Dunlop

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

Dunlop's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stands at approximately 7,224 as of November 2025. This figure represents a decrease of 41 individuals (0.6%) from the 2021 Census count of 7,265 people. The decline is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,296 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. Dunlop's population density calculates to 2,001 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth contributed approximately 69.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, also with a base year of 2022. Future demographic trends project a decline in Dunlop's overall population by 1,037 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 55-64 age group projected to expand by 152 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Dunlop according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Dunlop has seen only one residential development approval in the past five years. This indicates a mature, established suburb where available land for new construction is limited. For buyers, this scarcity of new housing stock typically supports property values and means competition may primarily be among existing homes.

Relative to the Australian Capital Territory, Dunlop has significantly less development activity. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing homes. However, construction activity has intensified recently.

This activity is still under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and suggesting potential planning limitations. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Dunlop should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified three projects likely affecting this region: Kestral Rise - Macnamara, Macnamara Residential Estate, Ginninderry Estate - Stages 4-7 (Strathnairn & future Macnamara), and Wallaroo Solar Farm. The following details those most relevant.

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

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Dunlop has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Dunlop's workforce is well-educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate was 4.4%, showing relative employment stability over the past year compared to the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation in Dunlop was 74.1%, slightly higher than ACT's 69.6%. Key industries of employment among residents were public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area had a particularly strong specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services showed lower representation at 8.6% compared to the regional average of 11.1%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment in Dunlop increased by 0.0%, while labour force increased by 0.9%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, ACT experienced employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. State-level data to 25-Nov showed ACT employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%. National employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dunlop's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localized population projections.

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

The Dunlop SA2 had one of the highest income levels in Australia based on latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ending June 30, 2022. The median income among taxpayers was $69,014 and average income stood at $78,012, compared to Australian Capital Territory's figures of $68,678 and $83,634 respectively. Using Wage Price Index growth of 13.6% since June 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $78,400 (median) and $88,622 (average). According to the Census conducted on August 10, 2021, household, family, and personal incomes in Dunlop ranked highly nationally, between the 89th and 90th percentiles. Income distribution showed that 37.9% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring the regional average of 34.3%. Economic strength was evident with 38.5% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing expenses accounted for 14.7% of income, while strong earnings placed residents within the 90th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 8th decile.

Dunlop is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Dunlop, as per the latest Census evaluation, 91.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 8.1% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 69.4% houses and 30.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dunlop stood at 20.3%, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate. Most dwellings were mortgaged (61.4%) or rented (18.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, aligning with the Australian Capital Territory average, while the median weekly rent was $465, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's figures of $2,000 and $430 respectively. Nationally, Dunlop's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Dunlop features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 81.1% of all households, including 44.8% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for 18.9%, with lone person households at 16.7% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 29.3%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 18.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 34.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.1% and certificates at 22.0%. Educational participation is high, with 33.6% currently enrolled in formal education: 12.7% in primary, 9.4% in secondary, and 4.4% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.7% in primary education, 9.4% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 23 active transport stops operating within Dunlop. These stops are served by a mix of buses, with one individual route providing service collectively resulting in 425 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 229 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 60 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Dunlop's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Dunlop's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, with levels of common health conditions among its general population being somewhat typical but higher than the national average for older cohorts.

Approximately 59% of Dunlop's total population (4247 people) have private health cover, which is exceptionally high compared to national figures. The most prevalent medical conditions in Dunlop are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 10.3% and 9.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across the Australian Capital Territory. Dunlop has 10% of its population aged 65 and over (723 people), which is lower than the Australian Capital Territory's figure of 15.3%. Health outcomes among seniors in Dunlop present some challenges that require more attention than those for the broader population.

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

Dunlop's cultural diversity was above average, with 21.5% of its population born overseas and 20.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Dunlop, making up 48.8% of people. Notably, Islam was overrepresented at 3.8%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's average of 3.3%.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian (27.9%), English (24.6%), and Other (11.6%). Divergences included Croatian (0.9% vs regional 0.8%), Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.3%), and Polish (0.9% vs 0.8%) being notably overrepresented in Dunlop.

Dunlop's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Dunlop's median age is 37 years, slightly older than Australian Capital Territory's 35 but aligned with Australia's national average of 38 years. The 45-54 age group comprises 16.1% of Dunlop's population compared to Australian Capital Territory, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 10.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 55-64 age group has grown from 10.4% to 11.9%, and the 15-24 cohort increased from 13.0% to 14.4%. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort declined from 16.9% to 15.2%, and the 25-34 group dropped from 11.8% to 10.4%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Dunlop. The 55-64 age cohort is projected to increase by 112 people (13%) from 857 to 970. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 59% of total population growth, reflecting Dunlop's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both 15-24 and 0-4 age groups are expected to decrease in number.