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, as of February 2026, is approximately 4380, indicating a 1088 person increase (33.0%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3292 people. This growth is inferred from ABS estimates: Dickson's estimated resident population was 4356 in June 2024, with an additional 607 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2772 persons per square kilometer, placing Dickson in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. Dickson's growth rate exceeded both state (6.7%) and SA4 region averages between 2021 and 2024. Interstate migration contributed approximately 53.8% of overall population gains during this period, 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 and years post-2032, age group growth rates from ACT Government's SA2 area projections (base year 2022) are adopted. By 2041, Dickson is projected to increase by 2590 persons based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 50.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Dickson has approved approximately 248 dwellings annually. Over the past five financial years, between FY-21 and FY-25, 1,243 homes received approval, with none yet in FY-26. On average, each dwelling constructed over these years accommodates about 0.8 new residents yearly.

This rate suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choices and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction cost of new properties is $200,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totaled $10.3 million, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Dickson has 460.0% higher new home approvals per person, reflecting robust developer interest in the area. New developments consist of 3.0% detached dwellings and 97.0% medium and high-density housing, shifting from the existing housing composition of 30.0% houses. This trend suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyle needs 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 2,199 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable 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 that may impact this area. Notable ones are Vermillion, Calypso, Watson Solar Farm, and Stockdale Street Apartments. The following details projects likely 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. Its unemployment rate was 3.5% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.9%. As of September 2025, 2,737 residents were employed at a rate of 0.1% below the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation was similar to the ACT's 72.5%. Only 13.1% of residents worked from home according to Census responses. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training sectors.

Health care & social assistance had lower representation at 7.9%, compared to the regional average of 11.7%. There were 1.3 workers per resident as at the Census, indicating Dickson functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 1.9% while labour force grew by 2.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points. This contrasts with the ACT where employment rose by 1.4%, labour force grew by 1.2%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dickson's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations 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 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 the Australian Capital Territory's median income of $72,206 and average income of $85,981 during the same period. Based on a 9.26% growth in wages since financial year 2023, current estimates suggest approximately $84,057 as the median income and $101,609 as the average income by September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, incomes in Dickson rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes all between the 82nd and 94th percentiles. Income brackets show that 36.8% of the population (1,611 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort 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 per the latest Census, 29.5% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 70.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to 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 was $500 compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Dickson's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,904 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $500 against 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 notably high educational attainment, with 62.9% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This is significantly higher than the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region average of 46.8%. The area's educational advantage is evident in its Bachelor degree holders at 34.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 22.4% and graduate diplomas at 5.6%. Technical qualifications make up 14.0% of educational achievements, with advanced diplomas at 6.3% and certificates at 7.7%.

Educational participation in Dickson is 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

Dickson has 26 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 96 different routes that together facilitate 7,104 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located just 180 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Dickson being primarily residential. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 57%, followed by bus at 13% and cycling at 10%. On average, there are 0.8 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 13.1% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 1,014 trips per day, equating to approximately 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 using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among its general population but higher than the national average for older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 68% of Dickson's total population (2,956 people) has private health cover, compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 12.0 and 8.7% of residents respectively. A total of 71.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. The under-65 population in Dickson has better-than-average health outcomes. As of the latest data (2021), Dickson has 7.0% of its residents aged 65 and over (306 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 showed high cultural diversity, with 31.1% born overseas and 26.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Dickson, comprising 25.3%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented in Dickson at 0.7%, compared to 0.2% across Australian Capital Territory.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (22.4%), Australian (19.7%), and Other (11.8%). Notably, Croatian (1.0%) Korean (0.8%), and Russian (0.5%) ethnicities were also overrepresented in Dickson compared to regional percentages.

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 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 (30.2%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of Dickson's population aged 35-44 has increased from 14.8% to 17.1%, while the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has risen from 28.5% to 30.2%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has decreased from 18.4% to 16.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Dickson. Notably, the number of residents aged 25-34 is expected to grow by 39%, increasing from 1,321 to 1,841 people.