West Launceston is a suburb in Tasmania, 201 km from Hobart CBD, around 2 hours 20 minutes by car. Population is 4,316; the median age is 42 and the median household income is $76,336 per year. By household income, education, and employment patterns, it ranks in the middle range nationally. The suburb grew 2.5% between 2016 and 2021. At the 2021 Census, households here paid a median rent of $300 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,300. 1 school sits within the suburb boundary, and walkability is moderate.
Is West Launceston a good suburb?
West Launceston scores a A (63/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit.
Mixed results
1 school
Very walkable
Walkability 65/100 · 201.1 km · 140 min drive to Hobart
Median available
Median $658K
Moderate bushfire risk
Fire 43/100
Mid-range socio-economic
SEIFA decile 6/10 · median age 42 · 4,316 residents
Liveability Rating
63 / 100 · Ranked #39 in TASEach bar is West Launceston's rank among TAS suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better). Scored on 4 of 5 factors: no school data, so the other factors carry its weight.
No crime data is published for Tasmania — a blank here means we hold no data, not that there is no risk.
Flood data for Tasmania covers only the areas mapped there — a blank here is not an all-clear.
How do you rate the liveability in West Launceston?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
63 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataWest Launceston's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $658,000, roughly 12% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$658,000
5% below its 5 neighbours (median $692,500)
Based on 131 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 21 days — median across 52 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 20 sales $611K
- 3 bed 74 sales $637K
- 4 bed 30 sales $765K
- 5 bed 7 sales $920K
Units
$470,000
15% below its 5 neighbours (median $550,000)
Based on 16 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 14 days — median across 8 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 13 sales $450K
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in West Launceston are currently listed at around $750,000 on average. Based on 38 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$750K
38 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$479K
5 units listed in the last 6 months.
43 of the suburb's 1,820 dwellings (2.4%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in West Launceston rent for around $600 a week on average, based on 32 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$600/wk
3% above its 5 neighbours (median $580/wk)
32 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$415/wk
6 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
38 rentals advertised against an estimated 568 rented homes (6.7%) in the last 6 months.
Rent agreed on new leases
Sep 2025–Aug 2026- 3-bed houses
- $570/wk
- 60 bonds
- +25% since 2021
- 2-bed units
- $460/wk
- 25 bonds
Median weekly rent on bonds lodged for new tenancies. Change since 2021 compares the median of the first four quarters with the last four. Asking rents above come from advertised listings.
Rental affordability
June quarter 202598 Unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 31% of its income on the median rent in postcode 7250.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$600/week ($31,000 a year) on a $750,000 median
$415/week ($22,000 a year) on a $479,000 median
Based on a small sample (5 listings) — indicative only.
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Short-Stay Rentals
76 active Airbnb listings: 64 whole homes and 12 rooms. Whole homes are about 3.2% of the suburb's homes.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months. The share is against private dwellings at the 2021 Census.
Crime in the Launceston council area
Crime recorded across the whole council area over the 12 months to Jul 2026, not in West Launceston alone. Tasmania Police publish by council, not by suburb.
| Type | Count | Per 1,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| All offences | 6,878 | 96.4 |
| Assault | 815 | 11.4 |
| Assault in a public place | 263 | 3.7 |
| Home burglary | 246 | 3.4 |
| Stolen vehicles | 205 | 2.9 |
| Robbery | 80 | 1.1 |
| Serious crime | 203 | 2.8 |
| Public order incidents | 3,225 | 45.2 |
| Family violence order breaches | 383 | 5.4 |
| Police family violence order breaches | 278 | 3.9 |
Rates use the council’s 71,341 residents. The latest month is preliminary and may be revised.
Serious Road Crashes
2021–20255 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
One school serve West Launceston, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 375 students in one school (avg 375)
Primary
Universities nearby
1.6% of residents here are full-time university students aged 15–24.
Distance is measured to the suburb centre. A campus nearby does not by itself mean a student rental market — most suburbs within a few kilometres of one have a student share close to the national norm, and the figure above is what tells them apart.
