South Launceston vs East Launceston

South Launceston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in East Launceston. In both, most homes are detached houses. In South Launceston, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In East Launceston, most households own their home. Houses cost more in East Launceston: a median of $880,000, against $614,000 in South Launceston, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, South Launceston tends to suit renters, young adults, and buyers on a tighter budget.

South Launceston is the larger, more affordable suburb, with a median house price of $605,000 compared to East Launceston's $880,000, and stronger rental yields on houses at 4.6% versus 3.7%. East Launceston, however, scores notably higher on liveability (84 versus 64), walkability (91 versus 79), and median household income ($98,020 versus $71,448), and sits in a higher socio-economic decile. East Launceston also has no bushfire risk, while South Launceston carries a moderate risk of 27. Both suburbs are similarly distant from the CBD and carry no crime or flood risk. Your choice depends on whether you prioritise affordability and rental income or prefer a more walkable, affluent neighbourhood.

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

South Launceston

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • But East Launceston is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 42%)

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

First-home buyers

South Launceston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($614,500 vs $880,000)
  • has cheaper units ($381,250 vs $485,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Launceston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (46% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $330/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • South Launceston sits closer to the CBD (199.1 km vs 201.1 km)
  • East Launceston is more walkable (88/100 vs 79/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

East Launceston

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

South Launceston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.6% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

South Launceston and East 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.

South Launceston East 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.

South Launceston East Launceston
Walkability 79 / 88
South Launceston — Walkability: 79/100 East Launceston — Walkability: 88/100
Low fire risk 75 / 100
South Launceston — Low fire risk: 75/100 East Launceston — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

South Launceston has more residents (4,894 vs 2,270); East Launceston has higher household incomes ($98,020 vs $71,448).

South Launceston East Launceston
Population 4,894
+54% vs other
 2,270
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +5.9%
Median age 36 41
Median household income $71,448/yr $98,020/yr
+37% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $330/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Launceston East Launceston
0-4 5.6% / 5.0%
South Launceston — 0-4: 5.6% East Launceston — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 10.5% / 12.2%
South Launceston — 5-14: 10.5% East Launceston — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 4.0% / 6.8%
South Launceston — 15-19: 4.0% East Launceston — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 8.1% / 6.3%
South Launceston — 20-24: 8.1% East Launceston — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 19.1% / 12.1%
South Launceston — 25-34: 19.1% East Launceston — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 13.2% / 12.2%
South Launceston — 35-44: 13.2% East Launceston — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 11.3% / 14.3%
South Launceston — 45-54: 11.3% East Launceston — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 10.1% / 12.2%
South Launceston — 55-64: 10.1% East Launceston — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 7.9% / 11.1%
South Launceston — 65-74: 7.9% East Launceston — 65-74: 11.1%
75-84 5.6% / 6.2%
South Launceston — 75-84: 5.6% East Launceston — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 4.3% / 1.7%
South Launceston — 85+: 4.3% East Launceston — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Launceston 48.6% lone person
South Launceston — Lone Person: 48.6% South Launceston — Couple Families: 28.4% South Launceston — One Parent Families: 13.6% South Launceston — Group Household: 7.8% South Launceston — Other Families: 1.6%
East Launceston 41.4% lone person
East Launceston — Lone Person: 41.4% East Launceston — Couple Families: 39.4% East Launceston — One Parent Families: 12.7% East Launceston — Group Household: 6.0% East Launceston — Other Families: 0.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Launceston 46.3% renting
South Launceston — Owned Outright: 23.5% South Launceston — Mortgage: 30.2% South Launceston — Renting: 46.3%
East Launceston 31.4% renting
East Launceston — Owned Outright: 39.5% East Launceston — Mortgage: 29.1% East Launceston — Renting: 31.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Launceston East Launceston
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 21.0%
South Launceston — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% East Launceston — Bachelor Degree: 21.0%
Certificate III & IV 13.8% / 9.3%
South Launceston — Certificate III & IV: 13.8% East Launceston — Certificate III & IV: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 5.6% / 8.9%
South Launceston — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6% East Launceston — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 7.9%
South Launceston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% East Launceston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 3.5%
South Launceston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% East Launceston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

