Hackett

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

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Hackett is around 3,315 people. This figure reflects an increase of 88 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,227 residents. The latest estimate by AreaSearch is based on the resident population of 3,295, derived from examining the June 2024 ABS ERP data release and validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 1,700 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed about 83% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving primary growth for the area.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, also based on 2022. According to demographic trends and projections, the suburb of Hackett's population is expected to remain stable over the period leading up to 2041. The overall population increase is projected at zero persons by that year. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow during this time, notably the 65 to 74 age group, which is forecasted to increase by 76 individuals.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Hackett shows approximately 12 dwellings receiving development approval annually. From FY-21 to FY-25, around 61 homes were approved, with a further 3 approved in FY-26. Each dwelling built over these years resulted in an average of 2.4 new residents per year.

The average construction cost value for new homes was $307,000. In FY-26, $144,000 in commercial development approvals were recorded. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory average, Hackett has significantly lower building activity, at 73.0% below the regional average per person. New dwellings consist of 57.0% standalone homes and 43.0% medium and high-density housing, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments. This is a notable shift from the current housing mix, which is 76.0% houses.

Hackett has approximately 234 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts suggest stable or declining trends, potentially reducing housing pressure in the area.

Hackett has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects potentially influencing this region. Key initiatives include The Establishment Watson, Watson Gasworks Arts Precinct, Watson Place Precinct Redevelopment, and Majura Primary School Modernisation (Watson). Below are details of the most relevant projects.

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Employment performance in Hackett has been broadly consistent with national averages

Hackett has an educated workforce with significant representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 3.9% in the past year, showing a 1.6% employment growth according to AreaSearch data aggregation. As of September 2025, 1,766 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 0.3% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation in Hackett was 68.1%, compared to the ACT's 72.5%. A moderate 15.5% of residents worked from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. The dominant employment sectors were public administration & safety, education & training, and professional & technical services.

Health care & social assistance represented 8.6%, lower than the regional average of 11.7%. Limited local employment opportunities were indicated by the Census working population count versus resident population. In the 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 1.6% and labour force by 1.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had employment growth of 1.4% and labour force growth of 1.2%, with a similar unemployment rate decrease. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Hackett's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.3% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes without considering localized population projections.

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 indicates that income in Hackett is extremely high nationally. The median assessed income is $76,554 while the average income stands at $94,635. This contrasts with Australian Capital Territory's figures of a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $83,643 (median) and $103,398 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Hackett, between the 92nd and 96th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 31.9% of the population (1,057 individuals) fall within the $4000+ income range, contrasting with the region where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket leads at 34.3%. Economic strength emerges through 46.8% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 88.2% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

In Hackett, as per the latest Census evaluation, 76.3% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 23.6% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hackett stood at 38.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.0% and rented ones at 22.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,500, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. Median weekly rent in Hackett was $374, compared to the Australian Capital Territory figure of $450. Nationally, Hackett's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863, while rents were lower at $375.

Hackett features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.5% of all households, including 37.1% couples with children, 22.8% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 25.7% and group households comprising 3.9%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Hackett's educational attainment exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 59.7% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 46.8% in the SA4 region. The area's educational advantage is strong for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 29.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (22.4%) and graduate diplomas (7.5%).

Vocational pathways account for 15.7% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 6.6% and certificates at 9.1%. Educational participation is high, with 34.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.0% in primary education, 10.3% in secondary education, 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

The analysis of public transportation in Hackett shows that there are currently 14 operational transport stops serving the area. These stops accommodate a variety of bus routes, with a total of 61 individual routes providing service to the community. This results in approximately 5,372 weekly passenger trips being made through these stops. The accessibility of public transportation is considered good, with residents typically living within 200 meters of their nearest transport stop. As Hackett is predominantly residential, most commuters travel outward from the area. The car remains the primary mode of transportation for residents, with 77% relying on this method.

Cycling and bus use are also popular, with 14% and 6% of residents respectively using these modes of transport. On average, each dwelling owns 1.2 vehicles. According to the 2021 Census, 15.5% of Hackett's residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages around 767 trips per day, equating to approximately 383 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hackett'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

Health data shows positive outcomes for Hackett residents, with AreaSearch's analysis indicating mortality rates and health conditions are largely aligned with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a standard level. Private health cover is exceptionally high, with approximately 65% of the total population (2,140 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 10.0% of residents and asthma impacting 7.6%, while 67.9% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 16.1% of residents aged 65 and over (533 people), higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory, with national rankings largely aligning with the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Hackett records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Hackett's cultural diversity index shows it exceeds the average, with 21.2% of residents born overseas and 13.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Hackett, comprising 31.2% of its population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Hackett, making up 0.9% compared to the Australian Capital Territory's average of 0.2%.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups are English (27.1%), Australian (23.9%), and Irish (11.6%). Some ethnic groups show significant variations: Scottish is overrepresented at 9.3%, Welsh at 0.7%, and Croatian at 0.8%.

Hackett's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Hackett is notably higher than the Australian Capital Territory's average of 35 years and modestly exceeds Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Hackett has a higher proportion of residents aged 45-54 (15.6%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.2%). Between the 2021 Census and the latest data, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 increased from 11.1% to 14.0%, while those aged 55-64 rose from 11.6% to 12.8%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 5-14 declined from 15.3% to 13.3%, and those aged 35-44 decreased from 14.7% to 13.0%. By 2041, Hackett's age composition is expected to shift notably. Leading this demographic change, the number of residents aged 65-74 is projected to grow by 24%, reaching 336 from 271. The aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 80% of the projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts.