Barton

Population growth drivers in Barton are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Barton's population was around 1,946 as of the 2021 Census. By June 2024, it had increased to 1,996, a rise of 50 people (2.6%). This growth is inferred from ABS estimates and address validation since the Census date. As of Nov 2025, Barton's population is approximately 1,996, reflecting a density ratio of 1,677 persons per square kilometer, above the national average according to AreaSearch assessments. Over the past decade, ending in 2024, Barton showed resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%, outpacing its SA3 area. This growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 82.6% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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 are used, also based on 2022. Looking ahead, Barton is expected to experience population growth just below the national median statistical areas' average. By 2041, it is projected to increase by 126 persons, reflecting a gain of 6.3% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Barton according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Barton has had limited development with only one approval in the past five years. This suggests a well-established suburb where land for new construction is scarce. For buyers, this scarcity typically supports property values and may mean competition is mainly among existing homes.

Compared to Australian Capital Territory, Barton shows significantly reduced construction activity. This constrained new construction usually boosts demand and pricing for existing homes. However, development activity has increased in recent periods. Nationally, the level of construction is below average, indicating the area's maturity and possible planning constraints.

Barton has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect a region's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects potentially impacting this area. Notable ones are National Security Office Precinct (York Park), Kingston Arts Precinct, Cromwell Office Building Development, and Greenway Rise - The Establishment.

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

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Employment conditions in Barton rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Barton has an educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 0.3% as of September 2025. This rate is below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 0.6%. As of September 2025, 1,454 residents are employed, with a workforce participation rate of 78.8%, higher than ACT's 72.5%. Only 13.3% of residents work from home, according to Census responses. Leading employment industries include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Barton specializes in public administration & safety, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level. In contrast, health care & social assistance employs just 6.3% of local workers, below ACT's 11.7%. There are 7.3 jobs per resident, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 0.6%, while labour force grew by 0.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with ACT where employment rose by 1.4% and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Barton's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.6% 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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Barton SA2 is among the top percentile nationally. The median assessed income is $96,564 while the average income stands at $139,715. This contrasts with Australian Capital Territory's figures of a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $105,506 (median) and $152,653 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Barton all rank highly nationally, between the 89th and 99th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 41.5% of the population (828 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which aligns with the metropolitan region where this cohort likewise represents 34.3%. Economic strength is evident through 43.0% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. High housing costs consume 15.9% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 89th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Barton features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Barton, as evaluated at the latest Census conducted on 28 August 2016, comprised 6.2% houses and 93.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. In Barton, home ownership stood at 22.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented dwellings at 48.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,015, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure for Barton was recorded at $525, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Barton's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Barton features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 47.9% of all households, including 10.5% couples with children, 34.0% couples without children, and 3.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 52.1%, with lone person households at 46.1% and group households comprising 5.2% of the total. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Barton places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Barton's residents aged 15 and above have a notable educational advantage with 75.2% holding university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 37.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (30.2%) and graduate diplomas (7.9%). Technical qualifications make up 13.5%, with advanced diplomas at 7.6% and certificates at 5.9%. Educational participation is high, with 30.4% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 16.7% in tertiary education, 4.7% in primary education, and 3.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Barton has 19 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 41 different routes that collectively facilitate 2,362 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 162 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most residents commute outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 50% of residents, followed by walking at 32% and public buses at 9%. On average, there are 0.6 vehicles per dwelling in Barton, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 13.3% of residents work from home, a figure that might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 337 trips per day, equating to roughly 124 weekly trips per individual stop.

Barton's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Barton's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover stands at approximately 82% of Barton's total population (1,646 people), significantly higher than the Australian Capital Territory's 62.4%, and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues impact 9.2% of residents, while asthma affects 7.4%. Notably, 71.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, slightly higher than the ACT's 70.2%. The under-65 population in Barton has better-than-average health outcomes. There are 366 people aged 65 and over (18.4%), which is higher than the ACT's 14.1%. Health outcomes among seniors align broadly with national rankings, mirroring those of the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Barton was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Barton's population shows significant cultural diversity, with 19.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 29.2% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Barton, comprising 37.8% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Barton compared to the Australian Capital Territory, making up 0.7% versus 0.2%.

The top three ancestral groups based on parents' country of birth are English (26.1%), Australian (18.2%), and Irish (11.7%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include Welsh at 1.2% compared to the regional average of 0.6%, French at 1.1% versus 0.5%, and Serbian at 0.8% versus 0.4%.

Barton's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Barton is 40 years, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years and also slightly exceeds the national median of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Barton has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 years (23.7%), but a lower proportion of residents aged 15-24 years (6.4%). This concentration of residents aged 25-34 is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75-84 has increased from 4.5% to 6.2%, while the proportion of those aged 55-64 has risen from 12.3% to 13.9%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 26.5% to 23.7%, and the proportion of those aged 15-24 has dropped from 8.6% to 6.4%. By the year 2041, Barton is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the number of residents aged 55-64 is expected to grow by 25%, reaching 346 from 277. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 58% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the age groups 0-4 years and 5-14 years.