Nicholls
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Nicholls' population is 6,517 as of August 2025. This figure shows a decrease from the 2021 Census total of 6,680 people, representing a drop of 163 individuals (2.4%). The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 6,517 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 972 persons per square kilometer, generally consistent with averages found across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 72.0% 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 or years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted using 2022 as a base year. Projected demographic shifts indicate an overall population decline by 507 persons in Nicholls by 2041 according to these methods. However, specific age cohorts like the 65 to 74 age group are projected to grow by 112 people during this period.

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. Development approval data, as produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, totals five approvals across the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with no approvals recorded so far in FY26. The population decline over recent years suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice.

Additionally, $1.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to the Australian Capital Territory and nationally. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes due to market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining Nicholls' traditional suburban character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Nicholls should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers in the future.

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

Nicholls has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely to impact the region. Key projects include Second Gungahlin College (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.

Nicholls ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Nicholls has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 1.9% as of June 2025, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.6%, with 3,872 residents employed. Workforce participation in Nicholls is on par with ACT's 69.6%. Major employment sectors include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Health care & social assistance has limited presence, with 8.8% employment compared to the regional average of 11.7%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, while labour force grew by the same percentage, keeping unemployment stable at 1.9%. In contrast, ACT saw employment rise by 1.9% and unemployment fall by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows ACT employment contracted by 0.33%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rates of 4.5% for unemployment and 0.26% for employment growth. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across sectors. Applying these projections to Nicholls' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

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 the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2022, Nicholls had a median income among taxpayers of $70,045 with the average level standing at $81,112. These figures are high nationally compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median and average incomes of $68,678 and $83,634 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% from July 2022 to March 2025, current estimates would be approximately $77,596 (median) and $89,856 (average). Census data from August 2021 shows household, family, and personal incomes in Nicholls rank highly nationally, between the 94th and 98th percentiles. Income distribution data indicates that 36.3% of residents earn over $4,000 per week, unlike metropolitan trends where 34.3% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. This high proportion of high earners (52.0% above $3,000/week) reflects strong economic capacity in the district. After housing costs, residents retain 90.2% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile nationally.

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

In Nicholls, as per the latest Census evaluation, 89.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 10.4% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This contrasts with the Australian Capital Territory's composition of 66.3% houses and 33.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Nicholls stood at 41.3%, compared to mortgaged dwellings at 43.7% and rented ones at 14.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,300, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,123. The median weekly rent in Nicholls was $502, higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of $462. Nationally, Nicholls' mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and 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 comprise 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 constitute 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, aligning with the Australian Capital Territory average.

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

Educational attainment in Nicholls is notably higher than broader Australian averages, with 42.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications compared to the national average of 30.4%. This educational advantage positions Nicholls strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.3% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas comprise 11.4% and certificates make up 13.9%.

Educational participation is 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. The three schools in Nicholls have a combined enrollment of 2,906 students. Socio-educational conditions in Nicholls are above average (ICSEA: 1073). The educational mix includes one primary school, one secondary school, and one K-12 school. Nicholls functions as an education hub with 44.6 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 14.7, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

Nicholls has 51 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 18 different routes that together facilitate 1,308 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated excellent, with residents typically residing just 182 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 186 daily trips across all routes, which translates 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.

Nicholls 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

Nicholls had a higher cultural diversity than most nearby markets, with 29.8% of its residents born overseas and 25.2% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Nicholls, accounting for 52.6% of the population. Buddhism's presence stood out at 3.2%, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 3.9%.

The top three ancestral groups were English (23.7%), Australian (22.3%), and Other (9.9%), which was lower than the regional average of 17.2%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Croatian at 1.6% compared to 1.3% regionally, Polish at 1.0% versus 0.6%, and Sri Lankan at 0.6% matching the regional figure.

Nicholls hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Nicholls is 44 years, which is significantly higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years. This makes it also considerably older than Australia's national median age of 38 years. The 55-64 age group constitutes 16.5% of Nicholls' population, compared to the Australian Capital Territory and the national average of 11.2%. Meanwhile, the 25-34 age group represents 8.5%, which is less prevalent than in other regions. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 5.1% to 6.4% of the population between 2016 and 2021, while the 55 to 64 cohort grew from 15.4% to 16.5%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 17.2% to 14.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Nicholls, with the 85+ age group expected to grow by 96%, reaching 166 people from 84. Notably, all population growth will be accounted for by the combined 65+ age groups, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.