Cook

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

Cook's population was around 2,925 as of Nov 2025. This reflected a decrease of 40 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,965 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,896 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 17 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 1,851 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 69.2% 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 and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections were used, also with 2022 as a base. Population projections indicated a decline of 205 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts were expected to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, projected to increase by 58 people.

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

Cook has averaged approximately three new dwelling approvals annually. Between financial years 2021 and 2025, a total of eighteen homes were approved, with two more approved so far in the current financial year 2026.

The population decline in recent years suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good choices for buyers. The average construction cost value of new properties is $296,000. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Cook has significantly less development activity, being 79.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. Nationally, this level is also below average, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development in Cook consists of an equal split between standalone homes and medium to high-density housing, with 50.0% dedicated to each type.

This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points, appealing to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 1015 people per approval, Cook indicates a mature, established area. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Cook may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Cook has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

No changes can impact an area's performance more than modifications to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch that could potentially affect this area. Notable projects include Bruce Precinct (Section 15), Bruce Residential Development Zone, Belconnen Town Centre East Precinct (Republic Phase 2 & Future), and New Northside Hospital (North Canberra Hospital Redevelopment). The following list details 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 performance in Cook exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Cook has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 3.1% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 0.9%.

As of September 2025, there were 1,584 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 3.1%, below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation was 65.3%, compared to ACT's 69.6%. Dominant employment sectors include public administration & safety, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area specializes in education & training with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level, but accommodation & food shows lower representation at 4.3% versus the regional average of 6.5%.

Employment opportunities appear limited locally based on Census data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.9%, labour force rose by 1.1%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, ACT's employment grew by 1.4% with a fall in unemployment of 0.2 percentage points. As of 25-Nov-25, ACT employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Cook's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% in five years and 13.5% in ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

The Cook SA2 has one of the highest income levels in Australia, based on latest Australian Taxation Office data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. The median income among taxpayers in Cook SA2 is $71,967, with an average income of $90,314. These figures compare to those in the Australian Capital Territory, which are $68,678 and $83,634 respectively. Considering a 13.6% growth in wages since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $81,755 (median) and $102,597 (average). The 2021 Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Cook rank highly nationally, between the 81st and 94th percentiles. Income distribution indicates that 31.7% of residents (927 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly income bracket, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region at 34.3%. Notably, 37.1% of residents earn above $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 87.6% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Cook displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Cook, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 60.7% houses and 39.3% other dwellings. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 69.4% houses and 30.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Cook was 40.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.0% and rented dwellings at 24.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cook was $2,167, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Cook was $440, compared to the Australian Capital Territory figure of $430. Nationally, Cook's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher at $2,167 than the Australian average of $1,863, and median weekly rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 65.2% of all households, including 27.0% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.8%, with lone person households at 31.0% and group households comprising 3.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Cook performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Cook's residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks: 60.8% hold university qualifications compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA3 area's 43.8%. This advantage is driven by Bachelor degrees (31.5%), postgraduate qualifications (22.4%), and graduate diplomas (6.9%). Vocational pathways account for 18.5%, with advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificates at 10.1%. Educational participation is high, with 28.7% currently enrolled in formal education: 8.4% in primary, 7.7% in tertiary, and 7.5% in secondary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.4% in primary education, 7.7% in tertiary education, and 7.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

Cook has 11 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with one route providing service to all stops collectively offering 196 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 230 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 28 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Cook faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 67% of the total population (1,950 people), compared to 57.1% across Australian Capital Territory, which has a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.6% and 9.3% of residents respectively.

64.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Australian Capital Territory. The area has 20.3% of residents aged 65 and over (594 people), which is higher than the 15.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Cook was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Cook was found to have above average cultural diversity, with 24.9% of its population born overseas and 15.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The dominant religion in Cook is Christianity, which accounts for 32.9% of the population. However, Buddhism is notably overrepresented, comprising 2.4% of the population compared to 3.0% across Australian Capital Territory.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English at 27.2%, Australian at 23.4%, and Irish at 10.5%. Some other ethnic groups also show notable divergences: Welsh is overrepresented at 0.9% compared to 0.6% regionally, Hungarian at 0.5% versus 0.3%, and French at 0.9% compared to 0.4%.

Cook's median age exceeds the national pattern

Cook has a median age of 42, which is considerably higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of 35, and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, the 75-84 cohort is notably over-represented in Cook, making up 7.5% of its population, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 10.2%. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 8.9% to 12.3%, while the proportion of those aged 25 to 34 has declined from 12.7% to 10.2%. Demographic modeling suggests that Cook's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The number of people aged 85 and over is projected to grow significantly, expanding by 45 people (an increase of 51%) from 88 to 134. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above are expected to account for 82% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 75-84 and 45-54 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.