Bruce
Statistical Area - sa2

Bruce lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of August 2025, Bruce's population is approximately 8,008, marking a rise of 488 people (6.5%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,520. This increase is inferred from ABS estimates showing a resident population of 8,008 as of June 2024 and an additional 189 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,380 persons per square kilometer, exceeding average national levels assessed by AreaSearch. Bruce's growth rate of 6.5% since the 2021 census surpassed both the SA3 area (2.4%) and state averages, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 94.3% of overall population gains in recent periods. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, using 2022 as a base. Future demographic trends indicate significant population increase in Bruce, with an expected rise of 2,744 persons to 2041 based on the latest numbers, representing a total increase of 34.3% over the 17-year period.

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

Bruce has experienced approximately 38 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 192 homes have been approved, with none yet approved in FY26. On average, about 0.9 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built over those five years.

This suggests that new construction is meeting or exceeding demand, providing more options for buyers and potentially accelerating population growth beyond current projections. In commercial development, $28.4 million worth of approvals have been recorded in FY26 alone, indicating strong momentum. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Bruce has 13.0% less new development per person but ranks among the fifth percentile nationally, leading to relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. Recently, all approved developments have comprised attached dwellings, marking a shift from current housing patterns (21.0% houses).

This focus on higher-density living offers more affordable entry points, appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. By 2041, Bruce is projected to grow by 2,744 residents. If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and driving price increases.

Bruce has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are CIT Yurauna Building, AIS Podium Project (Australian Institute of Sport Redevelopment), Onderra, and Bruce Sports, Health and Education Precinct. The following list details those most relevant:.

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

The labour market in Bruce shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Bruce has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 2.8% as of June 2025, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%.

The area experienced employment growth of 1.5% over the past year. As of June 2025, 5,319 residents were employed with a participation rate of 73.8%, slightly higher than ACT's 69.6%. Dominant sectors include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. The area specialises in accommodation & food services, with employment share at 1.6 times the regional level.

However, public administration & safety is under-represented, with only 24.0% of Bruce's workforce compared to ACT's 30.4%. The worker-resident ratio is 1.0, indicating that more jobs are available than residents, attracting workers from nearby areas. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.5%, while labour force grew by 1.6%, causing unemployment to rise slightly to 3.4%. In comparison, ACT experienced employment growth of 1.9% and a slight decrease in unemployment rate to 3.1%. State-level data up to Sep-25 showed ACT's employment contracted by 0.33%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rates of 4.5% and 0.26% employment growth respectively. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections based on Bruce's industry mix suggest growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Bruce's median income among taxpayers was $57,439 with an average of $69,367. This was above the national average. The Australian Capital Territory had a median income of $68,678 and an average of $83,634. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since financial year 2022, estimates for March 2025 would be approximately $63,631 (median) and $76,845 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Bruce's incomes ranked highly nationally, between the 81st and 81st percentiles. Income distribution showed 38.7% of residents earning between $1,500 - 2,999 annually. This was similar to surrounding regions at 34.3%. High weekly earnings were seen in 34.6% of households, indicating strong consumer spending. Housing expenses accounted for 14.8% of income. Residents ranked high in disposable income, at the 82nd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

Bruce displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Bruce, as per the latest Census, consisted of 20.7% houses and 79.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had 69.4% houses and 30.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bruce was at 20.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.4% and rented dwellings at 51.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,000. The median weekly rent was $430, similar to the Australian Capital Territory figure but above the national average of $375. Nationally, Bruce's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households account for 59.4% of all households, including 19.3% couples with children, 31.8% couples without children, and 6.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 40.6%, with lone person households at 30.2% and group households comprising 10.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment in Bruce is notably higher than broader benchmarks. As of a given date, 55.6% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 43.8% in the SA3 area. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 30.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.8%). Vocational pathways account for 17.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 7.9% and certificates at 9.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 41.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 26.0% in tertiary education, 4.9% in primary education, and 3.5% pursuing secondary education. Bruce is served by Radford College, educating 2,085 students as of a specific date. The area's educational performance is high (ICSEA: 1203), placing local schools among the most advantaged nationally. All 1 school offers integrated K-12 education, providing continuity throughout students' academic journey. As of a given year, Bruce functions as an education hub with 26.0 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 15.1. This attracts students from surrounding communities to the area's schools.

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

Bruce has 50 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. There are 21 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 3,197 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 249 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 456 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 63 weekly trips per individual stop.

Bruce's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Bruce. Younger cohorts saw very low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover was found to be very high at approximately 54% of the total population (~4,356 people), compared to 57.1% across Australian Capital Territory. The most common medical conditions were mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.3 and 7.7% of residents respectively. Seventy-two point seven percent declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Australian Capital Territory. Bruce has 11.3% of residents aged 65 and over (908 people), which is lower than the 15.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges requiring more attention than the broader population.

Bruce is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Bruce scores highly for cultural diversity, with 34.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 40.0% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Bruce, comprising 34.8%. Hinduism is overrepresented, making up 7.9% compared to 4.0% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups are English (21.2%), Australian (20.1%), and Other (15.4%). Notably, Sri Lankan (0.6%) Vietnamese (1.5%) and Korean (0.7%) ethnicities have higher representation than regional averages of 0.3%, 1.2% and 0.4% respectively.

Bruce hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Bruce's median age is 29 years, which is lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and substantially under Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Bruce has a higher concentration of residents aged 15-24 (26.0%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (6.3%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is well above the national average of 12.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 45 to 54 has grown from 7.6% to 8.5%, while the population aged 55 to 64 has declined from 6.3% to 5.5%. Population forecasts for Bruce indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 15 to 24 age group is projected to grow by 29% (609 people), reaching a total of 2,688 residents from the current figure of 2,078.