Harrison

Population growth drivers in Harrison are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

The estimated population of the suburb of Harrison is around 8023 as of May 2026, a decrease of 221 people from the 2021 Census figure of 8244. This decrease reflects a resident population estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. The population density ratio is 2747 persons per square kilometer, placing Harrison in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch projections for Harrison's population, based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a 2022 base year, indicate a decline of 1017 persons by 2041.

However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 55-64 age group projected to increase by 81 people over this period.

Residential dwelling approval activity has been practically non-existent in Harrison

Harrison has seen only 2 residential development approvals in the past five years. This suggests that the area is largely built out with minimal vacant land for development. Such established areas typically see steady demand for existing properties due to few new-build alternatives.

Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Harrison has significantly less development activity, which can strengthen demand and prices for existing properties due to scarcity of new dwellings. This is also below average nationally, indicating the area's maturity and possible planning constraints. Stable or declining population forecasts may result in less housing pressure in Harrison, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Given stable or declining population forecasts, Harrison may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

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

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 27 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Throsby District Playing Fields, Harrison Group Centre (Town Centre), Harrison Local Centre Expansion (Harrison 5 Precinct), and Moncrieff East Residential Estate. 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.

The labour market strength in Harrison positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Harrison has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 2.2%, having grown by 1.0% over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025, 5,131 residents are employed at a rate below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) average of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Harrison is high at 82.8%, compared to ACT's 70.5% (Census data). Home-based work is low at 11.8%, though Covid-19 impacts may have influenced this figure. Key industries for employment include public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and health care & social assistance. Harrison specializes in accommodation & food services with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 9.5% compared to ACT's 11.7%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.0% and labour force by 0.9%, maintaining a stable unemployment rate. In comparison, ACT saw employment growth of 0.9%, labour force expansion of 1.2%, and an unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points (AreaSearch data). National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Harrison's industry mix suggests local employment could grow by 6.3% in five years and 12.9% in ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for 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 shows that income in Harrison is higher than the national average. The median income is $67,228 and the average income stands at $76,926. In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory has a median income of $72,206 and an average income of $85,981. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Harrison would be approximately $74,247 (median) and $84,957 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Harrison rank highly nationally, between the 91st and 93rd percentiles. Income distribution shows that the majority of residents, 35.8% or 2,872 people, fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly bracket, which is similar to the broader area where this cohort represents 34.3%. A significant number of higher earners, 42.9%, exceed $3,000 weekly, suggesting strong purchasing power in the community. Despite high housing costs consuming 15.4% of income, disposable income ranks at the 92nd percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Harrison's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 55.4% houses and 44.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, the Australian Capital Territory had 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Harrison was at 10.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.8% and rented ones at 46.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent in Harrison was $450, matching the Australian Capital Territory figure but higher than the national average of $375. Nationally, Harrison's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863.

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

Family households constitute 74.7% of all households, including 41.7% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 25.3%, with lone person households at 18.8% and group households making up 6.2%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Educational achievement in Harrison places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Harrison's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. 51.7% of residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA3 area's 46.3%. This substantial educational advantage positions Harrison strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 27.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.9%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%).

Vocational pathways account for 22.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above – advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (11.9%). Educational participation is notably high, with 37.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.5% in primary education, 8.6% in tertiary education, and 7.9% pursuing secondary education.

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

Harrison has 21 active public transport stops, serving a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are covered by 25 routes, offering a total of 2,074 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents located an average of 236 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, with most commuters traveling outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 79%, while bus usage stands at 7%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 11.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 296 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 98 weekly trips per individual stop.

Harrison's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Harrison's health outcomes are notable, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups.

Private health cover was found to be high at approximately 58% of the total population (around 4,619 people), compared to 62.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. The most prevalent medical conditions were mental health issues (7.2%) and asthma (6.6%). A majority, 80.5%, reported being free from medical ailments, higher than the Australian Capital Territory's 70.2%. Harrison has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 5.3% (425 people), compared to the Australian Capital Territory's 14.3%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Harrison are strong, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

Harrison is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Harrison's cultural diversity is notable, with 42.6% of its population born overseas and 44.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Harrison, accounting for 34.2% of the population. However, Hinduism stands out as significantly overrepresented, comprising 11.3%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups in Harrison are Australian (20.0%), English (18.4%), and Other (17.6%), which is higher than the regional average of 12.2%. Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Korean is overrepresented at 2.0% compared to the regional average of 0.6%, Indian at 6.5% versus 3.3%, and Croatian at 1.1% compared to 0.9%.

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

Harrison's median age is 32 years, which is slightly younger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 years and substantially under the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Harrison has a higher concentration of residents aged 35-44 (19.3%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (3.2%). Post-2021 Census data shows that the age group of 55 to 64 grew from 5.8% to 7.2%, while the age group of 45 to 54 increased from 13.0% to 14.3%. Conversely, the age group of 25 to 34 declined from 21.1% to 19.3%, and the age group of 5 to 14 dropped from 16.1% to 15.0%. Demographic modeling suggests that Harrison's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The age cohort of 65 to 74 is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 59 people (23%) from 256 to 316. Notably, the combined age groups of 65+ will account for 73% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both age groups of 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 are expected to see reduced numbers.