Garran
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Garran's population was approximately 3,717 as of August 2025. This figure showed an increase of 11 people from the 2021 Census count of 3,706, based on ABS estimated resident population data from June 2024 and validated new addresses since then. The population density was around 1,376 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration primarily drove Garran's population growth in recent periods. AreaSearch adopted 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 SA2 area projections using 2022 as the base were adopted. Future demographic trends suggest Garran's population will decline by 123 persons by 2041, while specific age cohorts like the 65 to 74 group are expected to grow by 126 people over this period.

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 13 new dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY20 and FY25, there were 68 dwellings approved. As of FY26, there has been 1 approval recorded so far.

Over the past five financial years, an average of 0.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed was observed. This suggests that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average construction value of new homes was $437,000, which is moderately above regional levels, indicating an emphasis on quality construction. In FY26, commercial development approvals totaled $580.3 million, demonstrating high levels of local commercial activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Garran has significantly less development activity, with 87.0% below the regional average per person.

This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. This level is also below national averages, reflecting the area's 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 trend favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (61.0% at Census), demonstrating ongoing robust demand for family homes. With approximately 681 people per approval, Garran shows a mature, established area. Population projections indicate stability or decline, suggesting reduced housing demand pressures in the future, which may benefit potential buyers.

Garran has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones are Canberra Hospital Master Plan, Garran Primary School Modernisation and Expansion, The Shard, and Woden Bus Depot and Transport Interchange. Below is a list of those most likely to be relevant.

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

Employment conditions in Garran demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Garran has an educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 1.9% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.3%. In June 2025, 1,909 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.6% lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation in Garran was 61.8%, compared to ACT's 69.6%. Key employment industries include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services.

Health care & social assistance is a particular specialisation, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level. Construction employs only 4.1% of local workers compared to ACT's 6.8%. As at the Census, there are 2.0 workers for every resident, indicating that Garran functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.3% while labour force grew by 1.6%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points. Meanwhile, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.9% with unemployment falling by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows ACT employment contracted by 0.33%, losing 1,480 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. This compares favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5% and lagging national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Garran's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.3% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes without considering localised population projections.

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

Garran has a median taxpayer income of $77,505 and an average income of $107,845 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This places Garran among the top percentile nationally, contrasting with the Australian Capital Territory's median income of $68,678 and average income of $83,634. According to the Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $85,860 (median) and $119,471 (average) as of March 2025. The 2021 Census figures show that household, family, and personal incomes in Garran rank highly nationally, between the 96th and 97th percentiles. The earnings profile indicates that 36.6% of the population, equating to 1,360 individuals, fall within the $4000+ income range, differing from the regional leading bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 at 34.3%. Economic strength is evident with 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

Dwelling structure in Garran, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 61.0% houses and 39.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Australian Capital Territory's figures of 58.4% houses and 41.7% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Garran was recorded at 36.8%, with the rest being mortgaged (32.7%) or rented (30.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,600, higher than Australian Capital Territory's average of $2,167. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $550, compared to Australian Capital Territory's figure of $440. Nationally, Garran's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are 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 accounting for 23.7% and group households making up 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

Educational attainment in Garran exceeds national and regional averages. 58.7% of residents aged 15+ hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 46.8% regionally. Bachelor degrees are most common at 31.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.8%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Vocational pathways account for 18.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.1% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 6.8% in tertiary education. Garran's three schools have a combined enrollment of 945 students. The International Comparative Science and Education Achievement (ICSEA) score for Garran is 1104, indicating significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement. All three schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs, with 25.4 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 18.7, suggesting Garran serves as an educational center for the broader region.

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

Transport analysis shows 28 active stops operating in Garran. These include train and bus services. There are 17 routes serving these stops, providing a total of 1,468 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 247 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 209 trips per day across all routes, resulting in 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, as indicated by health data. Approximately 75% of Garran's total population of 2,776 people have private health cover, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 68.1%, and significantly above the national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 8.2% and 7.0% of residents respectively.

A total of 70.6% of Garran residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 70.1% across Australian Capital Territory. As of 2021, 20.9% of Garran's population is aged 65 and over, comprising 776 people, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 18.3%. Health outcomes among seniors in Garran are above average and broadly align with the general population's health profile.

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

Garran's population shows notable diversity with 35.5% born overseas and 30.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 42.9%. Hinduism, at 9.2%, is overrepresented compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 6.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.0%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (12.9%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Indian at 7.0% (vs regional 3.6%), Russian at 0.5% (vs 0.3%), and Polish at 0.9% (vs 0.8%).

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