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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
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Isabella Plains has an estimated 4,324 residents. That puts 1,730 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
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Isabella Plains is estimated to have a population of approximately 4,324, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of regional ABS updates alongside newly validated addresses recorded after the Census. Compared to the 4,329 residents counted in the 2021 Census, this indicates a reduction of 5 people (0.1%). This updated total of 4,324 reflects ABS ERP figures from June 2025 combined with 1 validated new addresses registered post-Census. Population density stands at 1,729 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical benchmark across nationwide areas tracked by AreaSearch.
This 0.1% contraction in the suburb of Isabella Plains contrasts with the broader SA3 region, which expanded by 1.4%. In recent times, natural increase served as the primary demographic driver, accounting for roughly 65.0% of local population gains. Projections utilize 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia data keyed to a 2022 baseline for local SA2 regions, supplemented by ACT Government SA2 age-bracket growth models (also 2022-based) for non-covered locations or periods after 2032. Demographic trajectories place the suburb of Isabella Plains in the lower quartile of nationwide statistical areas, with aggregated SA2 modeling indicating a gain of 60 persons by 2041, representing overall growth of 1.4% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Examining ABS residential approval figures distributed from statistical area records, AreaSearch notes that Isabella Plains averages approximately 1 dwellings approved per year. Over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 through FY-25, around 5 homes received approval, including 2 recorded in FY-25 to date. Amid recent demographic softening, incoming residential building has maintained parity with demand, giving purchasers adequate options, with new builds registering an average expected construction cost of $390,000. Non-residential activity has been subdued, with $67,000 in commercial approvals logged during the current financial year. Residential building volumes in Isabella Plains sit well below broader territory levels, trailing the Australian Capital Territory per-capita benchmark by 84.0%.
Such constrained additions to housing stock typically bolster buyer competition and values across existing properties. Local construction activity is also lower compared to national averages, highlighting neighborhood maturity and potential supply bottlenecks. Recent pipeline activity is composed entirely of standalone houses, preserving the suburb's low-density profile centered on family dwellings. This current building trend leans even more heavily toward detached structures than the existing stock (76.0% at Census), underscoring persistent demand for freestanding residences. With roughly 4300 people per dwelling approval, the market exhibits advanced structural maturity. Demographic forecasts indicate Isabella Plains will add 60 residents through 2041, based on recent quarterly modeling from AreaSearch. If residential construction continues at its current subdued pace, building additions may fall behind population gains, potentially tightening market conditions and providing upward momentum for local dwelling values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Isabella Plains
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| 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 Isabella Plains, worth an estimated $85 million. A further 21 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $2.8 billion. 3 are already under construction and 6 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and sports & recreation. 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
Major infrastructure developments and urban planning projects play a critical role in shaping local community dynamics. AreaSearch has highlighted 5 significant undertakings positioned to influence the surrounding region, including the Tuggeranong Public Housing Development, Canberra Light Rail Stage 4 - Woden to Tuggeranong, Banks Gateway Estate, and the Dairy Farmers Hill Precinct (1 Dairy Road), with further details outlined below.
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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
Tuggeranong Public Housing Development
Major public housing development in Tuggeranong providing affordable housing options for low-income families and individuals. Includes multiple apartment complexes and townhouses with community facilities and support services.
Canberra Light Rail Stage 4 - Woden to Tuggeranong
Proposed southern extension of the Canberra light rail network connecting Woden Town Centre to Tuggeranong Town Centre via the Athllon Drive corridor. Recent 2026 updates indicate the ACT Government is developing a transit-oriented development (ToD) plan for the Athllon Drive corridor, with conceptual integrated bus and light rail network options for Canberra South expected by June 2026. The project remains part of the long-term City-wide Light Rail Network plan to support a population of 500,000.
Wanniassa Hills Primary School Modernisation
ACT Government modernisation project at Wanniassa Hills Primary School delivering a preschool upgrade and replacement of existing gas boilers with fully electric heat pumps to improve energy efficiency, thermal comfort and learning environments. The works build on the school's earlier major modernisation program including new learning communities, administration refurbishment, hall improvements and expanded parking. Electrical supply upgrade works were tendered in 2025 to support the new HVAC system.
Erindale Group Centre Master Plan Implementation - Stage 1
A long-term revitalisation of the Erindale Group Centre focused on transforming public spaces, improving pedestrian and active travel links, and upgrading community infrastructure. The 2025-26 ACT Budget specifically funded the Erindale shops upgrade, with concept designs for public space improvements, including new lighting, paving, and furniture, expected for community feedback in 2026. The broader master plan facilitates future mixed-use development and roughly 800 new dwellings to support Tuggeranong growth.
Southquay Greenway Stage 2 - Block 1 Section 80 Public Housing
Public housing development on Block 1 Section 80 in the Southquay Greenway precinct on Lake Tuggeranong, proposing 30 Class C adaptable units (12 x two-bedroom, 17 x three-bedroom, and 1 x four-bedroom) aligning with the ACT Planning Strategy for compact, efficient, and accessible developments.
