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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Palmerston has an estimated 5,537 residents, down from 5,579 at the 2021 Census. That puts 2,840 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the evaluation conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Palmerston is approximately 5,537 as of May 2026. This represents a reduction of 42 individuals (0.8%) from the 5,579 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. The calculation is based on the ABS estimated resident population of 5,537 in June 2025 alongside address verification processes since the Census. With this population level, the density stands at 2,839 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb in the top quartile of all Australian locations analyzed. The primary driver of population growth has been overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 62.9% of the total population gains in recent times.
Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024, utilizing 2022 as the base year, are applied to each SA2 region. For locations lacking this data and for timeframes beyond 2032, age cohort growth rates are sourced from the ACT Government's SA2 projections, which also use a 2022 baseline. Under this framework, demographic projections suggest a minor contraction in the overall population, with a forecasted drop of 23 residents by 2041. Despite this overall decline, certain age groups are expected to expand, particularly the 45 to 54 cohort, which is projected to rise by 86 individuals. Further details are available in the section dedicated to age breakdowns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Over the last five years, only 2 residential development permits have been approved in Palmerston. This indicates that the suburb is almost fully developed, with very little vacant land left for new projects. Established neighborhoods of this nature typically experience constant demand for existing homes because purchasers have almost no options for new constructions. Palmerston exhibits a much lower level of construction activity compared to the wider Australian Capital Territory. While building activity has recently shown some signs of acceleration, this constrained pipeline of new housing generally helps maintain demand and property values for existing homes.
The building rate is also lower than the national benchmark, which indicates a mature market and suggests the presence of planning or physical limits on development. Because demographic projections indicate the population will remain stable or contract, Palmerston is likely to experience less pressure on housing demand, creating a more favorable environment for buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Palmerston
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 82 current infrastructure and development projects close to Palmerston, worth an estimated $4.78 billion. 14 are already under construction and 27 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and education & training. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and new developments are critical drivers of local performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 significant projects expected to impact this area. Some of the notable projects in the broader region include the Gungahlin Community Centre, the Gold Creek Homestead Precinct, Raya Gungahlin, and the Gungahlin Town Centre Improvements, with details below focusing on the initiatives most relevant to the suburb.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Gungahlin Town Centre Improvements
A comprehensive urban renewal program by the ACT Government to enhance the Gungahlin Town Centre. Key components include a major active travel project with 13 new community paths to improve walking and cycling connections, significant intersection safety upgrades at Hinder Street and Anthony Rolfe Avenue, and the Gungahlin Town Centre East Design and Place Framework for a new urban village.
Gungahlin Community Centre
A new 25 million AUD multipurpose facility designed to serve the growing Gungahlin community. The two-storey center includes a youth hub, art workshops, a large community hall for dance and judo, and a commercial-grade kitchen. It features secure outdoor green spaces centered around a preserved 100-year-old Blakelys Redgum tree, alongside public parking and end-of-trip facilities for commuters.
Olea Gungahlin Townhouses
Approved medium-density project branded Olea by Dish Developments. Original DA 202038102 approved on 5 Jul 2021 for 99 dwellings (70 townhouses, 29 units), later amended in Dec 2021 to a total of 109 dwellings with a single level basement (approx. 189 car spaces). Site fronts Camilleri Way and Kate Crace Street near Gungahlin Marketplace and the light rail, with outlook to Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve.
Gold Creek Homestead Precinct
An $80 million intergenerational precinct comprising the restoration of the historic 1860s Gold Creek Homestead and a major expansion of The Grove Ngunnawal retirement village. The project includes 45 premium independent living villas, featuring Australia's first retirement 'Passive House' pilot for ultra-low energy consumption. The restored Homestead officially reopened in March 2026 as a multipurpose community hub. Construction continues on a co-located 124-bed residential aged care facility by Arcare, featuring a three-storey design with a cafe, wellness gym, and cinema, targeted for completion in late 2026 or early 2027.
