Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Hughes (ACT) has an estimated 3,159 residents, down from 3,210 at the 2021 Census — a change of 51 people, or 1.6%. That puts 1,765 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS demographic releases alongside newly validated post-Census addresses, the suburb of Hughes (ACT) has an estimated resident count of approximately 3,159 as of Aug 2026. This represents a contraction of 51 people (1.6%) relative to the 3,210 residents counted at the 2021 Census. This updated figure builds upon the 3,149 residents estimated via the ABS June 2025 ERP release, factoring in 21 validated new addresses registered since Census night. Population density stands at 1,764 persons per square kilometer, tracking higher than the nationwide benchmark assessed by AreaSearch.
Inbound international migration served as the primary and almost exclusive driver of demographic gains in recent times. Demographic forecasting adopts 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections using 2022 as a base year, supplemented post-2032 and across uncovered SA2 areas by ACT Government cohort projections also based in 2022. Across the projection timeline to 2041, the suburb of Hughes (ACT) is modelled to experience an overall population decline of 245 persons under this framework. Despite broad contraction, selective age cohorts are projected to expand, most prominently the 85 and over bracket with an anticipated addition of 8 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
34 new dwellings have been approved in Hughes (ACT) over the past five years, an average of 6 a year. That is 2.3 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 8, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch indicates that Hughes averages roughly 6 residential dwelling approvals annually, totaling an estimated 34 dwellings across the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, including 8 approved to date in FY-25. Amid population contraction, residential supply has sufficiently matched demand to sustain a balanced market offering ample choice, with new builds averaging an expected construction cost of $458,000—moderately higher than regional figures and reflective of a focus on premium builds. Concurrently, $176,000 worth of commercial approvals was registered during the current financial year, demonstrating subdued commercial building activity.
Per capita residential construction in Hughes trails the Australian Capital Territory regional benchmark significantly, sitting 87.0% below the average. Such restricted construction volume typically underpins values and demand across the existing housing stock. Output is similarly subdued against national benchmarks, reflecting an established urban fabric alongside likely planning constraints. Approvals comprise 71.0% standalone homes and 29.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the suburb's low-density profile and appeal to buyers seeking detached living spaces. A mature market structure is further evidenced by a ratio of roughly 420 people per approved dwelling. Given demographic outlooks pointing toward stability or contraction, housing demand pressures across Hughes are expected to moderate, presenting advantageous conditions for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Hughes (ACT)
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Hughes (ACT). A further 48 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4.46 billion. 7 are already under construction and 10 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Capital investments, town planning strategies, and local infrastructure works exert a profound effect on neighbourhood outcomes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 3 key projects anticipated to influence the immediate area, including the Federal Golf Club Retirement Village, Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Woden Community Services Hub, and the Canberra Hospital Master Plan.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Woden Community Services Hub
A new four-storey facility in Woden Town Centre that will centralise community and government services under one roof, bringing together services currently operating from multiple buildings in the region. It will include child and family services, meeting rooms, a multi-purpose hall, and workshop spaces. Construction is expected to commence in 2026-27.
Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip)
A landmark 20-storey mixed-use residential tower comprising 188 luxury apartments with ground-floor retail and commercial space, located directly opposite Westfield Woden in the Phillip town centre. Developed by Zapari, the project forms part of the broader high-rise transformation of the Woden Town Centre precinct.
Woden Pool Project (Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre Redevelopment)
Staged redevelopment of the Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre site in Woden by Geocon. Stage one, approved by the ACT Territory Planning Authority on 16 December 2025, comprises two 13-storey residential towers with 286 apartments above a new public aquatic centre featuring a 25-metre, eight-lane indoor lap pool, warm water program pool, splash pad, learn-to-swim and toddler areas, cafe, and steam and sauna facilities. The existing outdoor 50-metre pool and the ice-skating rink will remain operational during stage one construction, with their future considered in later stages.Geocon intends to eventually deliver around 696 to 700 apartments across five buildings in three stages on the 1.29 hectare site. Minor structural amendments to the approved stage one design remain under assessment.
Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip)
A premium 18-storey residential tower offering 212 apartments with rooftop amenities, ground-floor retail and direct connection to the redeveloped Woden Town Square.
