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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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Deakin has an estimated 3,251 residents, up from 3,124 at the 2021 Census — a change of 127 people, or 4.1%. Growth has averaged 1.1% a year over five years. That puts 911 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
According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Deakin is close to 3,251 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 127 residents (4.1%) from the 2021 Census, when the population stood at 3,124. This variation is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 3,247 in June 2025 and 25 validated new addresses added since the Census. With these numbers, the local density stands at 910 persons per square kilometer, a figure that aligns closely with typical findings in similar studied territories. The expansion of the local population was mostly fueled by arrivals from abroad, who accounted for roughly 82.1% of all population increases recently.
ABS and Geoscience Australia projections published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are applied by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. In cases where SA2 regions lack this coverage, or for periods after 2032, age cohort growth projections compiled by the ACT Government starting from a 2022 baseline are utilized. Future demographic forecasts point to an above-average growth rate compared to other national statistical areas, with expectations of adding 642 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP figures, representing a total increase of 19.6% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
70 new dwellings have been approved in Deakin over the past five years, an average of 14 a year. That places the area in the 54th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 4 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 8, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
An average of 14 new home approvals have been registered annually in Deakin, yielding 70 residences over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 8 approvals have been logged. The ratio of new arrivals to newly built dwellings averaged 2.5 people per year between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating solid local demand that supports property valuations. The average construction cost of these new properties sits at $400,000, which suggests that builders are focusing on upscale buyers with premium products. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $39.6 million this financial year, pointing to high levels of business investment locally.
In comparison to the broader Australian Capital Territory, Deakin recorded roughly half the volume of new dwelling approvals per capita, though it sits in the 66th percentile of all analyzed locations nationwide. The profile of new projects comprises 70.0% detached houses and 30.0% medium and high-density formats, with a broadening selection of townhouses and apartments offering varied options ranging from spacious family residences to cheaper compact units. The ratio of residents per new dwelling approval is approximately 217, pointing to a low density housing market. Demographic projections suggest that Deakin is set to add 638 citizens by 2041, calculated from the latest quarterly estimate by AreaSearch. If building activity remains at its current pace, the supply of new housing may fall behind population increases, which is likely to create more competition among buyers and support upward price pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Deakin
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Deakin, worth an estimated $477 million. A further 47 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $7.49 billion. 11 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. 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 projects, major developments, and urban planning changes have a significant influence on an area's trajectory. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 11 projects that are anticipated to affect this locality. Key developments include Light Rail Stage 2B: Commonwealth Park to Woden, Draft Inner South District Strategy, The Embassy Residences, and Deakin District Playing Fields Upgrade, with details provided below for the most significant ones.
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
Light Rail Stage 2B: Commonwealth Park to Woden
ACT Government light rail extension from Commonwealth Park to Woden, proposed to add nine stops, cross Lake Burley Griffin on a new bridge between the Commonwealth Avenue bridges, travel through the National Triangle, and continue along Adelaide Avenue and Yarra Glen to Woden. Design and environmental approvals are progressing, with Stage 2B expected to move into construction from 2028 to 2033 after the Stage 2A City to Commonwealth Park works.
Inner South District Strategy
A finalized strategic planning framework by the ACT Government to guide the future development of the Inner South district. The strategy manages growth, accommodates future population, expands the West Deakin employment hub, integrates the light rail corridor, and protects the area's natural environment and heritage.
The Embassy Residences
A luxury mixed-use residential development consisting of 53 high-end apartments and penthouses. Designed by Hugh Gordon Architects, the 6-level building features two, three, and four-bedroom residences ranging from 160 to over 600 square meters. Ground floor units include courtyards, while penthouses offer private lifts and large rooftop terraces. The development prioritises sustainability with solar panels, EV charging for every resident car park, eco-friendly water management, and triple glazing. The building's facade incorporates face bricks and brushed brass balustrades.It also features three ground-floor commercial spaces intended for a day spa, club lounge, and a public art gallery.
Deakin District Playing Fields Upgrade
Upgrades to the Deakin District Playing Fields, including the installation of new LED sportsground floodlighting to allow for night games.
Griffith-Narrabundah Community Centre & Oval Upgrade
ACT Government project delivering a new multi-purpose community centre and upgrades to Griffith Oval, including a new pavilion, upgraded play spaces, and improved amenities. The facility serves residents of both Griffith and Narrabundah in Canberra's inner south.
