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 approximately 10,201 as of Feb 2026. This figure represents an increase of 1,615 people (18.8%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,586. The growth is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 9,193 in June 2024 and an additional 910 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,237 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Gungahlin's growth rate exceeded both the state (6.7%) and SA4 region averages between 2021 and Feb 2026. Overseas migration contributed approximately 64.5% of overall population gains during this period.

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, also using 2022 as the base year. According to demographic trends, Gungahlin is predicted to experience exceptional growth in the future, placing it among the top 10 percent of national statistical areas. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by 6,484 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 53.7% over the 17-year period.

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, with a total of 1,568 homes approved between FY21 and FY25, and one so far in FY26. This equates to an average of 1 new resident per year per dwelling constructed during this period. The market has shown good balance between supply and demand, supporting stable conditions, with new dwellings developed at an average expected construction cost value of $297,000.

In the current financial year, $31.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating robust local business investment. Relative to the Australian Capital Territory, Gungahlin has 261% more new home approvals per person, offering greater choice for buyers and reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent development has consisted entirely of attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns (currently 36% houses), suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With around 4450 people per dwelling approval, Gungahlin reflects a highly mature market. Future projections estimate an addition of 5,475 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.

Future projections show Gungahlin adding 5,475 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on 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 21stth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 57 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Gungahlin Community Centre, Gungahlin Marketplace Expansion, Moncrieff East Residential Estate, and Raya Gungahlin. 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.

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

Gungahlin has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 4.5% in September 2021, showing an estimated employment growth of 1.5% over the past year. As of September 2025, there are 5,920 residents employed with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is 0.9% above the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation in Gungahlin stands at 79.0%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.5%. According to Census responses, only 9.7% of residents work from home. The leading employment industries among residents are public administration & safety, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance. Gungahlin has a particular employment specialization in accommodation & food, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

However, public administration & safety is under-represented at 23.4% of the workforce compared to 30.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. Many residents appear to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.5%, while labour force grew by an equal percentage, leaving unemployment broadly flat at 4.6%. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory experienced employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a slight drop in unemployment to 3.4%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Gungahlin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though these are simple weighting extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

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

The Gungahlin SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $61,752 and an average income of $70,678 in financial year 2023. This is higher than the national averages of $54,941 for median income and $68,872 for average income, as per AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981 in 2023. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $67,470 (median) and $77,223 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Gungahlin rank between the 78th and 82nd percentiles nationally. In financial year 2019-2020, 38.7% of Gungahlin's population (3,947 individuals) had weekly incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, slightly higher than the regional average of 34.3%. Notably, 31.3% earned above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consumed 17.1% of income in Gungahlin, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 76th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Gungahlin, as per the latest Census evaluation, dwelling structures comprised 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 dwellings at 53.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,801, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure was $450, matching the Australian Capital Territory's figure but higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Gungahlin's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households account for 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 comprising 6.9%. 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

Gungahlin's residents aged 15 and above have a higher proportion with university qualifications than the national average, at 48.3% compared to Australia's 30.4%. This notable difference indicates a significant educational advantage for the area, which may translate into enhanced opportunities in knowledge-based fields. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent among these residents, accounting for 26.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways also play a substantial role in Gungahlin's educational landscape, with 23.2% of qualifications held being advanced diplomas (10.8%) or certificates (12.4%).

The area demonstrates high levels of educational participation, with 32.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education programs. 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 routes, facilitating 5,119 weekly passenger trips in total. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living 184 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most commuters travel outward. Cars remain the dominant mode at 74%, followed by buses at 8% and walking at 5%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.1, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 9.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 731 trips daily 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.

Private health cover was found to be approximately 54% of the total population (around 5,518 people), compared to 62.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. The most common medical conditions were mental health issues and asthma, impacting 8.4 and 6.5% of residents respectively. 78.4% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 8.6% of residents aged 65 and over (872 people), lower than the 14.3% in the 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's cultural diversity is notable, with 49.4% speaking a language other than English at home and 49.8% born overseas as of the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Christianity is the dominant religion in Gungahlin, comprising 32.4% of its population. However, Hinduism stands out with 11.4%, significantly higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is most represented at 19.9%, substantially higher than the regional average of 12.2%. English ancestry comprises 17.2%, notably lower than the regional average of 23.3%, while Australian ancestry stands at 17.1%, also lower than the regional average of 23.0%. Certain ethnic groups show notable divergences: Korean is overrepresented at 2.7% (vs 0.6% regionally), Chinese at 11.0% (vs 4.2%), and Indian at 5.8% (vs 3.3%).

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

Gungahlin's median age is 32 years, which is slightly younger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Gungahlin has a higher concentration of 25-34 residents at 25.2%, but fewer 5-14 year-olds at 8.6%. This concentration of 25-34 residents is well above the national average of 14.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 65-74 age group has grown from 4.2% to 5.8%, while the 55-64 cohort increased from 7.3% to 8.8%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has declined from 27.8% to 25.2%. Demographic modeling suggests that Gungahlin's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 35-44 age cohort projected to expand considerably, increasing by 964 people (54%) from 1,791 to 2,756.