Reid

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

Reid's population is around 1,957 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 413 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,544 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 1,957 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,081 persons per square kilometer, which is above average national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Reid's growth of 26.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the state (6.4%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the area. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 62.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, using 2022 as a base. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in Reid's top quartile of national areas, with an expected increase of 668 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 34.1% over the 17 years.

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

Reid has seen approximately one new home approved each year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 9 homes were approved, with none yet approved in FY26.

On average, for every home built over these five years, 41.4 new residents were added annually. This significant demand outpaces supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost of new homes is $524,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Reid has notably lower building activity, 92.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction often reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings.

However, building activity has accelerated in recent years, though it remains below national averages, suggesting possible planning constraints due to the area's maturity. Recent development has exclusively consisted of detached dwellings, maintaining Reid's suburban character and appealing to space-seeking buyers. Developers are constructing more detached housing than the current pattern suggests (36.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. Reid shows a mature, established area with around 1212 people per approval. Future projections estimate an addition of 668 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Local infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects likely impacting the region. Notable projects include Academy Close Redevelopment - Campbell, Australian War Memorial Redevelopment, UNSW Canberra City Campus - Stage 1, and Marcus Clarke Street Office Complex. 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.

Reid has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Reid's workforce is highly educated with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.3%. As of September 2025, 1,191 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 0.8% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation was lower at 69.7%, compared to the ACT's 72.5%. According to Census responses, 15.3% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were public administration & safety, professional & technical, and education & training. Reid had a particular specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance showed lower representation at 6.9% compared to the regional average of 11.7%. Many residents appeared to commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. In the 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 2.3%, while labour force grew by 1.6%, causing a fall in unemployment rate of 0.6 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Reid's employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to Reid's employment mix.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates Reid SA2's median income among taxpayers is $71,978, with an average of $87,314. This ranks among the highest in Australia, compared to Australian Capital Territory's median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Reid SA2 would be approximately $78,643 (median) and $95,399 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Reid all rank highly nationally, between the 81st and 95th percentiles. Income analysis reveals the largest segment comprises 31.9% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (624 residents), aligning with regional levels where this cohort likewise represents 34.3%. Economic strength emerges through 38.0% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 83rd percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Reid's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 36.4% houses and 63.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Reid stood at 31.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.1% and rented dwellings at 46.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,300, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Median weekly rent in Reid was $430, compared to the Australian Capital Territory figure of $450. Nationally, Reid's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,300 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 47.9% of all households, including 15.2% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 4.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 52.1%, with lone person households at 40.9% and group households comprising 10.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Reid's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 61.5% hold university qualifications compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. This advantage positions Reid strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most common at 31.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (23.1%) and graduate diplomas (6.9%).

Vocational pathways account for 16.0% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 8.5% and certificates at 7.5%. Educational participation is notably high, with 30.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.0% in tertiary education, 4.2% in primary education, and 4.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

Reid has 15 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 40 unique routes, offering a total of 3,175 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents on average 168 meters from the nearest stop. Reid, being predominantly residential, sees most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode at 48%, followed by walking at 26% and buses at 13%. Vehicle ownership stands at 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 15.3% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 453 trips daily across all routes, translating to about 211 weekly trips per individual 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 demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 63% of the total population (1,238 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues impacting 11.6% of residents and arthritis affecting 8.1%. A total of 65.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 16.5% of residents aged 65 and over (322 people), which is higher than the 14.1% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Reid's population had 20.2% speaking a language other than English at home, as of 2016 Census data. Overseas-born residents made up 31.7%. Christianity was the predominant religion with 36.7%, while Judaism showed notable overrepresentation at 0.6% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 0.2%.

Top ancestry groups were English (25.4%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (11.5%). Polish, French, and Hungarian ethnicities had higher representation in Reid than regionally: Polish at 1.3%, French at 1.0%, and Hungarian at 0.5%.

Reid's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Reid has a median age of 39, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory's figure of 35 and comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 23.0% of Reid's population, higher than the Australian Capital Territory's percentage, while the 5-14 age cohort makes up 4.9%, which is less prevalent compared to the territory. This concentration of individuals aged 25-34 is significantly above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, Reid's median age has decreased by 1.3 years from 40 to 39, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the 25-34 age group has grown from 19.8% to 23.0% of the population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 14.9% to 13.2%, and the 65-74 age group has dropped from 11.5% to 10.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that Reid's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 65-74 age group projected to grow by 56%, reaching 307 individuals from a previous count of 196.