Mawson
Statistical Area - sa2

Mawson has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Mawson's population, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 3,490 people. This figure reflects an increase of 50 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,440 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,476 in June 2024 and an additional 48 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,654 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.7% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch adopts 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 ACT Government's SA2 area projections are used, also based on 2022. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth is anticipated nationally. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by 48 persons based on latest population numbers, recording a total gain of 0.9% over 17 years.

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

Mawson has recorded approximately 17 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 88 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY20 to FY25, and 14 approvals so far in FY26. On average, 1.0 new resident arrives per new home built each year between FY20 and FY25, suggesting a balance between supply and demand. The average construction cost of new homes over this period is $357,000.

In the current financial year, $1.1 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Mawson has 74.0% less construction per person than the regional average. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. New developments consist of 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend towards denser development that caters to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. Mawson has approximately 379 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established area.

Future projections estimate Mawson will add 32 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Mawson has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects expected to impact the region: Mixed-Use Complex in Mawson, Phillip Swimming And Ice-Skating Centre Redevelopment, Canberra Hospital Master Plan, and Woden Green. The following list details those most relevant.

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

The labour market in Mawson demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Mawson's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.3% as of June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.7% over the past year.

In June 2025, 1,921 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.1% lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation in Mawson was somewhat below the ACT average at 66.3%. Leading employment industries among residents include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Notably, health care & social assistance has a strong presence with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level.

However, public administration & safety has limited presence in Mawson at 27.8% compared to the regional average of 30.4%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.7% while labour force grew by 1.6%, resulting in a decrease in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, ACT recorded employment growth of 1.9% with unemployment falling by 0.3 percentage points. As of Sep-25, ACT's employment contracted by 0.33%, losing 1,480 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5% with employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest that Mawson's employment may grow by approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

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

Mawson's median taxpayer income was $65,691 and average income was $87,844 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2022. This is among the highest in Australia, contrasting with the Australian Capital Territory's median income of $68,678 and average income of $83,634. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since the financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $72,772 (median) and $97,314 (average) as of March 2025. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes all rank highly in Mawson, between the 78th and 89th percentiles nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 33.0% of residents (1,151 people), aligning with the region where this cohort likewise represents 34.3%. A substantial proportion of high earners, at 34.9%, indicates strong economic capacity throughout Mawson. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 81st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Mawson displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Mawson, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 54.2% houses and 45.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Australian Capital Territory's figures of 58.4% houses and 41.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mawson stood at 32.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.7% and rented dwellings at 36.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, aligning with the Australian Capital Territory average, while median weekly rent was $400, compared to Australian Capital Territory's figures of $2,167 and $440 respectively. Nationally, Mawson's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Mawson has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 66.9% of all households, consisting of 27.4% couples with children, 28.9% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.1%, with lone person households at 29.2% and group households making up 3.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Australian Capital Territory average.

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

In Mawson, a higher proportion of residents aged 15 years and over have university qualifications compared to broader benchmarks. Specifically, 53.0% of residents in the area hold such qualifications, while Australia as a whole has 30.4%, and the SA4 region has 46.8%. This educational advantage is evident from July 2016 data. Among these university-qualified residents, bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.1%) and graduate diplomas (5.8%).

Vocational pathways also contribute significantly to educational attainment in Mawson, with advanced diplomas accounting for 11.4% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and over, and certificates making up another 12.2%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of July 2016. This includes 9.5% pursuing primary education, 7.2% engaged in tertiary education, and 6.9% studying at secondary level. Mawson Primary School and Canberra Christian School serve a total of 698 students collectively within the area, contributing to its above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA score: 1089). Both schools focus exclusively on primary education provision, with secondary educational options available in nearby areas.

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

Mawson's public transport analysis shows 17 active stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 3 individual routes providing 496 weekly passenger trips combined. Transport accessibility in Mawson is rated as good, with residents located an average of 219 meters from their nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 70 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 29 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mawson's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Mawson residents. The prevalence of common health conditions is quite low among the general population but higher than the national average in older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high, with approximately 64% of the total population (2,226 people) having it, compared to 68.1% across the Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.3 and 7.6% of residents respectively. 70.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.1% across the Australian Capital Territory. As of a specific date (not provided), 18.4% of residents are aged 65 and over (641 people).

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

Mawson's cultural diversity is notable, with 35.5% of its population born overseas and 30.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Mawson, comprising 40.9% of the population. Hinduism is overrepresented compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, making up 8.9% of Mawson's population versus 6.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (20.8%), Australian (19.5%), and Other (17.5%). Notable divergences exist in Welsh (0.9% vs regional 0.6%), Hungarian (0.5% vs 0.3%), and Russian (0.5% vs 0.3%) ethnic groups.

Mawson's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Mawson's median age is 38 years, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 but equivalent to the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Mawson has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (9.5%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.3%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has increased from 9.9% to 11.3%, while the 45-54 cohort has risen from 11.5% to 12.5%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 16.6% to 15.2%, and the 75-84 group has dropped from 7.1% to 6.1%. By 2041, Mawson's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 65-74 cohort is expected to grow by 26%, adding 86 residents to reach a total of 418. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 67% of population growth, indicating a trend towards demographic aging. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 0-4 age groups are projected to experience population declines.