Ngunnawal

An assessment of population growth drivers in Ngunnawal reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Ngunnawal's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, stood at 11,188 by May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 231 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,957. The rise is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 11,188 in June 2025 and an additional 53 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,689 persons per square kilometer, placing Ngunnawal in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. Natural growth drove primary population growth, contributing approximately 60.4% of overall gains recently.

AreaSearch employs 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 with a 2022 base are adopted. By 2041, projections indicate an overall population decline of 764 persons. However, specific age cohorts like the 65 to 74 group are expected to grow by 114 individuals during this period.

The level of residential development activity in Ngunnawal is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Ngunnawal has seen approximately 9 new home approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 46 homes. As of FY26, 1 approval has been recorded so far. The population decline in recent years has resulted in adequate development activity relative to other areas, benefiting buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $281,000. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Ngunnawal's building activity is significantly lower, recording 92.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties, although there has been an increase in building activity recently. This activity is also below national averages, suggesting maturity of the area and possible planning constraints. All new constructions have been townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift represents a notable change from the existing housing composition, which is currently 67.0% houses.

The expected stable or declining population in Ngunnawal should reduce pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Ngunnawal has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects that could impact the area. Notable ones include Gold Creek Homestead Precinct, North Gungahlin Health Centre, Casey Emergency Services Station, and Casey Indoor Sports Facility. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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.

The employment landscape in Ngunnawal shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Ngunnawal has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate in the area was 4.5% as of December 2020, with an estimated employment growth of 0.9% over the past year. As of December 2025, there were 6,257 residents employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.7% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%.

The workforce participation rate in Ngunnawal was 73.7%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 70.5%. According to Census responses from 2016, only 11.1% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries among residents include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Ngunnawal has a particular employment specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

However, public administration & safety is under-represented, with only 26.7% of Ngunnawal's workforce compared to 30.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.9%, and labour force increased by 1.0% in Ngunnawal, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.1 percentage points. In comparison, across the Australian Capital Territory, employment grew by 0.9%, labour force expanded by 1.2%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Ngunnawal. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Ngunnawal's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

The Ngunnawal SA2 had a high national income level according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $66,029 and the average income stood at $74,818. These figures compared to those for Australian Capital Territory which were $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates as of March 2026 would be approximately $72,922 for median income and $82,629 for average income. Census data showed household, family and personal incomes all ranked highly in Ngunnawal, between the 79th and 87th percentiles nationally. Income analysis revealed that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominated with 39.5% of residents (4,419 people), consistent with broader trends across the broader area showing 34.3% in the same category. The area displayed considerable affluence with 30.9% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. High housing costs consumed 15.9% of income, though strong earnings still placed disposable income at the 78th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Ngunnawal, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.4% houses and 32.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Australian Capital Territory's 67.4% houses and 32.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Ngunnawal was at 21.7%, with the rest of dwellings either mortgaged (51.2%) or rented (27.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,950, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Median weekly rent was recorded at $450, matching the Australian Capital Territory figure of $450. Nationally, Ngunnawal's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 72.3% of all households, including 35.9% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.7%, with lone person households at 24.4% and group households making up 3.1%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Ngunnawal shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational qualifications in the Ngunnawal region show that 37.1% of residents aged 15 and over have university degrees, compared to 46.8% in the SA4 region as of the latest available data. This difference suggests potential for educational development and skill enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 30.8% of residents aged 15 and over holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (19.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.6% in primary, 6.6% in secondary, and 6.0% in tertiary education as of the most recent data points.

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

Ngunnawal has 65 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 141 different routes, providing a total of 6,575 weekly passenger trips. The average distance to the nearest transport stop for residents is 171 meters, indicating excellent accessibility. In this residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 89% of residents, while buses are used by 5%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 11.1% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, there is an average of 939 trips per day, equating to approximately 101 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Ngunnawal 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

Ngunnawal demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 56% (~6,276 people) have private health cover, compared to 62.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, impacting 9.8 and 9.3% of residents respectively. A total of 69.0% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 12.3% (1,381 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 14.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Ngunnawal's population shows high cultural diversity, with 28.7% born overseas and 28.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Ngunnawal, comprising 41.3%. The category 'Other' religion is overrepresented in Ngunnawal, at 2.5%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 1.4%.

Ancestry-wise, Australians make up 23.9%, English 22.4%, and Other 13.8% of Ngunnawal's population. Notably, Croatian (1.3%), Serbian (0.5%) and Hungarian (0.4%) ethnic groups are overrepresented compared to regional averages.

Ngunnawal hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Ngunnawal's median age is 34 years, comparable to the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 but lower than the national average of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Ngunnawal has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (17.8%) and fewer residents aged 15-24 (10.6%). According to data from the post-2021 Census, the age group 55-64 has grown from 8.6% to 9.7%, while the age group 75-84 increased from 3.7% to 4.8%. Conversely, the age group 15-24 has declined from 11.5% to 10.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Ngunnawal's age profile will change significantly. The strongest projected growth is in the age group 65-74, with a 15% increase adding 100 residents to reach 792. This demographic aging trend continues as residents aged 65 and older represent 73% of anticipated population growth. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the age groups 75-84 and 15-24.