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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Charnwood has an estimated 3,078 residents. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years, slower than 88% of areas nationally. That puts 1,655 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of regional ABS updates alongside post-Census address validations, the suburb of Charnwood has an estimated tally of 3,078 residents as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 23 people (0.8%) relative to the 3,055 people documented in the 2021 Census. Such figures are derived from the 3,078 resident count calculated by AreaSearch following the ABS ERP release from June 2025 in combination with 2 validated new addresses recorded after the Census date. Consequently, the suburb of Charnwood registers a density of 1,654 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the benchmark observed across AreaSearch's national study locations.
Local expansion has been driven predominantly by natural increase, accounting for roughly 64.0% of total gains in recent times. Projections for each SA2 region are drawn from ABS/Geoscience Australia models published in 2024 utilizing 2022 as baseline data, with ACT Government SA2 projections (also 2022-based) applied for uncovered localities and intervals past 2032. Under this modeling framework, the forward outlook points toward a demographic contraction, with the suburb of Charnwood projected to shed 34 persons by 2041. Even so, certain segments are set to expand, most notably the 85 and over cohort with an anticipated rise of 36 people. See the age section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Statistical building approval data examined by AreaSearch indicates that Charnwood averages approximately 3 approved dwellings each year, totaling roughly 15 approved residential units across the preceding 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), with no approvals recorded to date in FY-25. Over this same 5 financial years span (between FY-21 and FY-25), roughly 6.4 people arrived annually for every home constructed, demonstrating an acute supply shortfall that typically intensifies buyer rivalry and drives upward price movement. Furthermore, $876,000 in non-residential commercial approvals was lodged in the ongoing financial year, underlining the district's mostly residential character.
Residential building volume in Charnwood sits well below broader territory trends, lagging the Australian Capital Territory per-capita benchmark by 87.0%. Such constrained additions tend to bolster values and sustain interest across the existing housing stock, while falling below countrywide norms due to local maturity and potential planning limitations. Recent building approvals are split evenly, comprising 50.0% standalone homes alongside 50.0% townhouses or apartments. This pivot toward higher-density options creates accessible entry price points for downsizers, first-home purchasers, and investors, while diverging sharply from the current local composition of 87.0% houses as available land tightens and living requirements shift. Displaying a ratio of approximately 2035 people per approval, the suburb reflects an established urban setting. Given that demographic numbers are projected to stay flat or contract, Charnwood is likely to experience easing housing requirements, which may present favorable openings for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Charnwood
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 6 current infrastructure and development projects close to Charnwood, worth an estimated $11 billion. 5 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal and education & training. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure investment and strategic developments play an essential role in driving community progress. AreaSearch has identified no projects within the immediate area that are likely to exert direct impacts. Notable regional initiatives include Ginninderry Masterplanned Community - Strathnairn & Macnamara, Ginninderry Estate - Strathnairn & Macnamara (Stages 1-7+), The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages, and Kestral Rise - Macnamara, which feature among the most relevant nearby developments.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Macgregor Primary School Expansion & Modernisation
Major upgrade and expansion of Macgregor Primary School at Hirschfeld Crescent, Macgregor ACT, delivering new learning hubs, additional classrooms, and improved playground facilities. The project is driven by growing enrolments from adjacent new residential developments including The Valley Ponds and the broader Ginninderry estate. The ACT Education Directorate and Infrastructure Canberra are delivering the works, with completion targeted for 2026.
The Valley Ponds - Stage 3 & Future Stages
Final residential stages of the established Macgregor suburb in Belconnen, delivering over 400 new homes in The Valley Ponds precinct. The estate is adjacent to Ginninderra Creek and the future Ginninderry conservation corridor and pond network, offering a mix of block sizes with connections to open space and green corridors.
Ginninderry Estate - Strathnairn & Macnamara (Stages 1-7+)
Canberra's largest master-planned community spanning the ACT-NSW border in West Belconnen, delivering approximately 11,500 dwellings across four suburbs over 30-40 years on a 1,600-hectare site. Over 37% of land is set aside as a conservation corridor along the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek. Two suburbs are underway: Strathnairn (909 occupied dwellings as of early 2025) and Macnamara (13 occupied, 11 under construction). A primary school opens 2026, and the first local shopping centre is targeted for 2027.Certified as a 6-Star Green Star Community.