Canberra Hospital Master Plan
The Canberra Hospital Master Plan is a 20-year strategic development blueprint prepared by Canberra Health Services and the ACT Government to guide campus expansion through 2041. Organized into seven specialized clinical and research precincts, the plan builds upon the recent $660 million Critical Services Building (Building 5) and Yamba Drive entrance upgrades. Future stages focus on a new pathology and clinical support facility, mental health precinct enhancements, and consolidated parking infrastructure.
Wesley Mission Affordable Housing Curtin
The development will deliver 98 homes comprising 83 affordable rental apartments offered at below 75 percent of market rates alongside 15 specialist supported homes for individuals living with mental health challenges. Delivered in partnership between Wesley Mission and the ACT Government, the development includes dedicated community amenities, support service facilities, and landscaped public spaces opposite the Curtin local centre.
Federal Golf Club Retirement Village
A proposed Over 55s retirement village of up to 125 dwellings, including 77 single-storey homes and 48 apartments in six three-storey buildings. The project is a partnership between the Federal Golf Club and developer Mbark. The development has faced some community opposition and legal challenges. Redevelopment of Federal Golf Club into a $100M retirement village with 125 independent living units.
Woden Pool Redevelopment
Mixed-use redevelopment of the Phillip Swimming and Ice Skating Centre (Woden Pool) comprising a new public indoor aquatic centre with 25m lap pool, learn-to-swim pool, leisure and toddler pools, splash pad, sauna, steam room and cafe, together with two residential towers containing 286 apartments in Stage 1. The broader masterplanned redevelopment is proposed to ultimately deliver around 696 dwellings across three stages.
1,583 residents of Hughes (ACT) are employed, from a labour force of 1,627. Unemployment sits at 2.7%, with participation at 62.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,615, about 83% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Aggregated statistical data from AreaSearch highlights a highly qualified local workforce, strong representation in essential industries, an unemployment rate of merely 2.7%, and an estimated 1.2% annual rise in employment. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,583, while joblessness sat 1.3% beneath the Australian Capital Territory mark of 4.1%, though labour force participation lagged noticeably at 62.6% against the territory's 70.6%. Census figures recorded 14.6% of workers based at home, a measure likely influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. Public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical services constitute the primary employment sectors for local workers.
Health care & social assistance exhibits substantial concentration, tracking at 1.3 times the regional standard. Conversely, construction is underrepresented, employing only 4.2% of the local workforce compared to 6.8% across Australian Capital Territory. Disparities between local resident counts and Census workplace counts underscore the predominantly residential nature of the suburb and its limited local job availability. Based on AreaSearch's synthesis of ABS and SALM figures, the past 12 months recorded concurrent 1.2% increases in both employed residents and the labour force, keeping local unemployment steady. In contrast, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.3%, the labour pool expand by 1.1%, and unemployment climb by 0.7 percentage points. National forecasts published in Mar-26 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide perspective on future workforce demand. Nationally, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with trajectories varying across industries. Weighting these sectoral forecasts against the suburb's existing industry distribution implies potential local employment expansion of 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Hughes (ACT) is $2,797 a week (about $145,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,298 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $74,575 a year against an average of $103,767. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates a median taxpayer income of $74,575 and an average of $103,767 in Hughes, placing it at exceptionally high levels nationally compared with Australian Capital Territory medians of $72,206 and averages of $85,981. Accounting for a 10.44% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 reach approximately $82,361 for median earnings and $114,600 for average earnings. The 2021 Census placed personal, family, and household earnings between the 94th and 95th percentiles nationwide.
