Charnwood

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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Charnwood's population is around 3025 as of Nov 2025. This reflects a decrease of 30 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3055 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3025 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 2 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1626 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 63.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, with 2022 as a base, are adopted. Moving forward with demographic trends, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to shrink by 28 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to grow 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. No approvals have been recorded so far in FY26. The average construction cost value for these new dwellings was $199,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options.

In the current financial year, $876,000 worth of commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus in Charnwood's development activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Charnwood has significantly less development activity, 83.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. However, there has been an increase in development activity in recent periods. The area's established nature is also reflected in its development activity level being under the national average, potentially indicating planning limitations. New building activity in Charnwood shows a 50.0% split between detached houses and medium to high-density housing. This trend towards denser development provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, marking a significant departure from existing housing patterns, which are currently 87.0% houses.

This shift may be due to diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. Charnwood has approximately 758 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area with a stable or declining population expected in the future. This demographic trend should reduce pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Charnwood has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth 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's workforce consists of skilled individuals with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 10.8% as of September 2025, showing a 7.2% gap compared to the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.0%.

Residents' workforce participation is lower than the regional average, standing at 67.7% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.5%. According to Census responses, only 8.9% of residents work from home. The key employment sectors are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Construction is particularly prominent with an employment share 1.8 times higher than the regional level.

However, public administration & safety has limited presence at 22.9%, compared to the regional average of 30.4%. The predominantly residential area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 1.0% while unemployment fell by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 1.4%, with unemployment falling by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase 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.

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. The average income level was $64,685. Both figures were below the national average. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had levels of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $64,043 and $70,675 respectively. According to the 2021 Census figures, personal income ranked at the 73rd percentile ($948 weekly), while household income was at the 54th percentile. The largest income segment comprised 38.7% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with 1,170 residents falling into this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the broader area, where 34.3% fell into the same category. High housing costs consumed 16.7% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 53rd percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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, dwelling structures consisted of 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 (ACT) figures of 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 ACT average of $2,080. The median weekly rent was recorded at $380, compared to the ACT'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 comprise 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 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, matching 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%). 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: 10.6% in primary, 7.1% in secondary, and 3.9% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably 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 operational 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 area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 193 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 92%, while bus usage stands at 6%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 8.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 635 trips per day across all routes, 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 according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (around 1,548 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 11.2% of residents and asthma impacting 10.8%. Conversely, 63.6% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Working-age population health presents notable challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 14.7% of residents aged 65 and over (around 445 people), with senior health outcomes presenting additional challenges, ranking higher than the general population nationally.

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% of its population born overseas and 18.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Charnwood, comprising 43.6% of its population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category represents 1.8%, slightly higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 1.4%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (26.3%), Australian (25.2%), and Other (11.6%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Filipino representation is higher 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

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 percentage of residents aged 0-4 (7.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (15.1%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the proportion 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 percentage of residents aged 55-64 has decreased from 9.6% to 8.2%, and the proportion aged 25-34 has fallen from 16.3% to 15.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic shifts in Charnwood. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 81%, adding 35 residents to reach a total of 79. This growth reflects an ongoing trend of demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older accounting for 69% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, the 15-24 and 65-74 age groups are expected to experience population declines.