Gungahlin

Gungahlin lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Gungahlin's population was around 10,030 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,444 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,586. The growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 9,573 in June 2025 and an additional 981 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 2,199 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Gungahlin's growth rate of 16.8% since the 2021 Census exceeded both the state (8.3%) and SA4 region averages, positioning it as a growth leader in the area. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, using 2022 as the base year. Looking ahead, Gungahlin is predicted to experience exceptional demographic growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of national statistical areas by 2041. Based on latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is expected to increase by 6,172 persons over this period, reflecting a total increase of 56.8%.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Gungahlin among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Gungahlin has seen approximately 313 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. A total of 1,568 homes were approved during this period, with one home already approved in FY26. This results in an average of about 1 new resident per year per dwelling constructed.

The market balance between supply and demand supports stable conditions, with new dwellings developed at an average expected construction cost value of $297,000. In the current financial year, $31.1 million worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Gungahlin has seen 255.0% more new home approvals per person, offering greater choice for buyers and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent development has exclusively comprised attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 36.0% houses). This trend towards denser development caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers, potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections. With around 4450 people per dwelling approval, Gungahlin reflects a highly mature market. Future projections estimate that Gungahlin will add approximately 5,697 residents by 2041 based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate.

Given current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Gungahlin has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 20thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 55 projects that could affect the region. Notable initiatives include the Gungahlin Community Centre, Moncrieff East Residential Estate, Raya Gungahlin, and Gungahlin Town Centre East Expansion. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

Gungahlin has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Gungahlin's workforce is highly educated with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.9% as of December 2025. Over the past year, employment has shown stability.

As of December 2025, 5,904 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.9%, which is 1.0% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation was 75.6%, exceeding the ACT's 70.5%. According to Census responses, 9.7% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were public administration & safety, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance.

The area had a particular specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level, while public administration & safety was under-represented at 23.4% compared to ACT's 30.4%. Employment opportunities exist locally, but many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.5%, labour force grew by 1.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. In contrast, ACT experienced employment growth of 0.9% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Gungahlin'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

Gungahlin SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $61,752 and an average of $70,678 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures are higher than national averages of $54,970 (median) and $69,792 (average). The Australian Capital Territory's median income was $72,206 and average income was $85,981 in the same period. By March 2026, estimated incomes based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% would be approximately $68,199 (median) and $78,057 (average). Census data indicates that Gungahlin's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 78th and 82nd percentiles nationally. In Gungahlin, 38.7% of individuals earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly income range, aligning with broader regional trends at 34.3%. Notably, 31.3% of the population earns above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 17.1% of income, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 76th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Gungahlin features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Gungahlin's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 35.7% houses and 64.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gungahlin was at 13.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.9% and rented ones at 53.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,801, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Weekly rent in Gungahlin was $450, matching the Australian Capital Territory figure but higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Gungahlin's monthly mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863.

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

Family households comprise 68.0% of all households, including 29.6% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.0%, with lone person households at 25.1% and group households making up 6.9% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Gungahlin places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Gungahlin is notably higher than national averages, with 48.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. This educational advantage indicates strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities within the area. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways account for 23.2% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.8% and certificates accounting for 12.4%.

Educational participation is high in Gungahlin, with 32.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.3% pursuing tertiary education, 7.0% in primary education, and 6.1% engaged in secondary education.

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

Gungahlin has 35 active public transport stops, offering a mix of light rail and bus services. These stops are served by 68 individual routes, collectively facilitating 5,119 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 184 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Gungahlin's residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 74%, while bus accounts for 8% and walking for 5%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 9.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 731 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 146 weekly trips per individual stop.

Gungahlin's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Gungahlin. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups.

The rate of private health cover was approximately 54% of the total population (~5,426 people), compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Mental health issues impacted 8.4% of residents, while asthma affected 6.5%. A total of 78.4% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area had 8.7% of residents aged 65 and over (871 people), lower than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Gungahlin, as of the latest available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census conducted on 9 August 2016, has a high level of cultural diversity with 49.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 49.8% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Gungahlin, making up 32.4% of people residing there. However, Hinduism is notably overrepresented in Gungahlin compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, comprising 11.4% of the population.

In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are 'Other', at 19.9%, English at 17.2%, and Australian at 17.1%. These figures are substantially higher than the regional averages for 'Other' (12.2%), notably lower for English (23.3%) and Australian (23.0%). There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, with Korean at 2.7%, Chinese at 11.0%, and Indian at 5.8% compared to regional averages of 0.6%, 4.2%, and 3.3% respectively.

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

Gungahlin's median age in 2021 was 32 years, which is younger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and significantly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to the ACT, Gungahlin had a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (25.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds was notably above the national average of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census data showed that the 65-74 age group grew from 4.2% to 5.8%, while the 55-64 cohort increased from 7.3% to 8.6%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group declined from 27.8% to 25.9% and the 15-24 group dropped from 14.6% to 13.5%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in Gungahlin's age profile by 2041, with the 35-44 age cohort expected to expand considerably, increasing by 1,014 people (57%) from 1,780 to 2,795.