Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Latham has an estimated 3,770 residents. That puts 1,381 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, demographic research from AreaSearch indicates that Latham has a population of approximately 3,770 residents. In comparison to the 2021 Census tally of 3,767 people, this represents a modest addition of 3 individuals (0.1%). This updated figure is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 3,763 recorded as of June 2025 alongside 18 validated new addresses registered since the Census date. With a density of 1,381 persons per square kilometer, the suburb sits above the nationwide average assessed by AreaSearch. Natural increase served as the primary contributor to local expansion, accounting for roughly 55.9% of recent net additions.
Future demographic outlooks incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 modeling published in 2024 using 2022 as a baseline, supplemented for post-2032 horizons and uncovered regions by ACT Government SA2 projections also based on 2022. Under these projections, Latham is anticipated to experience a net reduction of 440 persons by 2041. Despite this overall contraction, certain demographic segments are forecast to expand, most notably the 85 and over bracket, which is slated to gain 88 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
30 new dwellings have been approved in Latham over the past five years, an average of 6 a year. That is 1.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential development in Latham has seen approximately 6 dwellings approved each year, totaling 30 homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Incoming resident demand has averaged 2.5 people per year for every newly built dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), maintaining underlying property values. In line with regional patterns, newly constructed homes reflect an average construction cost of $300,000. Per capita construction activity in Latham sits substantially lower than the broader Australian Capital Territory benchmark (74.0% below regional average per person) as well as the national standard, highlighting land constraints and an established urban footprint that bolsters pricing for existing dwellings.
Recent building activity has been split evenly, with 50.0% standalone homes and 50.0% medium and high-density housing. This movement toward higher-density options marks a clear departure from the current residential stock (currently 88.0% houses), addressing the scarcity of greenfield sites while delivering attainable entry points for downsizers, new buyers, and investors. With demographic forecasts pointing toward stable or shrinking numbers, residential demand pressures in Latham could ease, fostering advantageous purchasing conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Latham
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 6 current infrastructure and development projects close to Latham, worth an estimated $6.91 billion. 5 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, environmental & disaster management and precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local development and infrastructure initiatives play a pivotal role in shaping community growth. AreaSearch has pinpointed 3 key projects expected to influence the surrounding district. Prominent developments include The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages, Kippax Fair Expansion and Redevelopment, Ginninderry Estate - Strathnairn & Macnamara (Stages 1-7+), and Macgregor Primary School Expansion & Modernisation.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Macgregor Primary School Expansion & Modernisation
Major upgrade and expansion of Macgregor Primary School at Hirschfeld Crescent, Macgregor ACT, delivering new learning hubs, additional classrooms, and improved playground facilities. The project is driven by growing enrolments from adjacent new residential developments including The Valley Ponds and the broader Ginninderry estate. The ACT Education Directorate and Infrastructure Canberra are delivering the works, with completion targeted for 2026.
The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages
Final residential stages of the established Macgregor suburb in Belconnen, delivering over 400 new homes in The Valley Ponds precinct. The estate is adjacent to Ginninderra Creek and the future Ginninderry conservation corridor and pond network, offering a mix of block sizes with connections to open space and green corridors.
Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre Bioreactor Upgrade
Icon Water is renewing the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre by building new bioreactors and supporting infrastructure, including membrane bioreactor technology, fine screening, membrane tanks, chemical dosing, blowers, waste-activated sludge management and non-potable water systems. The upgrade will increase wastewater treatment capacity to 97 ML per day, support Canberra's population growth, and help protect the Molonglo River. As of April 2026, earthworks and excavation for the new bioreactor foundations are in progress, with concrete foundation pours expected from July 2026.
Kippax Fair Expansion and Redevelopment
Major redevelopment and expansion of Kippax Fair shopping centre in West Belconnen, delivering a completely new mixed-use precinct across two stages. The project will triple retail floor space, adding a new full-line Coles and expanded Woolworths alongside the existing Aldi. Plans include approximately 180 new dwellings (including 24 affordable and public housing units) built as shop-top housing, 450 underground car parks, a 6,000sqm park, a community hub, skate park, and indoor and outdoor dining. The ACT Government finalised a direct land sale agreement with owners the Christodoulou family in August 2024, with a $12 million community infrastructure commitment.A development application was expected to be publicly notified by mid-2025.
