Weston
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Weston's population was 4,000 according to the 2021 Census. By August 2025, it decreased to around 3,985, a reduction of 15 people (0.4%). This decrease is inferred from ABS estimates; as of June 2024, the estimated resident population was 3,985 with an additional 1 validated new address since the Census date. The population density in Weston is approximately 1,035 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the decade from 2012 to 2022, Weston exhibited resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.1%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

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, using 2022 as a base. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in Weston's top quartile statistical areas, with an expected rise of 1,058 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 26.6% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Weston according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Weston has seen approximately 13 dwellings receive development approval each year. Development approval data, produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, totals 69 approvals from FY20 to FY25 and 3 so far in FY26. An average of 6.5 new residents per year is associated with every home built over these five years. This demand outpaces supply, exerting upward pressure on prices and intensifying buyer competition.

New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $75,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options. Commercial development approvals amount to $4.3 million in FY26, reflecting the area's residential character. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Weston has significantly less development activity, 59.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, indicating an established market with potential planning limitations. Recent building activity comprises entirely detached houses, preserving Weston's suburban nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

Developers are constructing more traditional houses than current trends suggest (74.0% at Census), implying strong demand for family homes. With around 2488 people per dwelling approval, Weston exhibits a highly mature market. Future projections anticipate an addition of 1,058 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects expected to impact the area: Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, Fetherston Weston, The Hunter, and Wesley Mission Affordable Housing Curtin. Relevant details are provided below.

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

Employment conditions in Weston demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Weston's workforce is highly educated with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 2.5% as of June 2025.

Over the past year, there was an estimated employment growth of 3.0%. As of that date, 2,063 residents were employed while the unemployment rate stood at 0.9% below the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation lagged significantly at 60.8%, compared to Australian Capital Territory's 69.6%.

Leading employment industries among residents comprised public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Retail trade had limited presence with 4.4% employment compared to the regional average of 6.6%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population data. In the year to June 2025, Weston's employment increased by 3.0% while labour force grew by 1.6%, causing a decrease in unemployment rate by 1.3 percentage points. This contrasted with Australian Capital Territory where employment rose by 1.9%, labour force grew 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 the state unemployment rate at 4.2%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, but lagged behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Weston's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.6% 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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on 30 June 2022 for financial year 2021-2022, Weston had a median income among taxpayers of $70,298 with the average level standing at $83,630. This is among the highest in Australia and compares to levels of $68,678 and $83,634 across Australian Capital Territory respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $77,876 (median) and $92,645 (average) as of March 2025. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Weston, between the 86th and 93rd percentiles nationally. Distribution data shows that 28.1% of residents (1,119 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket, reflecting patterns seen in the metropolitan region where 34.3% similarly occupy this range. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 40.4% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. After housing costs, residents retain 87.5% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Weston is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Weston, as per the latest Census, consisted of 74.4% houses and 25.6% other dwellings. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 81.7% houses and 18.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Weston was at 37.6%, with mortgaged properties at 38.9% and rented ones at 23.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,200, lower than Australian Capital Territory's average of $2,251. Median weekly rent in Weston was $420, matching Australian Capital Territory's figure but higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Weston's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,200 compared to Australia's average of $1,863.

Weston has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 71.3% of all households, including 32.8% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 9.6% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 28.7%, with lone person households at 25.8% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.6.

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

Weston's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages, with 52.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA3 area's 46.6%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (17.8%) and graduate diplomas (6.4%). Vocational pathways account for 21.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 11.4%. Educational participation is high, with 31.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.2% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 7.4% in tertiary education.

The area's educational provision includes Islamic School of Canberra and Orana Steiner School, serving a total of 822 students as of the reported date. Weston demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages with an ICSEA score of 1106. Both schools offer integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. School capacity in Weston exceeds regional averages (20.6 places per 100 residents vs 14.8), indicating it serves as an educational center for the broader region, as of the reported date.

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

Transport analysis indicates 36 active public transport stops operating within Weston. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 12 individual services. Together, these routes facilitate 1,773 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 182 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 253 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 49 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Weston is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Weston faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 61% of its total population (2,442 people) have private health cover, higher than the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis, impacting 8.6% of residents, and mental health issues, affecting 8.3%. About 67.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 66.3% across the Australian Capital Territory. Weston has 22.5% of its residents aged 65 and over (895 people), higher than the 20.6% in the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Weston 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

Weston's population, born overseas, was 26.2%, higher than most local markets. 19.5% spoke a language other than English at home. Christianity dominated Weston with 42.4%.

Islam, at 3.5%, was overrepresented compared to Australian Capital Territory's 1.8%. In ancestry, the top groups were English (25.0%), Australian (24.1%), and Other (11.1%). Hungarian (0.5%) French (0.8%) and Russian (0.5%) were notably higher than regional averages of 0.6%, 0.7% and 0.3% respectively.

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

Weston has a median age of 42, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of 35 and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, Weston has an over-representation of the 75-84 age cohort (10.2% locally) and an under-representation of the 25-34 age group (10.2%). Between 2021 and present, the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 9.9% to 11.3%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 14.2% to 15.2%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 age group has declined from 10.0% to 8.3% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 13.7% to 12.6%. Demographic modeling indicates that Weston's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 55 to 64 age cohort projected to expand by 179 people (45%), growing from 399 to 579.