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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
Franklin's population stands at approximately 7,520 as of Aug 2026, according to analysis by AreaSearch. Compared to the 7,484 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents an addition of 36 people (0.5%). This change is derived from address validation following the Census date alongside the ABS estimated resident population figure of 7,520 as of June 2025. With a population density of 3,269 persons per square kilometer, Franklin ranks within the upper quartile among nationwide locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Over the previous ten years, the suburb expanded at a compound annual growth rate of 2.2%, outpacing the SA4 region.
Net overseas migration served as the core engine of demographic expansion, accounting for roughly 71.5% of total population additions in recent times. Projections compiled by the ABS/Geoscience Australia (issued in 2024 with a 2022 baseline) are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 locations, supplemented post-2032 and for unlisted areas by ACT Government SA2 age cohort growth rates based on 2022 figures. Based on this framework, Franklin's demographic trajectory indicates an impending population contraction of 886 persons by 2041. Despite the overarching contraction, select demographics are slated to expand, most notably the 55 to 64 demographic, which is forecast to increase by 93 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity across Franklin has been exceptionally quiet, recording just 1 approval across a five-year timeframe. Such subdued construction reflects an established, fully built-out neighbourhood with scarce vacant parcels. For prospective purchasers, this constrained development pipeline restricts modern building additions, generally underpinning existing real estate values and concentrating market activity on established dwellings. Franklin registers substantially quieter building activity relative to broader Australian Capital Territory benchmarks. This subdued flow of incoming supply tends to reinforce demand and bolster pricing across established housing stock. Furthermore, construction activity tracks below the national baseline, underscoring both local market maturity and potential zoning or planning constraints.
Given that the local population is projected to either plateau or decline, Franklin is likely to experience easing housing demand, potentially generating favourable openings for prospective homebuyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Franklin
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
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 $249 million. A further 78 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $5.36 billion. 14 are already under construction and 33 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
Area performance is heavily guided by planning schemes, local infrastructure enhancements, and major development undertakings. AreaSearch has pinpointed 33 projects overall that are positioned to shape the surrounding district. Notable works include Franklin Aged Care Facility, Franklin Community Centre, Franklin Storm Water Management, and Franklin Childcare Centre, with the most significant developments outlined below.
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.
Walk Street Franklin
Walk Street is a mixed-density masterplanned residential development situated across Block 1 Section 127 in Franklin. The proposal encompasses 323 dwellings comprising 236 apartments across mid-rise buildings and 87 townhouses, alongside integrated landscaping and pedestrian linkages. Delivered by Pod Projects Group, the development was formally assessed and approved under ACT planning applications.
Franklin Community Centre
The ACT Government is undertaking strategic planning for enhanced community facilities and multi-purpose civic spaces in Franklin to serve the growing Gungahlin district. The master plan concept explores dedicated multi-function rooms, event spaces, and shared community infrastructure integrated with Franklin School and surrounding open space. Community activities currently utilise shared campus facilities while long-term civic infrastructure plans progress.
Franklin Childcare Centre
The ACT Government is assessing proposals for the Franklin Childcare Centre to deliver a dedicated 80-place early learning facility in northern Canberra. The planned center includes age-specific indoor activity spaces, secure outdoor play yards, and family support amenities to address high childcare demand in the Gungahlin area. The project is advancing through statutory planning assessments with delivery targeted for 2027.
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 Solar Farm
Proposed community-scale solar farm and battery storage facility intended to generate approximately 5 MW of clean energy to support northern Canberra's grid stability and ACT net-zero emissions targets. The proposal incorporates ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays integrated alongside battery storage.
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.
4,954 residents of Franklin are employed, from a labour force of 5,067. Unemployment sits at 2.2%, with participation at 81.6%. 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
Franklin features a highly skilled labour force, prominent representation across key service industries, an unemployment rate standing at just 2.2%, and an estimated 0.8% annual rise in workforce numbers. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 4,954, holding the unemployment rate 1.8% below the Australian Capital Territory mark of 4.1%, while labour force participation reached an elevated 81.6% (exceeding the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of 70.6%). Census figures indicate that 9.7% of employed locals worked remotely, though this metric was influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment fields for local residents comprise public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance.
Local workers show a notable concentration in accommodation & food, exceeding the wider regional level by 1.6 times. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for 26.7% of local employment, falling short of the 30.4% recorded across the wider region. Comparing Census numbers for local jobs against working resident totals highlights that this predominantly residential suburb offers modest internal employment opportunities. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM metrics indicates that in the year leading to March 2026, Franklin recorded a 0.8% rise in employment and a 1.0% expansion in the labour pool, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point uptick in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe across Australian Capital Territory, job figures grew by 0.3%, the labour pool expanded by 1.1%, and unemployment climbed 0.7 percentage points. Additional context on potential workforce demand is provided by national projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26. These five- and ten-year forecasts have been applied against the local occupational profile. Nationally, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over a decade, though outcomes vary across sectors. Applying these specific industry trends to Franklin's workforce profile suggests local employment could expand by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (representing a baseline weighting calculation for illustrative use without local demographic forecasting adjustments).