Franklin Residential Development
New residential development in Franklin offering mixed housing typologies including apartments, townhouses and detached homes. Planned community with parks, walking trails and local retail amenities.
Franklin Aged Care Facility
New 120-bed aged care facility with specialized dementia care units, rehabilitation services and community health programs.
Raya Gungahlin
Raya is a contemporary residential development by Core Developments offering 166 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments in the heart of Gungahlin Town Centre. Located minutes from the Gungahlin Place light rail station and adjacent to major retail and dining precincts, the development features energy-efficient design with a minimum 6.2-star EER (average 7.4 stars), double-glazed windows, and common area solar power system. Designed by Stewart Architecture with interiors by Department of Design, apartments include spacious balconies ranging from 8 to over 50 square metres, high-quality finishes including Smeg appliances, reconstituted stone benchtops, Caroma tapware, timber flooring, and reverse cycle air conditioning.The project includes rooftop communal facilities with barbecue areas and resort-style amenities. Raya represents modern urban living with convenient access to shopping centers, restaurants, medical facilities, schools, and the light rail network. Sales launched in March 2025 with settlement scheduled for early 2027.
Franklin Community Centre
Multi-purpose community centre with meeting rooms, library branch, childcare facilities and programs for seniors and youth.
3,090 residents of Palmerston are employed, from a labour force of 3,244. Unemployment sits at 4.7%, with participation at 71.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 4,102, about 74% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The workforce in Palmerston is highly qualified, with a strong representation of workers in essential services, an unemployment rate of 4.7%, and relatively stable employment conditions over the course of the year. In March 2026, 3,090 local residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.7% higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.1%. The labor force participation rate closely matched the Australian Capital Territory figure of 70.8%. Census data indicates that a low proportion of residents (11.6%) worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The primary employment sectors for local residents are public administration & safety, professional & technical, and education & training. However, the public administration & safety sector is under-represented locally, employing 27.7% of the Palmerston workforce compared to 30.4% across the Australian Capital Territory. Given the comparison between the Census working population and the resident population, this heavily residential suburb appears to provide few local employment opportunities. Analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that during the twelve months ending March 2026, employment grew by 0.3% and the labor force expanded by 1.1%, resulting in a 0.8 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, the Australian Capital Territory experienced a 0.3% rise in employment, a 1.1% increase in the labor force, and a 0.7 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 provide additional context regarding future employment trends in Palmerston. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to project growth trends. On a national level, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of growth vary considerably by industry. Applying these industry projections directly to the local employment structure suggests Palmerston's employment could grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years. This calculation is a basic weighted projection for illustration and does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Palmerston is $2,316 a week (about $120,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,134 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $66,616 a year against an average of $75,483. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that the Palmerston SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $66,616 and an average income of $75,483. These figures are significantly higher than national averages, though they sit below the median income of $72,206 and average income of $85,981 recorded across the Australian Capital Territory. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated figures of approximately $73,571 for the median and $83,363 for the average in March 2026. Based on the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Palmerston are highly positioned, ranking between the 84th and 87th percentiles nationally.
Looking at income distributions, 34.5% of the population (1,910 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is consistent with the wider region where this group represents 34.3%. A substantial 35.7% of the population earns more than $3,000 per week, indicating pockets of high affluence that support local businesses. Residents allocate 13.8% of their income to housing costs, and their high earnings place them in the 85th percentile for disposable income, with the SEIFA index ranking the area in the 8th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Palmerston had 2,038 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 60% detached houses and 0% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 29% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $450 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,940 a month. Rent absorbs 19.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the housing stock in Palmerston consists of 60.3% separate houses and 39.7% other housing types, including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative dwellings. This compares to 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings in the wider Australian Capital Territory. The rate of home ownership in Palmerston matches the Australian Capital Territory level of 28.6%, with mortgaged properties accounting for 42.5% and rented properties making up 28.9%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,940 was lower than the Australian Capital Territory average, while the median weekly rent was $450, compared to $2,080 and $450 for the Australian Capital Territory.
