Chisholm

Chisholm is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Chisholm's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 5,282 people. This figure represents an increase of 14 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,268. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,277 in June 2025 and the addition of 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,703 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Chisholm's growth rate of 0.3% since the census places it within 1.1 percentage points of the SA3 area (1.4%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Natural growth contributed approximately 57.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, using 2022 as a base, are adopted. According to these projections, Chisholm's population is expected to decline by 289 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts, notably those aged 75 to 84, are projected to grow, with an increase of 115 people anticipated in this age group over the period.

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

Chisholm has seen approximately 8 new homes approved per year over the past five financial years, totalling 42 homes. In FY-26 so far, 5 approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.4 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were added between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction value of new properties is $215,000.

This financial year has seen $337,000 in commercial development approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Chisholm shows around 69% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 18th percentile nationally, suggesting limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established homes. This activity is below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity consists of approximately 57.0% detached houses and 43.0% attached dwellings, offering choices across price ranges. This shows a significant change from the current housing mix, which is currently around 96.0% houses.

The location has approximately 807 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Chisholm may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Chisholm has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects likely affecting the region. Key projects are Calwell Retirement Living Precinct, Calwell Public Housing Development, Erindale Group Centre Master Plan Implementation - Stage 1, and Canberra Light Rail Stage 4 - Woden to Tuggeranong. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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.

Employment conditions in Chisholm remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Chisholm has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.9% as of December 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.6%.

As of December 2025, 2,811 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.1% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Chisholm was on par with the Australian Capital Territory's 70.5%. According to Census responses, 9.3% of residents worked from home. Key industries of employment among residents were public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction.

Construction stood out with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Professional & technical services were under-represented, with only 7.4% of Chisholm's workforce compared to 11.1% in the Australian Capital Territory. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.6% while labour force increased by 1.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory saw employment grow by 0.9%, labour force expand by 1.2%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Chisholm's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Chisholm SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $67,412 and an average of $73,552. This is above the national average. The Australian Capital Territory had a median income of $72,206 and an average of $85,981 during this period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Chisholm would be approximately $74,450 (median) and $81,231 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Chisholm rank highly nationally, between the 83rd and 85th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. In income distribution, 38.1% of individuals earn between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting regional patterns where 34.3% fall within this range. Economic strength is evident with 33.9% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 13.8% of income, and residents rank highly in disposable income at the 84th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Chisholm is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

In Chisholm, as per the latest Census evaluation, 95.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 4.2% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chisholm stood at 29.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 50.7% and rented ones at 20.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent in Chisholm was $410, compared to $450 in the Australian Capital Territory. Nationally, Chisholm's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were also higher at $410 compared to the national figure of $375.

Chisholm has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 76.6% of all households, including 36.9% couples with children, 26.4% couples without children, and 12.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 23.4%, with lone person households at 20.9% and group households at 2.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Chisholm aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 25.6%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 36.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.4%) and certificates (24.3%). Educational participation is high at 28.6%, with 10.2% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.2% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Chisholm has 38 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 84 different routes that together facilitate 5,450 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 175 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuting in Chisholm is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 93% of residents. On average, there are 1.7 vehicles per dwelling in Chisholm, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 9.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 778 trips per day, equating to approximately 143 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Chisholm faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (~2,926 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 9.5% of residents and asthma impacting 8.8%. 66.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Australian Capital Territory. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 18.1% of residents aged 65 and over (956 people), higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Chisholm records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Chisholm's cultural diversity was above average, with 19.0% of its population born overseas and 14.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the main religion in Chisholm, comprising 50.0% of people. Islam was overrepresented, making up 2.4% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 3.4%.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (27.5%), English (26.5%), and Irish (8.2%). Notably, Serbian (0.5%) was overrepresented compared to the regional figure of 0.4%, as were Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.3%) and Macedonian (0.4% vs 0.2%).

Chisholm's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Chisholm's median age is 37 years, slightly older than Australian Capital Territory's 35 but aligned with Australia's national average of 38 years. The population aged 65-74 makes up a strong 12.1%, compared to Australian Capital Territory's percentage, while the 25-34 age group is less prevalent at 11.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 65-74 age group has grown from 9.4% to 12.1%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 3.1% to 4.7%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group declined from 13.6% to 11.0%, and the 55-64 group dropped from 15.1% to 12.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Chisholm. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to increase by 110 people (45%), from 246 to 357. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 89% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 15-24 and 5-14 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.