Wright
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Wright's population is around 4,374 as of August 2025. This reflects an increase of 566 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,808 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,374 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 253 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,444 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wright's population growth rate of 14.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the state's rate of 5.7% and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the area. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 44.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, also using 2022 as a base. Considering projected demographic shifts, Wright is expected to expand by 315 persons to reach a population of around 4,689 by 2041, marking an increase of approximately 7.2% over the 17-year period.

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

Wright has averaged approximately 91 new dwelling approvals annually. Development approval data from the ABS is on a financial year basis. Over the past five financial years, from FY20 to FY25, there were 458 homes approved. As of now, in FY26, there have been no dwelling approvals.

On average, over these five years, 3.3 people moved to the area for each new dwelling built. This high demand coupled with limited supply has led to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction cost of new homes is $292,000. In FY26, there have been $10.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity compared to residential. Wright's construction levels are 89.0% below the regional average per person, suggesting a scarcity of new homes that typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This level is significantly higher than the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the location. New building activity in Wright shows 12.0% detached dwellings and 88.0% townhouses or apartments.

This shift towards compact living offers affordable entry pathways, attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This is a notable change from the current housing mix of 40.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and addressing shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. Currently, Wright reflects a transitioning market with approximately 297 people per approval. Future projections suggest Wright will add 315 residents by 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.

Wright has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

No infrastructure projects were identified by AreaSearch as likely to impact the area. Key projects include the Molonglo River Bridge and John Gorton Drive Extension, Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, Denman Apartments, and S73 Denman Prospect. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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

Wright has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 2.1% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.7%.

As of June 2025, 2,860 residents were employed, with a 1.3% lower unemployment rate than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.4%. Workforce participation was higher at 82.2%, compared to ACT's 69.6%. Dominant employment sectors included public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Health care & social assistance had particularly high concentration, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Construction had limited presence, with 4.6% employment compared to the regional average of 6.8%. Local employment opportunities appeared limited based on Census data comparison between working population and resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, Wright's employment increased by 1.7%, labour force by 1.6%, reducing unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, ACT had employment growth of 1.9% and a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. State-level data from Sep-25 showed ACT employment contracted by 0.33%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5% and lagged behind national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggested national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Wright's employment mix indicated local growth of approximately 7.0% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, based on 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

Wright's median income among taxpayers was $81,845 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $97,367 during the same period. These figures compared to those of Australian Capital Territory which were $68,678 and $83,634 respectively. Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 10.78% since financial year 2022, Wright's median income is estimated to be approximately $90,668 by March 2025, with the average income projected at around $107,863 during this period. According to 2021 Census figures, household incomes in Wright rank between the 92nd and 97th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 39.7% of the population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, comprising 1,736 individuals. This aligns with the broader area where this cohort also represents 34.3%. Economic strength is evident with 42.2% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. Despite high housing costs consuming 16.2% of income, strong earnings place disposable income at the 91st percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Wright features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

As of the latest Census evaluation in Wright, 39.6% of dwellings were houses while 60.4% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had a slightly higher proportion of houses at 40.9%, with the remaining 59.2% being other dwellings. Home ownership in Wright was notably high at 8.7%, with mortgaged properties making up 59.3% and rented dwellings comprising 32.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Wright was $1,950, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,099 but higher than the national average of $1,863. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent figure in Wright was recorded at $461, compared to $472 in Australian Capital Territory and a national figure of $375.

Wright features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 67.0% of all households, including 32.5% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.0%, with lone person households at 26.9% and group households comprising 6.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.7.

The educational profile of Wright exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Wright's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader standards. 58.6% of its 15+ population hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 34.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.8%) and graduate diplomas (4.4%). Vocational pathways account for 21.1%, with advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 11.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.2% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.5% in primary, 9.6% in tertiary, and 5.3% in secondary education. Stromlo Forest Anglican College serves Wright but has no current students enrolled. All schools offer integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. As there are no schools within Wright, residents must commute to neighboring areas for educational services.

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

Transport analysis shows eight active stops operating in Wright, offering mixed bus services. These stops are served by two routes, collectively facilitating 677 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 240 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 96 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 84 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Wright exhibits excellent health outcomes, with low prevalence rates for common conditions across all age groups. Private health cover is notably high at approximately 70% of the total population (3,053 people), surpassing the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 9.0% and 7.6% of residents respectively. The proportion of residents reporting no medical ailments is 76.9%, slightly lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 80.0%. The area has a senior population of 4.3% (185 people), with health outcomes among seniors aligning closely with those of the general population.

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

Wright has a high cultural diversity, with 39.5% of its population born overseas and 38.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Wright, accounting for 33.5% of the population. Hinduism stands out as overrepresented, comprising 12.0% compared to the regional average of 12.7%.

The top three ancestry groups are Australian (20.7%), Other (18.5%), and English (17.7%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Indian is slightly overrepresented at 8.5%, Hungarian is somewhat higher at 0.5% compared to the regional average of 0.3%, and Sri Lankan is marginally lower at 0.8%.

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

Wright's median age is 33 years, which is slightly below the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 years and significantly lower than the national median of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Wright has a higher proportion of residents aged 35-44 (22.7%), but fewer residents aged 65-74 (2.9%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.2%. Between 2021 and present, demographic aging has been observed with the median age increasing from 32 to 33 years. During this period, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 has grown from 10.1% to 11.6%, while those aged 55-64 have increased from 6.2% to 7.7%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 has declined from 26.6% to 22.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Wright. The 45-54 age cohort is projected to grow by 178 people (35%), increasing from 508 to 687 residents. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 35-44 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.