Ginninderry Estate - Strathnairn & Macnamara (Stages 1-7+)
Canberra's largest master-planned community spanning the ACT-NSW border in West Belconnen, delivering approximately 11,500 dwellings across four suburbs over 30-40 years on a 1,600-hectare site. Over 37% of land is set aside as a conservation corridor along the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek. Two suburbs are underway: Strathnairn (909 occupied dwellings as of early 2025) and Macnamara (13 occupied, 11 under construction). A primary school opens 2026, and the first local shopping centre is targeted for 2027.Certified as a 6-Star Green Star Community.
Macnamara Residential Estate
Macnamara is the second residential suburb in the Ginninderry Joint Venture, a 6 Star Green Star community on the western edge of Belconnen. Delivered by Suburban Land Agency and Riverview Developments, the suburb will deliver approximately 1,800 homes on land bordering the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor, with views to the Brindabella Mountains. Multiple land stages are actively selling as of 2025-2026, with blocks from 540sqm priced from $615,000. A local retail centre is planned for 2027 (subject to approval) and Strathnairn Early Childhood and Education Centre is partially opening in 2026.
1,909 residents of Latham are employed, from a labour force of 2,034. Unemployment sits at 6.1%, with participation at 68.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,898, about 77% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Latham features a skilled local labor pool with strong representation in core services, maintaining consistent job counts across the prior year alongside an unemployment rate of 6.1%. As of March 2026, there are 1,909 employed residents. The local jobless rate exceeds the Australian Capital Territory level of 4.1% by 2.1%, while the participation rate of 68.4% trails the territory figure of 70.6%. In addition, Census findings recorded 12.8% of workers operating from home, an outcome potentially influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. Resident occupations are primarily clustered across public administration & safety, construction, and education & training.
Construction stands out as a distinct local strength, engaging workers at 1.7 times the regional concentration. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for 28.0% of the working population, trailing the wider Australian Capital Territory rate of 30.4%. Comparing Census working population vs resident population metrics confirms that this largely suburban locality contains relatively few workplaces within its own borders. According to AreaSearch evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics over the 12 months to March 2026, local employment held steady with no net change, whereas the labor force expanded by 1.1%, pushing the unemployment rate up by 1.0 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, the Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.3%, labor force grow by 1.1%, and unemployment climb by 0.7 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia national industry projections from Mar-26 provide context for future workforce requirements across five and ten-year intervals. While nationwide jobs are anticipated to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, applying these sector-level expectations to Latham's specific industry composition points to an estimated local expansion of 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Latham is $2,125 a week (about $111,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,089 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $67,333 a year against an average of $74,306. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Taxation statistics from the ATO for financial year 2023 analyzed by AreaSearch show Latham SA2 taxpayers earning a median income of $67,333 and an average of $74,306, outperforming national benchmarks while sitting beneath the Australian Capital Territory median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Factoring in a Wage Price Index increase of 10.44% since financial year 2023, adjusted estimates reach roughly $74,363 (median) and $82,064 (average) as of March 2026. According to Census 2021 records, Latham demonstrates solid financial standing, with individual, family, and household earnings placing between the 74th and 85th percentiles across Australia.
