The best suburb to live in Hobart depends on how close you want to be to the waterfront, how much you can spend, and whether you can live with a hill or a bridge on your daily commute. Greater Hobart is compact, but it is split by the River Derwent and climbs steeply up the slopes of kunanyi/Mount Wellington, so two suburbs a few kilometres apart can feel very different.
Prices have also moved. PRD’s latest Hobart Market Update, using APM Pricefinder data for the first half of 2026, put the median house price in the Hobart local government area at $1,025,000 in the June 2026 quarter. Suburbs further out, and across the river in Clarence, still sit well below that.
This guide covers ten suburbs across inner Hobart, the northern suburbs, the eastern shore and Kingborough. They are grouped by area, not ranked. Median prices below are Domain suburb profile figures for three-bedroom houses, based on sales in the 12 months to late October 2026, unless a different property type is noted. Treat them as a starting point and check current sales before you make an offer.
Hobart Suburbs At A Glance
Suburb
Distance To CBD
Best For
Domain Median (12 Months To Oct 2026)
Battery Point
Borders the CBD
Heritage living near Salamanca
$655,000 (2-bed unit); no 3-bed house median published
Sandy Bay
Immediately south of the CBD
Beaches, students, river views
$1,100,000
West Hobart
Immediately west of the CBD
Views and Federation homes
$937,750
North Hobart
Directly north of the CBD
Restaurants and walkability
$922,500
South Hobart
Borders the CBD
Bush access and village feel
$868,000
New Town
About 4 km
Families and schools
$881,000
Moonah
About 5 km
Value close to town
$690,000
Bellerive
About 6 km (across the Derwent)
Ferry commuters and waterfront
$856,500
Lindisfarne
About 6 km (across the Derwent)
Quiet family streets by the bay
$763,500
Kingston
About 12 km south
Space, shopping and newer homes
$750,000
Best Suburbs To Live In Hobart
Battery Point: Heritage Cottages Beside Salamanca
Battery Point sits on the hill between Salamanca Place and Sandy Bay, and it is the suburb most people picture when they think of old Hobart: sandstone cottages, narrow lanes and Arthur Circus. You can walk to the waterfront, the Salamanca Market and the CBD in minutes, which makes a car optional for a lot of residents.
The trade-off is cost and stock. It is a small suburb (Domain lists a population of 1,990), houses rarely come up, and Domain did not publish a three-bedroom house median for the past year because sales were too thin. Two-bedroom units had a median of $655,000. Many homes are heritage listed, so check what you can change before you buy. It suits couples, downsizers and anyone who values walkability over a big backyard.
Sandy Bay: Beaches, The University And River Views
Sandy Bay runs south from the edge of the CBD along Sandy Bay Road towards Taroona. It is home to the Hobart campus of the University of Tasmania, Wrest Point (which opened in 1973 as Australia’s first legal casino) and a string of small Derwent beaches, including Long Beach and Nutgrove Beach. Domain’s population figure is 11,924, the largest of the inner suburbs.
Domain’s median for a three-bedroom house was $1,100,000, making it one of the dearer suburbs on this list. The streets around the university have a lot of student accommodation, while elsewhere the suburb is mostly family homes, many with water views. It suits families who want beach access, academics and buyers who want a prestige address within a short drive of town.
West Hobart: Federation Homes With Views Of The Derwent
West Hobart climbs the hills immediately west of the CBD, with kunanyi/Mount Wellington behind it. Many of its houses date from the Federation period, and the views over the River Derwent are the main draw. Knocklofty Reserve, a former sandstone quarry now managed by the City of Hobart, gives residents walking tracks on their doorstep.
Domain’s three-bedroom house median was $937,750. The streets are steep, so walking into town is easy and walking home is a workout. Parking can be tight on the older streets. It suits professionals who work in the city, families who want character homes and anyone who is happy to trade flat land for a view.
North Hobart: Hobart’s Restaurant Strip On Elizabeth Street
North Hobart sits directly north of the CBD, and its stretch of Elizabeth Street between Tasma and Federal Streets is one of the city’s best-known eating strips, with Italian, Indian, Thai, Japanese, Mexican and Turkish restaurants within a few blocks. The State Cinema, Tasmania’s largest independent cinema, is here, as is North Hobart Oval.
Domain’s three-bedroom house median was $922,500, and its population figure is 2,501, so it is a small, dense suburb of older cottages and terraces. Expect some evening noise near Elizabeth Street. It suits singles, couples and young families who want to walk to dinner and to work.
South Hobart: Bush Tracks And The Hobart Rivulet
South Hobart borders the CBD and runs up the valley towards Fern Tree. It is home to the Cascade Brewery and the Cascades Female Factory Historic Site, and the Hobart Rivulet track gives residents a flat walking and cycling route into town. The bush of kunanyi/Mount Wellington is close by.
Domain’s three-bedroom house median was $868,000. One thing to check: the Tasmania State Emergency Service flood guide for South Hobart says the suburb is prone to flash flooding from the Hobart Rivulet, often with little warning, and notes houses on DeGraves Street flooded in the May 2018 storm. Look up the SES flood map for any street near the rivulet. It suits outdoorsy households who want a village feel close to town.
