Strathnairn

Strathnairn lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Strathnairn's population is around 2,088 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,374 people (192.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 714 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 1,915 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 194 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 497 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Strathnairn's 192.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (2.7%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, which contributed approximately 90.5% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including natural growth and overseas migration, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting 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, exceptional growth, placing in the top 10 percent of statistical areas across the nation, is predicted over the period, with the area expected to expand by 3,896 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 178.3% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Strathnairn was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Strathnairn has experienced around 152 dwellings receiving development approval annually, totalling 761 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 34 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 2.3 new residents per year gained for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), indicating healthy demand that should support property values, new homes are being built at an average construction cost of $181,000—below the regional average—suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Strathnairn records 8870.0% more construction activity (per person), which should provide buyers with ample choice, though building activity has slowed in recent years. This activity is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. New building activity shows 63.0% detached dwellings and 37.0% townhouses or apartments, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments providing options across different price points, from family homes to more affordable compact living. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing (currently 84.0% houses), indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 79 people per dwelling approval, Strathnairn shows characteristics of a growth area.

Population forecasts indicate Strathnairn will gain 3,723 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Strathnairn has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 1 single project has been identified by AreaSearch that is likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Territory Battery, Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre Upgrades, Ginninderry Estate - Stages 4-7 (Strathnairn & future Macnamara), and Parkwood Urban Release, 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 conditions in Strathnairn demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Strathnairn features a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of just 2.8%, and 3.2% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 1,159 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 1.0% below the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%, and workforce participation is well beyond standard (84.6% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.6%). Based on Census responses, a low 9.9% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and professional & technical. The area shows particularly strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share of 1.7 times the regional level. On the other hand, public administration & safety is under-represented, with only 20.1% of Strathnairn's workforce compared to 30.4% 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, the 12-month period saw employment increasing by 3.2% alongside the labour force increasing by 2.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory experienced employment growth of 0.9% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Strathnairn. 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 Strathnairn's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 14.7% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for FY-23 reveals that income in the Strathnairn SA2 is extremely high nationally, with the median assessed at $76,422 while the average income stands at $84,336. 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 $83,499 (median) and $92,146 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Strathnairn, between the 92nd and 93rd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate the predominant cohort spans 50.2% of locals (1,048 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader trends across the area showing 34.3% in the same category. The substantial proportion of high earners (41.0% above $3,000/week) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Strathnairn. High housing costs consume 17.7% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 91st percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Strathnairn is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure within Strathnairn, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 83.6% houses and 16.4% 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 Strathnairn lagged that of the Australian Capital Territory, at 8.1%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (86.4%) or rented (5.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was above the Australian Capital Territory average at $2,191, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $515, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $2,080 and $450. Nationally, Strathnairn's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially above the national figure of $375.

Strathnairn features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 78.2% of all households, comprising 43.1% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 7.1% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 21.8%, with lone person households at 18.4% and group households comprising 3.3% of the total. The median household size of 2.9 people is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Strathnairn places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Strathnairn significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 52.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 43.8% in the SA3 area. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 27.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 28.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (14.1%) and certificates (14.5%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 34.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in tertiary education, 10.0% in primary education, and 4.8% pursuing secondary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 5 active transport stops operating within Strathnairn, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 24 individual routes, collectively providing 1,148 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 292 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 94%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. A relatively low 9.9% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 164 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 229 weekly trips per individual stop.

Strathnairn's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data demonstrates outstanding results across Strathnairn, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups, and the rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (1,286 people), compared to a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 7.7% and 5.4% of residents, respectively, while 81.2% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. The area has 3.6% of residents aged 65 and over (75 people), which is lower than the 14.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Strathnairn is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Strathnairn is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country, with 55.8% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 51.5% born overseas. The main religion in Strathnairn is Christianity, which makes up 38.3% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in the Other category, which comprises 9.6% of the population, substantially higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 1.4%.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Strathnairn are Other, comprising 31.3% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 12.2%, Australian, comprising 16.2% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 23.0%, and English, comprising 14.1% of the population, which is notably lower than the regional average of 23.3%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Sri Lankan is notably overrepresented at 2.3% of Strathnairn (vs 0.4% regionally), Russian at 1.1% (vs 0.3%) and Filipino at 4.8% (vs 1.2%).

Strathnairn hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

With a median age of 31, Strathnairn is materially younger than the Australian Capital Territory figure of 35 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Relative to the Australian Capital Territory, Strathnairn has a higher concentration of 25 - 34 residents (27.0%) but fewer 55 - 64 year-olds (4.3%). This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. In the period since 2021, the median age has increased by 1.2 years from 30 to 31, reflecting an aging population. Key changes show the 5 to 14 age group has grown from 13.0% to 17.4% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort increased from 7.9% to 10.4%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort has declined from 21.8% to 18.4% and the 0 to 4 group dropped from 11.6% to 8.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Strathnairn. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 157%, adding 885 residents to reach 1,448.