In terms of earnings distribution, 35.5% of residents (1,121 people) fall into the $4000+ weekly bracket, distinct from the wider region where $1,500 - 2,999 is most common at 34.3%. Residents earning over $3,000 weekly make up 48.2%, and households retain 88.1% of income post-housing costs, supporting a SEIFA income placement in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Hughes (ACT) had 1,131 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 74% detached houses and 13% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 25% rented and 38% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $400 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,700 a month, a total housing cost higher than 77% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 14.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, housing stock in Hughes consisted of 73.6% detached houses and 26.4% other dwelling types including townhouses, units, and apartments, compared to 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings across Australian Capital Territory. Outright homeownership was recorded at 37.7%, notably exceeding the territory level, while 37.8% of properties were mortgaged and 24.5% were tenanted. Median monthly mortgage obligations stood at $2,700 against the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of $2,080, while median weekly rent was $400 versus $450 regionally. Hughes registers significantly higher mortgage payments than the Australian benchmark of $1,863, with weekly rent also above the national level of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Hughes (ACT) counted 1,131 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 37% are couples with children, against 25% couples without children. 26% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family dwellings comprise 72.1% of local households, consisting of couples with children (36.7%), couples without children (24.8%), and single-parent arrangements (9.0%). Non-family households represent the remaining 27.9%, divided between single-occupant homes at 25.6% and shared group accommodation at 2.8%. The average household size stands at 2.6 residents, tracking slightly above the Australian Capital Territory figure of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
58.7% of adults in Hughes (ACT) hold a university qualification, including 31.2% with a bachelor degree and 20.8% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 97% of areas nationally. A further 8.5% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 433 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,151 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in Hughes substantially exceeds wider averages, with 58.7% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university qualification, compared to 46.8% regionally across the SA4 region and 30.4% across Australia. Bachelor degrees form the largest share at 31.2%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 20.8% and graduate diplomas at 6.7%. Vocational education accounts for 16.9% of credentials among those aged 15+, comprising advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (8.5%). Formal study engagement is substantial, with 30.9% of the local population enrolled in educational institutions. This comprises 10.1% attending primary schools, 9.0% in secondary schooling, and 6.1% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Hughes (ACT) reaches 8 stops on 20 routes, timetabled for about 1,300 services a week. The typical home sits about 270 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in Hughes encompasses 8 dedicated bus stops offering connectivity across 20 routes and generating 1,280 scheduled weekly services. Commuter access is strong, with typical walking distances to the closest boarding point averaging 270 meters. Given the neighbourhood's primarily residential character, outward commuting dominates, with private vehicles accounting for 81% of journeys, followed by 7% walking and 4% cycling. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.3 cars per household, while 14.6% of working residents worked from home during the 2021 Census under potential pandemic influences. Transit schedules provide an average of 182 daily trips across the combined network, translating to roughly 160 weekly departures per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.3% of residents in Hughes (ACT) report no long-term health condition. 8.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 68.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of chronic illness and mortality statistics, health indicators in Hughes align generally with nationwide standards. While chronic conditions across the broad community track near typical levels, prevalence rises among older residents. Private health insurance uptake is exceptionally strong, covering approximately 68% of residents (2,153 people), compared to 62.4% throughout Australian Capital Territory and 55.7% across Australia. Arthritis and asthma represent the most widespread chronic conditions locally, recorded among 8.9% and 8.0% of the population, respectively, while 67.3% reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory.
Residents under 65 exhibit comparatively favourable health outcomes. Those aged 65 and over make up 18.8% of the local population (593 people), above the 14.2% proportion across Australian Capital Territory, with senior health indicators presenting comparatively more challenges relative to national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
26.4% of Hughes (ACT) residents were born overseas and 16.4% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (25.5%) and English (25.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Hughes exceeds that of most comparable areas, with 26.4% of residents born abroad and 16.4% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity forms the predominant faith, representing 43.6% of residents. Judaism displays a notable local concentration at 0.5% of the community, compared to 0.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental ancestry, the leading heritage backgrounds in Hughes are Australian (25.5%), English (25.1%), and Irish (10.7%). Other specific backgrounds showing above-average representation include Welsh at 1.3% (against 0.6% across the region), Polish at 1.0% (against 0.8%), and Hungarian at 0.5% (against 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Hughes (ACT) is 42. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 24.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age distribution of the suburb of Hughes (ACT) skews toward older demographics. As of August 2026 estimates, retirees and seniors aged 65+ account for 18.8% of the population compared to 14.2% across Australian Capital Territory, whereas young to middle-aged adults aged 25 - 44 represent 23.0% against 32.8% regionally. AreaSearch assesses the local median age at 42 as of August 2026, shifting from 43 at the 2021 Census and sitting 7 years above the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 recorded during that Census. Since then, the share of children and young people aged 0 - 24 has expanded from 29.6% to an estimated 33.5%.
Projections to 2041 anticipate no substantial growth in any broad age band, with contractions expected across both the 0 - 24 and 25 - 44 age cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Hughes (ACT)
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 1 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2025. | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 21 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,210 at the 2021 Census → 3,159 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL80076). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.