Deakin

Population growth drivers in Deakin are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Deakin is around 3180. This reflects an increase of 56 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3124. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3166, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 25 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 890 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 97.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, with 2022 as a base, are adopted. By 2041, an above median population growth is projected for the suburb of Deakin, with an expected expansion of 644 persons, reflecting a gain of 19.8% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Deakin recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Deakin averaged around 14 new dwelling approvals per year. Approximately 70 homes were approved over the past five financial years, between FY21 and FY25, with a further six approved so far in FY26. Each year, an average of 1.6 new residents was associated with each dwelling constructed during these five years. However, this figure has recently eased to 0.9 people per dwelling over the past two financial years.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $465,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment. This year, $39.6 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Deakin has around half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and places among the 66th percentile of areas assessed nationally.

Building activity shows 69.0% detached dwellings and 31.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of opportunities across price brackets from traditional family housing to more affordable compact alternatives. Deakin reflects a low density area with around 211 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate Deakin will gain approximately 630 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Deakin 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 ten projects likely to impact this area. Notable projects include Draft Inner South District Strategy, The Embassy Residences, Deakin District Playing Fields Upgrade, and Deakin Private Hospital. Below is a list detailing 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.

AreaSearch analysis reveals Deakin significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide

Deakin has an educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 1.9% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 1.1%. As of September 2025, 1,644 residents were employed at a 1.7% lower unemployment rate than the Australian Capital Territory's 3.6%.

Workforce participation was 63.5%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 72.5%. Home working was reported by 16.7% of residents in Census responses, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and health care & social assistance. Professional & technical jobs were notably concentrated at 1.7 times the regional average.

Conversely, public administration & safety had lower representation at 27.2% compared to the regional average of 30.4%. The area hosted more jobs than residents, with a ratio of 2.1 workers per resident. Over the year to September 2025, employment increased by 1.1% while labour force grew by 1.0%, keeping unemployment relatively stable. By comparison, Australian Capital Territory recorded employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a fall in unemployment of 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Deakin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023, Deakin's median income among taxpayers is $82,931. The average income is $126,757. Nationally, this places Deakin in the top percentile. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, which has a median income of $72,206 and an average of $85,981, Deakin's incomes are significantly higher. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Deakin would be approximately $90,610 (median) and $138,495 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Deakin rank highly nationally, between the 97th and 98th percentiles. In terms of income distribution, 40.7% of individuals earn over $4,000 per week (1,294 people), unlike surrounding regions where earnings between $1,500 and $2,999 are most common at 34.3%. Deakin's affluence is evident with 52.0% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and service offerings. After housing costs, residents retain 88.6% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Deakin displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Deakin, as evaluated at the Census conducted on 27 August 2016, comprised 68.0% houses and 32.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings from the same Census date. Home ownership in Deakin stood at 46.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.2% and rented dwellings at 22.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Deakin was $3,180, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure for Deakin was $560, while for Australian Capital Territory it was $450. Nationally, Deakin's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Deakin has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 68.3% of all households, including couples with children (32.0%), couples without children (28.1%), and single parent families (7.8%). Non-family households account for 31.7%, consisting of lone person households at 28.4% and group households at 3.3%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Deakin's educational attainment exceeds broader averages, with 62.2% of residents aged 15+ possessing university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. This high level positions Deakin favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most common at 33.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (22.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.7%). Vocational pathways account for 15.6% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.1% and certificates at 6.5%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.8% in primary, 9.7% in secondary, and 7.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Deakin has 48 active public transport stops serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are covered by 144 individual routes, facilitating 11,205 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 208 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this predominantly residential area. Cars remain the primary mode of transport for 85% of residents, while walking and cycling account for 5% and 4%, respectively. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in Deakin.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Overall, service frequency averages 1,600 trips per day across all routes, translating to approximately 233 weekly trips per individual stop.

Deakin's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Deakin. AreaSearch's assessment found low prevalence of common health conditions in both young and old age cohorts. The rate of private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 77% of the total population (2,456 people), compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were arthritis and asthma, impacting 8.7 and 6.7% of residents respectively, while 68.7% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents showed notably healthy outcomes with low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 25.9% of residents aged 65 and over (823 people), higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Deakin's population shows significant cultural diversity, with 27.6% born overseas and 18.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Deakin, accounting for 47.6% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Deakin compared to the Australian Capital Territory, with 0.3% versus 0.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (27.7%), Australian (21.8%), and Irish (9.4%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Polish (1.2% vs regional 0.8%), Russian (0.7% vs 0.3%), and Croatian (1.1% vs 0.9%) are overrepresented in Deakin.

Deakin hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Deakin's median age is 46, surpassing the Australian Capital Territory's figure of 35 and the national norm of 38. The 75-84 age group comprises 10.6% of Deakin's population, higher than the ACT's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 6.0%. According to the 2021 Census, the 75-84 age group has increased from 8.3% to 10.6%, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 8.2% to 6.0%, and the 65-74 group has fallen from 11.6% to 10.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Deakin's age profile. The 45-54 group is projected to grow by 24%, adding 117 people and reaching 601 from 483. The 25-34 group will see more modest growth of 2%, with an increase of just 4 residents.