Nationally, mortgage costs in Palmerston exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and median rental costs are notably higher than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Palmerston counted 2,038 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 35% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 22% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 74.7%, consisting of couples with children (35.2%), couples without children (25.6%), and single-parent households (13.0%). Non-family households account for the remaining 25.3%, with single-person households representing 21.8% and group households making up 3.2%. The median household size of 2.6 residents is slightly higher than the Australian Capital Territory median of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
41.5% of adults in Palmerston hold a university qualification, including 23.8% with a bachelor degree and 13.1% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 81% of areas nationally. A further 16.6% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 655 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,066 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The level of education in Palmerston is significantly higher than broader national averages, with 41.5% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% across Australia. This educational profile positions the community well to benefit from knowledge-based industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 23.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees (13.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational training is also well represented, with 27.3% of residents aged 15+ holding technical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (16.6%). There is a high level of educational enrollment in the suburb, with 31.3% of the population currently undertaking formal studies.
Within this student group, 10.6% are in primary school, 6.9% are in secondary school, and 6.8% are enrolled in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Palmerston reaches 23 stops on 62 routes, timetabled for about 2,700 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport infrastructure in Palmerston consists of 23 active transit stops serviced by buses. These stops accommodate 62 separate bus routes, which combined offer 2,692 passenger trips each week. The area enjoys excellent transit accessibility, with residents living an average of 184 meters from their nearest stop. Because Palmerston is primarily residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 85% and buses accounting for 7%. Dwellings have an average of 1.4 vehicles. A low proportion of residents (11.6%) worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect conditions during the pandemic.
Across all transit routes, service frequency averages 384 daily trips, which translates to roughly 117 weekly departures from each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.6% of residents in Palmerston report no long-term health condition. 4.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Palmerston displays strong health metrics, with AreaSearch data showing low rates of mortality and chronic conditions across both younger and older cohorts, alongside a high rate of private health insurance covering roughly 57% of residents (~3,133 people). This compares to 62.4% of the population in the Australian Capital Territory. The most prevalent health conditions among local residents are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 9.4% and 8.6% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 69.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Health profiles for working-age residents are typical for the region.
Seniors aged 65 and over make up 14.1% of the population (777 people) and exhibit above-average health outcomes, with national rankings that align closely with the overall population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
32.2% of Palmerston residents were born overseas and 32.2% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 75% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (22.8%) and English (21.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Palmerston displays higher levels of cultural diversity than most other local markets, with 32.2% of the population born outside Australia and 32.2% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 42.9% of residents. The most notable religious overrepresentation is Buddhism, which is practiced by 4.9% of the population compared to 3.0% across the wider Australian Capital Territory. In terms of ancestral backgrounds, the three largest groups in Palmerston are Australian at 22.8%, English at 21.5%, and Other at 13.3%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnicities compared to the region, including Croatian heritage at 1.4% of the population (vs 0.9% regionally), Vietnamese at 2.3% (vs 1.0%), and Korean at 1.0% (vs 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Palmerston is 36. 25.3% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of Palmerston residents is 36 years, which is very close to the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 and slightly younger than the national median of 38 years. Compared to the wider Australian Capital Territory, Palmerston has a higher proportion of people aged 55 - 64 (12.0%) but fewer residents in the 25 - 34 bracket (14.0%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 3.0% to 4.5%, and the 35 to 44 age cohort has grown from 15.7% to 16.8%.
Conversely, the 25 to 34 age bracket declined from 15.3% to 14.0%, and the 0 to 4 group fell from 6.8% to 5.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 predict significant demographic shifts. The 45 to 54 group is projected to see the highest growth of 10%, adding 75 residents to reach a total of 818. Meanwhile, contractions are anticipated in the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Palmerston
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (5,579 at the 2021 Census → 5,537 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (801041048). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.