Downer
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Downer's population is around 4,517 as of Aug 2025. This reflects an increase of 221 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,296. The change is inferred from ABS estimates of 4,515 in June 2024 and an additional 10 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,771 persons per square kilometer, placing Downer in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Over the past decade, Downer has shown resilient growth with a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%, outperforming its SA4 region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 77.6% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses 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 ACT Government's SA2 area projections, also based on 2022, are adopted. Based on current demographic trends, Downer is projected to have above median population growth by national statistical areas. The area is expected to grow by 968 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 21.4% over the 17 years.

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

Downer records approximately 30 residential properties granted approval annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, showing 154 dwellings approved over the past five years, from FY21 to FY25, with one approval so far in FY26. Each dwelling built averages 2.7 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are constructed at an average cost of $405,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, suggesting a focus on quality construction. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Downer has roughly half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person but ranks in the 91st percentile nationally, with recent intensification in construction activity. Building activity comprises 26.0% standalone homes and 74.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. This shift differs from the area's existing housing composition of 67.0% houses, suggesting decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles requiring diverse, affordable housing options. Downer has around 302 people per dwelling approval, characteristic of a low-density area.

Population forecasts indicate Downer will gain 966 residents by 2041. Construction maintains a steady pace with projected growth, though buyers may face increasing competition as population grows.

Downer has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified ten such projects that could potentially affect this area. Notable among these are Watson Wetlands Restoration, Watson Solar Farm, Dickson Shops Upgrade, and Apricus. The following list outlines those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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

Employment conditions in Downer remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Downer has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate in June 2025 was 4.5%, with estimated employment growth of 1.3% over the past year.

As of that date, 2,639 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.1% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation in Downer was broadly similar to ACT's 69.6%. The dominant employment sectors among residents included public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training. There was particularly strong specialization in accommodation & food services, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance showed lower representation at 8.6% compared to the regional average of 11.7%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 1.3% while labour force increased by 1.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.9%, labour force growth of 1.6%, with unemployment falling by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 showed ACT employment contracted by 0.33% (losing 1,480 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lagged behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggested potential future demand within Downer. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, indicated national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Downer's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Downer's median income among taxpayers was $63,279, with an average of $78,225. Nationally, this is high compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median of $68,678 and average of $83,634. As of March 2025, based on a 10.78% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $70,100 (median) and $86,658 (average). Census 2021 income data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Downer rank highly nationally, between the 82nd and 87th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 31.1% of the community earns between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly (1,404 individuals), consistent with broader regional trends showing 34.3% in the same category. Notably, 37.3% earn above $3,000 weekly, reflecting prosperity pockets driving robust local economic activity. Housing accounts for 14.7% of income, and residents rank within the 82nd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

Downer's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.1% houses and 32.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 39.3% houses and 60.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Downer stood at 27.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.6% and rented ones at 36.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Median weekly rent in Downer was $420, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $476. Nationally, Downer's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Downer features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 63.6% of all households, consisting of 28.9% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 36.4%, with lone person households at 27.1% and group households making up 9.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.2.

The educational profile of Downer exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Downer's educational attainment is notably high: 56.0% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 29.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.5%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Vocational pathways account for 18.0%, with advanced diplomas at 7.2% and certificates at 10.8%. Educational participation is high, with 34.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 11.6% in tertiary, 8.8% in primary, and 6.3% in secondary education.

Schools appear to be located outside Downer's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access them in neighboring areas.

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

Downer has 23 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 13 different routes that together facilitate 752 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to these stops, with an average distance of 206 meters to the nearest one.

Each route makes about 32 trips per week, and across all routes, there is an average of 107 daily trips.

The level of general health in Downer is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Downer demonstrates a low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 59% of the total population (2655 people), compared to 65.3% across Australian Capital Territory.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 10.5% and 8.0% of residents respectively. 69.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.8% across Australian Capital Territory. The area has 12.4% of residents aged 65 and over (560 people), which is higher than the 11.4% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Downer 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

Downer's population shows higher cultural diversity compared to most local markets, with 29.9% born overseas and 24.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Downer, making up 29.2%. Buddhism is overrepresented, comprising 6.6%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 3.5%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.9%), Australian (22.6%), and Other (13.1%). Notably, French (0.8% vs regional 0.7%), Russian (0.5% vs 0.4%), and Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.3%) ethnic groups are overrepresented in Downer.

Downer's population is younger than the national pattern

Downer's median age is 35 years, matching the Australian Capital Territory figure but slightly lower than Australia's 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Downer has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (17.6%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (6.5%). Between the 2021 Census and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 13.2% to 13.8%, while the 0-4 age cohort has decreased from 6.3% to 5.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant changes for Downer. The 45-54 age group is expected to grow by 44%, adding 238 residents to reach a total of 787. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by a modest 3% (an increase of 26 people).