Civic
Statistical Area - sa2

Civic lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Civic's population was around 5271 as of Aug 2025. This reflected an increase of 436 people (9.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4835 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 5271 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 292 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 3686 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Civic's growth of 9.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the state (5.7%), and marked it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 94.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections were adopted, using 2022 as a base. Exceptional future population growth was predicted over the period, placing Civic in the top 10 percent of statistical areas across the nation. The area was expected to expand by 8118 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 154.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Civic among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Civic has seen approximately 66 new homes approved annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 332 homes approved over the past five financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, and zero approvals so far in FY-26. On average, only one person has moved to the area for each dwelling built over these years, indicating that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, offering ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. Commercial approvals totalled $411.8 million in this financial year, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity.

Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Civic has similar development levels per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. However, construction activity has recently intensified, significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. Recent building activity consists entirely of attached dwellings, providing accessible entry options and appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Future projections show Civic adding 8,116 residents by 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Civic has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 48thth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 25 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include ACT Light Rail Stage 2A (City to Commonwealth Park), The Grande, City Hill Mixed-Use Precinct, and Anzac Park East Redevelopment. Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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

Employment conditions in Civic demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Civic's workforce is highly educated with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.5% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 1.9%.

As of June 2025, 3730 residents were employed at a 0.9% lower unemployment rate than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation was somewhat below standard at 67.4%, compared to ACT's 69.6%. Key industries included public administration & safety, professional & technical, and accommodation & food, with notable concentration in the latter at twice the regional average. Health care & social assistance had limited presence at 6.5% employment compared to 11.7% regionally.

There were 8.3 workers per resident as of the Census, indicating an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.9%, labour force by 1.6%, leading to a unemployment fall of 0.3 percentage points. ACT's employment growth was also 1.9% while its unemployment rate was 4.2% in Sep-25, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest an expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Civic's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Civic's income level is among the top percentile nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Civic's median income among taxpayers is $72,282 and average income stands at $103,421, comparing with ACT figures of $68,678 and $83,634 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $80,074 (median) and $114,570 (average) as of March 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes rank highly in Civic, between 80th and 85th percentiles nationally. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 39.8% of the community (2,097 individuals), reflecting patterns seen at regional levels where 34.3% similarly occupy this range. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 34.3% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 19.8% of income, though strong earnings place disposable income at the 74th percentile and area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Civic features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Civic, as per the latest Census, all dwellings were categorized as 'other', including semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types, contrasting with Australian Capital Territory's 39.3% houses and 60.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Civic stood at 15.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.4% and rented ones at 62.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent was $550, higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of $476. Nationally, Civic's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $550 versus the national figure of $375.

Civic features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 45.0% of all households, consisting of 5.9% couples with children, 35.5% couples without children, and 2.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 55.0%, with lone person households at 44.5% and group households making up 10.3% of the total. The median household size is 1.7 people, smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.2.

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

Civic's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 61.5% have university qualifications compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 33.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (24.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.2%). Technical qualifications make up 11.7%, with advanced diplomas at 5.6% and certificates at 6.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 50.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 44.3% in tertiary education, 1.2% in primary education, and 1.1% pursuing secondary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Civic indicates that there are 43 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. The total number of individual routes servicing these stops is 51, providing a collective weekly passenger trip count of 7,021.

The accessibility of transport in Civic is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 180 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 1,003 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 163 weekly trips per individual stop.

Civic's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Civic shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 73% of the total population (3,826 people), compared to 65.3% in Australian Capital Territory and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.8% and 7.5% of residents respectively.

A significant majority, 77.1%, report being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 70.8% in Australian Capital Territory. Civic has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 6.2% (327 people), compared to the 11.4% in Australian Capital Territory. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, aligning with the general population's health profile.

Civic is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Civic has a high level of cultural diversity, with 42.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 49.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Civic, making up 23.4% of people residing there. However, Judaism is overrepresented in Civic compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, comprising 0.4% versus 0.5%.

The top three ancestry groups in Civic are Chinese at 19.0%, English also at 19.0%, and Australian at 16.2%. These figures differ significantly from regional averages: Chinese is substantially higher (regional average 5.6%), English notably lower (regional average 24.1%), and Australian also notably lower (regional average 21.6%). Other ethnic groups with notable representation in Civic include Korean at 1.8% compared to the region's 0.7%, Indian at 3.7% versus a regional average of 2.0%, and Vietnamese at 1.0%.

Civic hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Civic's median age at 27 years is significantly lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and the national average of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Civic has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (36.3%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.1%). This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 12.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 5-14 has increased from 1.6% to 3.1%, while the proportion of those aged 45-54 has decreased from 7.3% to 5.6%. The proportion of residents aged 15-24 has also dropped slightly, from 37.4% to 36.3%. Population forecasts for Civic indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. Notably, the number of residents aged 15-24 is projected to increase significantly, with an expected growth of 2,540 people (133%), from 1,915 to 4,456.