South Hobart vs Sandy Bay

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 $850,000 in South Hobart, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, South Hobart 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

Sandy Bay

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 4)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

South Hobart

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($850,000 vs $1,240,000)
  • has cheaper units ($525,000 vs $621,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Hobart

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($378/wk vs $418/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sandy Bay

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 27/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sandy Bay

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 27/100)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 3)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 18%)

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

Investors

South Hobart

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (10.8% vs 3.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 2.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

South Hobart Sandy Bay
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.

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Walkability 27 / 72
South Hobart — Walkability: 27/100 Sandy Bay — Walkability: 72/100
Low fire risk 4 / 3
South Hobart — Low fire risk: 4/100 Sandy Bay — Low fire risk: 3/100

Demographics

Sandy Bay has more residents (12,315 vs 5,886); Sandy Bay rents higher ($418/wk vs $378/wk).

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Population 5,886 12,315
+109% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.8% +3.3%
Median age 38 39
Median household income $92,924/yr $99,580/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $378/wk $418/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Hobart Sandy Bay
0-4 4.1% / 3.4%
South Hobart — 0-4: 4.1% Sandy Bay — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 10.9% / 8.9%
South Hobart — 5-14: 10.9% Sandy Bay — 5-14: 8.9%
15-19 5.9% / 5.0%
South Hobart — 15-19: 5.9% Sandy Bay — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 6.8% / 7.7%
South Hobart — 20-24: 6.8% Sandy Bay — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 17.4% / 19.9%
South Hobart — 25-34: 17.4% Sandy Bay — 25-34: 19.9%
35-44 13.8% / 10.9%
South Hobart — 35-44: 13.8% Sandy Bay — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 12.4% / 10.5%
South Hobart — 45-54: 12.4% Sandy Bay — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 11.0% / 11.0%
South Hobart — 55-64: 11.0% Sandy Bay — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 9.4% / 11.6%
South Hobart — 65-74: 9.4% Sandy Bay — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 5.6% / 7.5%
South Hobart — 75-84: 5.6% Sandy Bay — 75-84: 7.5%
85+ 2.7% / 3.6%
South Hobart — 85+: 2.7% Sandy Bay — 85+: 3.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Hobart 41.8% lone person
South Hobart — Lone Person: 41.8% South Hobart — Couple Families: 31.9% South Hobart — Group Household: 10.9% South Hobart — One Parent Families: 13.7% South Hobart — Other Families: 1.8%
Sandy Bay 41.5% lone person
Sandy Bay — Lone Person: 41.5% Sandy Bay — Couple Families: 34.9% Sandy Bay — Group Household: 13.0% Sandy Bay — One Parent Families: 8.8% Sandy Bay — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Hobart 33.5% renting
South Hobart — Owned Outright: 35.7% South Hobart — Mortgage: 30.8% South Hobart — Renting: 33.5%
Sandy Bay 35.3% renting
Sandy Bay — Owned Outright: 42.8% Sandy Bay — Mortgage: 22.0% Sandy Bay — Renting: 35.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Bachelor Degree 25.4% / 25.6%
South Hobart — Bachelor Degree: 25.4% Sandy Bay — Bachelor Degree: 25.6%
Postgraduate Degree 14.1% / 17.8%
South Hobart — Postgraduate Degree: 14.1% Sandy Bay — Postgraduate Degree: 17.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 7.4%
South Hobart — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Sandy Bay — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.9% / 5.1%
South Hobart — Certificate III & IV: 6.9% Sandy Bay — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.5% / 3.5%
South Hobart — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.5% Sandy Bay — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

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.

South Hobart Sandy Bay
China 2.9% / 10.2%
South Hobart — China: 2.9% Sandy Bay — China: 10.2%
England 4.4% / 4.5%
South Hobart — England: 4.4% Sandy Bay — England: 4.5%
India 1.4% / 2.8%
South Hobart — India: 1.4% Sandy Bay — India: 2.8%
Nepal 1.5% / 1.3%
South Hobart — Nepal: 1.5% Sandy Bay — Nepal: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.1%
South Hobart — New Zealand: 1.4% Sandy Bay — New Zealand: 1.1%
Malaysia 0.7% / 1.2%
South Hobart — Malaysia: 0.7% Sandy Bay — Malaysia: 1.2%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Hobart 70.5% houses
South Hobart — Houses: 70.5% South Hobart — Flats / Apartments: 14.3% South Hobart — Townhouses: 15.1%
Sandy Bay 68.5% houses
Sandy Bay — Houses: 68.5% Sandy Bay — Flats / Apartments: 18.3% Sandy Bay — Townhouses: 13.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Median house price $850,000 $1,240,000
Median unit price $525,000 $621,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 33 sales
 29 days
from 75 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.

