Fisher (ACT)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Fisher's population is estimated at around 3,344 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 125 people (3.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,219 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,334, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 11 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,116 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Fisher's 3.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (1.9%), marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb of Fisher (ACT) was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 70.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. 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. Moving forward with demographic trends, projections indicate a decline in overall population over this period, with the suburb's population expected to contract by 6 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 60 people.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, indicates Fisher has averaged around 5 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 28 homes. So far in FY-26, 2 approvals have been recorded. This averages to approximately 7.1 new residents per year for every home built between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting demand significantly outpaces supply.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $303,000. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Fisher has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it among the 17th percentile nationally, offering more limited choices for buyers and supporting demand for existing homes. This is reflective of the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. New development consists of 60.0% detached dwellings and 40.0% medium and high-density housing, expanding the range of medium-density options and creating a mix of opportunities across price brackets. This marks a significant shift from existing housing patterns, which are currently 83.0% houses, suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs.

Fisher shows a mature, established area with around 942 people per approval. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Fisher may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Fisher 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. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that are anticipated to impact this area. Notable projects include Athllon Drive Duplication, The Hunter, Canberra Hospital Master Plan, and The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children Expansion Project. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.

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The employment landscape in Fisher shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Fisher's workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.8% as of an unspecified past year. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate stood at 4.8%, which is 1.0% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was lower at 66.8% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 70.5%. According to Census responses, only 12.9% of residents worked from home, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. The key industries of employment among residents were public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training.

Retail trade was under-represented at 4.9%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 6.6%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over a 12-month period ending in an unspecified date, labour force increased by 1.1% while employment decreased by 0.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory experienced employment growth of 0.9% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Fisher's employment mix indicates that local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. Fisher's median income among taxpayers was $68,261, with an average of $81,206. Nationally, this is extremely high compared to the Australian Capital Territory's median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates for Fisher are approximately $75,387 (median) and $89,684 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Fisher rank highly nationally, between the 82nd and 91st percentiles. Income distribution reveals that 25.9% of locals (866 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the metropolitan region's 34.3%. Economic strength is evident with 39.1% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 86.8% of income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Fisher, as per the latest Census evaluation, 82.8% of dwellings were houses while 17.2% comprised other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This differs from the Australian Capital Territory's figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Fisher stood at 39.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.0% and rented ones at 20.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,354, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure in Fisher was $415, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Fisher's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,354 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Fisher has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 70.5% of all households, including 34.4% couples with children, 25.1% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 27.6% and group households making up 2.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Australian Capital Territory average.

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

In Fisher, 43.3% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4%. This high educational attainment is led by bachelor degrees at 25.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.3%) and graduate diplomas (5.4%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 12.2% and certificates for 14.8%. Educational participation is notably high in Fisher, with 30.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 11.4% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 4.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Fisher has 15 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 59 different routes that together facilitate 3,676 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from a resident's home to the nearest transport stop is 197 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility in the area. Most residents commute outward due to Fisher being primarily residential. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 89%, with only 6% using buses. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 12.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 525 trips per day, equating to approximately 245 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Fisher are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Fisher's health indicators show below-average results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The level of common health conditions among the general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (1,981 people), compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.0 and 8.5% of residents respectively. 67.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 19.5% of residents aged 65 and over (652 people), which is higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Fisher had above average cultural diversity, with 23.3% of its population born overseas and 16.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, comprising 45.1% of Fisher's population. Hinduism, however, was overrepresented at 2.8%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (25.9%), Australian (24.9%), and Irish (9.8%). Notably, Hungarian, French, and Croatian ethnicities had higher representations in Fisher than regionally: Hungarian at 0.5% vs 0.3%, French at 0.8% vs 0.5%, and Croatian at 1.0% vs 0.9%.

Fisher's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Fisher is notably higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years and also modestly exceeds the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Fisher has a higher proportion of residents aged 75-84 (8.7%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.7%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 9.4% to 11.5%, while the population aged 65-74 has declined from 8.9% to 7.4%. By the year 2041, Fisher is expected to experience significant shifts in its age composition. The demographic shift will be led by the 85+ group, which is projected to grow by 43%, reaching 163 people from 113. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 65% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the age groups 45-54 and 75-84.