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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Chapman has an estimated 2,883 residents. That puts 1,550 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch, the resident population of Chapman stands at roughly 2,883 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 16 people (0.6%) compared to the 2,867 people recorded in the 2021 Census. Such movement is calculated from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 2,881 in June 2025 alongside 17 validated new addresses registered following the Census. Consequently, population density settles at 1,550 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the nationwide benchmark among locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Chapman's 0.6% expansion since census trails the broader SA3 area (1.9%) by 1.3 percentage points, indicating solid underlying momentum.
Recent population gains were almost entirely generated by overseas migration, serving as the primary demographic catalyst. Population modelling utilizes ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 (taking 2022 as the base year) across individual SA2 areas, supplemented post-2032 or where missing by ACT Government SA2 cohort projections benchmarked to 2022. Under this framework, Chapman's headcount is projected to contract by 309 persons by 2041. In contrast to the overarching reduction, older demographics will expand, highlighted by an increase of 60 people among residents in the 85 and over age group.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
26 new dwellings have been approved in Chapman over the past five years, an average of 5 a year. That is 1.8 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals in Chapman average approximately 5 dwellings per year, totaling 26 homes over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Demand and supply have historically shown equilibrium, averaging 1.3 new residents per year per approved home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26); however, this ratio surged to 14 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, pointing toward constrained availability and heightened market interest. Typical construction values for local projects stand at $345,000. Commercial approvals in the current financial year reached $747,000, underscoring the locality's predominantly residential character.
Building activity in Chapman lags substantially behind the broader Australian Capital Territory, tracking 53.0% below regional average per person. Such constrained construction generally reinforces property valuations and sustains interest in established residences, while also trailing nationwide levels due to neighborhood maturity and limited site availability. Recent approvals comprise 60.0% standalone homes alongside 40.0% medium and high-density housing, delivering a broader range of housing formats and price points relative to the current stock (which is 89.0% houses). This evolution illustrates land supply limitations alongside rising demand for diverse and accessible home choices. With demographic projections remaining flat or trending downward, Chapman could see reduced housing pressure, offering favorable conditions for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Chapman
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 21 current infrastructure and development projects close to Chapman, worth an estimated $1.34 billion. 3 are already under construction and 3 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and retail. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Infrastructure additions, town planning frameworks, and major capital works play a pivotal role in local market performance. Currently, no major projects have been pinpointed by AreaSearch as directly altering the immediate area. Surrounding regional initiatives of interest include Fetherston Weston, the Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, the Canberra Hospital Master Plan, and Deakin Private Hospital.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Kambah BMX Facility Lighting Upgrade
Installation of four light towers at the existing BMX facility to allow greater use of the site, extended hours, and outdoor activities outside summer months.
Cooleman Court Shopping Precinct Upgrades
Upgrades to the shopping precinct at Cooleman Court to revitalize and improve access.
Woolworths Weston Creek Supermarket Expansion and Refurbishment
Expansion of the supermarket and full refurbishment to Woolworth's latest standard. Supermarket to remain open during refurbishment.
Waramanga Oval and Stirling Playing Fields Upgrades
Lighting upgrades at Waramanga Oval and upgraded field lights at Stirling Playing fields to allow for night matches.
Heysen Street, Weston RZ4 Land Development Opportunity
Substantial 13,130my RZ4 (medium density residential) land parcel in established Weston, available for purchase for residential development. Elevated block with Brindabella views.
Weston Creek Aged Care Facility
Construction of an aged care facility and associated works on Blocks 1151 and 864 Weston Creek. Follows NCA Board approval in 2015 for a retirement village and 99-year lease.
Fetherston Ridge
Located on an elevated site in Weston, offering views across Fetherston Gardens to the Brindabella Ranges. Defence Housing Australia built 50 properties, and remaining land lots were sold. Will feature 120 residences.
Athllon Drive Duplication
The Athllon Drive Duplication upgrades a key arterial road linking Woden to Tuggeranong in the ACT. The primary southern section duplicates 2.4 km between Sulwood Drive and Drakeford Drive in Kambah and Wanniassa, with a smaller 600 m northern section between Hindmarsh Drive and Melrose Drive. Works include lane duplication, new traffic signals at multiple intersections, upgraded bus stops, active travel paths for cyclists and pedestrians, water quality improvements for Lake Tuggeranong, and a new underpass under Sulwood Drive.Jointly funded by the ACT and Australian governments at $98.55 million, the Development Application for the southern section was approved in early 2026 following completion of enabling works. A tender for main construction is expected to be issued in 2026, with the northern section design ongoing and its timeline less certain due to future light rail corridor planning.
1,451 residents of Chapman are employed, from a labour force of 1,477. Unemployment sits at 1.8%, with participation at 61.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,332, about 81% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Chapman features an educated local workforce characterized by heavy representation in professional roles, an unemployment rate of only 1.8%, and annual estimated employment growth of 1.3%. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,451, with joblessness sitting 2.3% below the Australian Capital Territory mark of 4.1%, while participation remains lower at 61.6% compared to Australian Capital Territory's 70.6%. Census figures indicated that 18.8% of workers operated from home, a metric potentially shaped by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The resident labor base is largely concentrated within public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance.
