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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.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Charnwood has an estimated 3,078 residents. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years, slower than 88% of areas nationally. That puts 1,655 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
As of Aug 2026, demographic research by AreaSearch places the population of Charnwood at approximately 3,078 residents. Compared to the 2021 Census tally of 3,055 people, this represents an addition of 23 people, or a 0.8% increase. This updated calculation incorporates an ABS estimated resident population figure of 3,078 recorded in June 2025 alongside 2 validated new addresses recognized post-Census. With 1,654 persons per square kilometer, the locality exhibits a population density higher than the broader benchmark across national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Natural increase served as the primary demographic driver, accounting for roughly 56.9% of recent population gains.
Population projections utilized by AreaSearch rely on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia models baseline-set to 2022 for individual SA2 areas, with post-2032 horizons and uncovered zones supplemented by ACT Government SA2 projections using 2022 as a base. Under this forecasting approach, Charnwood is anticipated to experience a net population contraction of 34 persons by 2041. Despite overall contraction, specific age segments are set to expand, most notably the 85 and over cohort, which is expected to add 36 people. Consult the age breakdown for further information.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals in Charnwood have tracked at approximately 2 dwellings per annum, delivering a cumulative total of 12 homes across the past 5 financial years. Between FY-22 and FY-26, the area added an average of 6.3 new residents annually for each completed dwelling, demonstrating that demand heavily outpaces newly constructed supply, a dynamic that typically heightens buyer competition and drives capital appreciation. With an average construction cost of $249,000, newly built homes sit below the regional average and offer relatively accessible entry pricing. Meanwhile, commercial approvals registered at $876,000 during this financial year, underscoring the area's predominantly residential character.
Building activity in Charnwood sits significantly below the broader Australian Capital Territory benchmark, trailing by 87.0% per person. Such constrained construction volumes tend to support pricing and demand across established homes. This subdued building pace also trails national norms, reflecting an established urban footprint and prospective planning limitations. Recent construction is divided evenly, comprising 50.0% detached dwellings and 50.0% medium and high-density housing. This growing emphasis on medium and higher density offers attainable price points for first-home buyers, downsizers, and investors. It also marks a notable pivot away from the historical profile of 87.0% houses, signaling limited greenfield opportunities alongside shifting consumer preferences and affordability requirements. Given that demographic forecasts indicate steady or declining population numbers, Charnwood is expected to face softening housing demand pressures, which should provide favorable conditions for prospective property buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Charnwood
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 6 current infrastructure and development projects close to Charnwood, worth an estimated $6.91 billion. 5 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, environmental & disaster management and precincts & urban renewal. 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
Local infrastructure investment, urban planning, and major works play a crucial role in shaping regional performance. AreaSearch has identified no projects of direct local impact within the area. Major surrounding initiatives include Ginninderry Masterplanned Community - Strathnairn & Macnamara, Ginninderry Estate - Strathnairn & Macnamara (Stages 1-7+), The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages, and Kestral Rise - Macnamara, with key relevant works outlined below.
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
Macgregor Primary School Expansion & Modernisation
Major upgrade and expansion of Macgregor Primary School at Hirschfeld Crescent, Macgregor ACT, delivering new learning hubs, additional classrooms, and improved playground facilities. The project is driven by growing enrolments from adjacent new residential developments including The Valley Ponds and the broader Ginninderry estate. The ACT Education Directorate and Infrastructure Canberra are delivering the works, with completion targeted for 2026.
The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages
Final residential stages of the established Macgregor suburb in Belconnen, delivering over 400 new homes in The Valley Ponds precinct. The estate is adjacent to Ginninderra Creek and the future Ginninderry conservation corridor and pond network, offering a mix of block sizes with connections to open space and green corridors.
Ginninderry Estate - Strathnairn & Macnamara (Stages 1-7+)
Canberra's largest master-planned community spanning the ACT-NSW border in West Belconnen, delivering approximately 11,500 dwellings across four suburbs over 30-40 years on a 1,600-hectare site. Over 37% of land is set aside as a conservation corridor along the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek. Two suburbs are underway: Strathnairn (909 occupied dwellings as of early 2025) and Macnamara (13 occupied, 11 under construction). A primary school opens 2026, and the first local shopping centre is targeted for 2027.Certified as a 6-Star Green Star Community.