South Hobart Sandy Bay
2 bed $802K / $855K
South Hobart — 2 bed: $802K (12 sales) Sandy Bay — 2 bed: $855K (14 sales)

12 vs 14 sales

3 bed $850K / $1.1M
South Hobart — 3 bed: $850K (38 sales) Sandy Bay — 3 bed: $1.1M (49 sales)

38 vs 49 sales

4 bed $1.07M / $1.35M
South Hobart — 4 bed: $1.07M (20 sales) Sandy Bay — 4 bed: $1.35M (47 sales)

20 vs 47 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

South Hobart Sandy Bay
1 bed $433K / $424K
South Hobart — 1 bed: $433K (9 sales) Sandy Bay — 1 bed: $424K (22 sales)

9 vs 22 sales

2 bed $524K / $655K
South Hobart — 2 bed: $524K (18 sales) Sandy Bay — 2 bed: $655K (41 sales)

18 vs 41 sales

3 bed $700K / $840K
South Hobart — 3 bed: $700K (5 sales) Sandy Bay — 3 bed: $840K (18 sales)

5 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

South Hobart has more land zoned for conservation (44% vs 22%); South Hobart has more rural and farming land (12% vs 0%).

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Residential 28% 58%
Environmental 44% 22%
Rural and farming 12% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 7%
Other and special use 2% 6%
Parks and recreation 4% 6%
Commercial 0% 1%
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

South Hobart Sandy Bay
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.

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Houses 4.0%
$650/wk on $848K
 2.6%
$680/wk on $1.37M
Units 5.1%
$505/wk on $510K
 4.1%
$500/wk on $635K

Ranking within TAS

South Hobart Sandy Bay
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 84% of TAS Higher than 90% of TAS
Schools — Higher than 76% of TAS
Walkability Higher than 87% of TAS Higher than 97% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 100% of TAS Higher than 99% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of TAS Higher than 89% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 35% of TAS Higher than 3% of TAS
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of TAS Higher than 29% of TAS

Liveability

Sandy Bay is more walkable (72 vs 27); Sandy Bay scores higher overall (67 vs 59).

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Grade B A
Score 59/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Bushfire High
96/100
 High
97/100
Crime Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Flood —
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
32/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Inside the suburb 2 6
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Hobart, 4.8 km
 1
Hobart, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.4%
same for both

Schools in South Hobart

  • South Hobart Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Michael's Collegiate School - Junior School Campus Independent · Primary

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

Amenities in the suburb

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Supermarkets 1 4
Cafes & restaurants 7 39
Parks & reserves 4 13
Childcare 4 8
GPs 3 5
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 3
Fuel stations 1 4
EV chargers 0 2
Beaches 0 3
Waterways 13
same for both

Mobility

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Walkability score 27/100 72/100
Distance to Hobart 5 km 5.1 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 12 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 94/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 139.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 248.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.3%
postcode 7004
 2.6%
postcode 7005
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 22
postcode 7004
 20
postcode 7005

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.

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Car (driver) 49.1% / 55.2%
South Hobart — Car (driver): 49.1% Sandy Bay — Car (driver): 55.2%
Worked from Home 14.5% / 13.9%
South Hobart — Worked from Home: 14.5% Sandy Bay — Worked from Home: 13.9%
Walked Only 15.1% / 12.0%
South Hobart — Walked Only: 15.1% Sandy Bay — Walked Only: 12.0%
Bus 6.9% / 8.7%
South Hobart — Bus: 6.9% Sandy Bay — Bus: 8.7%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 8.1%
South Hobart — Car (passenger): 5.7% Sandy Bay — Car (passenger): 8.1%
Bicycle 8.7% / 1.9%
South Hobart — Bicycle: 8.7% Sandy Bay — Bicycle: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.2%).

Setting

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Elevation 129 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 79 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.8 km
3.9 km to a named beach
 585 m
590 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Connectivity score 89/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 80%
2,806 premises
 63%
6,087 premises

Climate

South Hobart Sandy Bay
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

South Hobart Sandy Bay
Average residential rate $2,818/yr
same for both
Council Hobart
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

South Hobart

Easy Commute Inner Premium Professionals River Transport Hub

Sandy Bay

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Hobart

South Hobart vs West Hobart South Hobart vs Lenah Valley South Hobart vs Hobart South Hobart vs Dynnyrne South Hobart vs Fern Tree South Hobart vs Ridgeway

Other comparisons with Sandy Bay

Sandy Bay vs Hobart Sandy Bay vs Taroona Sandy Bay vs Mount Nelson Sandy Bay vs Battery Point Sandy Bay vs Dynnyrne
Full data on South Hobart Full data on Sandy Bay
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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