Barton

Population growth drivers in Barton are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As per AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and validated addresses, the estimated population of the suburb of Barton stands at approximately 1,997 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 51 individuals (2.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,946 people. The current estimate is based on AreaSearch's examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and address validation subsequent to the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 928 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages observed across various locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Barton has exhibited steady growth patterns, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%, outperforming the SA4 region. The primary driver for this population growth was overseas migration, contributing approximately 83.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs 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 beyond 2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, also using 2022 as the base year. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated for national areas, with Barton expected to grow by 126 persons to reach a total population of approximately 2,123 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 6.3% over the 17-year period.

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

Barton has seen only one residential development approval in the past five years. This reflects a fully developed suburb with limited opportunities for new construction. The absence of new supply generally supports demand for established properties and can contribute to price stability.

Barton 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 eight projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include National Security Office Precinct (York Park), Kingston Arts Precinct, Cromwell Office Building Development, and Greenway Rise - The Establishment. Relevant projects are detailed below.

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

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AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Barton performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Barton has a highly skilled workforce with professional services well represented. Its unemployment rate was 0.4% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6%. As of September 2025, 1,454 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.2%, below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%.

The workforce participation rate was 78.5% compared to ACT's 72.5%. According to Census responses, 13.3% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries included public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training. Public administration & safety had a share of employment 1.8 times the regional level, while health care & social assistance employed only 6.3% of local workers, lower than ACT's 11.7%.

The area hosted 7.3 jobs per resident, functioning as an employment hub attracting workers from nearby areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.6%, labour force grew by 0.8%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, ACT saw employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a drop in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Barton. National employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth varies significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Barton's employment mix indicates local employment could increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Barton is exceptionally high nationally. The median assessed income is $93,297 while the average income stands at $142,601. This contrasts with Australian Capital Territory's figures of a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $101,936 (median) and $155,806 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Barton rank highly nationally, between the 89th and 99th percentiles. Distribution data shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominates with 41.5% of residents (828 people), aligning with the region where this cohort likewise represents 34.3%. A substantial proportion of high earners, 43.0%, have incomes above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the area. High housing costs consume 15.9% of income, but strong earnings still place disposable income at the 89th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Barton features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Barton, as assessed in the latest Census, 6.2% of dwellings were houses while 93.8% were other types such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, across the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), 63.3% of dwellings were houses with 36.7% being other types. Home ownership in Barton stood at 22.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.8% and rented ones at 48.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Barton was $2,015, lower than the ACT average of $2,080. The median weekly rent in Barton was $525, higher than the ACT figure of $450. Nationally, Barton's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 47.9% of all households, including 10.5% that are couples with children, 34.0% that are couples without children, and 3.2% that are single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 52.1%, with lone person households making up 46.1% and group households comprising 5.2%. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Barton's educational attainment is notably higher than broader standards. Among residents aged 15 or above, 75.2% possess university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. This significant advantage indicates strong potential for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 37.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (30.2%) and graduate diplomas (7.9%).

Technical qualifications make up 13.5% of educational achievements, with advanced diplomas accounting for 7.6% and certificates for 5.9%. Educational participation is notably high in Barton, with 30.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 16.7% in tertiary education, 4.7% in primary education, and 3.2% pursuing secondary education.

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

Barton has 19 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 41 different routes that together facilitate 2,362 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 162 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential zone, most residents travel outward for work or other purposes. Cars remain the primary mode of commuting at 50%, followed by walking at 32% and public transport at 9%. On average, there are 0.6 vehicles per dwelling in Barton, which is below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, only 13.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, an average of 337 trips are made daily, equating to about 124 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Barton's health outcomes show exceptional results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 83% of the total population (1,667 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.2 and 7.4% of residents respectively. 71.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Australian Capital Territory. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. Barton has 19.2% of residents aged 65 and over (383 people), higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.

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

Barton's population was found to be more culturally diverse than most local markets, with 19.1% speaking a language other than English at home and 29.2% born overseas. The predominant religion in Barton is Christianity, comprising 37.8% of its population. However, Judaism is notably overrepresented, making up 0.7% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 0.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (26.1%), Australian (18.2%), and Irish (11.7%). Other ethnic groups with notable divergences include Welsh at 1.2% (vs regional 0.6%), French at 1.1% (vs 0.5%), and Serbian at 0.8% (vs 0.4%).

Barton's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Barton is 40 years, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years and modestly exceeds the national median of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Barton has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (22.7%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (6.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.4%. Between the Census periods of 2016 and 2021, Barton's median age increased by 1.3 years to 40 years, up from 39 years. Specifically, the proportion of residents aged 75-84 grew from 4.5% to 6.9%, while those aged 55-64 increased from 12.3% to 14.6%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 25-34 decreased from 26.5% to 22.7%, and those aged 15-24 dropped from 8.6% to 6.5%. By 2041, Barton is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The 55-64 age group is expected to grow by 19 people (from 291 to 347), leading the demographic shift. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 59% of projected growth. However, both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to see a decrease in numbers.