Reid

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

According to calculations performed by AreaSearch, the population of Reid stands at approximately 2,063 in May 2026. This represents a growth of 519 residents (33.6%) from the 2021 Census, when the count was 1,544 people. The adjustment is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 2,013 in June 2025 alongside address verification processes carried out after the Census. This population level corresponds to a density of 2,194 persons per square kilometer, a figure that exceeds the typical density of nationwide areas analyzed by AreaSearch. The expansion of 33.6% since the 2021 census outpaced the state rate of 8.3% as well as the SA4 territory, positioning the suburb as a primary driver of growth in the region. The population gains were mainly propelled by overseas migration, which represented close to 60.8% of the total increase, though all components including interstate movement and natural increase made positive contributions.

AreaSearch utilizes ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for individual SA2 zones, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 territories lacking this coverage, and for any years after 2032, age cohort growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 projections starting from a 2022 baseline are applied. Future projections point to substantial population gains that place the locality in the top quartile of Australian statistical areas, with expectations of adding 641 residents by 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP data, which translates to a total rise of 28.6% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Reid according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Approximately 1 new home has been approved annually in Reid, with a total of 9 homes approved throughout the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) and 0 approvals recorded in FY-26 so far. Because an average of 49.6 new residents arrived per completed home over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand is outstripping supply by a wide margin, which generally drives up prices and intensifies buyer competition, while new builds carry an average value of $524,000, indicating that developers are focusing on upmarket, premium properties.

In comparison to Australian Capital Territory, Reid exhibits significantly lower construction activity (92.0% below the regional average per capita). This restricted volume of new completions generally provides support for established home prices and demand, even though development has shown some upward movement in recent periods. This level is also below the national average, reflecting the mature nature of the suburb and suggesting the presence of planning restrictions. Additionally, recent construction is composed entirely of detached houses, preserving the classic suburban feel of the neighborhood with a focus on spacious family homes. The emphasis on detached homes in new projects is higher than historical patterns indicate (36.0% at the Census), showing persistent demand for single-family residences despite pressure for higher density. There are approximately 1251 residents per dwelling approval, which highlights the established nature of the local market.

Demographic projections indicate that Reid is set to add 591 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. If building activity remains at its current low levels, the supply of housing may fall behind population growth, which is likely to increase competition among buyers and support future price growth.

Reid has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 24thth percentile nationally

Local performance is heavily shaped by updates to infrastructure, major projects, and urban planning policies. AreaSearch has tracked 20 projects expected to influence the suburb. Key developments include Light Rail Stage 2A: City to Commonwealth Park, the Australian War Memorial Redevelopment, Crystalbrook Aurora, and UNSW Canberra City Campus - Stage 1, with the details of the most significant projects listed below.

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

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Employment conditions in Reid remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

The workforce in Reid is characterized by high levels of education, with a strong concentration of professionals, an unemployment rate of 4.5%, and an annual employment growth rate estimated at 0.6%. In March 2026, there were 1,196 employed residents, with the unemployment rate sitting 0.4% higher than the Australian Capital Territory rate of 4.1%, while workforce participation is slightly below average (68.1% compared to 70.8% in the Australian Capital Territory). Census data indicates that a moderate 15.3% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are public administration & safety, professional & technical, and education & training. The neighborhood displays a strong specialization in professional & technical services, with a workforce share that is 1.4 times the regional proportion. Conversely, health care & social assistance is underrepresented, employing only 6.9% of the local workforce compared to 11.7% in the Australian Capital Territory. Even though some employment opportunities exist locally, a significant number of residents appear to commute to other areas for work, judging by the ratio of the Census working population relative to the local population.

AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that during the 12-month period ending March 2026, employment grew by 0.6% and the labor force expanded by 0.9%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, the Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.3%, the labor force expand by 1.1%, and unemployment increase by 0.7 percentage points. National employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context regarding prospective labor demand in Reid. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with local employment profiles to project growth trends. Globally, national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, although the rates vary widely by industry. Applying these sectoral projections to the employment composition of Reid indicates that local employment would increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (this represents a direct weighting calculation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).

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

The Reid SA2 area recorded a median taxpayer income of $71,978 and an average of $87,314, according to recent postcode data from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year. These figures are exceptionally high on a national scale, comparing to a median of $72,206 and an average of $85,981 across the Australian Capital Territory. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates stand at approximately $79,493 for the median and $96,430 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census data shows that personal, family, and household incomes in Reid are positioned highly, ranking between the 81st and 95th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket contains 31.9% of residents (658 people) earning between $1,500 and $2,999, mirroring the broader regional pattern where 34.3% fall into this bracket. A high proportion of top-tier earners (38.0% earning above $3,000 weekly) demonstrates strong financial capacity in the community. Housing costs consume 14.0% of income, while solid earnings place local residents in the 83rd percentile for disposable income, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 9th decile for income.

