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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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Spence has an estimated 2,537 residents, down from 2,587 at the 2021 Census — a change of 50 people, or 1.9%. That puts 1,669 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
Demographic evaluations by AreaSearch indicate that Spence has a population of approximately 2,537 as of Aug 2026. This represents a contraction of 50 people (1.9%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 2,587 people. This shift is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 2,535 recorded as of June 2025 alongside 2 validated new addresses confirmed following the Census. The local population density stands at 1,669 persons per square kilometer, positioning it above the national benchmark across AreaSearch study locations. Inward overseas migration served as the primary contributor to local demographic expansion, generating roughly 51.9% of recent population additions.
Projections utilize the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia dataset with a 2022 baseline for SA2 regions, supplemented beyond 2032 or for missing areas by ACT Government SA2 age cohort projections benchmarked to 2022. Long-term outlooks point toward an ongoing contraction, shedding 270 persons by 2041 under these modeling parameters. In contrast to the broader downward trajectory, older demographics will expand, highlighted by the 85 and over age group which is forecast to increase by 24 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals in Spence have averaged around 1 dwellings per annum, amounting to 9 homes across the preceding 5 financial years. With recent demographic contractions, this modest pipeline has sufficiently met local demand and provided viable alternatives for purchasers, supported by an average construction cost of $274,000 that sits below broader regional figures to deliver relatively accessible price points. Residential building volumes in Spence sit 89.0% below regional average per person compared to Australian Capital Territory. Such constrained building activity generally underpins capital stability and demand across established stock, while reflecting a mature urban footprint alongside potential planning barriers compared to national benchmarks.
Recent approvals are evenly split between 50.0% standalone homes and 50.0% townhouses or apartments. This pivot toward medium density improves entry-level accessibility for downsizers, first-home purchasers, and investors, presenting a clear shift from the prevailing profile of 92.0% houses as available land tightens and buyer preferences evolve. Given that the local population is projected to either plateau or contract, reduced competition for dwellings may open up favorable conditions for incoming purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Spence
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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 5 current infrastructure and development projects close to Spence, worth an estimated $1.41 billion. 1 are already under construction. The pipeline spans education & training, communities and tourism. 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
Major infrastructure developments and surrounding master plans play a critical role in shaping local growth. AreaSearch has identified a single project expected to have a direct bearing on the locality, with broader surrounding initiatives including the Ginninderry Masterplanned Community - Strathnairn & Macnamara, Gold Creek Country Club Build-to-Rent (Gold Creek Golf Club Redevelopment), New Northside Hospital, and Canberra Light Rail Stage 3: Belconnen to City.
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
Gold Creek Events Facility and 57-Room Hotel
Proposal for a two-storey, 550-seat place of assembly (events facility) with an ancillary three-storey, 57-room hotel, basement/undercroft and surface parking, and retention/adaptation of the heritage-listed former Roman Catholic Church at Gold Creek Village. Proposed by Rakesh Bhutani, CEO of the Canberra Business and Technology College, to provide a large-capacity community and cultural event venue for Canberra. The DA (202342382 / S144B) was refused by the ACT Planning and Land Authority on 15 Aug 2024, citing non-support from the ACT Heritage Council and Transport Canberra and City Services, a 77-space parking shortfall, non-compliant boundary setbacks, and inconsistency with CZ6 zone heritage and landscape objectives.The proponent indicated intent to lodge a reconsideration application, and an EPSDD reconsideration referral for this DA was logged in late 2024, but as of Jul 2026 no public record confirms a successful reconsideration, ACAT appeal outcome, or resubmission.
Second Gungahlin College (Nicholls)
A new public senior secondary college for Years 11 and 12 in Nicholls, built to meet growing enrolment demand in the Gungahlin district. The campus will open with capacity for 800 students, with room to expand to 1,100 in future. Facilities include flexible learning spaces, a performing arts theatre, a gymnasium, and outdoor sports space including a mixed soccer and rugby oval, two tennis courts, and two mixed basketball and netball courts, some of which will be shared with the community outside school hours.The design incorporates solar power and energy-efficient construction. Community consultation on the Development Application has closed and the application is now under assessment. The college is expected to open by 2030 at an estimated construction cost of 114 million AUD.