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
ATO postcode records for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch indicate that earnings across the Franklin SA2 sit well above the national standard, recording a median of $65,852 alongside an average of $74,618. These figures compare to Australian Capital Territory figures of a $72,206 median and an $85,981 average. Factoring in Wage Price Index expansion of 10.44% following financial year 2023, modeled figures reach roughly $72,727 (median) and $82,408 (average) by March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, Franklin ranks between the 86th and 87th percentiles nationally across household, family, and individual income metrics.
In terms of earnings distribution, 42.4% of residents (3,188 individuals) make between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, broadly matching the regional share of 34.3%. Affluence is prominent, with 35.4% receiving more than $3,000 weekly, underpinning local demand for high-end retail and services. Housing outlays absorb 16.8% of income, yet strong earnings maintain disposable income at the 84th percentile, placing Franklin in the 9th decile on the SEIFA income index.
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
Census data reveals that the local dwelling profile in Franklin is divided between 49.9% houses and 50.1% alternative formats like apartments and semi-detached properties, contrasting with the Australian Capital Territory distribution of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright property ownership stands at 10.5%, trailing the wider territory, while the remaining homes are occupied under a mortgage (42.5%) or rented (47.0%). Monthly mortgage commitments average a median of $1,885 locally versus $2,080 across Australian Capital Territory, while median weekly rent is $460 compared to the territory standard of $450. When viewed nationally, local mortgage costs exceed the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and rents remain substantially higher than the countrywide figure 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
Family units constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 72.3%, broken down into 37.9% couples with children, 25.3% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. The remaining 27.7% consists of non-family residences, where single-person households account for 20.8% and group households represent 6.9%. The median household size stands at 2.8 people, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory standard 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
Tertiary educational attainment in Franklin is exceptionally high, with 55.2% of residents aged 15+ holding higher education credentials, outpacing the 30.4% national average and the 46.3% recorded in SA3 area. This strong academic background provides the community with a clear advantage in professional and knowledge-intensive industries. Bachelor degrees represent 28.6% of qualifications, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 22.6% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Vocational education represents 21.1% of qualifications for individuals aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (10.3%). Enrolment across academic institutions is extensive, with 35.4% of the population participating in formal education.
This proportion comprises 10.3% attending primary education, 10.2% studying in tertiary education, and 6.3% undertaking secondary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Franklin reaches 14 stops on 32 routes, timetabled for about 2,700 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 assessment of transit networks identifies 14 active transport stops operating in Franklin across lightrail and buses. A combined network of 32 individual routes serves these stops, generating 2,740 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is favourable, with residents generally situated 220 meters from their closest transit point. With Franklin functioning primarily as a residential area, the bulk of residents travel outward for work, with car travel serving as the primary choice at 73%, followed by bus transit at 10%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling. Remote workers accounted for 9.7% of the workforce during the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.
Across the entire network, service frequency stands at an average of 391 trips per day, translating to roughly 195 weekly trips for each 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
Health indicators across Franklin are exceptionally positive based on mortality figures and chronic disease assessments from AreaSearch, which show low rates of widespread health conditions across every demographic cohort. Moreover, private health coverage is widespread, covering approximately 56% of the resident base (~4,218 people), compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Asthma and mental health issues represent the most prevalent health concerns in the community, affecting 5.8% and 6.8% of inhabitants, respectively. Conversely, 81.9% of residents reported having no medical ailments, outperforming the Australian Capital Territory figure of 70.2%. Individuals aged 65 and over account for 5.6% of the population (419 people), tracking well beneath the 14.2% recorded across Australian Capital Territory.
Senior residents exhibit strong health profiles, with national metrics aligning closely with the wider community.
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 displays a rich cultural fabric, with 51.3% of its residents born overseas and 55.2% using a language other than English in their homes. Christianity stands as the primary faith, practiced by 27.5% of the local population. A significant demographic characteristic is the presence of Hinduism, which accounts for 14.5% of residents, markedly exceeding the Australian Capital Territory proportion of 4.8%. Examining parental country of birth, the three most common ancestral groups across Franklin are Other at 22.4% (above the 12.2% regional level), Australian at 16.0% (below the 23.0% regional level), and English at 14.4% (below the 23.3% regional level).
Notable demographic variations also appear across other cultural backgrounds, with Indian ancestry representing 7.8% (against 3.3% regionally), Korean accounting for 2.2% (versus 0.6%), and Sri Lankan comprising 1.0% (compared to 0.4%).
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. 38.7% 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
The age distribution in Franklin is younger than the broader Australian Capital Territory profile. Updated estimates for August 2026 indicate that 42.4% of the population comprises young to middle aged adults (25 - 44), compared to 32.8% territory-wide, while seniors and retirees (65+) represent 5.6% versus 14.2% across the wider territory. AreaSearch estimates the median age at 31 as at August 2026, marking an increase from 30 at the 2021 Census, which remains 4 years below the Australian Capital Territory mark of 35 and beneath the national median of 38 recorded at that Census.
The most noticeable demographic shift since the Census occurred across the middle aged and young retiree cohorts (45 - 64), rising from 17.1% to an estimated 20.6%. This reflects an increase in 45 to 54 residents from 11.6% to 13.5% alongside a decrease in 35 to 44 residents from 19.9% to an estimated 17.8%, without replenishment among younger groups. By 2041, retiree and elderly cohorts are forecast to record the strongest numerical gain, climbing by 91 (22%) to 511, whereas contractions are projected for children, young adults, and young to middle aged adults.
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 Oct 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) | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Sep 2026 last 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 Aug 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 Aug 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.