Stirling

Stirling is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Stirling's population is around 2,144 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a decrease of 47 people (2.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,191 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,139 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 2 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,624 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. While Stirling experienced a 2.1% decline since the census, the SA3 area achieved 0.6% growth, highlighting divergent population trends. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, with 2022 as a base, are adopted. As we examine future population trends, projections indicate a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to shrink by 133 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to expand by 39 people. See the age section for more details.

The level of residential development activity in Stirling is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Stirling has seen around 1 new homes approved each year, with 6 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 4 so far in FY-26. Given population has fallen over the past period, new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers, while new dwellings are developed at an average value of $155,000—under regional levels—indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers.

Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Stirling records markedly lower building activity (77.0% below regional average per person). This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established properties. This is likewise lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints.

With population expected to remain stable or decline, Stirling should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 0 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects 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, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

Employment performance in Stirling has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Stirling has a highly educated workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, an unemployment rate of 5.1%, and 1.7% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025954 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.3% above the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%, and workforce participation lags significantly (55.3% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.6%). Based on Census responses, a moderate 14.0% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The dominant employment sectors among residents include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Conversely, professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 9.6% of Stirling's workforce compared to 11.1% in the Australian Capital Territory. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.7% while the labour force increased by 1.0%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.7 percentage points. This contrasts with the Australian Capital Territory, where employment rose by 0.9%, the labour force grew by 1.2%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Stirling. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Stirling's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Stirling SA2 is slightly above average nationally, with the median assessed at $59,707 while the average income stands at $69,519. This contrasts with the Australian Capital Territory's figures of a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $65,236 (median) and $75,956 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Stirling, between the 78th and 80th percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows the predominant cohort spans 31.5% of locals (675 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader trends across the region showing 34.3% in the same category. The substantial proportion of high earners (36.0% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Stirling. After housing costs, residents retain 87.6% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power, and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Stirling is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Stirling, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 82.4% houses and 17.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to the Australian Capital Territory's 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Stirling was well beyond that of the Australian Capital Territory, at 44.7%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (31.5%) or rented (23.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Australian Capital Territory average at $2,258, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $460, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $2,080 and $450. Nationally, Stirling's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Stirling has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 73.6% of all households, comprising 33.6% couples with children, 28.0% couples without children, and 10.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.4%, with lone person households at 24.3% and group households comprising 2.2% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

The area's educational profile stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (40.0% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the Australian average of 30.4%, reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.1%) and graduate diplomas (4.5%). Vocational pathways account for 24.9% of qualifications among those aged 15+ – advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (14.7%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 19 active transport stops operating within Stirling, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 52 individual routes, collectively providing 3,843 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 192 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 87%, with 8% by bus. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. Some 14.0% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 549 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 202 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Stirling is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Stirling faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover just leads that of the average SA2 area at approximately 54% of the total population (~1,155 people). This compares to 62.4% across the Australian Capital Territory.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.7 and 9.6% of residents, respectively, while 59.4% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 28.2% of residents aged 65 and over (605 people), which is higher than the 14.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Stirling was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets, with 26.0% of its population born overseas and 18.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Stirling is Christianity, which makes up 49.9% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Hinduism, which comprises 2.5% of the population, compared to 4.8% across the Australian Capital Territory.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Stirling are English, comprising 26.8% of the population, Australian, comprising 24.7% of the population, and Irish, comprising 8.9% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Hungarian is notably overrepresented at 0.7% of Stirling (vs 0.3% regionally), Croatian at 1.3% (vs 0.9%) and Polish at 1.2% (vs 0.8%).

Stirling hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

With a median age of 46, Stirling notably exceeds the Australian Capital Territory figure of 35 and the national norm of 38. The 75 - 84 age group shows strong representation at 11.6% compared to the Australian Capital Territory, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is less prevalent at 9.7%. This 75 - 84 concentration is well above the national 6.1%. Following the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 9.0% to 11.6% of the population, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.8% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 12.6% to 11.0% and the 85+ group dropped from 6.1% to 4.8%. Demographic modeling suggests Stirling's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. Leading the demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 28% (28 people), reaching 131 from 102. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those 65+ comprising 100% of projected growth. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.