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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.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Franklin has an estimated 7,520 residents, up from 7,484 at the 2021 Census. That puts 3,270 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
AreaSearch estimates that Franklin's population stands at 7,520 as of May 2026. This figure represents a rise of 36 individuals, or 0.5%, compared to the 2021 Census count of 7,484 residents. The adjustment derives from the ABS estimated resident population of 7,520 recorded as of June 2025, adjusted for address validation after the Census date. With a density of 3,269 persons per square kilometer, Franklin ranks within the upper quartile of national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. The region has shown steady expansion over the last ten years, achieving a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%, which exceeds the growth seen in the SA4 region.
Overseas migration accounted for roughly 71.5% of the population gains observed in recent periods. Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized for each SA2 locality. In instances where SA2 areas lack coverage, or for periods past 2032, age cohort growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 projections with a 2022 baseline are applied. Looking ahead at population trends, these models forecast a downward trajectory, with the local population projected to decrease by 882 persons by 2041. In contrast to this overall decline, certain age groups are expected to grow, particularly individuals aged 55 to 64, who are anticipated to increase by 92 people. Refer to the age breakdown for additional specifics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Records show only 1 residential building approval in Franklin over the last five years. This indicates a fully established neighborhood with minimal space for new residential builds. A lack of incoming housing options generally bolsters demand for existing properties and can help maintain price levels. In comparison to the Australian Capital Territory, Franklin exhibits a much lower volume of new builds. This constrained addition of new properties typically supports heightened demand and asset values for existing residences, even though building development has seen a recent uptick. This activity level is also lower than the national average, showcasing a mature market that may be facing development limits.
Given that the population is projected to stabilize or decrease, Franklin is likely to experience less demand pressure on its housing market, which could present favorable conditions for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Franklin
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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 11 current infrastructure and development projects inside Franklin, worth an estimated $161 million. A further 78 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $5.28 billion. 16 are already under construction and 32 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and education & training. 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
Development patterns and local outcomes are heavily influenced by infrastructure adjustments, major works, and urban planning. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 33 projects that are expected to impact the local community. Key developments include the Franklin Aged Care Facility, the Franklin Community Centre, the Franklin Storm Water Management initiative, and the Franklin Childcare Centre, with details on the most relevant projects provided in the following list.
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
Franklin Aged Care Facility
New 120-bed aged care facility with specialized dementia care units, rehabilitation services and community health programs.
Franklin Community Centre
Multi-purpose community centre with meeting rooms, library branch, childcare facilities and programs for seniors and youth.
Franklin Childcare Centre
New 80-place childcare centre with outdoor play areas, specialized learning environments and early childhood education programs.
Franklin Storm Water Management
Stormwater management works proposed for the Franklin area of Gungahlin, intended to include improved drainage infrastructure and flood mitigation measures. This record sits within the ACT Government's broader rolling stormwater network improvement program, which is delivering upgrades across multiple Canberra suburbs on a priority basis. No dedicated Franklin-specific project page or funding announcement could be independently verified at time of research; current confirmed rolling program works are centred on Kippax, Narrabundah, Duffy and Hall Village.
Franklin Residential Development
New residential development in Franklin offering mixed housing typologies including apartments, townhouses and detached homes. Planned community with parks, walking trails and local retail amenities.
Olea Gungahlin Townhouses
Approved medium-density project branded Olea by Dish Developments. Original DA 202038102 approved on 5 Jul 2021 for 99 dwellings (70 townhouses, 29 units), later amended in Dec 2021 to a total of 109 dwellings with a single level basement (approx. 189 car spaces). Site fronts Camilleri Way and Kate Crace Street near Gungahlin Marketplace and the light rail, with outlook to Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve.
Franklin Public Art Installation
Community-designed public art installation celebrating Franklin's heritage and multicultural community with interactive elements and landscaping.
Gungahlin Town Centre Improvements
A comprehensive urban renewal program by the ACT Government to enhance the Gungahlin Town Centre. Key components include a major active travel project with 13 new community paths to improve walking and cycling connections, significant intersection safety upgrades at Hinder Street and Anthony Rolfe Avenue, and the Gungahlin Town Centre East Design and Place Framework for a new urban village.
4,954 residents of Franklin are employed, from a labour force of 5,067. Unemployment sits at 2.2%, with participation at 81.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,266, about 70% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. 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 Franklin is highly educated, featuring strong representation in essential service sectors, an unemployment rate of only 2.2%, and employment growth estimated at 0.8% over the preceding year. As of March 2026, there are 4,954 employed residents, and the local unemployment rate is 1.8% lower than the Australian Capital Territory rate of 4.1%. Additionally, labor force participation is exceptionally high at 81.3%, compared to 70.8% across the Australian Capital Territory. Census records indicate that a minor 9.7% of the population worked from home, though this may have been influenced by pandemic containment measures.
The primary sectors employing local residents are public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance. There is a notable concentration of employment in accommodation & food, which is 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for only 26.7% of the workforce, which is below the Australian Capital Territory figure of 30.4%. The area is mostly residential and appears to have a small local job market, as shown by the disparity between the number of local jobs and the size of the resident working population. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, during the 12-month period ending March 2026, the number of employed persons rose by 0.8% and the total labor force grew by 1.0%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. By comparison, the Australian Capital Territory saw employment growth of 0.3%, a labor force increase of 1.1%, and an unemployment rate rise of 0.7 percentage points. Future demand trends in Franklin can be analyzed using the May-25 national employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project employment trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with distinct variations across different sectors. Applying these industry projections to the local employment structure in Franklin suggests a local employment increase of 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (this represents a simple weighted projection for illustration and does not incorporate local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Franklin is $2,383 a week (about $124,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,121 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $65,852 a year against an average of $74,618. 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
Based on aggregate ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, income levels in the Franklin SA2 are positioned very high on a national scale. The median taxpayer income in Franklin is $65,852, with an average taxpayer income of $74,618, compared to Australian Capital Territory figures of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Adjusting for a 10.44% rise in the Wage Price Index since the 2023 financial year, current figures would be approximately $72,727 for median income and $82,408 for average income as of March 2026. The 2021 Census data indicates that family, household, and individual earnings in Franklin are situated in the upper tier nationally, placing between the 86th and 87th percentiles.
