Dickson

Dickson lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of May 2026 the suburb of Dickson's population is estimated at around 4,959. This reflects an increase of 1,667 people (50.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,292 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,530 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 794 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 3,138 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Dickson's growth of 50.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the state's growth rate of 8.3%. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 54.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

All drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors. 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. Exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the suburb expected to increase by 2,446 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 33.6% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Dickson among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Dickson averaged approximately 248 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 1,243 homes were approved, with none yet in FY-26. The average new residents per year arriving per new home over the past five financial years was 0.8.

New construction is meeting or exceeding demand, offering buyers more options while enabling population growth that could surpass current expectations. The average value of new dwellings being developed is approximately $274,000. In FY-26, there have been $10.3 million in commercial approvals, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Dickson records 440.0% more construction activity per person, suggesting strong developer confidence in the location and ample choice for buyers despite recent slowdowns in building activity. New developments consist of approximately 3.0% standalone homes and 97.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend towards denser development to provide accessible entry options appealing to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This shift contrasts with the current housing mix of 30.0% houses, likely due to reduced availability of development sites and changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. With around 20 people per dwelling approval, Dickson exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Dickson is projected to grow by approximately 1,664 residents through to 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favorable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Dickson has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Vermillion, Stockdale Street Apartments, Calypso, and Dickson Shops Upgrade. The following details projects expected to be most relevant.

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

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The employment environment in Dickson shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Dickson has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 3.6% as of December 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 1.0% over the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. There were 2,740 residents employed by December 2025, with an unemployment rate 0.2% lower than Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was similar to ACT's 70.5%. According to Census responses, only 13.1% of residents worked from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents were public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training.

Health care & social assistance showed lower representation at 7.9% compared to the regional average of 11.7%. There was a ratio of 1.3 workers per resident as of the Census, indicating Dickson functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.0% while labour force grew by 1.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.7 percentage points, contrasting with ACT's respective increases of 0.9%, 1.2%, and 0.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Dickson's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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 Dickson's median income among taxpayers is $73,291. The average income in the suburb is $90,602. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to Australia's median of $72,206 and average of $85,981 for the same period. Based on a 10.44% growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Dickson would be approximately $80,943 (median) and $100,061 (average) by March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Dickson rank highly nationally, between the 82nd and 94th percentiles for household, family, and personal incomes. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 36.8% of the community (1,824 individuals), similar to patterns seen in the region where 34.3% occupy this range. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 34.2% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. High housing costs consume 16.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 80th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Dickson's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 29.5% houses and 70.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Dickson was at 19.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.5% and rented ones at 46.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,904, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080 but higher than the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Dickson was $500, higher than both the Australian Capital Territory figure of $450 and the national average of $375.

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

Family households account for 53.3% of all households, including 17.5% couples with children, 27.3% couples without children, and 6.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 46.7%, with lone person households at 33.3% and group households comprising 13.7%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

In Dickson, educational attainment is notably high, with 62.9% of residents aged 15 years and over holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 46.8%. The area's strong educational background is highlighted by the prevalence of bachelor degrees (34.9%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (22.4%) and graduate diplomas (5.6%). Technical qualifications account for 14.0%, with advanced diplomas at 6.3% and certificates at 7.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 34.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 17.3% in tertiary education, 6.4% in primary education, and 4.4% pursuing secondary education.

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

Dickson has 26 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 96 different routes that together facilitate 7,104 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 180 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 57% of residents, while bus and cycling account for 13% and 10% respectively. The area has a lower than average vehicle ownership rate of 0.8 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 13.1% of Dickson's residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 1,014 transport trips made daily across all routes, equating to approximately 273 weekly trips per individual stop.

Dickson's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Dickson's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions. Common health issues are similar across age groups, with mental health issues affecting 12.0% and asthma impacting 8.7%.

Approximately 63% of residents have private health cover, higher than the national average of 55.7%. Most residents (71.5%) report no medical ailments, slightly above the Australian Capital Territory's 70.2%. The under-65 population has better-than-average health outcomes. Dickson has a lower proportion of residents aged 65 and over (7.4%, or 366 people) compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 14.3%. Overall, Dickson's health rankings are in line with national averages.

Dickson 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

Dickson was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 31.1% of its population born overseas and 26.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Dickson, making up 25.3% of people residing there. However, Judaism shows significant overrepresentation, comprising 0.7% of Dickson's population compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 0.2%.

Regarding ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three groups represented in Dickson are English at 22.4%, Australian at 19.7%, and Other at 11.8%. Notably, certain ethnic groups have different representations: Croatian is overrepresented at 1.0% compared to the regional average of 0.9%, Russian at 0.5% (regional average 0.3%), and Korean at 0.8% (regional average 0.6%).

Dickson hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Dickson's median age is 29 years, which is notably lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 years and substantially below Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Dickson has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (30.0%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (7.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.6%. According to the 2021 Census, the age group of 35 to 44 has grown from 14.8% to 17.5% of Dickson's population, while the 25 to 34 cohort has increased from 28.5% to 30.0%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age group has declined from 18.4% to 16.5%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 8.5% to 7.4%. Population forecasts for Dickson in the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to grow by 24% (an increase of 359 people), reaching a total of 1,847 from its current figure of 1,487.