New Town: Heritage Streets And A Choice Of Schools
New Town is about 4 km north of the CBD and has one of the city’s strongest mixes of schools, including Sacred Heart College’s New Town campus, New Town Primary School and Hobart City High School (formed from the merger of New Town High and Ogilvie High). Its streets hold Colonial, Federation, Italianate and Art Deco homes, and New Town Plaza covers the weekly shop. The Intercity Cycleway also runs through the suburb.
Domain’s three-bedroom house median was $881,000, with a population of 6,124. Homes in New Town have tended to sell quickly; Domain recorded an average of 11 days on market for three-bedroom houses. It suits families who want school choice and older homes without paying inner-city prices.
Moonah: Better Value Five Minutes Up The Road
Moonah is about 5 km north of the CBD, with a shopping strip on Main Road (mainly between Florence and Amy Streets) that has grocers, cafes, banks and a post office. Metro Tasmania buses run along Main Road, so getting into town without a car is realistic.
Domain’s three-bedroom house median was $690,000, the lowest on this list, which is why Moonah draws first home buyers and renovators. The Tasmania SES flood guide for the Moonah area notes that a major flood could affect parts of Main Road, Albert Road and the Brooker Highway, so check the flood map for low-lying streets. It suits first home buyers and families who want to stay close to Hobart on a tighter budget.
Bellerive: Waterfront Living With A Ferry Into Town
Bellerive is on the eastern shore, about 6 km from the city by road, in the City of Clarence. It has Bellerive Quay, Kangaroo Bay, Bellerive Beach and Bellerive Oval, the city’s international cricket ground. The main reason commuters choose it is the Bellerive to Hobart ferry, which the Tasmanian Government says carries more than 500 passengers a day. Construction of a $7 million new ferry terminal began in late July 2026, with completion expected in mid-2027.
Domain’s three-bedroom house median was $856,500. The ferry is a real alternative to queuing on the Tasman Bridge at peak times. It suits families and professionals who want a beach, a short walk to cafes and a commute across the water.
Lindisfarne: Quiet Family Streets On Lindisfarne Bay
Lindisfarne is also on the eastern shore, about 6 km from the Hobart city centre, wrapped around sheltered Lindisfarne Bay with its sailing, rowing and motor yacht clubs. Families have Lindisfarne State Primary School and St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School in the suburb. Lindisfarne is one of the stops proposed in the Tasmanian Government’s draft River Derwent Ferry Masterplan, though no service has been confirmed.
Domain’s three-bedroom house median was $763,500, with a population of 6,178. Most commuters drive over the Tasman Bridge, which is close by. It suits families who want a quieter, settled suburb with water access and lower prices than the western shore.
Kingston: Space, Shopping And Newer Homes In Kingborough
Kingston is about 12 km south of Hobart and is the seat of Kingborough Council and the gateway to the D’Entrecasteaux Channel. It has two main shopping centres (Kingston Town and Channel Court), several public and private schools, and the national headquarters of the Australian Antarctic Division. Kingston Beach and nearby Blackmans Bay give it a coastal side too.
Domain’s three-bedroom house median was $750,000, and homes there sold in an average of 12 days. You generally get more space for your money than in inner Hobart, but most commuters drive into the city, so test the peak-hour trip. It suits growing families who want more space, everyday shopping close by and access to the Channel.
How To Choose A Suburb In Hobart
How Will You Get To Work?
Hobart has no train network, so your choice is a car, a Metro Tasmania bus, a bike or, from Bellerive, the ferry. The inner suburbs (Battery Point, North Hobart, West Hobart, South Hobart) are walkable to the CBD. The eastern shore depends on the Tasman Bridge, and Kingston depends on the Southern Outlet, so test your commute at peak hour before you commit.
What Will It Really Cost To Buy?
The purchase price is only part of it. Tasmania charges duty on property transfers, and eligible first home buyers may get relief, so read our guide to stamp duty in Tasmania before setting your budget. Older homes in suburbs like New Town, West Hobart and Battery Point can also need heating, insulation and maintenance work, which is worth pricing up during a building inspection.
Have You Checked Flood And Bushfire Risk?
Several Hobart rivulets flash flood. The Tasmania SES publishes local flood guides and maps for areas including South Hobart, the Hobart CBD and Moonah, and they are worth reading before you buy near a waterway. Homes on the bushy upper slopes below kunanyi/Mount Wellington can also carry bushfire planning and insurance considerations, so get an insurance quote early.
How Will You Handle The Move?
If you are moving from the mainland, factor in Bass Strait shipping on top of local removal costs, and book early around summer and the end of the university year. Our breakdown of removalist costs in Australia covers what to expect. Steep driveways and narrow heritage streets can also add time on the day, so mention them when you get quotes.
Conclusion
If you want to walk everywhere, Battery Point, North Hobart and West Hobart are hard to beat, as long as the budget stretches. Sandy Bay and Bellerive suit people who want the water close by, with Bellerive’s ferry adding an easy commute. New Town is the pick for school choice, while Moonah, Lindisfarne and Kingston offer more house for the money.
Whichever suburb you shortlist, visit on a weekday morning and a weekend, check the flood maps, and compare recent sales rather than relying on medians alone. This guide is general information only and is not financial advice.
