Smithton vs Stanley

Smithton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 51 in Stanley. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Stanley, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Stanley: a median of $560,000, against $398,000 in Smithton. On these figures, Smithton tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget, while Stanley suits people living alone.

Smithton is a considerably larger town with 3934 residents compared to Stanley's 595, offering more amenities and services typical of a regional centre. Stanley has a higher median household income at $70,252 versus Smithton's $61,828, and a notably lower bushfire risk score of 15 compared to Smithton's 28. Smithton offers a better gross rental yield at 4.4% if you're investment-focused, while Stanley skews toward an older demographic with a median age of 51 years versus Smithton's 42. Both suburbs are remote from Hobart and share identical liveability scores, making the choice largely dependent on whether you prefer a quieter, smaller community or a more established town with greater local activity.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Smithton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Smithton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($136,000 vs $525,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($397,500 vs $560,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Stanley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (403.4 km vs 411.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (287 min vs 292 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Stanley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.6% vs 1.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Smithton Stanley
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.

Smithton Stanley
Walkability 17 / 13
Smithton — Walkability: 17/100 Stanley — Walkability: 13/100
Low fire risk 72 / 88
Smithton — Low fire risk: 72/100 Stanley — Low fire risk: 88/100

Demographics

Smithton has more residents (3,934 vs 595); Stanley skews older (51 vs 42).

Smithton Stanley
Population 3,934
+85% vs other
 595
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% +7.6%
Median age 42 51
Median household income $61,828/yr $70,252/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $222/wk $225/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Smithton Stanley
0-4 5.6% / 4.4%
Smithton — 0-4: 5.6% Stanley — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 12.6% / 9.2%
Smithton — 5-14: 12.6% Stanley — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 6.0% / 4.0%
Smithton — 15-19: 6.0% Stanley — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 5.1% / 3.2%
Smithton — 20-24: 5.1% Stanley — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 12.9% / 9.6%
Smithton — 25-34: 12.9% Stanley — 25-34: 9.6%
35-44 10.2% / 11.1%
Smithton — 35-44: 10.2% Stanley — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 11.3% / 11.8%
Smithton — 45-54: 11.3% Stanley — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 13.5% / 19.3%
Smithton — 55-64: 13.5% Stanley — 55-64: 19.3%
65-74 12.3% / 16.1%
Smithton — 65-74: 12.3% Stanley — 65-74: 16.1%
75-84 7.4% / 7.7%
Smithton — 75-84: 7.4% Stanley — 75-84: 7.7%
85+ 3.1% / 1.2%
Smithton — 85+: 3.1% Stanley — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Smithton 44.5% lone person
Smithton — Lone Person: 44.5% Smithton — Couple Families: 33.9% Smithton — One Parent Families: 15.4% Smithton — Group Household: 4.4% Smithton — Other Families: 1.9%
Stanley 53.1% lone person
Stanley — Lone Person: 53.1% Stanley — Couple Families: 32.5% Stanley — One Parent Families: 10.0% Stanley — Group Household: 2.5% Stanley — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Smithton 28.5% renting
Smithton — Owned Outright: 37.5% Smithton — Mortgage: 34.0% Smithton — Renting: 28.5%
Stanley 25.0% renting
Stanley — Owned Outright: 46.8% Stanley — Mortgage: 28.2% Stanley — Renting: 25.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Smithton Stanley
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 16.5%
Smithton — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% Stanley — Certificate III & IV: 16.5%
Bachelor Degree 5.0% / 9.9%
Smithton — Bachelor Degree: 5.0% Stanley — Bachelor Degree: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.7% / 4.9%
Smithton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.7% Stanley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 1.5%
Smithton — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Stanley — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.4% / 1.8%
Smithton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.4% Stanley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

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.