The weekly earnings distribution is dominated by the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which includes 42.4% of residents (3,188 people), similar to the broader territory where this range represents 34.3%. High earners are also prominent, with 35.4% earning over $3,000 per week, reflecting significant purchasing capacity. Although housing expenses account for 16.8% of income, strong local earnings keep disposable income in the 84th percentile, and the SEIFA index for income places the area in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Franklin had 2,609 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 50% detached houses and 37% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 47% rented and 11% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $460 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,885 a month, a total housing cost higher than 92% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 19.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing composition in Franklin consisted of 49.9% stand-alone houses and 50.1% alternative dwellings (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and other housing types), compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 63.3% houses and 36.7% alternative dwellings. The home ownership rate in Franklin was lower than that of the Australian Capital Territory at 10.5%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (42.5%) or tenants (47.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was $1,885, which is lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080, while the median weekly rent was $460, compared to the territory average of $450.
On a national level, mortgage payments in Franklin exceed the Australian median of $1,863, and rent prices are significantly higher than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Franklin counted 2,609 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.8 people each. 38% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 72.3% of households in the area, consisting of couples with children at 37.9%, couples without children at 25.3%, and single parents at 7.4%. The remaining 27.7% are non-family households, with single-person households representing 20.8% and group households accounting for 6.9%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
55.2% of adults in Franklin hold a university qualification, including 28.6% with a bachelor degree and 22.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 96% of areas nationally. A further 10.3% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 467 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,104 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
The level of education in Franklin is significantly higher than broader regional and national averages, with 55.2% of residents aged 15 and older holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 46.3% in the SA3 region. This educational profile positions the population well for professional services and knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 22.6% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Vocational qualifications are held by 21.1% of those aged 15 and older, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (10.3%).
A high proportion of the population is engaged in study, with 35.4% of residents enrolled in an educational program. This includes 10.3% attending primary school, 10.2% enrolled in higher education, and 6.3% attending secondary school.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Franklin reaches 15 stops on 33 routes, timetabled for about 2,800 services a week. The typical home sits about 220 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 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
An evaluation of public transit shows 15 active stops operating within Franklin, offering a combination of light rail and bus services. These locations are connected to 33 distinct transit routes, which support 2,821 passenger journeys each week. Transit accessibility is strong, with the average distance from a home to the nearest stop measuring 219 meters. Because the suburb is primarily residential, the majority of workers commute to other areas. Private vehicles remain the primary transit choice at 73%, while buses are used by 10%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.2 cars per home.
A small share of the population, 9.7%, worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by public health restrictions. Transit service frequency averages 403 trips per day across the network, which translates to roughly 188 weekly trips per transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
81.9% of residents in Franklin report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 88% of areas nationally. 2.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and the occurrence of chronic illness, health metrics in Franklin are exceptional, showing a low rate of common health issues across all demographics. Additionally, private health insurance uptake is high, covering approximately 56% of the population (~4,218 people), compared to 62.4% across the Australian Capital Territory. The most prevalent health concerns recorded locally are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 6.8% and 5.8% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 81.9% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 70.2% in the Australian Capital Territory.
Residents aged 65 and older represent 5.8% of the population (436 people), which is lower than the territory-wide average of 14.3%. Senior health outcomes are strong, with national rankings corresponding closely to those of the younger demographics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
51.3% of Franklin residents were born overseas and 55.2% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 92% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (16.0%) and English (14.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Franklin ranks among the most multicultural communities in the country, with 55.2% of its population using a non-English language at home and 51.3% born outside of Australia. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 27.5% of the population. However, the most distinct religious concentration is Hinduism, which represents 14.5% of residents, a proportion significantly higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%. Looking at parental country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups in Franklin are Other at 22.4% (well above the regional average of 12.2%), Australian at 16.0% (substantially below the regional average of 23.0%), and English at 14.4% (substantially below the regional average of 23.3%).
There are also notable differences in other backgrounds, with Korean heritage representing 2.2% of the local population (compared to 0.6% regionally), Indian heritage at 7.8% (compared to 3.3% regionally), and Sri Lankan heritage at 1.0% (compared to 0.4% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Franklin is 31, younger than 97% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 38.3% 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
Franklin has a median age of 31, which is younger than the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 and the national median of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Franklin has a larger percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 (24.8%) but fewer residents aged 65 to 74 (3.9%). The concentration of residents in the 25 to 34 bracket is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Since 2021, the median age has risen by 1.2 years from 30 to 31, indicating a shift toward an older population.
Notable changes show that the 45 to 54 age group increased from 11.6% to 13.7% of the population, and the 55 to 64 cohort grew from 5.5% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort declined from 19.9% to 18.1%, and children aged 0 to 4 dropped from 7.2% to 5.6%. Demographic projections for 2041 suggest significant shifts, with the 55 to 64 age group expected to see the largest growth rate at 11%, adding 57 residents to reach a total of 581. Residents aged 65 and older are projected to account for 62% of total population growth, highlighting the aging trend. Meanwhile, population decreases are expected in the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Franklin
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) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| 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 | Aug 2026 this month all 11 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 Aug 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) | Aug 2026 this 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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (7,484 at the 2021 Census → 7,520 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 (801041039). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.