Gold Creek Country Club Build-to-Rent (Gold Creek Golf Club Redevelopment)
Proposal by Gungahlin Golf Investments and Konstantinou Group for a staged approximately 694 dwelling build-to-rent and commercial accommodation redevelopment over about 10 years while retaining the 18-hole golf course. The enabling subdivision and Crown lease variation were refused in September 2024 due to inconsistency with the National Capital Plan. In October 2025 ACAT overturned the refusal of three associated development applications and remitted them to the ACT Planning Authority for assessment. The project remains under assessment and has not been approved.
Macnamara Residential Estate
Macnamara is the second residential suburb in the Ginninderry Joint Venture, a 6 Star Green Star community on the western edge of Belconnen. Delivered by Suburban Land Agency and Riverview Developments, the suburb will deliver approximately 1,800 homes on land bordering the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor, with views to the Brindabella Mountains. Multiple land stages are actively selling as of 2025-2026, with blocks from 540sqm priced from $615,000. A local retail centre is planned for 2027 (subject to approval) and Strathnairn Early Childhood and Education Centre is partially opening in 2026.
Gold Creek School Senior Campus expansion
ACT Government project to expand the Gold Creek School Senior Campus (Years 7-10) with additional contemporary learning spaces, staff areas and amenity upgrades. Delivered to accommodate approximately 200 extra students and lift total capacity to a little over 1,000 from the start of the 2022 school year. Works included studios, adaptable classrooms, quiet spaces, staff workspace, meeting rooms and bike/parking upgrades. Contractor: Rork Projects.
1,312 residents of Spence are employed, from a labour force of 1,394. Unemployment sits at 5.9%, with participation at 67.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,961, about 77% 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 local labour pool is highly qualified and anchored by essential service industries, maintaining an unemployment rate of 5.9% alongside stable employment conditions over the preceding year. As of March 2026, 1,312 residents are employed, with unemployment tracking 1.8% above the Australian Capital Territory mark of 4.1% and participation recording 67.4% against the territory benchmark of 70.6%. Census figures indicate 12.8% of workers operating from home, though pandemic containment measures at the time should be noted. Resident employment is primarily clustered across public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training.
The community demonstrates notable industry concentration in construction, holding a workforce share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for 25.6% of local workers compared to 30.4% in Australian Capital Territory. Given the comparison between Census working figures and the resident population, local commercial employment capacity within the suburb remains limited. AreaSearch evaluations of ABS and SALM figures show the local labour force expanded by 1.2% while employment contracted by 0.1% across the 12-month period, lifting the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. Across Australian Capital Territory, employment increased by 0.3%, the labour pool grew by 1.1%, and joblessness rose 0.7 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26 project employment expansions of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Weighting these sectoral growth trajectories across the local industry profile indicates Spence employment could rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, representing a baseline structural extrapolation rather than an adjustment for local population movement.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Spence is $2,358 a week (about $123,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,125 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $69,559 a year against an average of $76,762. 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
According to AreaSearch ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023, Spence taxpayers recorded a median income of $69,559 and an average of $76,762, placing the area at elevated national tiers while comparing to the Australian Capital Territory median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023 yields updated March 2026 benchmarks of roughly $76,821 (median) and $84,776 (average). In the 2021 Census, local household, family, and individual incomes all ranked between the 86th and 87th percentiles across the nation. Weekly earnings between $1,500 - 2,999 account for 32.6% of the community (827 individuals), matching the regional proportion of 34.3%, while 36.0% earn above $3,000 weekly to underpin solid consumer spending.
