Watson
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Watson's population was 6,727 as of the 2021 Census. By Aug 2025, it had increased to around 7,387, reflecting a growth of 660 people (9.8%) since the Census date. This change is inferred from ABS estimates: 7,169 in June 2024 and an additional 245 validated new addresses since then. This results in a population density of 2,012 persons per square kilometer, above national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Watson's growth exceeded the state average (5.7%) and its SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 51.7% to overall population gains recently, though all drivers were positive factors.

Population projections foresee significant increase in Watson, with an expected expansion of 2,400 persons by 2041, translating to a 29.5% total increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Watson among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Watson has around 97 dwelling approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides data on a financial year basis: 486 homes from FY20 to FY25, with 3 approved so far in FY26. On average, each dwelling adds 1.9 new residents yearly over the past five years. This results in balanced supply and demand, stable market conditions, with an average dwelling construction cost of $367,000.

Commercial development approvals totalled $1.4 million in FY26. Watson's building activity per capita is comparable to the Australian Capital Territory, indicating robust developer interest and regional market stability, exceeding the national average. New building activity comprises 15.0% standalone homes and 85.0% attached dwellings, differing from current housing patterns (58.0% houses), suggesting limited developable land and changing lifestyle preferences. With around 200 people per dwelling approval, Watson exhibits growth area characteristics. Future projections estimate an increase of 2,182 residents by 2041. Current development rates should comfortably meet demand, benefiting buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Looking ahead, Watson is expected to grow by 2,182 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Watson has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 43rdth percentile nationally

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified nine projects that are anticipated to influence the area. Notable projects include Watson Section 76 North Housing Development, Watson Light Rail Extension, Watson Gasworks Arts Precinct, and Watson Shops Redevelopment. The following list outlines those expected to be most relevant.

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

The employment environment in Watson shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Watson's workforce comprises highly educated residents. Professional services are well-represented.

Unemployment rate is 3.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.2% over the past year. As of June 2025, 4,354 residents are employed, while unemployment stands at 3.4%, 0.4% below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate. Workforce participation is high at 75.2%, compared to ACT's 69.6%. Key employment sectors include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training.

The area specializes in education & training, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Construction has limited presence, employing 4.4% of residents versus 6.8% regionally. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data on working population vs resident population. Between Jun-25 and Jul-25, employment increased by 2.2%, labour force grew by 1.6%, reducing unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, ACT's employment grew by 1.9%, labour force expanded by 1.6%, and unemployment fell by 0.3 percentage points. As of Sep-25, ACT employment contracted by 0.33% (losing 1,480 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National unemployment stands at 4.5%, with national employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Watson's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2022 shows Watson had a median taxpayer income of $76,160 and an average income of $94,148. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, compared to the ACT's median of $68,678 and average of $83,634. Based on Wage Price Index growth from financial year 2022 to March 2025 (an increase of 10.78%), estimated current incomes are approximately $84,370 (median) and $104,297 (average). Census 2021 data ranks Watson's household, family, and personal incomes highly, between the 88th and 96th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket in Watson comprises 34.9% of residents earning $1,500 - $2,999 weekly (2,578 residents), similar to regional trends at 34.3%. Economic strength is evident with 39.3% of households earning over $3,000 weekly, supporting high consumer spending. Housing accounts for 14.7% of income, and residents rank in the 89th percentile for disposable income. Watson's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Watson displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

As of the latest Census evaluation in Watson, 58.1% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 41.9% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory had 39.3% houses and 60.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Watson stood at 22.9%, similar to the ACT's rate. Dwellings were either mortgaged (43.4%) or rented (33.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,067, below the ACT average of $2,080, while the median weekly rent was $437, compared to the ACT's $476. Nationally, Watson's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Watson features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 66.2% of all households, including 29.6% couples with children, 25.1% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.8%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households making up 6.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.2.

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

Watson's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 59.4% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. This high level positions Watson strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most common at 30.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (22.5%) and graduate diplomas (6.7%).

Vocational pathways account for 18.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 10.1%. Educational participation is high, with 33.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (10.5%), tertiary education (9.8%), and secondary education (6.7%). Majura Primary School and Rosary Primary School serve Watson collectively, catering to 1,099 students. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas. Watson demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1124.

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

The analysis of public transport in Watson indicates that there are 40 active transport stops currently operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 18 individual routes providing service. The combined weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 777.

Transport accessibility is assessed as good, with residents on average located 205 meters from their nearest transport stop. The average daily service frequency across all routes is 111 trips, which equates to approximately 19 weekly trips per individual stop.

Watson's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Watson. Both young and old age cohorts have a low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 68% of the total population (5,037 people), compared to 65.3% across Australian Capital Territory, and 55.3% nationally.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.8% and 9.0% of residents respectively, while 71.1% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.8% across Australian Capital Territory. The area has 10.3% of residents aged 65 and over (760 people), lower than the 11.4% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Watson was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Watson's population showed significant cultural diversity, with 27.0% born overseas and 20.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Watson, comprising 30.2% of its population. While Judaism made up only 0.5% of Watson's population, this was equal to its representation across the Australian Capital Territory.

Ancestry-wise, the top three groups were English (24.4%), Australian (23.9%), and Other (11.8%). Notable differences existed in the representation of certain ethnicities: Polish (0.9% vs regional 0.9%), Croatian (0.8% vs regional 0.7%), and Vietnamese (1.1% vs regional 1.0%).

Watson hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Watson has a median age of 34 years, which is comparable to the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and significantly lower than the national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Watson has a higher concentration of 35-44 residents at 19.9%, but fewer 15-24 year-olds at 10.8%. This 35-44 concentration is well above the national figure of 14.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 18.5% to 19.9% of Watson's population, while the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 18.9% to 16.9%. Demographic modeling indicates that Watson's age profile will significantly evolve by 2041. The 45 to 54 cohort is projected to grow strongly at 43%, adding 429 residents to reach a total of 1,422.