Mawson

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

Mawson's population was around 3,490 as of November 2025. This showed an increase of 50 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,440. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 3,474 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. Mawson's population density was 1,654 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Its 1.5% growth since census was within 2.9 percentage points of the SA3 area's 4.4%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 75.7% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch adopted 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, ACT Government's SA2 area projections were used, also based on 2022. Projected demographic shifts indicated lower quartile growth nationally, with Mawson expected to increase by 48 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 0.9% over the 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 15 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 76 homes were approved, with a further 19 approved in FY26 so far. On average, one new resident arrives per year for each new home over these five years, indicating a balanced supply and demand market that supports stable conditions.

The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $281,000. In terms of commercial development, $1.1 million in approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting minimal activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Mawson has significantly less development activity, 73.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. New development consists of 46.0% standalone homes and 54.0% townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 379 people per dwelling approval, Mawson demonstrates a developed market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Mawson is projected to add 32 residents by 2041. 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.

Mawson has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified two projects likely affecting this region. Notable initiatives include Mixed-Use Complex in Mawson, Phillip Swimming And Ice-Skating Centre Redevelopment, Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, and Canberra Hospital Master Plan. Relevant projects are listed below.

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The employment environment in Mawson shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Mawson's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.0% as of September 2025. This rate has seen an estimated growth of 1.8% over the past year.

As of September 2025, there were 1,922 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.5% lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation in Mawson was somewhat below standard at 68.9%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.5%. According to Census responses, a low 10.1% of residents worked from home. The key industries of employment among residents were public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services.

Mawson demonstrated notable concentration in health care & social assistance with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average. Public administration & safety had limited presence with 27.8% employment compared to the regional average of 30.4%. The predominantly residential area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. During the year to September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.8% and labour force increased by 1.2%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 1.4%, labour force grow by 1.2%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mawson's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

The median taxpayer income in Mawson SA2 is $68,199, with an average of $87,891 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This contrasts with the Australian Capital Territory's median income of $72,206 and average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $74,514 (median) and $96,030 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Mawson rank highly nationally, between the 78th and 88th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 33.0% of residents (1,151 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting regional patterns where 34.3% occupy this range. Economic strength is evident through 34.9% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 80th 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 above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Mawson, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 54.2% houses and 45.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in Mawson was recorded at 32.9%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (30.7%) or rented (36.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,167, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure for Mawson was recorded at $400, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Mawson's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

Mawson has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 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%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Mawson's educational attainment exceeds broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 53.0% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 46.8% in the SA4 region. This high level of attainment positions Mawson favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 31.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.1%) and graduate diplomas (5.8%).

Vocational pathways account for 23.6% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.4% and certificates at 12.2%. Educational participation is notably high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 7.2% in tertiary education, and 6.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

The analysis shows that Mawson has 16 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 34 different routes, offering a total of 2,978 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents on average 220 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode at 83%, while buses account for 10%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 10.1% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 425 trips daily across all routes, equating to about 186 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Mawson is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Mawson shows superior health outcomes as per AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, with common health conditions' prevalence low among its general population but higher than national averages for older, at-risk cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high in Mawson, at approximately 63% (2,209 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 8.3% and 7.6% of residents respectively, while 70.8% claim to be completely free from medical ailments, slightly higher than the Australian Capital Territory's 70.2%. Under-65 population in Mawson has better-than-average health outcomes. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 18.4% (641 people), compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 14.1%, but this is still lower than the national average.

Mawson 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

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, accounting for 40.9% of residents. However, Hinduism is significantly overrepresented, comprising 8.9% of Mawson's population compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

The top three ancestral groups based on parents' country of birth are English (20.8%), Australian (19.5%), and Other (17.5%), which is higher than the regional average of 12.2%. Notable overrepresentations also exist for Welsh (0.9% vs regional 0.6%), Hungarian (0.5% vs 0.3%), and Russian (0.5% vs 0.3%) ethnic groups in Mawson.

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 Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the ACT, 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 the current time, the percentage of residents aged 15-24 has increased from 9.9% to 11.3%, while those aged 45-54 have risen from 11.5% to 12.5%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has decreased from 16.6% to 15.2%, and those aged 75-84 have fallen 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 are anticipated to drive 67% of population growth, reflecting broader demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 0-4 age groups are projected to experience population declines.