The weekly bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 includes 34.9% of local earners (1,315 individuals), aligning closely with the territory-wide proportion of 34.3%. Furthermore, 31.1% of households generate weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, bolstering local spending capacity. Shelter costs absorb 14.0% of earnings, while disposable income sits in the 76th percentile and the SEIFA economic index positions the area in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Latham had 1,401 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 88% detached houses and 2% apartments. 46% are owned with a mortgage, 22% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $400 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month. Rent absorbs 18.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the latest Census, standalone houses made up 87.9% of the residential landscape in Latham, with 12.1% classified as other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with the wider Australian Capital Territory breakdown of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright property ownership reached 32.8%, substantially exceeding the broader territory, while mortgaged properties accounted for 45.7% and rented homes represented 21.5%. Local financing commitments show a median monthly mortgage of $2,000 and weekly rent of $400, both sitting below the territory figures of $2,080 and $450. However, compared to Australia-wide benchmarks, Latham's mortgage costs exceed the national average of $1,863, and rents remain above the national level of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Latham counted 1,401 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 24% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the majority of domestic living arrangements at 72.5%, divided into couples with children (33.1%), couples without children (25.7%), and single parent families (13.1%). Non-family residences represent the remaining 27.5%, consisting of single-occupant homes at 24.1% and group households at 3.3%. Average household occupancy sits at a median of 2.6 people, slightly above the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
32.9% of adults in Latham hold a university qualification, including 19.5% with a bachelor degree and 8.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 21.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 339 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,028 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in Latham presents a distinct profile, with 32.9% holding higher education qualifications compared to 46.8% across the SA4 region. Among degree holders, Bachelor degrees constitute 19.5%, postgraduate qualifications account for 8.8%, and graduate diplomas represent 4.6%. In contrast, vocational and technical pathways are heavily represented, as 33.3% of individuals aged 15+ possess vocational training, comprising advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (21.5%). A considerable 30.3% of the local population is actively engaged in formal study. This cohort encompasses 10.6% attending primary education, 7.5% enrolled in secondary education, and 5.5% undertaking tertiary education courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Latham reaches 19 stops on 48 routes, timetabled for about 3,000 services a week. The typical home sits about 250 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Latham is serviced by 19 bus stops connected by 48 distinct routes, which together supply 3,031 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is favorable, with an average distance of 246 meters from homes to the nearest stop. Given the suburb's residential character, outward commuting is standard: private vehicles account for 91% of travel, while 5% commute by bus. Car ownership stands at an average of 1.5 per dwelling, exceeding regional levels. Additionally, 12.8% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census, a figure that may reflect prevailing COVID-19 dynamics.
Daily public transit schedules deliver an average of 433 trips across all routes, translating to roughly 159 weekly departures for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.6% of residents in Latham report no long-term health condition. 5.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Latham align closely with nationwide norms regarding mortality and chronic condition frequency across younger and older demographics, according to AreaSearch research. Private health insurance coverage remains substantial, held by roughly 56% of residents (~2,114 people), in comparison to 62.4% throughout the Australian Capital Territory. Asthma and mental health issues represent the primary reported medical conditions, affecting 9.3% and 10.7 of residents, respectively, whereas 64.6% reported having no long-term illnesses compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Chronic ailments are somewhat elevated among the working-age cohort. Furthermore, individuals aged 65 and over make up 17.1% of the community (644 people), surpassing the territory proportion of 14.2% while aligning generally with national distributions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Latham is largely Australian-born, at 79.5% of residents, with 16.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (27.0%) and English (25.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Latham is relatively pronounced, with overseas-born individuals accounting for 20.5% of residents and 16.1% using a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the largest religious affiliation at 46.1% of the local population. Meanwhile, those identifying with Other religions represent 1.2%, relative to 1.4% across the Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental ancestry, the leading backgrounds in Latham are Australian at 27.0%, English at 25.3%, and Irish at 10.1%. Several other heritages also show higher local concentrations than the surrounding area, including Dutch at 1.6% (vs 1.3%), Polish at 0.9% (vs 0.8%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Latham is 38. 22.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
Age distribution in Latham aligns closely with the wider Australian Capital Territory, with variance across broad age groups staying within 4.7 percentage points of territory levels. The estimated median age of 38 matches the 2021 Census result, sitting 3 years above the territory median of 35 recorded at that Census. The most noticeable demographic transition since the Census occurred in the senior demographic (65+), increasing from 15.7% to an estimated 17.1%. This shift is primarily driven by aging in place rather than migration, as the 65 to 74 group dropped from 10.2% to an estimated 7.9% while the 75 to 84 bracket rose from 4.6% to 7.4%.
Looking toward 2041, no major broad age group is expected to experience significant growth, while children, young adults, and young to middle aged adults are projected to diminish.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Latham
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 18 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,767 at the 2021 Census → 3,770 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (801011017). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.