Local specialization is especially prominent in professional & technical fields, where representation reaches 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, retail trade accounts for only 4.1% of workforce participation, trailing the Australian Capital Territory level of 6.6%. Given the disparity between resident workers and local jobs captured at the Census, employment within the suburb itself remains scarce. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM figures indicates that in the 12 months to March 2026, local employment grew by 1.3% while the labor pool expanded by 1.2%, keeping local unemployment virtually unchanged. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.3%, labor supply increase by 1.1%, and unemployment climb by 0.7 percentage points. Looking forward, Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26 project overall employment to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Mapping these sector projections onto Chapman's industry composition suggests potential local workforce gains of 6.8% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on simple industry weighting rather than local population trajectories.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Chapman is $3,111 a week (about $162,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,378 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $80,664 a year against an average of $93,919. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's release of ATO postcode data for financial year 2023, taxpayers in the Chapman SA2 generated a median income of $80,664 and an average of $93,919, ranking among the highest nationwide and outpacing the Australian Capital Territory figures of $72,206 (median) and $85,981 (average). Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023 elevates estimated March 2026 levels to approximately $89,085 for median earnings and $103,724 on average. The 2021 Census placed personal, family, and household incomes across Chapman between the 96th and 97th percentiles nationally.
Individual weekly earnings in the $4000+ bracket account for 37.7% of the cohort (1,086 individuals), contrasting with the wider territory where the $1,500 - 2,999 tier leads at 34.3%. Furthermore, 51.6% of households bring in weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, and residents retain 90.6% of income after servicing housing costs, placing the area in the 10th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Chapman had 1,023 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 89% detached houses and 3% apartments. 40% are owned with a mortgage, 12% rented and 49% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $450 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,600 a month. Rent absorbs 14.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, Chapman's housing landscape consisted of 89.2% houses and 10.8% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, semi-detached properties, and other dwelling formats), compared with 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings across the Australian Capital Territory. Fully owned homes comprised 48.5% of properties, well above the territory standard, while mortgaged residences stood at 39.8% and rental properties represented 11.7%. Typical monthly mortgage payments reached $2,600, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory median of $2,080 and the national benchmark of $1,863. Median weekly rent was recorded at $450, matching the Australian Capital Territory level of $450 while sitting higher than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Chapman counted 1,023 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 39% are couples with children, more than in 76% of areas nationally, against 33% couples without children. 17% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 81.7% of all households in the community, comprising couples with children at 38.7%, couples without children at 33.3%, and single parent families at 9.4%. The remaining 18.3% consists of non-family living arrangements, primarily lone person households (17.1%) alongside group dwellings (1.2%). The area records an average household size of 2.7 people, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory figure of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
52.5% of adults in Chapman hold a university qualification, including 29.9% with a bachelor degree and 15.5% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 84% of areas nationally. A further 11.9% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 521 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,107 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational qualifications in Chapman sit well above broader benchmarks, with 52.5% of residents aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees compared to 46.6% in the SA3 area and 30.4% in Australia. Within this cohort, Bachelor degrees account for 29.9%, postgraduate qualifications make up 15.5%, and graduate diplomas represent 7.1%. Meanwhile, vocational credentials are held by 21.5% of the population aged 15+, divided into certificates (11.9%) and advanced diplomas (9.6%). Learning engagement across the suburb is strong, with 29.9% of the population actively enrolled in formal study. This cohort encompasses 10.6% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary schooling, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Chapman reaches 17 stops on 41 routes, timetabled for about 4,300 services a week. The typical home sits about 190 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local transit analysis identifies 17 active transport stops in Chapman providing bus connections across 41 individual routes, combining for 4,296 weekly passenger trips. Network proximity is strong, with typical walking distances of 193 meters to the nearest transit stop. Given the suburb's residential profile, most workers travel outward, with private vehicles accounting for 92% of journeys and cycling representing 2%. Household motor vehicle ownership averages 1.8 per dwelling, exceeding the regional baseline, while 18.8% of workers were recorded working from home during the 2021 Census. Transit services maintain an average frequency of 613 daily trips across the combined network, translating to around 252 trips each week for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
65.9% of residents in Chapman report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 87% of areas nationally. 5.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 67.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 2.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of chronic illness prevalence and mortality rates, health outcomes throughout Chapman are exceptionally strong, especially among younger age groups where chronic conditions remain minimal. Private health insurance adoption is remarkably high, covering approximately 68% of the total population (1,946 people), compared to 62.4% across the Australian Capital Territory and 55.7% nationally. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent conditions locally, recorded among 10.1 and 7.5% of the population, respectively, while 65.9% of inhabitants reported no diagnosed chronic conditions (compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory).
Residents under 65 exhibit favorable health indicators. People aged 65 and over make up 26.7% of the community (769 people), exceeding the Australian Capital Territory proportion of 14.2%, with local seniors displaying robust overall health metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Chapman is largely Australian-born, at 77.3% of residents, with 12.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.9%) and Australian (25.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural metrics show Chapman exceeding standard benchmarks, with 22.7% of residents born abroad and 12.6% using a non-English language at home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 51.4% of the population compared to 40.7% across the Australian Capital Territory. Assessing ancestral background via parents' country of birth, the three most common heritages in Chapman are English (26.9%), Australian (25.5%), and Irish (9.7%). Notable overrepresentations relative to territory levels include Welsh ancestry at 1.1% (versus 0.6% regionally), Hungarian ancestry at 0.7% (versus 0.3%), and Scottish ancestry at 8.9% (versus 7.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Chapman is 47, older than 84% of areas nationally. 20.3% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Chapman maintains a pronounced retiree and lifestyle demographic profile. As of August 2026 estimates, residents aged 65+ account for 26.7% of the population, compared to 14.2% across the Australian Capital Territory, while individuals aged 25 - 44 represent 14.3% locally versus 32.8% regionally. The estimated median age stands at 47 as of August 2026, identical to the 2021 Census figure and substantially above the territory median of 35 and national median of 38 at that Census. Since then, the share of residents aged 0 - 24 expanded from 28.9% to an estimated 32.2%.
Looking toward 2041, no major broad age group is forecast to show material growth, with younger cohorts and those aged 25 - 44 expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Chapman
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 17 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,867 at the 2021 Census → 2,883 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (801081091). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.