Oxley (ACT)

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

Oxley's population was approximately 1,667 as of February 2026. This reflected a decrease of 36 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,703 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 1,665 in June 2024 and an additional 1 validated new address since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 1,529 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. While Oxley experienced a 2.1% decline since census, the SA3 area achieved 0.1% growth, indicating divergent population trends. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections were used, also based on 2022. According to these projections, Oxley's population is expected to decline by 52 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 75 to 84 age group, projected to increase by 64 people.

Residential dwelling approval activity has been practically non-existent in Oxley

Oxley has seen only one residential development approval in the past five years. This suggests that the area is largely built out with minimal vacant land for development. Established areas often see steady demand for existing properties due to limited new-build alternatives.

Relative to the Australian Capital Territory, Oxley shows substantially reduced construction activity. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes, which is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Oxley should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

Oxley has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 21stth percentile nationally

AreaSearch has identified three projects that could impact the area: Dairy Farmers Hill Precinct at 1 Dairy Road, Canberra Light Rail Stage 4 from Woden to Tuggeranong, Erindale Group Centre Master Plan Implementation - Stage 1, and Tuggeranong Foreshore Improvements. These are the key projects likely to have a significant influence on the area's performance.

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

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Employment drivers in Oxley are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Oxley has an educated workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 7.7% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.0% over the past year. There are 847 residents employed, while the unemployment rate is 4.2% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation in Oxley is lower at 66.3%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.5%. According to Census responses, only 12.3% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety (28%), health care & social assistance (20%), and construction (14%).

Professional & technical services have a limited presence with 7.2% employment compared to the regional average of 11.1%. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.0%, while the labour force grew by 1.0%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 7.7%. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory saw employment growth of 1.4% and a decrease in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Oxley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

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

Oxley SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $69,065 and an average income of $78,426 in the financial year 2023. These figures are higher than national averages of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively for the Australian Capital Territory. By September 2025, estimated median and average incomes would be approximately $75,460 and $85,688 based on a 9.26% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census 2021 data shows Oxley's household, family, and personal incomes rank between the 87th and 87th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment in Oxley comprises 33.3% of residents earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly. This is consistent with broader regional trends where 34.3% fall into the same category. Economic strength is evident through 38.3% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 87.3% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. Oxley's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

Oxley's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.5% houses and 7.5% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with the Australian Capital Territory's structure of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Oxley stood at 34.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.9% and rented ones at 23.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,150, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure in Oxley was recorded at $400, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Oxley's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Oxley features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 79.2% of all households, including 35.5% couples with children, 29.6% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 20.8%, with lone person households at 19.9% and group households comprising 1.6%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Oxley exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 33.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.6%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational credentials are held by 33.0% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 21.1%. Educational participation is high, with 29.1% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.5% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Oxley has nine active public transport stops, all of which serve buses. These stops are covered by 37 different routes that together facilitate 2,029 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Oxley is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 184 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outwards, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 91%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 12.3% of residents work from home, a figure that might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages at 289 trips per day, translating to approximately 225 weekly trips per individual stop.

Oxley's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health data for Oxley residents shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are standard across both young and old age groups.

Private health cover is high at 58%, compared to ACT's 62.4%. Mental health issues and arthritis are most common, affecting 9.9% and 8.6% respectively. 64.7% report no medical ailments, compared to ACT's 70.2%. Working-age population health outcomes are typical. Oxley has 19.9% of residents aged 65 and over (332 people), higher than ACT's 14.3%. Senior health outcomes are above average, similar to national rankings for the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Oxley records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Oxley's population shows above-average cultural diversity, with 19.2% born overseas and 15.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Oxley, making up 48.0%. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's average of 0.2%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (27.5%), English (25.6%), and Irish (9.2%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: French (0.7% vs regional 0.5%), Sri Lankan (0.5% vs 0.4%), and Welsh (0.7% vs 0.6%) are notably more prevalent in Oxley compared to the region.

Oxley's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

Oxley'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 Australian Capital Territory, Oxley has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (13.6%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (12.6%). Between the 2021 Census and present day, the population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 2.5% to 5.2%, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 12.6% to 15.1%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 15.7% to 12.3%, and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 14.2% to 11.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Oxley's age profile will change significantly. The 75 to 84 cohort is projected to grow by 52%, adding 44 residents to reach 131. Residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 83% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, the 0 to 4 and 25 to 34 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.