Holt
Statistical Area - sa2

Holt lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Aug 2025, Holt's population is approximately 5984, reflecting a growth of 356 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 5628. This increase was inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses between June 2024 and the Census date. The population density as of Aug 2025 is around 1813 persons per square kilometer, higher than average national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Holt's growth rate of 6.3% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA3 area (2.4%) and the state level, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 37.8% to overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and ACT Government's SA2 area projections for areas not covered by this data or years post-2032.

Future trends project above median population growth, with the area expected to increase by 1398 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, reflecting a total increase of 23.3% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Holt recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Holt has received around 21 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that from FY-21 to FY-25, Holt had a total of 107 dwelling approvals, with none recorded yet in FY-26. Each year, approximately 8.1 new residents are associated with every home built over the past five financial years. This has led to supply not keeping pace with demand, which can put upward pressure on prices and increase competition among buyers.

The average construction cost of new dwellings is $327,000. In FY-26, commercial approvals valued at $492,000 have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity in Holt. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Holt has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 28th percentile nationally, offering limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing properties.

Recent construction consists of 60% detached dwellings and 40% townhouses or apartments, providing options across different price points. Holt has around 618 people per approval, indicating a mature, established area. By 2041, Holt is projected to grow by 1,394 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Holt has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects that could affect this region. Notable initiatives are Parkwood Urban Release, New Northside Hospital, Deakin Private Hospital, and Ngurra Cultural Precinct. The following list details these projects, which are likely the most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis reveals Holt recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Holt has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.8% as of the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 3.4%.

As of June 2025, 3,113 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.4% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation in Holt is lower at 66.3%, compared to the ACT's 69.6%. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area shows strong specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, public administration & safety has lower representation at 26.6% versus the regional average of 30.4%. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 3.4%, while labour force increased by 1.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.6 percentage points. In comparison, the ACT recorded employment growth of 1.9% and a fall in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. By Sep-25, ACT employment had contracted by 0.33%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, with employment growing by 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Holt's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

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

Holt shows a median taxpayer income of $61,092 and an average of $69,056 based on latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is above the national average, contrasting with Australian Capital Territory's median income of $68,678 and average income of $83,634. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $67,678 (median) and $76,500 (average) as of March 2025. Census data reveals individual earnings stand out at the 82nd percentile nationally with weekly earnings of $1,041. The data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 34.7% of the community (2,076 individuals), consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 34.3% in the same category. High housing costs consume 15.6% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 65th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Holt displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Holt, as per the latest Census evaluation, 59.3% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 40.7% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwelling types. This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 69.4% houses and 30.5% other dwellings. Holt's home ownership rate was 27.9%, with mortgaged properties at 44.3% and rented ones at 27.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Holt was $1,950, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,000. The median weekly rent in Holt was $396, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $430. Nationally, Holt's mortgage repayments exceeded the average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Holt features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 65.2% of all households, including 27.5% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 34.8%, with lone person households at 31.3% and group households making up 3.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Holt performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 34.8%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 22.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 31.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.6%) and certificates (21.1%).

Educational participation is high at 28.1%, with 8.7% in primary education, 6.3% in secondary education, and 5.1% pursuing tertiary education. Kingsford Smith School and Cranleigh School serve a total of 887 students. Holt School demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1015) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes one primary school and one K-12 school.

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

The analysis of public transport in Holt indicates that there are currently 50 operational transport stops within the area. These stops facilitate a variety of bus services, with nine individual routes running in total. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 1,959.

The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 182 meters away from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 279 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 39 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Holt is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a slightly higher degree among older age cohorts

Holt faces significant health challenges with common health conditions somewhat prevalent, particularly among older age cohorts to a slightly higher degree. Approximately 54% (~3,213 people) of Holt's total population has private health cover, compared to 57.1% across Australian Capital Territory.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 10.7% and 8.8% of residents respectively. Conversely, 64.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 68.1% across Australian Capital Territory. Holt has 16.2% (967 people) of its residents aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges requiring more attention than the broader population.

Holt 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

Holt, surveyed in June-August 2016, exhibited higher cultural diversity compared to most local areas. Its population comprised 26.1% overseas-born individuals and 20.3% spoke a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, with 43.1%.

The 'Other' religious category showed overrepresentation in Holt (2.1%) compared to Australian Capital Territory's 1.3%. Ancestry-wise, top groups were English (25.1%), Australian (23.7%), and Other (12.0%). Some ethnic groups had notable representation differences: Polish (1.0% vs regional 0.8%), Hungarian (0.4% vs 0.3%), Welsh (0.7% vs 0.6%).

Holt's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Holt's median age is nearly 36 years, closely matching the Australian Capital Territory average of approximately 35 years, and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of about 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Holt has a higher concentration of residents aged 75-84 (7.0%), but fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.3%). Between the 2016 Census and the 2021 Census, the percentage of Holt's population aged 75 to 84 grew from 5.5% to 7.0%, while the percentage of residents aged 35 to 44 increased from 15.9% to 17.3%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 65 to 74 decreased from 9.2% to 7.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Holt. The 35 to 44 age group is projected to grow by 28%, adding 289 residents and reaching a total of 1,327. In contrast, the 25 to 34 age group shows minimal growth of just 3% (adding 35 people).