Garran

An assessment of population growth drivers in Garran reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Garran's population is approximately 3,717, marking an increase of 11 people from the 2021 Census figure of 3,706. This growth, representing a 0.3% rise, is inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses between June 2024 (estimated resident population of 3,709) and the Census date. The population density stands at 1,376 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of Garran's recent population growth. AreaSearch adopts 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, ACT Government's SA2 area projections are used, also based on 2022 data. By 2041, Garran's population is projected to decline by 123 persons overall, but specific age cohorts like the 65 to 74 group are expected to grow, with an increase of 126 people anticipated in this age bracket.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Garran, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Garran averaged approximately eight new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 42 homes. As of FY-26, five approvals have been recorded. On average, 0.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed were added between FY-21 and FY-25. This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction value of new homes was $351,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. In FY-26, $580.3 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Garran has significantly less development activity, 86.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes, which is also below average nationally, suggesting maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity shows 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% medium and high-density housing, sustaining Garran's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space.

This preference for detached housing exceeds current patterns (61.0% at Census), indicating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. With approximately 681 people per approval, Garran appears as a mature, established area. Population projections showing stability or decline suggest reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Garran has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 23 projects that could affect this region. Notable initiatives include Canberra Hospital Master Plan, Garran Primary School Modernisation and Expansion, Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, and Woden Experiment Stage 2 - Public Realm & Active Travel Upgrades. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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.

The labour market in Garran shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Garran has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate is 2.0%, with estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

As of September 2025, there are 1,855 residents employed at a rate of 1.6% below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation is lower at 61.8%, compared to ACT's 69.6%. The leading employment industries among Garran residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Health care & social assistance employs a particularly high share of residents at 1.8 times the regional level, while construction employs only 4.1%, below ACT's 6.8%.

The area functions as an employment hub with 2.0 workers per resident, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.6% while labour force increased by 0.8%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.4%, labour force growth of 1.2%, and a fall in unemployment of 0.2 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows ACT employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, adding 710 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Garran's employment mix indicates local employment could increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

Garran SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $77,505 and an average income of $107,845 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This places Garran among the top percentile nationally, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median income of $68,678 and average income of $83,634. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $88,046 (median) and $122,512 (average), based on a 13.6% growth in wages since financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, Garran's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 95th and 96th percentiles. In Garran, 36.6% of individuals fall within the $4000+ income range, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 34.3%. Economic strength is evident through 49.4% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 87.8% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Garran's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 61.0% houses and 39.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Australian Capital Territory's 58.4% houses and 41.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Garran was higher at 36.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.7% and rented ones at 30.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,600, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,167. Median weekly rent in Garran was $550, higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of $440. Nationally, Garran's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,600 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Garran has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.1% of all households, including 38.9% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 25.9%, with lone person households at 23.7% and group households at 2.3%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.4.

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

Garran has a notably high educational attainment, with 58.7% of its residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. This high level of educational attainment positions Garran favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 31.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.8%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Vocational pathways account for 18.1% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas making up 9.0% and certificates 9.1%.

Educational participation is high in Garran, with 33.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.1% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 6.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Garran has 28 active public transport stops. These include both train and bus services. There are 17 different routes operating in total.

Each week, these routes facilitate 1,468 passenger trips collectively. The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 247 meters. On average, there are 209 trips per day across all routes, which equates to approximately 52 weekly trips per individual stop.

Garran's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Garran residents have a relatively low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 75% of the total population (2,776 people), compared to 68.1% in Australian Capital Territory and the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.2 and 7.0% of residents respectively.

70.6% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.1% across Australian Capital Territory. As of 2021, 20.9% of Garran's population is aged 65 and over (776 people), higher than the 18.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are above average and broadly align with the general population's health profile.

Garran 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

Garran has a significant cultural diversity, with 35.5% of its population born overseas and 30.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Garran, comprising 42.9% of its population. Hinduism is notably overrepresented in Garran, making up 9.2% compared to the regional average of 6.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.0%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (12.9%). There are notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Indian is overrepresented at 7.0%, Russian at 0.5%, and Polish at 0.9%.

Garran's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Garran is 41 years, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years and slightly exceeds the national average of 38 years. Compared to the ACT average, the 5-14 age group is over-represented at 16.7% in Garran, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.3%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 55-64 age group has grown from 10.5% to 11.8%, and the 45-54 age group has increased from 13.1% to 14.4%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 9.4% to 7.3%. Population forecasts for Garran in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 31%, reaching 429 people from 328, with residents aged 65 and older representing 67% of anticipated growth. Meanwhile, the 15-24 and 0-4 age groups are projected to experience population declines.