Latham

Latham has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

As of May 2026, Latham's population is approximately 3,765, reflecting a decrease of 2 people since the 2021 Census which recorded 3,767 inhabitants. This change is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 3,763 in June 2025 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 1,379 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth contributed approximately 55.9% 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 and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, using 2022 as the base year. By 2041, Latham's population is projected to decrease by 466 persons according to these methodologies. However, specific age cohorts like those aged 85 and over are expected to grow, with a projected increase of 66 people in this group.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Latham according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Latham has seen approximately six new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 30 homes were approved, with four more approved in FY26 so far.

On average, about 3.4 new residents per year have arrived for each dwelling constructed during these years. This has led to a significant gap between demand and supply, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. The average construction cost of new dwellings was around $246,000. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Latham shows substantially reduced construction levels, 72.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties.

This level is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New building activity in Latham consists of 60.0% detached houses and 40.0% medium and high-density housing. There has been a growing mix of townhouses and apartments, providing options across different price points, from family homes to more affordable compact living. This shows a considerable change from the current housing mix, which is currently 88.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Population projections indicate stability or decline in Latham, which should lead to reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Latham has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of three projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects 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 and Modernisation. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Latham faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Latham has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 6.2%. Employment stability has been relatively consistent over the past year.

As of December 2025, 1,900 residents are employed while the unemployment rate stands at 8.6%, which is 4.8 percentage points higher than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation in Latham is similar to ACT's 70.5%. According to Census responses, 12.8% of residents work from home. Key industries for employment among residents are public administration & safety, construction, and education & training.

Construction has a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.7 times the regional average. Public administration & safety has limited presence with 28.0% employment compared to the regional average of 30.4%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 0.1% while labour force grew by 1.0%, resulting in a rise in unemployment rate of 0.9 percentage points. In comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 0.9%, labour force growth of 1.2%, with an increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 indicate potential future demand within Latham. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Latham's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Latham SA2 has an income above the national average. The median income is $67,333 while the average income stands at $74,306. In contrast, Australian Capital Territory has a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $74,363 (median) and $82,064 (average) as of March 2026. Census data reveals that Latham's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 74th and 85th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 34.9% of locals (1,313 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, reflecting a pattern seen in the broader area where 34.3% occupy this range. The district demonstrates affluence with 31.1% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 76th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Latham is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Latham, as per the latest Census, consisted of 87.9% houses and 12.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Latham stood at 32.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.7% and rented dwellings at 21.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,000, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $400, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Latham's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Latham has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 72.5% of all households, including 33.1% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 13.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.5%, with lone person households at 24.1% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Latham exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 32.9%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 33.3% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.8% and certificates at 21.5%. Educational participation is high, with 30.3% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes primary education (10.6%), secondary education (7.5%), and tertiary education (5.5%).

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

The analysis of public transport in Latham shows that there are 21 active transport stops currently operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 57 individual routes providing service to the area. This results in approximately 4,509 weekly passenger trips across all routes combined. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically located around 245 meters from their nearest transport stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward towards other areas for work or leisure. The dominant mode of transportation remains the car, used by 91% of residents, while only 5% rely on bus services.

The average vehicle ownership per dwelling in Latham is 1.5, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low percentage of residents, specifically 12.8%, work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages around 644 trips per day, equating to approximately 214 weekly trips per individual stop.

Latham's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Latham's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a standard level across both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover is very high, with approximately 56% of the total population (~2,112 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (10.7%) and asthma (9.3%), while 64.6% report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents show a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has 16.6% of residents aged 65 and over (626 people), which is higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Latham was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Latham's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 20.5% born overseas and 16.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, accounting for 46.1%. The category 'Other' is slightly overrepresented compared to the Australian Capital Territory average (1.2% vs 1.4%).

In terms of ancestry, Australians are the largest group at 27.0%, followed by English at 25.3% and Irish at 10.1%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Hungarians are overrepresented at 0.4% (vs regional average of 0.3%), Poles at 0.9% (vs 0.8%), and Dutch at 1.6% (vs 1.3%).

Latham's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Latham's median age is 38 years, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 but equivalent to Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Latham has a higher percentage of residents aged 5-14 (14.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (12.2%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the proportion of residents aged 75-84 increased from 4.6% to 7.2%, while those aged 35-44 rose from 15.3% to 16.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 65-74 decreased from 10.2% to 8.2%, and those aged 25-34 dropped from 13.9% to 12.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Latham's age profile. The cohort aged 85+ is projected to grow by 115%, adding 56 residents to reach a total of 106. Residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, reflecting broader demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the cohorts aged 55-64 and 15-24 are expected to experience population declines.