Macnamara Residential Estate
Macnamara is the second residential suburb in the Ginninderry Joint Venture, a 6 Star Green Star community on the western edge of Belconnen. Delivered by Suburban Land Agency and Riverview Developments, the suburb will deliver approximately 1,800 homes on land bordering the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor, with views to the Brindabella Mountains. Multiple land stages are actively selling as of 2025-2026, with blocks from 540sqm priced from $615,000. A local retail centre is planned for 2027 (subject to approval) and Strathnairn Early Childhood and Education Centre is partially opening in 2026.
Kippax Fair Expansion and Redevelopment
Major redevelopment and expansion of Kippax Fair shopping centre in West Belconnen, delivering a completely new mixed-use precinct across two stages. The project will triple retail floor space, adding a new full-line Coles and expanded Woolworths alongside the existing Aldi. Plans include approximately 180 new dwellings (including 24 affordable and public housing units) built as shop-top housing, 450 underground car parks, a 6,000sqm park, a community hub, skate park, and indoor and outdoor dining. The ACT Government finalised a direct land sale agreement with owners the Christodoulou family in August 2024, with a $12 million community infrastructure commitment.A development application was expected to be publicly notified by mid-2025.
Ginninderry Masterplanned Community - Strathnairn & Macnamara
Ginninderry is a cross-border masterplanned community in West Belconnen delivered by the ACT Government and Riverview Group joint venture. Planned to accommodate 30,000 residents across approximately 11,500 dwellings over a 37-year period, the project spans the ACT and NSW border. The first suburb, Strathnairn, is substantially developed with over 2,700 residents as of early 2025. The second suburb, Macnamara, is actively under development with approximately 300-400 lots released annually. Key recent milestones include the opening of Strathnairn School (programmed for the 2026 school year), multi-unit site releases in Strathnairn Village adjacent to the future retail centre, and ongoing single residential lot releases.The community is forecast to reach approximately 5,000 residents by 2028. The project incorporates a 6 Star Green Star sustainability rating, conservation corridor management along the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek, and the SPARK employment program.
1,429 residents of Charnwood are employed, from a labour force of 1,638. Unemployment sits at 12.8%, with participation at 67.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,634, about 86% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Workforce analysis by AreaSearch reveals that Charnwood possesses a capable labour base with a notable presence across essential services, accompanied by an unemployment rate of 12.8%. In March 2026, employed locals numbered 1,429, though the local jobless level sits 8.7% higher than the 4.1% recorded for Australian Capital Territory, and participation stands at 67.2% compared to 70.6% across Australian Capital Territory. Furthermore, Census records show that only 8.9% of local workers operated from home, a metric that may have been shaped by Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment fields for local residents consist of public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction.
Construction represents a distinct regional specialty, capturing an employment proportion 1.8 times the wider territory benchmark. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for 22.9% of the suburb's workforce, trailing the Australian Capital Territory figure of 30.4%. With a disparity between Census resident workers and locally situated positions, the neighborhood functions primarily as a dormitory suburb with constrained internal job opportunities. Reviewing aggregated ABS and SALM metrics up to March 2026, the area saw a 1.0% expansion in the labour pool coupled with a 2.3% drop in employed persons, driving local unemployment up by 3.0 percentage points, while Australian Capital Territory posted a 0.3% rise in employment, a 1.1% increase in its labour force, and a 0.7 percentage point increase. National forecasts released in Mar-26 by Jobs and Skills Australia project countrywide employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely across sectors. Extrapolating these industry weightings to Charnwood's occupational composition suggests potential local employment gains of 6.4% across five years and 13.1% across ten years, representing an illustrative baseline without adjusting for local demographic changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Charnwood is $1,818 a week (about $95,000 a year), with median personal income at $948 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,634 a year against an average of $62,887. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Aggregated ATO tax records for financial year 2023 show median earnings of $55,634 alongside an average of $62,887 in the suburb of Charnwood. These figures sit below nationwide metrics as well as the Australian Capital Territory median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Incorporating a Wage Price Index escalation of 10.44% since financial year 2023, indexed amounts stand at approximately $61,442 (median) and $69,452 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, individual earnings place at the 73rd percentile ($948 weekly) while household income sits at the 54th percentile.
