Taroona — Malaysia: 0.5%
Nepal 1.3% / —
Sandy Bay — Nepal: 1.3% Taroona — Nepal: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.2%
Sandy Bay — Germany: not among its largest Taroona — Germany: 1.2%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sandy Bay 68.5% houses
Sandy Bay — Houses: 68.5% Sandy Bay — Flats / Apartments: 18.3% Sandy Bay — Townhouses: 13.3%
Taroona 96.8% houses
Taroona — Houses: 96.8% Taroona — Flats / Apartments: 0.7% Taroona — Townhouses: 2.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Sandy Bay Taroona
Median house price $1,240,000 $950,000
Median unit price $621,500 $1,092,500
Median land price — $520,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 75 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.

Sandy Bay Taroona
3 bed $1.1M / $950K
Sandy Bay — 3 bed: $1.1M (49 sales) Taroona — 3 bed: $950K (11 sales)

49 vs 11 sales

4 bed $1.35M / $950K
Sandy Bay — 4 bed: $1.35M (47 sales) Taroona — 4 bed: $950K (13 sales)

47 vs 13 sales

5 bed $1.62M / $1.12M
Sandy Bay — 5 bed: $1.62M (12 sales) Taroona — 5 bed: $1.12M (6 sales)

12 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Taroona has more land zoned for conservation (67% vs 22%).

Sandy Bay Taroona
Environmental 22% 67%
Residential 58% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 5%
Other and special use 6% 0%
Parks and recreation 6% 2%
Commercial 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

Sandy Bay Taroona
New dwellings approved 163
across Hobart
 138
across Kingborough
Approvals change year on year -76% -13%

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.

Sandy Bay Taroona
Houses 2.6%
$680/wk on $1.37M
 4.8%
$925/wk on $1.01M
Units 4.1%
$500/wk on $635K
 —

Ranking within TAS

Sandy Bay Taroona
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 90% of TAS Higher than 87% of TAS
Schools Higher than 76% of TAS —
Walkability Higher than 97% of TAS Higher than 92% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of TAS
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of TAS Higher than 82% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of TAS Higher than 80% of TAS
Rental yield (units) Higher than 29% of TAS —

Liveability

Sandy Bay is more walkable (72 vs 51); Sandy Bay scores higher overall (67 vs 61).

Sandy Bay Taroona
Grade A B
Score 67/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Sandy Bay Taroona
Bushfire High
97/100
same for both
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood — Not mapped
no mapped data here
Coastal erosion Low
32/100
 Low
33/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Sandy Bay Taroona
Inside the suburb 6 2
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Hobart, 0.0 km
 1
Hobart, 3.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.4% 2.4%

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

Schools in Taroona

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

Amenities in the suburb

Sandy Bay Taroona
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 39 3
Parks & reserves 13 9
Childcare 8 1
GPs 5 1
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 4 0
EV chargers 2 0
Beaches 3 1
Waterways 13 0

Mobility

Taroona sits further from the CBD (11.1 km vs 5.1 km).

Sandy Bay Taroona
Walkability score 72/100 51/100
Distance to Hobart 5.1 km 11.1 km
+118% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min 22 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 248.8
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 2.6%
postcode 7005
 2.7%
postcode 7053
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 7005
 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.

Sandy Bay Taroona
Car (driver) 55.2% / 61.7%
Sandy Bay — Car (driver): 55.2% Taroona — Car (driver): 61.7%
Worked from Home 13.9% / 16.4%
Sandy Bay — Worked from Home: 13.9% Taroona — Worked from Home: 16.4%
Bus 8.7% / 8.6%
Sandy Bay — Bus: 8.7% Taroona — Bus: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 8.1% / 6.6%
Sandy Bay — Car (passenger): 8.1% Taroona — Car (passenger): 6.6%
Walked Only 12.0% / 1.7%
Sandy Bay — Walked Only: 12.0% Taroona — Walked Only: 1.7%
Bicycle 1.9% / 5.1%
Sandy Bay — Bicycle: 1.9% Taroona — Bicycle: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.7%).

Setting

Sandy Bay Taroona
Elevation 79 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 130 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 585 m
590 m to a named beach
 979 m
1.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Sandy Bay Taroona
Connectivity score 80/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 63%
6,087 premises
 36%
1,355 premises

Climate

Sandy Bay Taroona
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

Sandy Bay Taroona
Average residential rate $2,818/yr $1,735/yr
Council Hobart Kingborough

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Sandy Bay

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Transport Hub

Taroona

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sandy Bay

Sandy Bay vs South Hobart Sandy Bay vs Hobart Sandy Bay vs Mount Nelson Sandy Bay vs Battery Point Sandy Bay vs Dynnyrne

Other comparisons with Taroona

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