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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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Sales Detail
Stirling has an estimated 2,169 residents. That puts 1,643 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 findings from AreaSearch, the population of Stirling stands at roughly 2,169 as of Aug 2026. Compared with the 2021 Census tally of 2,191 people, this represents a contraction of 22 people (1.0%). This demographic adjustment is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population figure of 2,167 recorded as of June 2025 alongside an intake of 2 validated new addresses following the Census. The resulting population density is 1,643 persons per square kilometer, sitting higher than the nationwide benchmark assessed by AreaSearch. In contrast to Stirling's 1.0% decline post-census, the wider SA3 area expanded by 1.9%, illustrating divergent demographic trajectories.
Net interstate migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 62.4% of total population additions in recent periods. Projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 locations, supplemented by ACT Government SA2 projections (2022 base) for post-2032 timeframes or areas without coverage. Under this modeling framework, the locality is projected to experience population reduction, contracting by 143 persons by 2041. Even so, specific brackets are poised for expansion, most notably the 85 and over cohort, which is forecast to gain 36 people. See the age section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building approvals in Stirling have tracked at roughly 1 residential properties annually, totaling 6 homes approved across the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). With approximately 0.2 new residents arriving per new dwelling over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), local additions are satisfying or outrunning demand, broadening choices for purchasers and allowing scope for population gains beyond forecasts. Meanwhile, new residential construction averages an estimated value of $449,000, exceeding regional standards and demonstrating an emphasis on premium builds. Relative to Australian Capital Territory, building additions in Stirling remain subdued (85.0% below regional average per person).
While this restricted flow of new stock typically reinforces pricing and demand across existing properties, building volumes have shown recent momentum. Construction rates also trail the national benchmark, underscoring the established urban fabric and prospective zoning constraints. Furthermore, all recent projects have consisted exclusively of detached houses, preserving the neighborhood's suburban environment with an abundance of standalone residences for those prioritizing space. Developers are prioritizing detached dwellings to a greater degree than the existing baseline (82.0% at Census), signaling enduring appetite for traditional housing. Given that the local population is projected to stabilize or decrease, housing demand in Stirling will likely soften, opening up potential avenues for purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Stirling
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 16 current infrastructure and development projects close to Stirling, worth an estimated $1.37 billion. 1 are already under construction and 4 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and sports & recreation. 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 programs, major developments, and strategic planning initiatives play a fundamental role in shaping community outcomes. AreaSearch has identified no major projects likely to influence the local area directly. Nearby projects of regional importance include the Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, Fetherston Weston, the Canberra Hospital Master Plan, and The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children Expansion Project.
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
Heysen Street Weston Residential Development (Block 7 Section 96)
Sale and planned development of a 13,130 sqm RZ4 medium density residential parcel at Block 7 Section 96 Heysen Street in Weston. The site permits medium density residential multi-unit development such as townhouses and apartments, capitalizing on elevated vistas towards the Brindabella Ranges. Planning controls allow for substantial new infill housing capacity within the established Molonglo Valley and Weston Creek corridor.
Weston Creek Aged Care Facility
Development of a dedicated aged care and supportive living facility across Blocks 1151 and 864 in the District of Weston Creek. Works include residential care accommodation, specialist communal amenities, car parking, and civil infrastructure connections accessed via Cotter Road. Planning and works approval oversight is administered under the National Capital Authority framework.
Fetherston Weston
Village Building Co is delivering a masterplanned residential precinct on the former Australian Federal Police site in Weston. The development comprises 337 energy-efficient dwellings across three-storey apartment buildings, walk-ups, and two-storey townhouses with extensive solar PV, EV charging infrastructure, and landscaped communal open spaces. The ACT planning authority approved the multi-unit estate development application with basement parking and associated civil infrastructure works.
Cooleman Court Shopping Precinct Upgrades
Public realm and commercial precinct revitalisation project undertaken by Transport Canberra and City Services around the Cooleman Court shopping area. Works focused on Brierly Street and Liardet Street, delivering widened pedestrian pavements, community open spaces, new lighting, landscaping, and improved parking configurations.