Walkability
West Launceston is somewhat walkable on foot — at 65/100, a short cluster of errands work on foot but most trips still benefit from a car.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside West Launceston.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 23.0 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 13.3 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 11.0 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 1 min
- Span of service
- 12.3 hours
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in West Launceston.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 100%
- Premises covered
- 2,086
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Launceston: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 14 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 6 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
West Launceston is home to about 4,300 residents, with a median age of 42, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $76,000 a year, with unemployment at 4.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
4,316
Median Age
42
Median Household Income
$76,336/yr
Census Median Rent
$300/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,300/mo
Avg Household Size
2.3
Median Personal Income
$41,236/yr
Unemployment Rate
4.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
8.9%
Total Dwellings
1,820
Owner-Occupier Rate
68.8%
Houses
84.3%
Rental Stress
20.4%
Mortgage Stress
20.4%
Work From Home
9.2%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
60 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 6 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 562 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 81.1%
- English Spoken at Home
- 89.9%
- Employment Rate
- 63.8%
- Completed Year 12
- 46.2%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
147 residents (3.4%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
8.5% of residents (351) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Melbourne (123).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 4,106 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
1% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (26 of 2,330).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 363 people work here; 2,330 employed residents live here.
Mostly a place people commute from: 0.2 jobs per working resident. At least 84% of employed residents must work outside the suburb.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $2,075 a year through Launceston based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Residential 61%
- Environmental 19%
- Parks and recreation 18%
- Infrastructure and transport 2%
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 — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Launceston
In the year to August 2026, 208 new dwellings were approved across Launceston. Almost all of the pipeline is detached houses. Approvals are down 28.6% on the same period a year earlier.
Climate & Setting
from Launceston (Ti Tree Bend), 3.8 kmModerate rainfall — mild summers, cold winters with occasional frost.
- Elevation
- 187 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 44.8 km
- Annual rainfall
- 676 mm
- 87 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 24.5°C
- 0 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 3.1°C
- 26 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
6 facilities within 5 km- 2.6 kmBeer ManufacturingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Carbon monoxide · Ethanol
- 3.4 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Ammonia (total) · Total Nitrogen · Total Phosphorus
- 3.6 kmMetal Coating and FinishingTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Hydrochloric acid
- 3.8 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Total Nitrogen · Ammonia (total) · Total Phosphorus
- 4.0 kmSewerage and Drainage ServicesTop reported: Total Nitrogen · Ammonia (total) · Total Phosphorus
EV adoption
In postcode 7250, 360 of 43,556 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.4% (1,063 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 3.3%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 7250, 5,635 rooftop-solar systems totalling 37.8 MW have been installed since 2001, against 22,236 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 442 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$20,000 for new homes.
$20,000 for transactions commencing 1 July 2026 - 30 June 2027. THE AMOUNT MOVES EVERY YEAR AND THE SRO PUBLISHES THE TABLE: $30,000 (FY2025-26), $10,000 (FY2024-25), $30,000 (Apr 2021 - Jun 2024). We held $10,000 until 2026-09-18, which was the FY2024-25 figure — two years stale, and wrong in both directions in between. Nothing is published beyond 30 June 2027, so this is due again then regardless of the 1 July sweep. No purchase-price cap is STATED on the eligibility pages (an absence, not an explicit "no cap"); the Grant Guideline PDF was not read. Eligible new builds include substantially renovated homes and kit homes. Completion within 24 months of the transaction start date, or the grant drops to $10,000. Separate from the grant: the first home buyer duty exemption on ESTABLISHED homes up to $750,000 closed for settlements after 30 June 2026.
Mortgage repayments
38 mortgage brokers are registered in postcode 7250.