National Security Office Precinct (York Park)
A multi-agency office precinct at York Park in Barton designed to accommodate approximately 5,000 workers from national security and Commonwealth agencies, including the Office of National Intelligence and DFAT. The project includes high-security office spaces, retail, and hospitality amenities. As of May 2026, the adjacent John Gorton Campus Car Park is fully operational with ongoing facade work, while main construction for the office precinct is progressing following the permanent site closure in early 2025.
Woden Community Services Hub
A new four-storey facility in Woden Town Centre that will centralise community and government services under one roof, bringing together services currently operating from multiple buildings in the region. It will include child and family services, meeting rooms, a multi-purpose hall, and workshop spaces. Construction is expected to commence in 2026-27.
Yarralumla Apartments
Proposed five-storey mixed-use redevelopment opposite the Yarralumla shops at the corner of Novar and Bentham Streets. The scheme includes 12 three-bedroom apartments and two penthouses above ground-floor commercial tenancies, with communal amenities including a residents lounge, garden and pool. Designed to Gold Level Livable Housing Design Guidelines.
1,652 residents of Deakin are employed, from a labour force of 1,686. Unemployment sits at 2.0%, with participation at 61.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,721, about 176% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce in Deakin is highly educated, featuring a strong contingent of professionals, an unemployment rate of only 2.0%, and a 1.1% gain in estimated employment over the previous year. As of March 2026, there are 1,652 employed local residents. The unemployment rate is 2.0% lower than the ACT rate of 4.1%, whereas labor participation is much lower at 61.8% compared to the ACT figure of 70.8%. Census data indicates that a moderate 16.7% of local workers operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic lockdowns.
Resident jobs are heavily weighted toward public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance fields. The area exhibits a distinct concentration in professional & technical fields, with its employment share reaching 1.7 times the wider regional baseline. In contrast, public administration & safety is less prominent locally, making up 27.2% compared to the regional average of 30.4%. Having 2.0 workers for every local resident at the time of the Census, the locality operates as a job center, hosting more positions than residents and drawing in commuters from elsewhere. AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS statistics indicate that over the 12-month period, local employment grew by 1.1% and the labor force expanded by 1.2%, while the number of unemployed individuals stayed virtually steady. By comparison, employment in the ACT increased by 0.3%, the labor force expanded by 1.1%, and unemployment grew by 0.7 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia issued in May-25 offer additional context regarding future demand in Deakin. These five and ten-year forecasts have been combined with the local worker profile to estimate future trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary greatly by sector. Applying these sector-specific trends to the local industry profile suggests Deakin's employment could rise by 7.2% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, noting that this is a simple weighted calculation for illustration and does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Deakin is $3,117 a week (about $162,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,577 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $85,792 a year against an average of $124,130. The average runs 45% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. 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
Tax data from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that the Deakin SA2 features an exceptionally high level of income relative to the rest of the nation. Taxpayers in the Deakin SA2 recorded a median income of $85,792 and an average income of $124,130, compared to the ACT figures of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $94,749 for the median and $137,089 for the average. Census records show that household, family, and individual incomes in Deakin are positioned high up in national rankings, placing between the 97th and 98th percentiles.
Looking at distribution, 40.7% of residents (1,323 individuals) earn in the $4000+ bracket, contrasting with regional trends where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is largest at 34.3%. This high concentration of top earners (52.0% receiving over $3,000 weekly) points to strong financial capacity in Deakin. After paying for housing, households keep 88.6% of their income, indicating high purchasing power, which positions the area in the 10th decile of the SEIFA index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Deakin had 1,209 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 68% detached houses and 14% apartments. 31% are owned with a mortgage, 23% rented and 46% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $560 a week and the median mortgage repayment $3,180 a month, a total housing cost higher than 84% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 18.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Housing types in Deakin at the time of the latest Census consisted of 68.0% houses and 32.0% alternative dwellings such as semi-detached options, apartments, and other configurations, compared to 63.3% houses and 36.7% alternative options in the ACT. Home ownership rates in Deakin were considerably higher than the ACT level at 46.1%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (31.2%) or occupied by tenants (22.8%). The median monthly payment for home loans in the area stood at $3,180, which is well above the ACT average of $2,080, while the median weekly rent was $560 compared to the ACT median of $450.
