South Launceston vs West Launceston

South Launceston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 42 in West 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 West Launceston, most households own their home. On these figures, South Launceston tends to suit renters.

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 West Launceston has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 71%)

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

First-home buyers

South Launceston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($381,250 vs $470,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Launceston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (46% vs 31%)

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

Commuting to the city

South Launceston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 65/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (199.1 km vs 201.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

South Launceston

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (29% vs 16%)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 65/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

South Launceston and West 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 West 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 West Launceston
Walkability 79 / 65
South Launceston — Walkability: 79/100 West Launceston — Walkability: 65/100
Low fire risk 75 / 57
South Launceston — Low fire risk: 75/100 West Launceston — Low fire risk: 57/100

Demographics

West Launceston skews older (42 vs 36).

South Launceston West Launceston
Population 4,894
+12% vs other
 4,316
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +2.5%
Median age 36 42
Median household income $71,448/yr $76,336/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Launceston West Launceston
0-4 5.6% / 4.9%
South Launceston — 0-4: 5.6% West Launceston — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 10.5% / 10.5%
South Launceston — 5-14: 10.5% West Launceston — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 4.0% / 5.6%
South Launceston — 15-19: 4.0% West Launceston — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 8.1% / 6.4%
South Launceston — 20-24: 8.1% West Launceston — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 19.1% / 13.6%
South Launceston — 25-34: 19.1% West Launceston — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 13.2% / 12.4%
South Launceston — 35-44: 13.2% West Launceston — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 11.3% / 14.0%
South Launceston — 45-54: 11.3% West Launceston — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 10.1% / 14.4%
South Launceston — 55-64: 10.1% West Launceston — 55-64: 14.4%
65-74 7.9% / 11.2%
South Launceston — 65-74: 7.9% West Launceston — 65-74: 11.2%
75-84 5.6% / 5.1%
South Launceston — 75-84: 5.6% West Launceston — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 4.3% / 2.0%
South Launceston — 85+: 4.3% West Launceston — 85+: 2.0%

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%
West Launceston 44.5% lone person
West Launceston — Lone Person: 44.5% West Launceston — Couple Families: 33.8% West Launceston — One Parent Families: 13.8% West Launceston — Group Household: 6.6% West Launceston — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
West Launceston 31.2% renting
West Launceston — Owned Outright: 36.6% West Launceston — Mortgage: 32.1% West Launceston — Renting: 31.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Launceston West Launceston
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 17.5%
South Launceston — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% West Launceston — Bachelor Degree: 17.5%
Certificate III & IV 13.8% / 15.1%
South Launceston — Certificate III & IV: 13.8% West Launceston — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 8.1%
South Launceston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% West Launceston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.6% / 6.4%
South Launceston — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6% West Launceston — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.5%
South Launceston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% West Launceston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

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.

South Launceston West Launceston
England 3.0% / 3.8%
South Launceston — England: 3.0% West Launceston — England: 3.8%
Nepal 2.4% / 0.8%
South Launceston — Nepal: 2.4% West Launceston — Nepal: 0.8%
India 1.9% / 0.7%
South Launceston — India: 1.9% West Launceston — India: 0.7%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.9%
South Launceston — New Zealand: 0.9% West Launceston — New Zealand: 0.9%
Iran 1.0% / —
South Launceston — Iran: 1.0% West Launceston — Iran: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.6%
South Launceston — Scotland: not among its largest West Launceston — Scotland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Launceston 71.2% houses
South Launceston — Houses: 71.2% South Launceston — Townhouses: 18.8% South Launceston — Flats / Apartments: 10.0%
West Launceston 84.3% houses
West Launceston — Houses: 84.3% West Launceston — Townhouses: 8.4% West Launceston — Flats / Apartments: 7.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

South Launceston West Launceston
Median house price $614,500 $658,000
Median unit price $381,250 $470,000
Median land price — $337,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 59 sales
 21 days
from 52 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 West Launceston
2 bed $542K / $611K
South Launceston — 2 bed: $542K (30 sales) West Launceston — 2 bed: $611K (20 sales)

30 vs 20 sales

3 bed $610K / $637K
South Launceston — 3 bed: $610K (86 sales) West Launceston — 3 bed: $637K (74 sales)

86 vs 74 sales

4 bed $698K / $765K
South Launceston — 4 bed: $698K (31 sales) West Launceston — 4 bed: $765K (30 sales)

31 vs 30 sales

Zoning mix

West Launceston has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 0%).

South Launceston West Launceston
Residential 68% 61%
Environmental 0% 19%
Parks and recreation 7% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 2%
Commercial 6% 0%
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 West 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 West Launceston
Houses 4.6%
$580/wk on $649K
 4.2%
$600/wk on $750K
Units — 4.5%
$415/wk on $479K

Ranking within TAS

South Launceston West Launceston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 56% of TAS —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 98% of TAS Higher than 95% of TAS
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 66% of TAS Higher than 73% of TAS
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of TAS Higher than 97% of TAS
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 73% of TAS Higher than 47% of TAS
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 47% of TAS

Liveability

South Launceston is more walkable (79 vs 65).

South Launceston West Launceston
Grade A
same for both
Score 65/100 63/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

West Launceston carries more bushfire risk (43 vs 25).

South Launceston West Launceston
Bushfire Low
25/100
 Moderate
43/100
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
same for both

Schools

South Launceston West Launceston
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Launceston, 2.5 km
 1
Launceston, 2.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 1.6%

Schools in South Launceston

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

Schools in West Launceston

  • West Launceston Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

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

South Launceston West Launceston
Walkability score 79/100 65/100
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
 65/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 108.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 23.0
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 West Launceston
Car (driver) 70.4% / 75.5%
South Launceston — Car (driver): 70.4% West Launceston — Car (driver): 75.5%
Walked Only 12.0% / 6.6%
South Launceston — Walked Only: 12.0% West Launceston — Walked Only: 6.6%
Worked from Home 7.8% / 9.2%
South Launceston — Worked from Home: 7.8% West Launceston — Worked from Home: 9.2%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 6.2%
South Launceston — Car (passenger): 7.1% West Launceston — Car (passenger): 6.2%
Bus 1.9% / 1.2%
South Launceston — Bus: 1.9% West Launceston — Bus: 1.2%
Bicycle 0.8% / 1.2%
South Launceston — Bicycle: 0.8% West Launceston — Bicycle: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.5%).

Setting

South Launceston West Launceston
Elevation 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 187 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 46.0 km
4.4 km to a named beach
 44.8 km

NBN connectivity

South Launceston West 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%
2,086 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

South Launceston West 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 West 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

West Launceston

Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Launceston

South Launceston vs Newstead South Launceston vs Kings Meadows South Launceston vs Launceston South Launceston vs East Launceston South Launceston vs Prospect South Launceston vs Punchbowl

Other comparisons with West Launceston

West Launceston vs Trevallyn West Launceston vs Summerhill West Launceston vs Launceston West Launceston vs Prospect
Full data on South Launceston Full data on West 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.

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