After servicing accommodation outlays, households retain 87.2% of income, placing the suburb in the 7th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Spence had 926 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 0% apartments. 46% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $375 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,120 a month. Rent absorbs 15.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census dwelling records indicate that separate houses account for 92.5% of residential stock in Spence, with 7.5% consisting of semi-detached, apartments, or other structures, contrasting with the Australian Capital Territory split of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright property ownership stands at 33.2%, exceeding territory levels, while mortgaged properties make up 46.1% and rental accommodation represents 20.7%. Median monthly mortgage costs are $2,120 against the territory average of $2,080 and the national benchmark of $1,863. Meanwhile, median weekly rent is $375, sitting below the Australian Capital Territory figure of $450 and matching the national level of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Spence counted 926 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 75.6% of all local residences, consisting of couples with children (35.6%), couples without children (27.2%), and single parent arrangements (11.0%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 24.4%, split between single-person dwellings (21.1%) and group accommodations (2.8%). The median household size of 2.7 people exceeds the broader Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
34.6% of adults in Spence hold a university qualification, including 20.7% with a bachelor degree and 8.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 77% of areas nationally. A further 20.2% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment reveals 34.6% of residents holding higher education degrees, lagging behind the SA4 regional benchmark of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees represent the primary tertiary qualification at 20.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 8.6% and graduate diplomas at 5.3%. Vocational qualifications are prominent, with 31.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding technical credentials, comprising advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (20.2%). Active study participation is robust, with 31.2% of the local population engaged in formal courses. This cohort is distributed across primary schooling (10.1%), secondary institutions (8.6%), and higher education or vocational campuses (5.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Spence reaches 23 stops on 82 routes, timetabled for about 5,500 services a week. The typical home sits about 170 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.6 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
The local transit network comprises 23 active bus stops across Spence, connected by 82 separate routes that deliver 5,543 weekly passenger trips. Access is rated as excellent, with dwellings situated an average distance of 167 meters from the closest stop. Given its residential orientation, outward vehicle commuting dominates at 90%, while bus travel represents 6%. Vehicle ownership sits at an average of 1.6 per dwelling, tracking above regional norms, and 12.8% of workers were recorded working from home during the 2021 Census under potential pandemic influences. Network activity averages 791 trips per day across all servicing lines, generating approximately 241 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.0% of residents in Spence report no long-term health condition. 5.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health and epidemiological profiles assessed by AreaSearch indicate elevated incidence of chronic health conditions across both younger and older cohorts, alongside notable mortality figures. Private health insurance participation is substantial, covering approximately 57% of residents (~1,446 people), compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnosed ailments, affecting 9.4% and 10.9% of the population respectively, while 63.0% of residents report no diagnosed long-term conditions compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Working-age cohorts display heightened chronic illness rates, while the senior population aged 65 and over comprises 17.7% of residents (448 people), higher than the 14.2% territory share and demonstrating health metrics consistent with broader national patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Spence is largely Australian-born, at 83.3% of residents, with 11.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (28.5%) and English (26.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics show 83.3% of the community was born domestically, 93.5% hold Australian citizenship, and 88.5% communicate exclusively in English within their households. Christianity is the dominant religious affiliation at 47.5%, while Buddhism represents 1.5% of the local population compared to 3.0% across Australian Capital Territory. Ancestry records show the leading self-identified heritages are Australian at 28.5% (above the regional mark of 23.0%), English at 26.7%, and Irish at 10.2%. Other notable ancestry concentrations include Scottish at 8.9% (versus 7.3% regionally), Polish at 0.9% (versus 0.8%), and Welsh at 0.7% (versus 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Spence is 38. 25.4% 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
Spence aligns closely with broader Australian Capital Territory distributions, with no major age bracket deviating by more than 6.6 percentage points from the territorial norm. The median age remains steady at an estimated 38, mirroring the 2021 Census baseline and sitting 3 years above the territory median of 35 recorded in the same period. The most prominent shift occurred in the 25 - 44 cohort, declining from 27.4% to an estimated 26.3%. Within the younger bands, the 5 to 14 age group contracted from 14.0% to an estimated 11.8%, while the 15 to 24 bracket expanded from 12.2% to 14.7% due to aging in place.
Looking toward 2041, mature adults and young retirees aged 45 - 64 will register the primary gains by adding 4 residents (1%) to reach 586, while child, young adult, and early career demographics are forecast to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Spence
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 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) | Aug 2026 last month 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 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 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 2 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,587 at the 2021 Census → 2,537 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 Aug 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 (801011025). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.