Dickson

Dickson lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Dickson's population is approximately 4,959 as of May 2026. This figure reflects a growth of 1,667 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,292 people. The increase is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 4,530 in June 2025 and an additional 794 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 3,138 persons per square kilometer, placing Dickson in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Dickson's growth rate of 50.6% since the 2021 census exceeds both the state's 8.3% and its SA4 region, making it a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 51.3% of overall population gains recently, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data or years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, using 2022 as the base year. Looking ahead, demographic trends predict exceptional growth for Dickson, placing it in the top 10 percent of national statistical areas. By 2041, based on latest annual ERP population numbers, Dickson is expected to increase by 2,444 persons, reflecting a total increase of 33.6% over the 16-year period.

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

Dickson has received approximately 248 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 1,243 homes were approved, with none yet recorded in FY-26. On average, each new dwelling constructed over this period accommodated about 0.8 new residents per year.

This suggests that new housing supply has been keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost of these properties was $200,000, which is below regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $10.3 million, suggesting balanced commercial development activity in the area. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Dickson shows 440.0% higher new home approvals per person, indicating robust developer interest and creating greater choice for buyers. However, construction activity has eased recently. New development in Dickson consists of 3.0% detached dwellings and 97.0% medium to high-density housing. This shift from the area's existing housing stock (currently 30.0% houses) reflects decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyles, with a need for more diverse, affordable housing options.

With around 58 people per dwelling approval, Dickson exhibits characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Dickson is projected to add 1,664 residents by 2041 based on current development patterns. This suggests that new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Dickson has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 19thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects are Vermillion, Stockdale Street Apartments, Calypso, and Dickson Shops Upgrade. The following details those expected to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Dickson ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Dickson has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 3.6% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.0%. As of December 2025, 2,740 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.8%, 0.2% below the Australian Capital Territory's rate.

Workforce participation was similar to the ACT's 70.5%. According to Census responses, 13.1% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety, professional & technical, and education & training sectors.

Health care & social assistance showed lower representation at 7.9% compared to the regional average of 11.7%. There were 1.3 workers per resident as of the Census, indicating Dickson functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and 2025, employment increased by 1.0%, labour force grew by 1.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.9%, labour force grow by 1.2%, and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dickson's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

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

Dickson SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $76,933 and an average income of $92,997 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is notably high compared to Australian Capital Territory's median income of $72,206 and average income of $85,981 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for March 2026 would be approximately $84,965 (median) and $102,706 (average). According to the 2021 Census figures, income rankings in Dickson are high, with household, family, and personal incomes falling between the 82nd and 94th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 36.8% of Dickson's population (1,824 individuals) have incomes within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to the metropolitan region where this group also represents 34.3%. Economic strength is evident with 34.2% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting increased consumer spending. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 80th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

In Dickson, as assessed at the latest Census, 29.5% of dwellings were houses while 70.6% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This differed from the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dickson stood at 19.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.5% and rented ones at 46.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,904, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent in Dickson was $500, compared to $450 in the Australian Capital Territory. Nationally, Dickson's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,904 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $500 compared to the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 53.3% of all households, including 17.5% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 6.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 46.7%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households comprising 13.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Dickson shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Dickson has a high level of educational attainment, with 62.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure is significantly higher than the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region average of 46.8%. The area's strong educational advantage is reflected in its knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 34.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 22.4% and graduate diplomas at 5.6%.

Technical qualifications make up 14.0% of educational achievements for residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 6.3% and certificates at 7.7%. Educational participation in Dickson is notably high, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 17.3% in tertiary education, 6.4% in primary education, and 4.4% 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 transportation in Dickson shows that there are currently 26 active transport stops operating within the area, all of which serve buses. These stops are serviced by a total of 96 individual routes, collectively providing 7,104 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically located approximately 180 meters from the nearest stop. As Dickson is primarily residential, most commuters travel outward from the area. The dominant mode of transportation among residents is by car at 57%, followed by bus at 13% and cycling at 10%. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling in the area, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low percentage of residents work from home, with only 13.1% doing so, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages at approximately 1,014 trips per day across all routes, which equates to around 273 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Dickson is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Dickson shows above-average health outcomes, as assessed by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high in Dickson, with approximately 68% of the total population (3,347 people) having it, compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 12.0% and 8.7% of residents respectively. 71.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes for the under-65 population are better than average. Dickson has 7.3% of residents aged 65 and over (363 people), which is lower than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory but ranks lower nationally compared to the broader population.

Dickson was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Dickson's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 31.1% born overseas and 26.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Dickson as of 25.3%, though Judaism was overrepresented at 0.7% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 0.2%. The top three ancestry groups were English (22.4%), Australian (19.7%), and Other (11.8%).

Notably, Croatian (1.0%) and Korean (0.8%) were overrepresented in Dickson compared to regional averages of 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively, while Russian was slightly higher at 0.5%.

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

Dickson's median age is 29 years, which is lower than both the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Dickson has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (30.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of Dickson's population aged 35-44 has increased from 14.8% to 17.4%, while the 25-34 age group has risen from 28.5% to 30.1%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has decreased from 18.4% to 16.5%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 10.4% to 9.3%. Population forecasts for Dickson indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. Notably, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 24%, adding 354 people and reaching a total of 1,847 from its current figure of 1,492.