Molonglo Town Centre
Canberra's sixth town centre, formally reclassified under National Capital Plan Amendment 99 (September 2024). The Suburban Land Agency is master-planning a 97-hectare precinct along the Molonglo River to serve as the primary commercial and community hub for the Molonglo Valley district, expected to house around 70,000 residents by 2050. The centre will include a main shopping precinct, homemakers and service trades precinct, district library and community centre, indoor sport and recreation facility, high school and college, transport interchange, town park, and approximately 10,000 dwellings within the town centre itself.Delivery is planned in four stages over 8-10 years, with retail core construction commencing in 2026.
Woolworths Weston Creek Supermarket Expansion and Refurbishment
Expansion and comprehensive internal refurbishment of the Woolworths supermarket at Cooleman Court in Weston Creek. The upgrade modernised the supermarket layout to Woolworths' latest standard and expanded back-of-house operations to improve direct-to-boot online fulfillment services.
The Hunter
The final stage of Canberra developer Doma Group's 670-apartment masterplan. It includes two new buildings of 16 and 18 storeys, comprising 189 apartments with basement and podium level car parking, communal areas, and a pool.
Wesley Mission Affordable Housing Curtin
The development will deliver 98 homes comprising 83 affordable rental apartments offered at below 75 percent of market rates alongside 15 specialist supported homes for individuals living with mental health challenges. Delivered in partnership between Wesley Mission and the ACT Government, the development includes dedicated community amenities, support service facilities, and landscaped public spaces opposite the Curtin local centre.
965 residents of Stirling are employed, from a labour force of 1,009. Unemployment sits at 4.4%, with participation at 55.3%. 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 1,974, about 91% 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
Stirling has a highly educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 4.4%, and 2.2% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of March 2026, 965 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.3% above Australian Capital Territory's rate of 4.1%, and workforce participation lags significantly (55.3% compared to Australian Capital Territory's 70.6%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 14.0% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key employment categories for residents consist of public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training.
Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented locally, accounting for 9.6% of workers in Stirling compared to 11.1% throughout Australian Capital Territory. As shown by the comparison between Census resident counts and local jobs, this largely residential district provides restricted employment within its own borders. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM metrics indicates that in the 12 months to March 2026, resident employment advanced by 2.2% alongside a 1.0% rise in the labor pool, reducing the local jobless rate by 1.1 percentage points. By comparison, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.3%, labor force growth of 1.1%, and a 0.7 percentage point increase in unemployment. Further perspective on future labor requirements is provided by Jobs and Skills Australia's national projections from Mar-26, which model five-year and ten-year trends across local industry profiles. Although national employment is projected to climb 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, sector-level variations are considerable. Weighting these projections to Stirling's sector distribution indicates local job growth of 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (note that this extrapolation serves illustrative purposes and excludes localized population models).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Stirling is $2,206 a week (about $115,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,020 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $59,707 a year against an average of $69,519. 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
ATO postcode statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place Stirling SA2 personal earnings moderately above national figures, recording a median income of $59,707 and an average income of $69,519. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory recorded a median of $72,206 alongside an average of $85,981. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, modeled figures reach roughly $65,940 (median) and $76,777 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, Stirling registered strong positions across personal, family, and household earnings, placing between the 78th and 80th percentiles nationally.
