Ainslie

Ainslie is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Ainslie's population was around 5,473 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 97 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,376 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,471 from the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 11 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 1,546 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in the area during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections were used, also based on 2022. Future population dynamics indicated lower quartile growth, with the area expected to expand by 3 persons to 2041, reflecting a decrease of 0.0% in total over the 16 years based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Ainslie, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Ainslie has recorded approximately 17 residential properties granted approval each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 89 homes have been approved, with an additional 15 approved so far in FY26. The population decline in recent years has maintained adequate housing supply relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $275,000. This financial year, there have been $2.0 million in commercial approvals, indicating a predominantly residential focus compared to the Australian Capital Territory. Ainslie has significantly less development activity than the regional average per person, which is 76.0% lower. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. The recent construction comprises 71.0% detached dwellings and 29.0% townhouses or apartments, sustaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space.

Ainslie has approximately 354 people per dwelling approval, reflecting an established area. With population projections showing stability or decline, there should be reduced housing demand pressures in the future, benefiting potential buyers.

Ainslie has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 32 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include The Foothills - Campbell (formerly CSIRO Site), 220 Northbourne Avenue, Northbourne Flats Redevelopment, and AHLEI by Liebke + Co. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Ainslie has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Ainslie has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation and a 5.1% unemployment rate as of December 2025. This is 1.3% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Ainslie is 62.7%, compared to ACT's 70.5%.

According to Census data, 16.6% of residents work from home. Major employment industries are public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training. Healthcare & social assistance employs only 7.8% of local workers, below the ACT average of 11.7%.

Employment opportunities appear limited locally, with Census data showing fewer working residents than residents overall. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.0%, labour force grew by 1.2%, and unemployment rose by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, ACT saw employment rise by 0.9% and unemployment increase by 0.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Ainslie's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The median taxpayer income in Ainslie SA2 is $72,977 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The average income is $88,215. This is among the highest in Australia, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median income of $72,206 and average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $80,596 for median income and $97,425 for average income as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Ainslie rank highly nationally, between the 88th and 92nd percentiles. Income distribution shows that 32.9% of individuals earn more than $4000 per week, while surrounding regions have a higher proportion (34.3%) earning between $1500 and $2999 per week. A substantial proportion (43.9%) in Ainslie earns above $3000 per week, indicating strong economic capacity. After housing costs, residents retain 86.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Ainslie is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Ainslie, as per the latest Census, 72.9% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 27.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ainslie stood at 33.1%, with mortgaged properties at 32.0% and rented ones at 34.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, higher than the ACT average of $2,080. Median weekly rent was $367 compared to the ACT's $450. Nationally, Ainslie's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,600 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $367 compared to the national figure of $375.

Ainslie features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 63.3% of all households, including 29.6% couples with children, 23.4% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.7%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households comprising 6.7%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which matches the Australian Capital Territory average.

Ainslie shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Ainslie is notable with 59.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 46.8% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 29.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.9%) and graduate diplomas (7.4%). Vocational pathways account for 15.7%, with advanced diplomas at 7.0% and certificates at 8.7%. Educational participation is high, with 31.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.2% in tertiary, 9.4% in primary, and 6.8% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in tertiary education, 9.4% in primary education, and 6.8% pursuing secondary education.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Transport analysis shows 35 active public transport stops in Ainslie. These are served by buses only. There are 95 different routes operating from these stops, together providing 7,517 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 179 meters away from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 70% of residents.

Cycling and walking account for 12% and 8%, respectively. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, some 16.6% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 1,073 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 214 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Ainslie is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Ainslie faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 65% of the total population, which comprises 3,568 people.

This compares to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory and 55.7% nationally. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues impacting 11.1% of residents and asthma affecting 8.3%. Meanwhile, 64.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 70.2% in Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 21.8% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 1,191 people, which is higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Ainslie records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ainslie's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 22.7% born overseas and 13.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Ainslie, comprising 33.8%. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented compared to Australian Capital Territory (0.8% vs 0.2%).

The top three ancestry groups are English (27.4%), Australian (23.6%), and Irish (11.2%). Some ethnic groups show notable divergences: Hungarian is overrepresented at 0.5%, Scottish at 9.5%, and Welsh at 0.8%.

Ainslie's median age exceeds the national pattern

Ainslie has a median age of 42, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of 35 and significantly higher than Australia's 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, the 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented in Ainslie at 10.7%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.9%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.8% to 7.1% of the population, and the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 9.6% to 10.7%. Conversely, the 0 to 4 age group has declined from 4.8% to 3.8%. Demographic modeling suggests that Ainslie's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand by 90 people (42%) from 217 to 308. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 83% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.