Theodore

Theodore has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Theodore's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, was approximately 3,726 as of February 2026. This figure represents a decrease of 72 individuals, a 1.9% drop from the 2021 Census count of 3,798 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,726 in June 2024 and an additional 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,186 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. While Theodore experienced a 1.9% decline since the census, the SA3 area showed a 0.1% growth, indicating differing population trends within the region. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 73.6% 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 and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, using 2022 as the base year. Future population trends indicate an overall decline by 199 persons by 2041, according to these projections. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 65 to 74 age group, projected to increase by 101 people.

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

Theodore has recorded approximately one residential property approval per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, seven homes were approved, with none yet approved in FY26. The population decline in recent years has led to adequate development activity relative to other areas, benefiting buyers.

New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $250,000. In the current financial year, $481,000 in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to previous years. When compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Theodore shows significantly reduced construction levels, with 84.0% fewer approvals per person than the regional average. This limited new supply supports stronger demand and values for established homes.

The area's level of development is also below the national average, reflecting its maturity and suggesting possible planning constraints. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining Theodore's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes. Population projections indicate stability or decline, which should reduce housing demand pressures in the future, benefiting potential buyers.

Theodore has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely to impact this area. Key projects are Banks Gateway Estate, Calwell Retirement Living Precinct, Calwell Public Housing Development, and EV Fast Charging Infrastructure - Calwell (Calwell Shopping Centre). The following list details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Theodore recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Theodore has an unemployment rate of 6.0% as of September 2025, with 2,176 residents employed. This is higher than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation in Theodore stands at 75.3%, slightly above ACT's 72.5%.

According to Census responses, 9.4% of Theodore residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction. Construction is particularly strong with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services have limited presence at 6.7%, compared to 11.1% regionally.

Employment opportunities appear limited locally, as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels remained unchanged (0.0%) while labour force increased by 0.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, ACT saw employment growth of 1.4% and a decrease in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Theodore's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

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

The Theodore SA2 has one of Australia's highest income levels according to AreaSearch aggregated ATO data for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers is $74,042 and the average income is $80,785. This compares with Australian Capital Territory figures of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $80,898 (median) and $88,266 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26%. Census 2021 data shows Theodore's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 90th and 92nd percentiles. Income brackets indicate 34.7% of residents fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, with 40.8% earning over $3,000 weekly. After housing costs, residents retain 87.0% of income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Theodore, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.1% houses and 4.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Theodore was at 26.1%, similar to the Australian Capital Territory figure. The remaining dwellings were either mortgaged (55.7%) or rented (18.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Theodore was $2,002, below the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent was $430, compared to the Australian Capital Territory figure of $450. Nationally, Theodore's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 79.6% of all households, including 40.4% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 12.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 20.4%, with lone person households at 18.4% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.8 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Theodore aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 24.8%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 16.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational credentials are held by 36.1% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 13.1% and certificates at 23.0%. Educational participation is high, with 28.1% currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.5% in primary education, 8.0% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Theodore has 18 operational public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by 47 different routes, facilitating a total of 2,850 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents' average distance to the nearest stop being 226 meters. As predominantly residential, most Theodore residents travel outward for work, primarily by car (96%). The average vehicle ownership per dwelling stands at 1.8, surpassing the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, only 9.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 407 trips daily, translating to about 158 weekly trips per individual stop.

Theodore's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Theodore's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen at a standard level across both young and old age cohorts in the area.

Private health cover is exceptionally high, with approximately 60% of the total population (2,216 people) having it, compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.2 and 9.8% of residents respectively. 67.3% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 15.1% of residents aged 65 and over (562 people). Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Theodore records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Theodore's population was found to be roughly in line with the wider region's average regarding cultural diversity, with 81.9% born in Australia, 94.2% being citizens, and 86.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Theodore, comprising 46.1% of its population. However, Judaism was notably overrepresented at 0.2%, compared to 0.2% across Australian Capital Territory.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were Australian (28.2%), English (26.4%), and Irish (8.6%). Dutch representation was notably higher in Theodore at 1.9% compared to the regional average of 1.3%. Croatian representation was also higher at 1.0%, versus 0.9% regionally, and Hungarian representation was slightly higher at 0.4% compared to 0.3%.

Theodore's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Theodore's median age is nearly 36 years, close to the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 but younger than Australia's 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Theodore has a higher percentage of residents aged 55-64 (13.9%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (14.0%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 65 to 74 grew from 6.9% to 10.7%, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 2.1% to 3.2%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 13.1% to 10.9%, and the 45 to 54 group decreased from 14.2% to 12.6%. Population forecasts for Theodore in 2041 indicate significant demographic changes. The 65 to 74 age group is projected to grow by 15%, adding 61 residents to reach 460. Residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 age cohorts.