Charnwood

Charnwood has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Charnwood's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 3,025, a decrease of 30 individuals (1.0%) since the 2021 Census which recorded 3,055 residents. This decline is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,027 in June 2024 and two validated new addresses added post-Census. The population density stands at 1,626 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth accounted for approximately 63.8% of recent population gains. AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For uncovered areas and years beyond 2032, ACT Government's SA2 area projections with a 2022 base are adopted. Future demographic trends indicate an overall population decline by 28 individuals to 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 75-84 age group projected to increase by 41 people.

The level of residential development activity in Charnwood is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Charnwood averaged approximately three new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 15 homes approved during this period. As of FY26, no new dwelling approvals have been recorded yet. The population has declined in recent years, suggesting that the new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good options for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $199,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing choices. In FY26, commercial approvals valued at $876,000 have been registered, reflecting a predominantly residential focus in the area compared to other regions. Relative to the Australian Capital Territory, Charnwood has significantly less development activity, with 83.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. However, development activity has increased in recent periods. The level of development activity is also under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. New building activity shows an equal split between detached houses (50.0%) and medium to high-density housing (50.0%).

This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options and appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, marking a significant departure from the existing housing pattern of 87.0% houses. This shift may be due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences, as well as housing affordability needs. Charnwood's population density is around 758 people per approval, indicating a mature and established area. With the population expected to remain stable or decline, Charnwood should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

Charnwood has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 16thth percentile nationally

No projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include Ginninderry Stage 3 - The Valley Release, Ginninderry Estate - Stages 4-7 (Strathnairn & future Macnamara), The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages, and Kestral Rise - Macnamara.

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Charnwood faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Charnwood has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 10.8% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.0% over the past year.

As of that date, 1,453 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 7.2% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation in Charnwood was somewhat below standard at 66.0%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 69.6%. The key industries of employment among residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Charnwood shows strong specialization in construction with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Public administration & safety has limited presence in Charnwood with 22.9% employment compared to 30.4% regionally. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 1.0%, labour force increased by 0.7%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In contrast, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 1.4%, the labour force grow by 1.2%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows ACT employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest a 6.6% expansion over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Charnwood's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Charnwood SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $55,634 and an average income of $62,887. This is below the national average of $68,678. In Australian Capital Territory, the average income was $83,634. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, estimated median income for September 2025 would be approximately $63,200 and average income around $71,440. According to 2021 Census figures, personal income ranks at the 73rd percentile ($948 weekly) and household income at the 54th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 38.7% earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (1,170 residents), similar to broader area trends of 34.3%. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 53rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Charnwood is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Charnwood, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 87.1% houses and 12.9% other dwellings such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 69.4% houses and 30.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charnwood stood at 23.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.4% and rented properties at 31.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Charnwood was $380, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $430. Nationally, Charnwood's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Charnwood has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 69.3% of all households, including 29.3% couples with children, 20.9% couples without children, and 18.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for 30.7%, comprising 27.4% lone person households and 3.2% group households. The median household size is 2.5 people, aligning with the Australian Capital Territory average.

The educational profile of Charnwood exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 24.3%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are held by 38.6% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 26.5%. Educational participation is high, with 29.5% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.6% in primary education, 7.1% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Charnwood has 21 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus services. These stops are covered by five separate routes that collectively facilitate 516 weekly passenger journeys. The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 193 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, there are 73 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly 24 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Charnwood faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is slightly lower than the average SA2 area at approximately 51% of the total population (~1,545 people), compared to 57.1% in Australian Capital Territory.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, impacting 11.2 and 10.8% of residents respectively. 63.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Australian Capital Territory. The area has 14.7% of residents aged 65 and over (445 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Charnwood's cultural diversity is above average, with 22.5% born overseas and 18.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 43.6%. The 'Other' religious category is overrepresented in Charnwood at 1.8%, compared to 1.3% regionally.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (26.3%), Australian (25.2%), and Other (11.6%). Notably, Filipino representation is higher at 2.1% versus 1.2% regionally, Spanish at 0.6% versus 0.5%, and Russian at 0.4% versus 0.3%.

Charnwood's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Charnwood is 35 years, matching the Australian Capital Territory's figure but slightly lower than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Charnwood has a higher proportion of residents aged 0-4 (7.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (15.1%). Between the 2021 Census and the latest data, the population of residents aged 75-84 has increased from 3.7% to 5.0%, while those aged 15-24 have risen from 10.7% to 11.8%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 55-64 has decreased from 9.6% to 8.2%, and those aged 25-34 have fallen from 16.3% to 15.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Charnwood. The number of residents aged 85 and above is projected to grow by 81%, adding 35 residents to reach a total of 79. This growth will contribute to the overall aging of the population, with residents aged 65 and older representing 69% of anticipated growth. Conversely, the populations of residents aged 15-24 and 65-74 are expected to decline.