Franklin

Population growth drivers in Franklin are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Franklin's population, as of May 2026, is around 7,520, reflecting a 36-person increase (0.5%) since the 2021 Census figure of 7,484 people. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,520 in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. The population density ratio is 3,269 persons per square kilometer, placing Franklin in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade (2016-2026), Franklin has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%, outpacing its SA4 region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 71.5% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from ACT Government's SA2 area projections with a 2022 base are used. By 2041, Franklin's population is projected to decline by 882 persons, but specific age cohorts like the 55 to 64 group are expected to grow, with an increase of 92 people anticipated in this cohort.

The level of residential development activity in Franklin is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Franklin has had minimal development with just one approval over the five years from 2015 to 2020. This indicates a mature and 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, Franklin shows substantially reduced construction activity from January 2019 to December 2020. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes, though construction activity has intensified recently. This is likewise lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints.

With population expected to remain stable or decline over the next five years from 2021 to 2026, Franklin should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Franklin has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 33 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects are Franklin Aged Care Facility, Franklin Community Centre, Franklin Storm Water Management, and Franklin Childcare Centre. The following details those deemed most relevant.

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

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The labour market strength in Franklin positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Franklin has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.1%, having seen an estimated employment growth of 1.2% over the past year as of December 2025. At this time, 4942 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 1.7%, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Franklin is high at 81.0%, compared to the ACT's 70.5%. According to Census responses, only 9.7% of residents work from home. The key industries of employment among residents are public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and health care & social assistance. Notably, accommodation & food services employ 1.6 times the regional average.

However, public administration & safety employs just 26.7% of local workers, below the ACT's 30.4%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.2%, while labour force increased by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, across the ACT, employment grew by 0.9%, labour force expanded by 1.2%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Franklin. These projections indicate that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Franklin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years.

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

The Franklin SA2 had a high national income level according to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $65,852 and the average income stood at $74,618. These figures compared to those for Australian Capital Territory, which were $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on a 10.44% growth in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $72,727 (median) and $82,408 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Franklin ranked highly nationally, between the 86th and 87th percentiles for households, families, and individuals. The earnings profile showed that the majority of residents, 42.4% or 3,188 people, fell into the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly income bracket. A substantial number of higher earners, 35.4%, exceeded $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consumed 16.8% of income, but disposable income still ranked at the 84th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 9th decile.

Franklin displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Franklin's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 49.9% houses and 50.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's structure of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Franklin was at 10.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.5% and rented dwellings at 47.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Franklin was $1,885, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure in Franklin was recorded at $460, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Franklin's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households make up 72.3% of all households, including 37.9% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.7%, with lone person households at 20.8% and group households comprising 6.9%. The median household size is 2.8 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Franklin demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Franklin's residents aged 15+ have a higher educational attainment than broader benchmarks. 55.2% hold university qualifications compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA3 area's 46.3%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 28.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (22.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.0%). Vocational pathways account for 21.1%, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 10.3%.

Educational participation is high, with 35.4% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary, 10.2% in tertiary, and 6.3% pursuing secondary education.

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

Franklin has 15 active public transport stops offering a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 33 individual routes, collectively facilitating 2,821 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 219 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using cars as the dominant mode at 73%, while 10% use buses. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 9.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 403 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 188 weekly trips per individual stop.

Franklin's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Franklin's health outcomes, as assessed by AreaSearch, show excellent results. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 56% of the total population (around 4,218 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 6.8% and 5.8% of residents respectively. About 81.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. As of 2021, 5.8% of Franklin's population is aged 65 and over (436 people), lower than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Franklin is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Franklin has one of the most diverse populations in the country, with 55.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 51.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 27.5%. Hinduism is notably higher than average at 14.5%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 4.8%.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is most prevalent at 22.4%, above the regional average of 12.2%. Australians make up 16.0% and English 14.4%, both below their respective averages of 23.0% and 23.3%. Some ethnic groups show significant deviations: Korean is overrepresented at 2.2% (regional average 0.6%), Indian at 7.8% (3.3%), and Sri Lankan at 1.0% (0.4%).

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

Franklin has a median age of 31, which is younger than the Australian Capital Territory's figure of 35 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to Australian Capital Territory, Franklin has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (24.8%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (3.9%). This 25-34 age group concentration is well above the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the median age has increased by 1.2 years from 30 to 31, reflecting an aging population. Key changes show the 45 to 54 age group grew from 11.6% to 13.7%, while the 55 to 64 cohort increased from 5.5% to 7.0%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort declined from 19.9% to 18.1%, and the 0 to 4 age group dropped from 7.2% to 5.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Franklin. The 55 to 64 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 11%, adding 57 residents to reach 581. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 62% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 age cohorts.