Nicholls

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

Nicholls' population, according to AreaSearch's analysis, is around 6,517 as of November 2025. This reflects a decrease of 163 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,680. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,517 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 972 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 72.0% of overall population gains during recent periods in Nicholls.

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 the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, also based on 2022, are adopted. Projections indicate a decline in overall population by 507 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 65 to 74 age group, projected to increase by 112 people.

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

Nicholls has averaged approximately one new dwelling approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling five homes. As of FY26, one approval has been recorded so far. The population has fallen during this period, suggesting that new supply may have kept pace with demand, offering good choice for buyers. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $430,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

In FY26, $1.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, reflecting Nicholls' residential nature. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Nicholls has significantly less development activity, which generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. This limited new supply is also lower than national averages, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining Nicholls' traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Nicholls should see reduced pressure on housing in the future, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Nicholls has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 8thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects that may impact the area. Key projects include Gungahlin College East (Nicholls), Gold Creek Homestead Precinct, Gold Creek School Senior Campus expansion, and Gungahlin Community Facilities Upgrades. The following list details those 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Nicholls performing better than 85% of local markets assessed across Australia

Nicholls has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate in September 2025 was 1.8%, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.2%. There are 3,777 residents employed, and workforce participation is similar to ACT's 69.6%. Key employment sectors include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Healthcare & social assistance has limited presence with 8.8% employment compared to the regional average of 11.7%. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 1.2%, labour force grew by 0.7%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, ACT saw employment rise by 1.4% and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov shows ACT employment grew by 1.19% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%. National forecasts project total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Nicholls's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, considering industry-specific growth rates.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2022, Nicholls SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $70,045 and an average income of $81,112. Nationally, these figures are high compared to the ACT's median income of $68,678 and average income of $83,634. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2022, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $79,571 and an average income of $92,143 as of September 2025. Census 2021 data shows Nicholls' incomes rank high nationally, between the 93rd and 97th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. Income distribution in Nicholls is dominated by the $4000+ bracket, with 36.3% of residents (2,365 people), unlike metropolitan trends where 34.3% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 range. A substantial proportion of high earners (52.0%) indicates strong economic capacity in the district. After housing costs, residents retain 90.2% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and Nicholls' SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Nicholls, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 89.6% houses and 10.4% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and others. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had a composition of 66.3% houses and 33.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nicholls stood at 41.3%, with mortgaged properties making up 43.7% and rented dwellings accounting for 14.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,300, surpassing the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,123. The median weekly rent figure in Nicholls was recorded at $502, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $462. Nationally, Nicholls' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Nicholls features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 84.5% of all households, including 45.0% couples with children, 30.9% couples without children, and 7.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 15.5%, with lone person households at 13.7% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which matches the Australian Capital Territory average.

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

Nicholls has a higher proportion of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications than the national average. Specifically, 42.7% of Nicholls' residents have such qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4%. This educational advantage is largely due to bachelor degrees (24.1%), postgraduate qualifications (13.6%), and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent in Nicholls, with 25.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding them.

Advanced diplomas account for 11.4%, while certificates make up 13.9%. Educational participation is notably high in Nicholls, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.1% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 6.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 51 operational public transport stops in Nicholls. These are served by a mix of buses, with 18 unique routes providing a total of 1,308 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent accessibility to these services, with an average distance of 182 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 186 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 25 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Nicholls is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Nicholls demonstrates above-average health outcomes with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 61% of the total population (3,962 people), compared to 58.6% across Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.3%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, impacting 7.7 and 7.2% of residents respectively, while 70.2% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 76.4% across Australian Capital Territory.

The area has 18.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,231 people), which is higher than the 8.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, performing even better than the general population in health metrics.

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

Nicholls has a population where 29.8% were born overseas, and 25.2% speak a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Nicholls, with 52.6%. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, comprising 3.2% of Nicholls' population.

The top three ancestry groups are English (23.7%), Australian (22.3%), and Other (9.9%). Croatian (1.6%) and Polish (1.0%) ethnicities are overrepresented in Nicholls compared to regional averages, while Sri Lankan representation is at the regional average of 0.6%.

Nicholls hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age in Nicholls is 44 years, which is significantly higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years and older than Australia's national average of 38 years. The 55-64 age group comprises 16.5% of Nicholls' population, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's percentage, while the 25-34 age group makes up 8.5%. This 55-64 concentration is notably higher than the national average of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 5.1% to 6.4%, and the 55 to 64 cohort has risen from 15.4% to 16.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 17.2% to 14.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Nicholls. Notably, the 85+ age group is projected to grow by 96%, reaching 166 people from 84. The combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.