Macnamara Residential Estate
Macnamara is the second residential suburb in the Ginninderry Joint Venture, a 6 Star Green Star community on the western edge of Belconnen. Delivered by Suburban Land Agency and Riverview Developments, the suburb will deliver approximately 1,800 homes on land bordering the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor, with views to the Brindabella Mountains. Multiple land stages are actively selling as of 2025-2026, with blocks from 540sqm priced from $615,000. A local retail centre is planned for 2027 (subject to approval) and Strathnairn Early Childhood and Education Centre is partially opening in 2026.
Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre Bioreactor Upgrade
Icon Water is renewing the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre by building new bioreactors and supporting infrastructure, including membrane bioreactor technology, fine screening, membrane tanks, chemical dosing, blowers, waste-activated sludge management and non-potable water systems. The upgrade will increase wastewater treatment capacity to 97 ML per day, support Canberra's population growth, and help protect the Molonglo River. As of April 2026, earthworks and excavation for the new bioreactor foundations are in progress, with concrete foundation pours expected from July 2026.
Kippax Fair Expansion and Redevelopment
Major redevelopment and expansion of Kippax Fair shopping centre in West Belconnen, delivering a completely new mixed-use precinct across two stages. The project will triple retail floor space, adding a new full-line Coles and expanded Woolworths alongside the existing Aldi. Plans include approximately 180 new dwellings (including 24 affordable and public housing units) built as shop-top housing, 450 underground car parks, a 6,000sqm park, a community hub, skate park, and indoor and outdoor dining. The ACT Government finalised a direct land sale agreement with owners the Christodoulou family in August 2024, with a $12 million community infrastructure commitment.A development application was expected to be publicly notified by mid-2025.
1,429 residents of Charnwood are employed, from a labour force of 1,638. Unemployment sits at 12.8%, with participation at 67.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,634, about 86% 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
Charnwood features a capable local workforce with substantial representation in core public service and community roles, alongside an unemployment rate of 12.8%. As of March 2026, 1,429 local residents are actively employed. The jobless rate sits 8.7% higher than the 4.1% recorded for Australian Capital Territory, highlighting capacity for labor market gains, while labor participation of 67.2% remains lower than the Australian Capital Territory level of 70.6%. Census figures showed only 8.9% of employed locals working from home, though this metric was captured during period-specific Covid-19 restrictions. Public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction represent the primary employment sectors for residents.
The suburb displays a strong industry concentration in construction, where local representation is 1.8 times the regional proportion. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for 22.9% of the resident workforce, sitting below the 30.4% mark seen across Australian Capital Territory. Because the suburb is primarily residential, local job opportunities appear constrained relative to the size of the resident working population recorded at the Census. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM metrics over the 12-month period indicates that the local labor force expanded by 1.0% while total employment fell by 2.3%, leading to an increase of 3.0 percentage points in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe, Australian Capital Territory posted 0.3% employment growth, a 1.1% increase in its labor force, and a 0.7 percentage point rise in unemployment. Looking ahead, national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 project employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Mapping these industry projections across Charnwood's occupational composition implies local employment growth of 6.4% over five years and 13.1% across ten years, representing an illustrative weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate local demographic forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Charnwood is $1,818 a week (about $95,000 a year), with median personal income at $948 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $58,615 a year against an average of $64,685. 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 financial year 2023 ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch, income metrics across the Charnwood SA2 track below national averages. Taxpayer median income stands at $58,615 while the average income is $64,685, compared against Australian Capital Territory benchmarks of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Adjusting for 10.44% Wage Price Index expansion recorded since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of $64,734 for median income and $71,438 for average income as of March 2026. Based on 2021 Census data, individual weekly income ($948) ranks at the 73rd percentile, while household income places at the 54th percentile.
