Acton (ACT)

Acton lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Acton's population is estimated at around 3,279 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 431 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,848 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 544 persons per square kilometer. Acton's growth of 15.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the state's growth of 6.7%. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 a base. Forecasts indicate significant population increase, with the suburb expected to grow by 1,094 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 33.4% in total over the 17 years.

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

Acton has recorded just 2 dwelling approvals over the past five years. This minimal development indicates a mature area with limited new housing opportunities. This can support property values through restricted supply, suggesting a stable and settled market with less turnover.

Acton has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include ACT Light Rail Stage 2A (City to Commonwealth Park), Acton Waterfront (Ngamawari), Commonwealth Avenue Bridge Renewal, and Parkes Way Upgrade. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Acton rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Acton has a well-educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 0.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 2,239 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 2.9% lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation is similar to the ACT's 72.5%. Based on Census responses, 18.4% of residents work from home, but Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents are accommodation & food, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a notable concentration in accommodation & food, with employment levels at 4.4 times the regional average.

Meanwhile, public administration & safety has limited presence, with only 4.5% of employment compared to the regional average of 30.4%. There are 2.6 workers for every resident, indicating that Acton functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 2.1% while labour force increased by 1.8%, resulting in a unemployment fall of 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, the Australian Capital Territory recorded employment growth of 1.4%, labour force growth of 1.2%, with unemployment falling by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within Acton. These projections suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Acton's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2023 indicates that income in Acton is below the national average. The median income is $17,264 and the average income stands at $24,701. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory has a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% from financial year ending June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates for Acton's median income would be approximately $18,863 and the average income would be around $26,988. According to Census 2021 data, household incomes in Acton rank at the 100th percentile ($0 weekly), while personal income ranks lower at the 0th percentile. The data shows that the $0 - 399 earnings band captures 0.0% of the community (0 individuals) in Acton, contrasting with the surrounding region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 34.3%.

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

Acton's dwellings were entirely houses and other types at the latest Census. The Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Acton was 0%. Dwellings were either mortgaged or rented. Median monthly mortgage repayments were $0, compared to $1,863 nationally. Median weekly rent was $9, while the Australian Capital Territory average was $450 and national average was $375.

Acton features high concentrations of family households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 0.0% of all households, including 0.0% couples with children, 0.0% couples without children, and 0.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 100.0%, with lone person households at 0.0% and group households comprising 0.0%. The median household size is 1.0 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Acton performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's university qualification rate is 30.7%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 18.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.4%) and graduate diplomas (0.8%). Technical qualifications make up 7.1% of educational achievements for residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 2.1% and certificates at 5.0%. Educational participation is high, with 97.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 97.2% in tertiary education, 0.0% in primary education, and 0.0% pursuing secondary education.

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

Acton has ten active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by sixty-seven different routes that together facilitate five thousand twenty-seven weekly passenger trips. Most residents in this predominantly residential area commute outward. Walking is the most common mode of transportation, used by 34% of residents, followed by buses at 15%. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is zero, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 18.4% of residents work from home; this figure may reflect COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are seven hundred forty-three trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately five hundred twenty weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Acton is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Acton faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 37% of the total population (~1,211 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues impact 15.6% of residents, while asthma affects 9.9%. Conversely, 74.9% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 0.4% of residents aged 65 and over (13 people), lower than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings higher than the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Acton was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Acton's population shows high cultural diversity, with 31.6% born overseas and 24.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Acton at 23.1%, but Judaism is overrepresented compared to the Australian Capital Territory, comprising 1.8% of its population versus 0.2%. The top three ancestral groups are Australian (25.2%), English (21.7%), and Other (10.6%).

Hungarian (0.5%) Russian (0.5%) and South African (0.8%) ethnicities show notable overrepresentation in Acton compared to regional averages of 0.3% each.

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

The median age in Acton is 21 years, which is significantly younger than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to the ACT average, the 15-24 age cohort is notably over-represented at 85.8% locally, while the 35-44 age group is under-represented at 2.2%. This concentration of the 15-24 age group is well above the national average of 12.5%. Between 2021 and the present day, the median age has increased by 2.2 years from 19 to 21 years, indicating an aging population. During this period, notable shifts include the 5-14 age group growing from 0.0% to 1.6% of the population, while the 0-4 cohort increased from 0.2% to 1.6%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 9.4% to 7.0%, and the 15-24 age group dropped from 88.1% to 85.8%. By 2041, Acton is projected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 15-24 age cohort is expected to expand by 30%, growing from 2,813 to 3,670 people. Meanwhile, the 85+ age group is projected to grow by a modest 0% (0 people).