Income distribution shows 31.5% of residents (683 people) falling into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring the broader regional share of 34.3% in that tier. A notable 36.0% earning above $3,000/week underlines substantial financial resources across the community. Furthermore, locals keep 87.6% of income once housing expenses are met, demonstrating strong purchasing power and placing the area in the 8th decile for SEIFA income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Stirling had 770 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 82% detached houses and 1% apartments. 32% are owned with a mortgage, 24% rented and 45% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $460 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,258 a month. Rent absorbs 20.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, the housing composition in Stirling stood at 82.4% houses and 17.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), whereas Australian Capital Territory registered 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright ownership in Stirling reached 44.7%, noticeably higher than the territory average, while remaining homes were mortgaged (31.5%) or occupied by tenants (23.8%). Median monthly mortgage costs were $2,258, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of $2,080, and weekly median rent was $460 compared to $450 regionally. Against nationwide figures, mortgage repayments in Stirling substantially exceed the Australian median of $1,863, with weekly rent outpacing the national standard of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Stirling counted 770 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 34% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 24% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the vast majority of local living arrangements at 73.6%, consisting of couples with children (33.6%), couples without children (28.0%), and single parent families (10.9%). The remaining 26.4% consists of non-family living situations, comprising lone person households at 24.3% and group households at 2.2%. The typical household size is 2.6 people, slightly above the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
40.0% of adults in Stirling hold a university qualification, including 24.4% with a bachelor degree and 11.1% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 14.7% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment in the area is prominent regionally, as 40.0% of individuals aged 15+ hold tertiary degrees compared with the nationwide rate of 30.4%, demonstrating strong community educational engagement. Bachelor degrees constitute the primary qualification at 24.4%, with postgraduate qualifications at 11.1% and graduate diplomas at 4.5%. Technical and vocational credentials represent 24.9% of qualifications among residents aged 15+, divided between certificates (14.7%) and advanced diplomas (10.2%). Participation in study is substantial, with 26.9% of the local population engaged in formal courses. This cohort is composed of 9.5% attending primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 4.7% enrolled in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Stirling reaches 17 stops on 46 routes, timetabled for about 3,600 services a week. The typical home sits about 190 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.5 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
An assessment of local transit networks identifies 17 active transport stops within Stirling, serving various bus connections. These locations are connected by 46 individual routes that provide a total of 3,601 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transit is excellent, with residents located an average of 193 meters from their nearest boarding point. Due to the area's residential character, most travel involves outward commuting, led by private car use at 87% and bus travel at 8%. Motor vehicle availability averages 1.5 per dwelling, tracking above the regional norm. Additionally, 14.0% of workers operated from home at the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era circumstances.
Transit services provide an average of 514 trips per day across the network, delivering approximately 211 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
59.4% of residents in Stirling report no long-term health condition. 10.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments from AreaSearch identify noticeable wellness challenges in Stirling across both mortality statistics and the incidence of chronic conditions, spanning younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance coverage stands at roughly 54% of the population (~1,169 people), slightly exceeding the typical SA2 level but trailing the broader Australian Capital Territory benchmark of 62.4%. The primary reported chronic health conditions in the locality are arthritis (10.7%) and mental health issues (9.6%), while 59.4% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Chronic ailments are elevated among residents of working age.
Additionally, the district includes 582 people aged 65 and over, making up 26.8% of the community versus 14.2% in Australian Capital Territory. Seniors experience distinct health hurdles, with national rankings aligning generally with the wider population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
26.0% of Stirling residents were born overseas and 18.7% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.8%) and Australian (24.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Stirling displays higher cultural diversity than most comparable areas, with 26.0% of residents having been born overseas and 18.7% utilizing a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the predominant religious group at 49.9% of the population. In terms of relative presence, Hinduism accounts for 2.5% of local residents, compared against 4.8% across Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental ancestry, English heritage leads local backgrounds at 26.8%, followed by Australian at 24.7% and Irish at 8.9%. Other distinct cultural backgrounds are also present at rates above regional norms, including Croatian at 1.3% (vs 0.9%), Polish at 1.2% (vs 0.8%), and Hungarian at 0.7% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Stirling is 46, older than 81% of areas nationally. 21.8% 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
Stirling's demographic profile tilts heavily toward older age groups. As of updated estimates to August 2026, retiree and elderly cohorts (65+) account for 26.8% of residents, in contrast to 14.2% across Australian Capital Territory, while young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) comprise 21.1% against a regional benchmark of 32.8%. Consequently, the estimated median age is 46, matching the 2021 Census figure and sitting 11 years higher than the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 recorded at that Census, as well as exceeding the national Census median of 38.
The primary shift since the Census occurred in retiree and elderly cohorts, which adjusted from 28.2% to an estimated 26.8%. Specifically, the 65 to 74 demographic decreased from 13.1% to an estimated 10.1%, whereas the 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 9.0% to 11.6%, without a corresponding influx of younger residents. Looking ahead to 2041, retiree and elderly cohorts are expected to drive local expansion by gaining 46 residents (8%) to reach 628, while children, young adults, and young to middle aged adults are all projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Stirling
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 (2,191 at the 2021 Census → 2,169 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 (801081096). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.