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 Launceston East Launceston
England 3.0% / 4.1%
South Launceston — England: 3.0% East Launceston — England: 4.1%
Nepal 2.4% / 1.5%
South Launceston — Nepal: 2.4% East Launceston — Nepal: 1.5%
India 1.9% / 2.0%
South Launceston — India: 1.9% East Launceston — India: 2.0%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.2%
South Launceston — New Zealand: 0.9% East Launceston — New Zealand: 1.2%
Iran 1.0% / —
South Launceston — Iran: 1.0% East Launceston — Iran: not among its largest
China — / 1.0%
South Launceston — China: not among its largest East Launceston — China: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Launceston 71.2% houses
South Launceston — Houses: 71.2% South Launceston — Flats / Apartments: 10.0% South Launceston — Townhouses: 18.8%
East Launceston 76.3% houses
East Launceston — Houses: 76.3% East Launceston — Flats / Apartments: 16.5% East Launceston — Townhouses: 7.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

South Launceston East Launceston
Median house price $614,500 $880,000
Median unit price $381,250 $485,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 59 sales
 33 days
from 19 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 Launceston East Launceston
2 bed $542K / $679K
South Launceston — 2 bed: $542K (30 sales) East Launceston — 2 bed: $679K (6 sales)

30 vs 6 sales

3 bed $610K / $820K
South Launceston — 3 bed: $610K (86 sales) East Launceston — 3 bed: $820K (28 sales)

86 vs 28 sales

4 bed $698K / $1.09M
South Launceston — 4 bed: $698K (31 sales) East Launceston — 4 bed: $1.09M (8 sales)

31 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

South Launceston East Launceston
Residential 68% 78%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 14%
Parks and recreation 7%
same for both
Commercial 6% 1%
Industrial 4% 0%
Other and special use 2% 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

South Launceston East 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.

South Launceston East Launceston
Houses 4.6%
$580/wk on $649K
 3.7%
$635/wk on $899K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within TAS

South Launceston East Launceston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 56% of TAS Higher than 89% of TAS
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% of TAS Higher than 99% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 66% of TAS Higher than 74% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of TAS Higher than 98% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of TAS Higher than 22% of TAS

Liveability

East Launceston scores higher overall (84 vs 65); East Launceston is more walkable (88 vs 79).

South Launceston East Launceston
Grade A A+
Score 65/100 84/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

South Launceston carries more bushfire risk (25 vs 0).

South Launceston East Launceston
Bushfire Low
25/100
 None
0/100
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 6
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

South Launceston East Launceston
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Launceston, 2.5 km
 1
Launceston, 0.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 1.4%

Schools in South Launceston

  • Glen Dhu Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • John Calvin School Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in East Launceston

  • East Launceston Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Launceston Church Grammar School - Junior Campus Independent · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

South Launceston East Launceston
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 1
Parks & reserves 4
same for both
Childcare 5 2
GPs 0 2
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

East Launceston sits further from the CBD (201.1 km vs 199.1 km).

South Launceston East Launceston
Walkability score 79/100 88/100
Distance to Hobart 199.1 km 201.1 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 137 min 140 min
Public transport score 92/100
Bus
 68/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 108.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 26.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 7249
 0.8%
postcode 7250
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 7249
 25
postcode 7250

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 Launceston East Launceston
Car (driver) 70.4% / 67.7%
South Launceston — Car (driver): 70.4% East Launceston — Car (driver): 67.7%
Walked Only 12.0% / 13.5%
South Launceston — Walked Only: 12.0% East Launceston — Walked Only: 13.5%
Worked from Home 7.8% / 9.6%
South Launceston — Worked from Home: 7.8% East Launceston — Worked from Home: 9.6%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 7.4%
South Launceston — Car (passenger): 7.1% East Launceston — Car (passenger): 7.4%
Bus 1.9% / 0.9%
South Launceston — Bus: 1.9% East Launceston — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.4%).

Setting

South Launceston East Launceston
Elevation 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 46.0 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 44.7 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

South Launceston East Launceston
Connectivity score 98/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 94%
2,908 premises
 100%
1,148 premises

Climate

South Launceston East 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

South Launceston

Easy Commute Parks Transport Hub

East Launceston

Cafe Culture Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with East Launceston

East Launceston vs Newstead East Launceston vs Launceston
Full data on South Launceston Full data on East 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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