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

Strathnairn's population is approximately 2,437 as of May 2026. This figure reflects a significant increase from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 714 people. The growth was inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 2,208 in June 2025 and an additional 216 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 580 persons per square kilometer. Strathnairn's population growth of 241.3% since the 2021 census exceeded that of the SA3 area (4.2%) and the state, indicating its status as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration was the primary driver of this growth, contributing approximately 84.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted. Future population trends predict exceptional growth, placing Strathnairn in the top 10 percent of statistical areas nationally. By 2041, the area is expected to expand by 3,131 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 119.1% over the 16-year period.

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

Strathnairn has received approximately 152 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years. In total, this amounts to 761 homes from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 52 dwellings have been approved.

Over these five years, an average of 2.3 new residents has been gained per dwelling built. The average construction cost value for new homes is $181,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Strathnairn shows a significant increase in construction activity per person, recording 4780.0% more activity. This high level of building activity indicates strong developer interest in the area. The new building activity consists of 63.0% detached dwellings and 37.0% townhouses or apartments, demonstrating a shift from the existing housing stock which is currently 84.0% houses. With approximately 79 people per dwelling approval, Strathnairn exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the population is forecasted to increase by 2,902 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth beyond current projections.

Strathnairn has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 15thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting the region: Territory Battery. Other key projects include Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre Upgrades, Ginninderry Estate - Strathnairn & Macnamara (Stages 1-7+), and Parkwood Urban Release.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Strathnairn demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Strathnairn has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.8% as of December 2025, below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 3.2%.

In December 2025, 1,159 residents were employed with a participation rate of 74.2%, slightly higher than ACT's 70.5%. Home-based workers constituted 9.9% of the workforce. Dominant industries include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and professional & technical services. Health care & social assistance is particularly strong, with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level.

However, public administration & safety is under-represented at 20.1% compared to ACT's 30.4%. The area offers limited local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and 2025, employment increased by 3.2%, labour force by 2.1%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, ACT saw employment growth of 0.9% and labour force growth of 1.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Strathnairn's industry mix suggests local employment could grow by 7.3% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, assuming no changes in 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 financial year 2023 shows median income in Strathnairn SA2 is $76,422 and average income is $84,336. This contrasts with Australian Capital Territory's median income of $72,206 and average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $84,400 (median) and $93,141 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Strathnairn rank between the 92nd and 93rd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate 50.2% of locals fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, consistent with broader trends showing 34.3% in the same category. A substantial proportion of high earners (41.0%) are above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity. High housing costs consume 17.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 91st percentile and SEIFA income ranking places Strathnairn in the 9th decile.

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

As per the latest Census evaluation, Strathnairn's dwelling structure comprised 83.6% houses and 16.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Strathnairn stood at 8.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 86.4% and rented ones at 5.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,191, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Median weekly rent in Strathnairn was $515, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Strathnairn's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 78.2% of all households, consisting of 43.1% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 7.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.8%, with lone person households at 18.4% and group households comprising 3.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.9 people, which 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 is notably high, with 52.0% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university qualifications. This compares to national figures of 30.4% for Australia and 43.8% for the SA3 area. University graduates make up a significant portion at 27.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 21.0% and graduate diplomas at 3.7%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 28.6% of residents aged 15 years and over holding such qualifications.

This includes advanced diplomas (14.1%) and certificates (14.5%). Educational participation is high, with 34.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes tertiary education at 11.1%, primary education at 10.0%, and secondary education at 4.8%.

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

Strathnairn has five operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 24 different routes, offering a total of 1,148 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good accessibility to transport, with an average distance of 292 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outside Strathnairn, with cars being the primary mode at 94%. On average, there are 1.5 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, only 9.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 164 trips per day, equating to about 229 weekly trips per 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 shows excellent results across Strathnairn, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

Approximately 62% of the total population (1,501 people) have private health cover, which is higher than the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma were found to be the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 7.7 and 5.4% of residents respectively. A total of 81.2% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. The area has 3.0% of residents aged 65 and over (74 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 has a population where 55.8% speak a language other than English at home, with 51.5% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion, comprising 38.3%. The 'Other' religious category is overrepresented at 9.6%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 1.4%.

In terms of ancestry, 'Other' is highest at 31.3%, substantially above the regional average of 12.2%. 'Australian' ancestry is 16.2%, lower than the regional average of 23.0%, and 'English' is 14.1%, also below its regional average of 23.3%. Notably, Sri Lankan (2.3% vs 0.4%), Russian (1.1% vs 0.3%), and Filipino (4.8% vs 1.2%) ethnic groups are overrepresented in Strathnairn compared to the region.

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

Strathnairn has a median age of 30, which is lower than the Australian Capital Territory's figure of 35 and also younger than Australia's median age of 38. The age profile reveals that individuals aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 27.0% of the population, while those aged 55-64 comprise a smaller proportion at 3.7%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. According to data from the post-2021 Census, the age group of 5-14 years has grown from 13.0% to 17.7%, while the 45-54 cohort has increased from 7.9% to 9.0%. Conversely, the 15-24 age group has decreased from 11.6% to 8.8%, and the 0-4 age group has dropped from 11.6% to 9.5%. By 2041, Strathnairn is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition, with the 25-34 age cohort expected to grow significantly by 689 people (105%), increasing from 658 to 1,348.