The predominant earnings cohort is $1,500 - 2,999, capturing 38.7% of residents (1,191 people) compared to 34.3% across the wider region. Accommodation costs absorb 16.7% of income, leaving disposable earnings at the 53rd percentile with an overall SEIFA income placement in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Charnwood had 1,167 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 0% apartments. 45% are owned with a mortgage, 32% rented and 23% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $380 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,755 a month. Rent absorbs 20.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the local housing landscape in Charnwood was dominated by separate houses at 87.1%, with townhouses, flats, and alternative dwellings making up 12.9%, in contrast to the Australian Capital Territory distribution of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Full home ownership stood at 23.1%, trailing territory levels, while 45.4% of homes were mortgaged and 31.5% were leased. Monthly mortgage commitments averaged $1,755, sitting below the Australian Capital Territory figure of $2,080, while median weekly rent was $380 versus $450 territory-wide. When evaluated against national baselines, mortgage repayments in Charnwood sit below the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental payments surpass the national metric of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Charnwood counted 1,167 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 21% couples without children. 27% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 69.3% of all households in the area, comprising couples with children at 29.3%, couples without children at 20.9%, and single parent families at 18.0%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 30.7%, led by lone person households at 27.4% and group households at 3.2%. The recorded median household size of 2.5 people aligns directly with the Australian Capital Territory average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
24.3% of adults in Charnwood hold a university qualification, including 15.8% with a bachelor degree and 6.1% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 26.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 678 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,020 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment poses a notable challenge within the area, as only 24.3% of residents hold university qualifications compared to 46.8% across the broader SA4 region, highlighting a key target for future development. Among higher degrees, bachelor qualifications account for 15.8%, followed by postgraduate awards (6.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Conversely, vocational qualifications are prominent, with 38.6% of individuals aged 15+ holding technical credentials, comprising advanced diplomas (12.1%) and certificates (26.5%). Participation in study is robust, with 29.5% of the local population engaged in formal courses. This breakdown includes 10.6% attending primary schools, 7.1% enrolled in secondary institutions, and 3.9% undertaking tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Charnwood reaches 21 stops on 66 routes, timetabled for about 4,100 services a week. The typical home sits about 190 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Charnwood is served by 21 active public transport stops accommodating local buses, connecting to 66 separate routes that deliver 4,094 weekly passenger trips. Access to transit is rated as excellent, with dwellings situated an average of 193 meters from their closest boarding point. Commuters predominantly travel out of the suburb, with private cars accounting for 92% of travel and buses representing 6%. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.3 per dwelling, while 8.9% of workers commuted from home based on the 2021 Census under potential COVID-19 influences. Local public transit operations maintain an average frequency of 584 trips daily across all running services, providing roughly 194 weekly trips for each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.6% of residents in Charnwood report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 82% of areas nationally. 6.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch health metrics highlighting chronic illness and mortality indicate notable health headwinds in Charnwood, with widespread incidence across both young and mature age brackets. In addition, private health insurance uptake covers approximately 52% of the total population (~1,601 people), which sits below the typical SA2 average as well as the 62.4% figure registered across Australian Capital Territory. Mental health concerns and asthma represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, recorded among 11.2 and 10.8% of residents respectively, while 63.6% reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory.
Chronic ailments are elevated among the working-age cohort, and while residents aged 65 and over make up 14.6% of the population (449 people), health vulnerabilities among seniors sit higher than national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Charnwood is largely Australian-born, at 77.5% of residents, with 18.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.3%) and Australian (25.2%). 3.0% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Charnwood exceeds average benchmarks, with 22.5% of residents born abroad and 18.6% using a language other than English in their households. Christianity is the foremost faith, adhered to by 43.6% of the local community. A distinct local divergence is seen in the Other religious category, which accounts for 1.8% of residents compared to 1.4% across Australian Capital Territory. English (26.3%), Australian (25.2%), and Other (11.6%) represent the primary ancestral backgrounds reported across Charnwood. Furthermore, specific communities show notable local representation, including Filipino ancestry at 2.1% (vs 1.2% regionally), Spanish at 0.6% (vs 0.5%), and Russian at 0.4% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Charnwood is 35, younger than 76% of areas nationally. 25.6% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic structure of Charnwood closely tracks the broader Australian Capital Territory distribution, with the greatest variance across the four main age brackets measuring 2.6 percentage points. The median age remains steady at an estimated 35, matching the 2021 Census result as well as the territory median of 35 from that period. The most pronounced shift since the Census occurred among the 25 - 44 cohort, declining from 32.9% to an estimated 30.2%. Heading towards 2041, the 45 - 64 bracket is projected to see the greatest net gain, adding 36 residents (5%) to reach 716, while younger demographics and young to middle aged adults are expected to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Charnwood
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 2 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,055 at the 2021 Census → 3,078 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL80035). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.