Reid features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The breakdown of residential properties in Reid at the time of the latest Census stood at 36.4% separate houses and 63.7% other housing formats (including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to the Australian Capital Territory distribution of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of outright home ownership in Reid was 31.2%, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory rate, with the remaining homes being purchased under a mortgage (22.1%) or occupied by renters (46.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the suburb was $2,300, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $430, compared to regional averages of $2,080 and $450 respectively. At a national level, Reid's mortgage repayments are notably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well above the national median of $375.

Reid features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 47.9%, which includes 15.2% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 4.4% single-parent households. Non-family arrangements account for the remaining 52.1% of households, with single-person households representing 40.9% and group households making up 10.8% of the total. The median household size of 2.0 individuals is smaller than the average of 2.5 observed across the Australian Capital Territory.

Reid performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Qualifications in Reid are significantly higher than broader averages, with 61.5% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% nationally and 46.8% across the SA4 region. This strong educational profile positions the suburb well for opportunities in knowledge-intensive sectors. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 31.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees (23.1%) and graduate diplomas (6.9%). Vocational training makes up 16.0% of qualifications among residents aged 15 and over, split between advanced diplomas (8.5%) and certificate courses (7.5%).

Enrolment in education is notably high, with 30.6% of the population participating in formal study. This figure includes 15.0% studying at a tertiary level, 4.2% attending primary school, and 4.0% enrolled in secondary education.

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

Public transport systems in Reid include 15 active stops serviced by a range of buses. These stops accommodate 40 distinct routes, delivering a total of 3,175 passenger trips per week. Transport access is rated as excellent, with the average distance to the nearest stop being 168 meters. Because the area is primarily residential, most workers travel to other areas, with private vehicles being the primary mode of travel at 48%, followed by walking at 26% and bus travel at 13%. Car ownership stands at 0.9 vehicles per household, which is below the regional average. Around 15.3% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.

Service frequency averages 453 trips per day across the route network, which represents approximately 211 weekly trips for each transport stop.

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

Reid displays positive health indicators based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and the rate of chronic illnesses, with both younger and older cohorts showing low rates of common health issues, while private health insurance coverage is high at roughly 63% of the population (1,305 people), compared to the national benchmark of 55.7%.

Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most prevalent health issues in the area, affecting 11.6% and 8.1% of the population respectively, while 65.7% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 70.2% in the Australian Capital Territory. Residents of working age exhibit higher-than-average rates of chronic health conditions. Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 16.8% of the population (347 people), which is above the ACT average of 14.3%. Health measures for older residents are particularly strong, ranking higher nationally than the ratings for the general public.

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

Cultural diversity in Reid is higher than in most local markets, with 20.2% of the population speaking a language other than English at home and 31.7% of residents born outside Australia. The leading religion is Christianity, representing 36.7% of the community. The most notable religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.6% of the population, compared to 0.2% across the wider ACT region.

Looking at parent birthplaces, the most common ancestries in the suburb are English at 25.4%, Australian at 20.6%, and Other ancestries at 11.5%. There are also distinct variations in several ethnic groups, with Polish heritage overrepresented at 1.3% of the population (compared to 0.8% regionally), French at 1.0% (compared to 0.5%), and Hungarian at 0.5% (compared to 0.3%).

Reid's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Reid has a median age of 39, which is higher than the ACT figure of 35 and similar to the national average of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 23.1% compared to the wider ACT, while children in the 5 - 14 group are less common at 5.0%. This concentration of residents aged 25 - 34 is notably higher than the national share of 14.6%. Since 2021, the median age has dropped by 1.4 years from 40 to 39, showing a shift towards a younger demographic. Key shifts include the 25 to 34 group increasing from 19.8% to 23.1% of the population, and the 35 to 44 cohort rising from 11.3% to 13.5%. In contrast, the 55 to 64 bracket fell from 14.9% to 13.1%, and the 65 to 74 cohort decreased from 11.5% to 9.9%. Population models suggest that Reid's age structure will shift considerably by 2041, led by the 65 to 74 group which is projected to grow by 51% (103 people), rising from 203 to 307.