Property transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with State Revenue Office of Tasmania
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-26 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Jess Teesdale Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jess Teesdale | 58.0% | 42.0% | +9.4 |
| 2022 | Bridget Kathleen Archer | 48.6% | 51.4% | +1.0 |
| 2019 | Bridget Archer | 49.6% | 50.4% | +5.8 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Elected at the 2025 election:
- Bridget Archer Liberal Party
- Janie Finlay Australian Labor Party
- Michael Ferguson Liberal Party
- Cecily Rosol Tasmanian Greens
- Rob Fairs Liberal Party
- George Razay Independent
- Jess Greene Australian Labor Party
| Year | Seats won |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 Liberal Party · 2 Australian Labor Party · 1 Tasmanian Greens · 1 Independent |
| 2024 | 3 Liberal Party · 2 Australian Labor Party · 1 Tasmanian Greens · 1 Jacqui Lambie Network |
A vacancy here is filled by a recount of the original votes, not a by-election, so a member listed may since have been replaced. Results: Tasmanian Electoral Commission.
Looking at a specific address in West Launceston?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 4,316 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Featured in
- #1 in Highest-yielding Launceston suburbs (units)
- #1 in Launceston suburbs with the best NBN connectivity
- #3 in Launceston suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- #5 in Best Launceston suburbs for first-home buyers (units)
- #5 in Launceston suburbs with the most parkland nearby
- #5 in Launceston's most educated suburbs
- #5 in Launceston suburbs where 3-bedroom house rents rose most
- #6 in Launceston suburbs with the biggest house blocks
- #6 in Launceston suburbs where the most residents moved from a capital city
- #8 in Launceston's highest-income suburbs
- #8 in Sportiest Launceston suburbs
- #9 in Launceston suburbs where the most homes are owned outright
- #10 in The most liveable suburbs in Launceston
- #10 in Launceston's most owner-occupied suburbs
- #10 in Launceston suburbs where seniors live
- #10 in Launceston suburbs that suit young professionals
- #11 in Launceston suburbs with the most apartments
- #13 in Best Launceston suburbs to rent in
- #13 in Most walkable suburbs in Launceston
- #13 in Tasmania suburbs where the most residents moved from a capital city
- #14 in Launceston suburbs with the best public transport
- #15 in Launceston suburbs where young families live
Nearby suburbs
Compare West Launceston to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other TAS suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about West Launceston
Is West Launceston a safe place to live?
TAS does not publish suburb-level crime statistics, so there is no crime figure for West Launceston.
What natural hazards affect West Launceston?
West Launceston has a moderate recorded bushfire history (43/100, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is West Launceston a good place to live?
West Launceston has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of A (63/100), ranked against other TAS suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of West Launceston?
West Launceston, TAS had a population of 4,316 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for West Launceston, TAS?
The postcode for West Launceston, TAS is 7250.
How far is West Launceston from Hobart?
West Launceston is 201 km from Hobart CBD by road, about 140 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in West Launceston?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in West Launceston was $76,336 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in West Launceston?
The median advertised rent in West Launceston is $600 a week for houses (32 listings) and $415 a week for units (6 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in West Launceston?
The median age of residents in West Launceston was 42 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is West Launceston at risk of bushfire?
West Launceston has a moderate recorded bushfire history (43/100). The score comes from Geoscience Australia's historical bushfire boundaries, with planned burns excluded: the area of recorded fires touching the suburb relative to its size, ranked against every Australian suburb with any fire history. It records where fire has burned, not a bushfire-prone land designation, which your council's planning scheme sets.
How are the schools in West Launceston?
There is 1 school inside the West Launceston boundary: 1 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is West Launceston walkable?
West Launceston scores 65/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it somewhat walkable. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the weather like in West Launceston?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to West Launceston, Launceston (Ti Tree Bend) (3.8 km away), summer days average 24.5°C, winter nights 3.1°C, 676 mm of rain a year over 87 rainy days, and 0 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in West Launceston?
First-home buyers in TAS may be eligible for $20,000 towards new homes. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office of Tasmania; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does West Launceston belong to?
West Launceston sits within the Launceston local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in West Launceston?
The average residential rates bill through Launceston is $2,075 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near West Launceston?
Across Launceston, 208 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 28.6% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is West Launceston in?
West Launceston sits within the federal Division of Bass, currently held by Jess Teesdale (Australian Labor Party).
Search another suburb or address
Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- Short-stay rentals · Jun 2026
- State electorate · 2025
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.