Charnwood

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

Charnwood's population is around 3,078 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase from 3,055 people reported in the 2021 Census, marking a growth of 23 people (0.8%). The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 3,078 in June 2025 and two additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,654 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth contributed approximately 56.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses 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 adopted, using 2022 as the base year. Projections indicate a decline in overall population by 41 persons to 2041, with specific age cohorts expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group projected to increase by 35 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. There have been zero approvals so far in FY26. The population has declined recently, indicating that new supply may be meeting demand and providing good options for buyers.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $199,000, below regional norms, suggesting more affordable housing options. This financial year, $876,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, predominantly reflecting residential focus. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Charnwood has significantly less development activity, at 83.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, though recent periods show increased development activity. The area's established nature is also indicated by its level being under the national average, potentially suggesting planning limitations. New building activity shows an equal split between detached houses (50.0%) and medium to high-density housing (50.0%), marking a significant shift from existing patterns of 87.0% houses. This trend may be due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences, appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers.

With approximately 758 people per approval, Charnwood is considered a mature, established area. Given the expected stable or declining population, there should be reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

No changes can significantly influence an area's performance like modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Ginninderry Masterplanned Community - Strathnairn & Macnamara, Ginninderry Estate - Strathnairn & Macnamara (Stages 1-7+), The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages, and Kestral Rise - Macnamara. Below is a list detailing those likely to be most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Charnwood face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Charnwood has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 12.0% as of December 2025. Residents in work numbered 1,436 while the unemployment rate was 8.1% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation stood at 67.0%, below the Australian Capital Territory's 70.5%. Census responses showed that 8.9% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Construction has notable concentration with employment levels at 1.8 times the regional average.

Public administration & safety shows lower representation at 22.9% versus the regional average of 30.4%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, the labour force increased by 0.9%, while employment decreased by 0.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.6 percentage points. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory recorded employment growth of 0.9%, labour force growth of 1.2%, and an unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Charnwood's employment mix indicates 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 localised population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023, Charnwood SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $58,615 and an average level of $64,685. These figures are below the national average. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had levels of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Charnwood would be approximately $64,734 (median) and $71,438 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, personal income in Charnwood ranks at the 73rd percentile ($948 weekly), while household income sits at the 54th percentile. The largest segment comprises 38.7% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,191 residents). High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 53rd percentile. Charnwood'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

In Charnwood, as per the latest Census evaluation, 87.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 12.9% being semi-detached, apartments, and other types. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Charnwood stood at 23.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.4% and rented ones at 31.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,755, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent in Charnwood was $380, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Charnwood's mortgage repayments were below 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 are the most prevalent, accounting for 69.3% of all households. They consist of 29.3% couples with children, 20.9% couples without children, and 18.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 30.7%, with lone person households at 27.4% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns 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 most common at 15.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 38.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (12.1%) and certificates (26.5%). Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents 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 high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Charnwood has 21 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 71 different routes that together facilitate 4,449 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 193 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this predominantly residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars are the primary mode of transport, used by 92% of residents, while only 6% use buses. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 8.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 635 trips per day, equating to approximately 211 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Charnwood is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Charnwood faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~1,575 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 11.2 and 10.8% of residents respectively. However, 63.6% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. There are 14.9% residents aged 65 and over (457 people), with national rankings for senior health outcomes higher than the general population.

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 was found to be above average, with 22.5% of its population born overseas and 18.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Charnwood, making up 43.6% of people. Notably, the 'Other' category comprised 1.8%, slightly higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 1.4%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (26.3%), Australian (25.2%), and Other (11.6%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Filipino at 2.1% compared to the regional average of 1.2%, Spanish at 0.6% versus 0.5%, and Russian at 0.4% against a regional average of 0.3%.

Charnwood's population is younger than the national pattern

Charnwood's median age is 35 years, matching the Australian Capital Territory figure but lower than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Australian Capital Territory, Charnwood has a higher proportion of residents aged 0-4 (7.8%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (14.7%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the population aged 75-84 has increased from 3.7% to 5.0%, while the 55-64 age group has decreased from 9.6% to 7.7% and the 25-34 age group has dropped from 16.3% to 14.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Charnwood. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 73%, adding 33 residents to reach a total of 79. Residents aged 65 and older are expected to comprise 59% of the growth, while the 0-4 and 35-44 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.