On a national scale, Deakin mortgage payments exceed the Australian median of $1,863, and rent payments are also well above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Deakin counted 1,209 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 28% 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
Families make up the majority of local households at 68.3%, consisting of 32.0% couples with children, 28.1% couples without children, and 7.8% single parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 31.7%, with single person households representing 28.4% and group living situations at 3.3%. The median household size is 2.4 residents, which is slightly below the ACT average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
62.2% of adults in Deakin hold a university qualification, including 33.9% with a bachelor degree and 22.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 87% of areas nationally. A further 6.5% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 2,114 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,124 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
Levels of education in Deakin are substantially higher than wider regional and national benchmarks, with 62.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% across Australia and 46.8% in the SA4 region. This significant educational lead positions the local population well for knowledge-intensive sectors. Bachelor degrees represent the most common qualification at 33.9%, followed by postgraduate study at 22.6% and graduate diplomas at 5.7%. Vocational education accounts for 15.6% of qualifications among residents aged 15 and over, comprising advanced diplomas at 9.1% and certificates at 6.5%.
School and university enrollment is notably strong, with 30.9% of the population engaged in study. This group includes 9.8% in primary schools, 9.7% in secondary schools, and 7.4% enrolled in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Deakin reaches 48 stops on 144 routes, timetabled for about 11,200 services a week. The typical home sits about 210 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
Public transit statistics show 48 active stops operating in Deakin, consisting of a combination of train and bus facilities. These stops are served by 144 separate routes, which combine to support 11,205 passenger trips per week. Transit access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 208 meters from the nearest stop. The neighborhood is mostly residential, meaning most workers travel out of the area to work, with cars remaining the main mode of travel at 85%, followed by 5% walking and 4% cycling. The average rate of vehicle ownership is 1.3 per household.
At the time of the 2021 Census, 16.7% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic guidelines. Service frequency averages 1,600 trips per day across all available routes, which translates to roughly 233 weekly departures for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.7% of residents in Deakin report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 79% of areas nationally. 5.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 79.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Evaluations of health indicators reveal positive trends across Deakin, according to AreaSearch research on mortality and chronic illness rates, with low rates of common conditions observed in both younger and older cohorts. The level of private health insurance is exceptionally high, covering about 80% of all residents (2,597 people). This compares to a rate of 62.4% across the ACT and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent health issues recorded locally, affecting 8.7% and 6.7% of the population, respectively. However, 68.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 70.2% in the ACT.
The working-age population is particularly healthy with low levels of chronic disease. Residents aged 65 and over make up 25.5% of the local population (829 people), a larger share than the 14.3% average for the ACT. The health profiles of these older residents are strong, with national comparisons aligning well with the wider community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
27.6% of Deakin residents were born overseas and 18.1% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (27.7%) and Australian (21.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Deakin displays higher levels of cultural diversity than most local areas, with 27.6% of its population born outside Australia and 18.1% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 47.6% of local residents. The most noticeable deviation from broader patterns is in Judaism, which represents 0.3% of the local population, compared to 0.2% across the ACT. The three most common ancestries reported in Deakin are English at 27.7%, Australian at 21.8%, and Irish at 9.4%. There are also notable differences in other backgrounds: Polish ancestry is overrepresented at 1.2% in Deakin compared to 0.8% across the region, Russian background stands at 0.7% compared to 0.3%, and Croatian ancestry is 1.1% compared to 0.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Deakin is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 20.3% 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 median age of 45 in Deakin is significantly higher than the ACT average of 35 and also surpasses the national median of 38. The age distribution shows a high proportion of people in the 75 - 84 bracket (10.6%), while the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller (7.5%) than the ACT average. Since 2021, the cohort aged 75 to 84 has expanded from 8.3% to 10.6% of the population, whereas the cohort aged 65 to 74 decreased from 11.6% to 9.9%. Projections for 2041 point to significant changes in Deakin's age profile, with the 55 to 64 cohort expected to grow by 117 people (28%) from 412 to 530, while the 25 to 34 cohort is forecast to rise by a minor 1% (3 people).
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Deakin
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 months ago 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | May 2026 3 months ago all 13 measures |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jun 2026 2 months ago all 5 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 Jun 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month 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 — 25 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,124 at the 2021 Census → 3,251 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 May 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 (801061062). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.