In terms of earnings distribution, 38.7% of the community (1,191 individuals) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, aligning closely with the 34.3% regional share. Housing overheads absorb 16.7% of income, leaving disposable earnings at the 53rd percentile and placing the suburb in the 5th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Charnwood had 1,167 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 0% apartments. 45% are owned with a mortgage, 32% rented and 23% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $380 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,755 a month. Rent absorbs 20.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that Charnwood's housing stock is composed of 87.1% separate houses and 12.9% other dwellings such as apartments and semi-detached properties, contrasting with the Australian Capital Territory split of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright home ownership sits at 23.1%, trailing the broader Australian Capital Territory level, while 45.4% of dwellings are owned with a mortgage and 31.5% are rented. Median monthly mortgage payments of $1,755 sit below the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of $2,080, and weekly median rent of $380 compares to $450 territory-wide. Against national benchmarks, Charnwood's mortgage repayments are more affordable than the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs exceed the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Charnwood counted 1,167 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 21% couples without children. 27% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family arrangements constitute 69.3% of local households, made up of couples with children at 29.3%, couples without children at 20.9%, and single parent families at 18.0%. Non-family living situations account for the remaining 30.7%, consisting of lone person households at 27.4% and group homes at 3.2%. The median household occupancy of 2.5 persons aligns directly with the Australian Capital Territory average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
24.3% of adults in Charnwood hold a university qualification, including 15.8% with a bachelor degree and 6.1% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 26.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 678 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,020 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
Tertiary qualification levels in the area present an opportunity for advancement, with university attainment standing at 24.3%, compared to the SA4 regional benchmark of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are held by 15.8% of residents, followed by postgraduate degrees at 6.1% and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational pathways remain strongly represented, with 38.6% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, split between advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 26.5%. Formal educational engagement is substantial throughout the community, with 29.5% of residents actively enrolled in study. This includes 10.6% participating in primary education, 7.1% enrolled in secondary schooling, and 3.9% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Charnwood reaches 21 stops on 66 routes, timetabled for about 4,100 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 1.3 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
Analysis of the local public transport network identifies 21 active stops across Charnwood, catering to bus commuters. A total of 66 separate bus routes service these locations, generating 4,094 weekly passenger services. Accessibility is exceptionally high, with an average distance of 193 meters from homes to the nearest stop. Given the suburb's residential focus, the vast majority of commuters travel outwards, with private cars accounting for 92% of journeys and buses accommodating 6%. Dwellings maintain an average vehicle ownership rate of 1.3 vehicles. A modest 8.9% of residents worked from home at the 2021 Census, a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 settings.
Transit frequency delivers an average of 584 trips daily across the entire network, providing approximately 194 weekly services per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.6% of residents in Charnwood report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 81% of areas nationally. 6.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of mortality statistics and chronic disease incidence by AreaSearch highlights significant health considerations for Charnwood, with widespread prevalence across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance uptake is comparatively constrained, covering approximately 51% of the population (~1,575 people), whereas the Australian Capital Territory rate reaches 62.4%. Mental health conditions and asthma constitute the most frequently reported diagnoses in the area, affecting 11.2 and 10.8% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 63.6% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Chronic ailments also affect a notable share of working-age residents.
Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 14.5% of the population (447 people), with health metrics in this cohort reflecting greater challenges than national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Charnwood is largely Australian-born, at 77.5% of residents, with 18.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.3%) and Australian (25.2%). 3.0% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Charnwood exceeds national benchmarks, with 22.5% of residents born abroad and 18.6% speaking a non-English language in their households. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, encompassing 43.6% of residents. The most noticeable variation is in the Other category, which represents 1.8% of the local population compared to 1.4% throughout Australian Capital Territory. Looking at parental country of birth, the primary ancestries in Charnwood are English at 26.3%, Australian at 25.2%, and Other at 11.6%. Distinct variations also appear across other demographic backgrounds, including Filipino residents at 2.1% (versus 1.2% regionally), Spanish at 0.6% (versus 0.5%), and Russian at 0.4% (versus 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Charnwood is 35, younger than 79% of areas nationally. 25.5% 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
The age distribution in Charnwood aligns closely with the overall Australian Capital Territory profile, showing a maximum divergence of 2.7 percentage points across the four broad cohorts. The median age is an estimated 35 years, matching both the 2021 Census baseline for the suburb and the territory-wide median of 35 recorded at that time. The most visible shift since the Census has occurred among young to middle-aged adults aged 25 - 44, whose representation fell from 32.9% to an estimated 30.1%. Looking toward 2041, the largest numerical gain is forecast in the 45 - 64 age group, projected to rise by 36 residents (5%) to 713.
Conversely, contractions are anticipated among children and young adults as well as the 25 - 44 cohort.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Charnwood
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 — 2 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,055 at the 2021 Census → 3,078 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 (801011004). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.