Chapman

Chapman is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Chapman as of Feb 2026 is around 2,883. This reflects an increase of 16 people (0.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,867 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,873 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 17 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,550 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for Chapman was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts 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, also with a base year of 2022, are adopted. According to these projections, Chapman's population is expected to decline by 349 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, projected to expand by 38 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Chapman has averaged around 6 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21 and FY25, approximately 30 dwellings were approved, with none so far in FY26.

This results in an average of 2.7 new residents per dwelling built over the past five financial years. Commercial development approvals totalled $747,000 this financial year, indicating minimal commercial activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Chapman has 12.0% less new development per person and ranks in the 26th percentile nationally, leading to relatively constrained buyer choice. New building activity consists of 57.0% detached dwellings and 43.0% attached dwellings, including townhouses and apartments, offering diverse housing options. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 89.0% houses) suggests decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyles.

With around 638 people per dwelling approval, Chapman reflects a mature market with stable or declining population expected, potentially reducing housing pressure and creating buyer opportunities.

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

No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. A total of zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch that could potentially impact this area. Notable projects include Fetherston Weston, Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, Canberra Hospital Master Plan, and Deakin Private Hospital, with the following list highlighting those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Employment performance in Chapman ranks among the strongest 15% of areas evaluated nationally

Chapman has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 1.6% as of an unspecified past year. Employment growth over the same period was estimated at 1.5%.

As of September 2025, 1.444 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.9% lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%. Workforce participation in Chapman lagged significantly at 62.2%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.5%. According to Census responses, 18.8% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries were public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance.

Employment levels in professional & technical were notably high at 1.3 times the regional average. Retail trade had limited presence with 4.1% employment compared to the regional average of 6.6%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 1.5%, labour force by 1.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory recorded employment growth of 1.4% and unemployment falling by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chapman's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.

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

The suburb of Chapman has one of the highest income levels in Australia, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest ATO data for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Chapman is $77,996, with an average income of $92,788. These figures compare to those for the Australian Capital Territory, which are $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on a 9.26% growth rate in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $85,218 (median) and $101,380 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Chapman all rank highly nationally, between the 96th and 97th percentiles. The $4000+ income bracket dominates Chapman, with 37.7% of residents (1,086 people), contrasting with metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 34.3%. In Chapman, 51.6% of residents earn over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 90.6% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Chapman is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Chapman, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.2% houses and 10.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chapman was at 48.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.8% and rented dwellings at 11.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,600, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure was recorded as $450, matching the Australian Capital Territory figure. Nationally, Chapman's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,600 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Chapman features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 81.7% of all households, including 38.7% couples with children, 33.3% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 18.3%, with lone person households at 17.1% and group households making up 1.2%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Chapman shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Chapman has a notably high level of educational attainment, with 52.5% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications as of the latest data. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the SA3 area average of 46.6%. The most prevalent qualification is bachelor degrees, held by 29.9% of residents in this age group. Postgraduate qualifications are held by 15.5%, while graduate diplomas account for 7.1%.

Vocational pathways make up 21.5% of qualifications among those aged 15 years and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 11.9%. Educational participation is high in Chapman, with 29.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education as of the latest data. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary education, and 5.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Chapman has 19 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 49 different routes that together facilitate 4667 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of public transport in Chapman is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 188 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outwards using their cars, which remain the dominant mode of transportation at 92%. Only 2% of residents cycle to work. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling in Chapman is 1.8, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 18.8% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 666 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 245 weekly trips per individual stop.

Chapman's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Chapman's health outcomes data shows exceptional results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low among younger cohorts specifically.

Approximately 64% of Chapman's total population (1,840 people) had private health cover, compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area were arthritis and asthma, affecting 10.1 and 7.5% of residents respectively. Conversely, 65.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among under-65s in Chapman are better than average. The area has 26.7% of residents aged 65 and over (769 people), which is higher than the 14.3% in the Australian Capital Territory. While health outcomes among seniors in Chapman are strong, they rank lower nationally compared to the broader population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Chapman records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Chapman has a cultural diversity level above average, with 22.7% of its population born overseas and 12.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Chapman, accounting for 51.4% of people, compared to 40.7% across Australian Capital Territory. The top three ancestry groups are English (26.9%), Australian (25.5%), and Irish (9.7%).

Notably, Welsh (1.1%) is overrepresented in Chapman compared to the regional average of 0.6%, as are Hungarian (0.7% vs 0.3%) and Spanish (0.6% vs 0.5%).

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

The median age in Chapman is 47 years, which is significantly higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years, and also considerably older than Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Chapman has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (11.5%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (3.9%). This concentration of 75-84 year-olds is well above the national average of 6.1%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 10.9% to 13.7%, while the 75-84 age group increased from 9.5% to 11.5%. Conversely, the 35-44 age group declined from 12.2% to 10.5%, and the 55-64 age group dropped from 13.6% to 12.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Chapman's age structure. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 51%, reaching 100 people from the current 66. Notably, the combined age groups of 65 and above will account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 75-84 and 55-64 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.