Hughes (ACT)

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

As of Feb 2026, Hughes's population is estimated at around 3,176 people, reflecting a decrease of 34 individuals since the 2021 Census. The population in 2021 was reported as 3,210. This estimation is based on AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of latest ERP data from ABS (June 2024), resulting in an estimated resident population of 3,150 plus an additional 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. The current density ratio is approximately 1,774 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods for Hughes (ACT).

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, age group growth rates from ACT Government's SA2 area projections are used, also based on 2022. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to decline by 242 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 65 to 74 age group are projected to grow, with an increase of 10 people anticipated in this cohort.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Hughes, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Hughes shows approximately 6 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past 5 financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 34 homes were approved, with 6 more approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, indicating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $381,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This year, $176,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, predominantly reflecting residential focus. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Hughes records significantly lower building activity, at 87.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties, which is also under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New development consists of 71.0% detached dwellings and 29.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining Hughes' traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space.

With around 421 people per approval, Hughes indicates a mature market. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Hughes may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects expected to affect the area: Federal Golf Club Retirement Village, Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Woden Experiment Stage 2 - Public Realm & Active Travel Upgrades, and Woden Community Services Hub. The following details 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.

Hughes ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Hughes has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.4% and it saw 1.0% employment growth over the year ending September 2025, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. As of that date, 1,579 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.2%, below the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) rate of 3.6%.

Workforce participation was at 63.2% compared to ACT's 72.5%. Census data showed 14.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment were public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services. Health care & social assistance had particularly high concentration with levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Construction employed only 4.2% of local workers compared to ACT's 6.8%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparison of working population and resident population. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 1.0% while labour force grew by 0.7%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, ACT saw employment grow by 1.4%, labour force expand by 1.2%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand in Hughes. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Hughes' employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does 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

The suburb of Hughes has an exceptionally high income level nationally, according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Hughes is $74,575, with an average income of $103,767. These figures compare to those for the Australian Capital Territory, which are $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.26% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $81,481 (median) and $113,376 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Hughes all rank highly nationally, between the 94th and 95th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 35.5% of residents (1,127 people) fall into the $4,000+ bracket, unlike trends in the region where 34.3% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Higher earners represent a substantial presence with 48.2% exceeding $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. After housing costs, residents retain 88.1% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Hughes, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 73.6% houses and 26.4% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to the Australian Capital Territory's (ACT) figures of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Hughes stood at 37.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 37.8% and rented ones at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,700 in Hughes, higher than the ACT average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure in Hughes was recorded at $400, compared to the ACT's $450. Nationally, Hughes's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Hughes has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 72.1% of all households, including 36.7% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 27.9%, with lone person households at 25.6% and group households making up 2.8% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Hughes has a notably high level of educational attainment, with 58.7% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 46.8%, indicating a significant educational advantage for the area. The most common type of university qualification is bachelor degrees, held by 31.2% of residents aged 15 and above. Postgraduate qualifications follow at 20.8%, with graduate diplomas making up 6.7%.

Vocational pathways account for 16.9% of qualifications among those in this age group, with advanced diplomas comprising 8.4% and certificates making up 8.5%. Educational participation is particularly high in Hughes, with 30.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 9.0% in secondary education, and 6.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Hughes has nine operational public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by twenty-two different routes, collectively facilitating 1580 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good accessibility to these stops, with an average distance of 268 meters to the nearest one. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward daily. The car remains the primary mode of transport for 81% of residents, while walking and cycling account for 7% and 4% respectively. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in Hughes.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 225 trips per day, translating to approximately 175 weekly trips per individual stop.

Hughes's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Hughes's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, with mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence typical of the general population but somewhat higher among older cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 68% (2,165 people), compared to 62.4% in Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (8.9%) and asthma (8.0%), while 67.3% report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory.

Health outcomes for the under-65 population are better than average. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 19.5% (619 people), compared to 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Hughes was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 16.4% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 26.4% born overseas. The predominant religion in Hughes is Christianity, comprising 43.6% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Hughes at 0.5%, compared to 0.2% across Australian Capital Territory.

For ancestry, the top three groups are Australian (25.5%), English (25.1%), and Irish (10.7%). There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Welsh is overrepresented at 1.3%, Hungarian at 0.5%, and Polish at 1.0%.

Hughes hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Hughes has a median age of 42, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of 35 and significantly higher than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the ACT average, Hughes has an over-representation of the 85+ cohort (4.7%) and an under-representation of 25-34 year-olds (9.4%). Between 2021 and now, the population aged 15 to 24 increased from 11.0% to 13.6%, while those aged 35 to 44 grew from 13.0% to 14.6%. Conversely, the 85+ cohort declined from 6.5% to 4.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Hughes's age profile will change significantly. The 85+ age group is projected to increase by 8 people (6%), from 149 to 158. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 100% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the 0 to 4 and 45 to 54 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.