Smithton Stanley
England 1.2% / 3.7%
Smithton — England: 1.2% Stanley — England: 3.7%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.3%
Smithton — New Zealand: 1.9% Stanley — New Zealand: 1.3%
Pakistan 1.6% / —
Smithton — Pakistan: 1.6% Stanley — Pakistan: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.3% / 1.0%
Smithton — Netherlands: 0.3% Stanley — Netherlands: 1.0%
Scotland — / 1.0%
Smithton — Scotland: not among its largest Stanley — Scotland: 1.0%
South Africa 0.3% / 0.7%
Smithton — South Africa: 0.3% Stanley — South Africa: 0.7%
India 0.6% / —
Smithton — India: 0.6% Stanley — India: not among its largest
China 0.4% / —
Smithton — China: 0.4% Stanley — China: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Smithton 92.2% houses
Smithton — Houses: 92.2% Smithton — Townhouses: 6.4% Smithton — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Stanley 92.5% houses
Stanley — Houses: 92.5% Stanley — Townhouses: 3.9% Stanley — Flats / Apartments: 3.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Smithton Stanley
Median house price $397,500 $560,000
Median unit price $330,000 —
Median land price $136,000 $525,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 55 days
from 45 sales
 43 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Smithton Stanley
Rural and farming 84% 81%
Environmental 5% 11%
Residential 3% 4%
Parks and recreation 3% 2%
Industrial 2% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2%
same for both
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

Smithton Stanley
New dwellings approved 7
across Circular Head
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.

Smithton Stanley
Houses 3.9%
$405/wk on $538K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within TAS

Smithton Stanley
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 40% of TAS Higher than 54% of TAS
Schools Higher than 88% of TAS —
Walkability Higher than 83% of TAS Higher than 79% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 5% of TAS —
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of TAS Higher than 57% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 32% of TAS —

Liveability

Smithton Stanley
Grade B
same for both
Score 49/100 50/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Smithton carries more bushfire risk (28 vs 12).

Smithton Stanley
Bushfire Low
28/100
 Low
12/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion High
79/100
 High
82/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Smithton Stanley
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Smithton

  • Circular Head Christian School Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Peter Chanel Catholic School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Smithton Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Smithton High School Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Stanley

  • Stanley Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Smithton Stanley
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 10
Parks & reserves 5 6
Childcare 2 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 2 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 13 0

Mobility

Smithton sits further from the CBD (411.2 km vs 403.4 km).

Smithton Stanley
Walkability score 17/100 13/100
Distance to Hobart 411.2 km
+2% vs other
 403.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 292 min 287 min
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 7330
 0.0%
postcode 7331
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 23
postcode 7330
 22
postcode 7331

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.

Smithton Stanley
Car (driver) 81.9% / 72.2%
Smithton — Car (driver): 81.9% Stanley — Car (driver): 72.2%
Worked from Home 4.6% / 13.3%
Smithton — Worked from Home: 4.6% Stanley — Worked from Home: 13.3%
Walked Only 5.9% / 10.4%
Smithton — Walked Only: 5.9% Stanley — Walked Only: 10.4%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 4.1%
Smithton — Car (passenger): 6.9% Stanley — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Bus 0.5% / —
Smithton — Bus: 0.5% Stanley — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.9%).

Setting

Smithton Stanley
Elevation 29 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.7 km 463 m
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Smithton Stanley
Connectivity score 90/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 86%
2,167 premises
 0%
382 premises

Climate

Smithton Stanley
Annual rainfall 1,454 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 20.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.2°C
same for both

Federal electorate

Smithton Stanley
Division Braddon
same for both
Member Anne Urquhart
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Smithton Stanley
Grant amount $20,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Smithton

Acreage Affordable

Stanley

Acreage Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Smithton

Smithton vs Forest Smithton vs Irishtown Smithton vs Scotchtown Smithton vs Christmas Hills Smithton vs South Forest Smithton vs Mella

Other comparisons with Stanley

Stanley vs Forest
Full data on Smithton Full data on Stanley
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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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