Dodges Ferry (Tas.)

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According to ABS population figures compiled for the broader region and validated address updates from Districts post-Census, the suburb of Dodges Ferry has an estimated population of 2,690 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 44 residents (1.7%) relative to the 2,646 individuals recorded during the 2021 Census. This adjustment is based on the resident count of 2,688 calculated by Districts using the latest ABS ERP release from June 2025 alongside 14 validated new addresses added since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 419 persons per square kilometer, indicating low-density living and scope for future expansion. The 1.7% post-Census growth rate for the suburb of Dodges Ferry is within 2.2 percentage points of the wider SA4 region's rate of 3.9%, showing competitive expansion. In recent times, population increases were mostly driven by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 46.0% of the growth, even though all indicators including overseas migration and natural growth registered positive trends.

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The local workforce is characterized by a strong presence of essential service personnel, with an unemployment rate of 5.0% according to statistical area data. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,317, with the local unemployment rate sitting 0.6% higher than the Greater Hobart average of 4.4%. Workforce participation is overall equivalent to the 63.8% recorded across Greater Hobart. Census data shows that a small proportion of residents, 8.8%, worked from home, though this figure was influenced by pandemic-related lockdown measures.

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Taxpayer statistics for the postcode area in the 2023 financial year show a median income of $52,682 and an average income of $59,955. These figures are below national benchmarks and compare to a median of $54,577 and an average of $65,190 in Greater Hobart. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.95% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated values of approximately $58,451 for the median and $66,520 for the average in March 2026. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in the area fell between the 29th and 43rd percentiles. The most common income band is $1,500 - 2,999, which includes 35.0% of the population (941 individuals), similar to the regional average of 32.2% in this bracket. After accounting for housing costs, residents retain of their income for other living expenses.

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According to the latest Census, houses comprised 99.6% of the dwelling stock, while semi-detached properties, apartments, and other dwellings made up 0.4%, compared to 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings in metropolitan Hobart. Homeownership stood at 35.0%, matching the metropolitan average, with the rest of the dwellings being mortgaged (47.6%) or rented (17.3%). The median mortgage payment was $1,300 per month, which is below the Hobart metropolitan average of $1,517. The median weekly rent was $340, compared to $350 in the metropolitan area. Nationally, local monthly mortgage costs are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the national average of $375.

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Families make up 71.2% of local households, consisting of couples with children (25.4%), couples without children (30.9%), and single-parent households (13.6%). The remaining 28.8% are non-family households, which are mostly single-person households (26.8%) along with group households (2.3%). The median household size of 2.4 residents is equal to the Greater Hobart average.

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Higher education completion is low in the area, with 22.5% of residents holding a university qualification compared to the regional average of 32.8%. Among university degree holders, bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational training is highly represented, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (30.8%).

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Based on local mortality data and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, health measures point to below-average outcomes, with common medical conditions slightly elevated across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage sitting at approximately 51% of the population, which represents about 1,370 individuals.

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Cultural diversity is below average, with citizenship at 90.6%, Australian-born residents at 90.5%, and households speaking only English at 96.9%. Christianity is the most common religion, followed by 37.4% of the population. The most distinct statistical variation is in Judaism, which is followed by none of the residents, compared to 0.1% of the population in Greater Hobart.

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The median age of 43 years is higher than the Greater Hobart median of 39 and the national median of 38 years. Compared to Greater Hobart, there is a higher proportion of residents in the 55 - 64 age range (15.3%) and a lower proportion in the 25 - 34 bracket (9.7%). Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 4.0% to 6.0%, and the 35 to 44 cohort has risen from 12.5% to 14.1%. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 group has decreased from 17.6% to 15.3%, and the 25 to group has fallen from to . By demographic projections suggest the to cohort will grow by (an increase of people, rising from to ). The combined age brackets from onwards will account for of total population growth, while the to age cohort is projected to decrease by residents.

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Dodges Ferry currently has an estimated 161 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 90 children aged 0-2 and 59 children aged 3-4. This cohort grew by an estimated 13% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future growth, with an anticipated increase of 5% by 2041 (to approximately 169 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 235. While growth has been positive birth rates observed in the area have been moderate, with approximately 10.0 births per 1,000 residents recorded over the latest two-year period analysed which ranks the area within the middle tier nationally. This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.