Chifley (ACT)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Chifley reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, the estimated population of the suburb of Chifley (ACT) is around 2,698 people. This figure reflects an increase from the 2021 Census population of 2,680 people, indicating a rise of 18 individuals or approximately 0.7%. The latest estimated resident population (ERP) data release by the ABS in June 2024, combined with AreaSearch's validation of additional 44 new addresses since the Census date, supports this estimate. This results in a population density ratio of 1,696 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The primary driver for population growth in the area has been overseas migration, contributing approximately 86.0% 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, to estimate future trends. Looking ahead, projections indicate a decline in the suburb's total population over time. According to this methodology, the population is expected to decrease by 144 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow; notably, the 85 and over age group is projected to increase by 35 people during this period.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates that Chifley averaged around 14 new dwelling approvals annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, an estimated 71 homes were approved, with one more in FY-26 so far. Over the past five financial years, there was an average of 1.7 people moving to the area per dwelling built.

However, this figure has intensified to 4.5 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting growing popularity and potential undersupply. New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $547,000, indicating a focus on the premium market by developers. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Chifley shows reduced construction activity, with 67.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes.

Building activity shows 62.0% detached houses and 38.0% townhouses or apartments, offering choices across price ranges from spacious family homes to compact options. Chifley reflects a low density area with around 282 people per approval. With population expected to remain stable or decline, Chifley should see reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Chifley has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 13 projects likely affecting the area. Notable ones are Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Woden Experiment Stage 2 - Public Realm & Active Travel Upgrades, Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip), and Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip). Below is a list of most relevant projects.

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.

AreaSearch analysis places Chifley well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Chifley has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.9%, lower than the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) 3.4%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.8%. As of June 2025, 1,565 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% below the ACT's rate and workforce participation similar to the ACT's 69.6%. Dominant employment sectors include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services.

However, education & training shows lower representation at 7.3% compared to the regional average of 9.6%. Employment opportunities may be limited locally, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.8%, while labour force grew by 1.6%, reducing the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, ACT experienced employment growth of 1.9% with a 0.3 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Chifley's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022, Chifley had a median income among taxpayers of $64,273. The average income stood at $80,270. This is among the highest in Australia compared to levels of $68,678 and $83,634 across Australian Capital Territory respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.6% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $73,014 (median) and $91,187 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Chifley, between the 85th and 90th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 30.8% of residents (830 people). This aligns with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 34.3%. A substantial proportion of high earners, at 38.1%, indicates strong economic capacity throughout the locality. Housing accounts for 14.5% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 86th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Chifley displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Chifley, as per the latest Census evaluation, 67.7% of dwellings were houses while 32.3% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) figures of 58.4% houses and 41.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Chifley stood at 32.3%, similar to ACT's level, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.2% and rented ones at 32.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,383, higher than ACT's average of $2,167. The median weekly rent figure for Chifley was $450, slightly above ACT's figure of $440. Nationally, Chifley's mortgage repayments are significantly higher at $2,383 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially higher at $450 versus the national figure of $375.

Chifley features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 64.2% of all households, including 28.1% couples with children, 25.6% couples without children, and 8.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.8%, with lone person households at 30.7% and group households comprising 4.7% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Australian Capital Territory average.

Chifley demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Chifley's educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 52.2% possess university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 29.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.5%) and graduate diplomas (6.2%). Vocational pathways account for 22.9%, with advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 12.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.1% in primary education, 7.9% in tertiary education, and 5.9% pursuing secondary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside Chifley's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

The analysis of public transport in Chifley shows that there are currently ten active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with two individual routes providing a total of 171 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in this region is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 223 meters from their nearest transport stop.

On average, service frequency across all routes is around 24 trips per day, which equates to about 17 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Chifley is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Chifley demonstrates low prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 59% (1,589 people), compared to 68.1% across Australian Capital Territory.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, impacting 8.6% and 7.6% of residents respectively. 70.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.1% across Australian Capital Territory. The area has 15.9% (428 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 18.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

Chifley was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Chifley's population, as per the 2016 Census, showed significant cultural diversity with 30.9% born overseas and 26.5% speaking languages other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 40.0%. Hinduism was notably higher in Chifley at 8.1%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 6.6%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.6%), Australian (20.8%), and Other (14.3%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Spanish (0.8% vs regional 0.5%), Serbian (0.7% vs 0.4%), and Croatian (0.9% vs 0.8%) were overrepresented in Chifley.

Chifley's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Chifley's median age is 37 years, slightly older than Australian Capital Territory's 35 but aligned with the national average of 38 years. The 35-44 age group constitutes 16.8% of Chifley's population compared to Australian Capital Territory, while the 15-24 cohort is less prevalent at 11.2%. Between 2021 and present, the 35-44 age group has grown from 15.2% to 16.8%, whereas the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.3% to 10.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for Chifley. The 85+ age group is projected to increase by 24 people (42%) from 59 to 84. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 90% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, both 0-4 and 15-24 age groups are expected to decrease in number.