Empire Global Mixed-Use Development
Major mixed-use development comprising 299 residential apartments, 6 serviced apartments, and 1 commercial unit across two buildings up to 8 storeys. Includes three basement parking levels with 371 car spaces. The project was initially refused due to solar access concerns, but the developer plans to resubmit with amendments addressing planning authority concerns.
Banks Gateway Estate
New residential subdivision by the Suburban Land Agency delivering approximately 220 new homes in Banks, directly adjacent to northern Gordon and within the same primary school catchment. The project is focused on creating a thriving local community.
Calwell Retirement Living Precinct
A retirement living precinct proposal by KBDC, featuring 30 one-storey townhouses alongside the Calwell shopping strip.
2,282 residents of Isabella Plains are employed, from a labour force of 2,428. Unemployment sits at 6.0%, with participation at 69.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,312, about 77% 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
Isabella Plains features a qualified labor pool with solid representation across public and community services, a 6.0% unemployment rate, and generally stable labor conditions across the previous twelve months according to AreaSearch statistical modeling. As of March 2026, employed residents total 2,282. The jobless rate sits 2.0% higher than the Australian Capital Territory mark of 4.1%, while overall labor force participation aligns closely with the territory level of 70.6%. Census figures showed just 9.5% of working residents based at home, a figure influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Resident employment centers predominantly on public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and construction.
The local workforce exhibits strong specialization in construction, employing residents at 1.5 times the regional rate. Conversely, professional & technical positions are less prevalent, accounting for 7.1% of local workers compared to 11.1% across Australian Capital Territory. As a largely residential enclave, Isabella Plains generates relatively few local positions, as evidenced by comparing the Census daytime workforce against resident worker counts. AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM statistical data indicates that during the year leading to March 2026, the local workforce grew by 1.3% while total employment dipped 0.4%, lifting the jobless rate by 1.6 percentage points. Across Australian Capital Territory, employment rose 0.3% and the labor pool expanded 1.1%, resulting in a 0.7 percentage point increase. Nationwide forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future employment trends in Isabella Plains. While overall national employment is projected to climb 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, trajectories vary across specific sectors. Applying these industry benchmarks to the local occupational mix projects local employment growth of 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (note that this weighting extrapolation is purely illustrative and does not incorporate localized population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Isabella Plains is $2,131 a week (about $111,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,084 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $64,002 a year against an average of $70,933. 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
ATO postcode figures aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicate a median taxpayer income of $64,002 and an average of $70,933 in Isabella Plains. These earnings sit above national benchmarks, though they fall below the Australian Capital Territory median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, modeled estimates reach roughly $70,684 (median) and $78,338 (average) as of March 2026. Across personal, family, and household measures, Census records position local incomes between the 74th and 85th percentiles nationwide. The dominant earnings bracket comprises 36.0% making $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,556 residents), mirroring the regional rate of 34.3%.
High earners taking home over $3,000 per week represent 31.4% of the population, underpinning local demand for higher-end services. Housing costs absorb 14.5% of earnings, placing residents in the 76th percentile for disposable funds, while the neighborhood falls in the 6th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Isabella Plains had 1,613 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 76% detached houses and 0% apartments. 50% are owned with a mortgage, 20% rented and 29% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $450 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,880 a month. Rent absorbs 21.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, the residential landscape in Isabella Plains consisted of 75.5% houses alongside 24.5% other dwellings (incorporating semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwellings), whereas Australian Capital Territory recorded 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright property ownership reached 29.3%, exceeding the territory figure, while 50.4% of homes were held under a mortgage and 20.3% were rented. Typical housing expenses included a median monthly mortgage payment of $1,880 and median weekly rent of $450, compared to territory averages of $2,080 and $450. On a national scale, mortgage commitments in Isabella Plains sit above the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents notably outpace the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Isabella Plains counted 1,613 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 24% couples without children. 23% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families form the vast majority of local domestic arrangements at 74.3%, consisting of couples with children (35.5%), couples without children (24.4%), and single parent families (13.2%). Non-family living situations account for the other 25.7%, comprising lone person households (23.3%) and group households (2.3%). The suburb records a median household size of 2.6 people, slightly above the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
26.3% of adults in Isabella Plains hold a university qualification, including 17.7% with a bachelor degree and 5.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 24.1% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 2,120 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,048 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 educational attainment presents an area for growth in Isabella Plains, where university qualification rates stand at 26.3%, well underneath the 46.8% benchmark across the wider SA4 region. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees represent 17.7% of residents, postgraduate qualifications account for 5.7%, and graduate diplomas comprise 2.9%. In contrast, vocational and technical credentials are broad-based, with 36.2% of individuals aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, split between certificates (24.1%) and advanced diplomas (12.1%). Study enrollment remains healthy across the community, with 29.2% of locals actively participating in education. This proportion includes 10.7% attending primary schools, 7.2% enrolled in secondary schools, and 4.6% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Isabella Plains reaches 24 stops on 51 routes, timetabled for about 3,000 services a week. The typical home sits about 230 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.6 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
Commuters within Isabella Plains have access to 24 active transport stops covering local bus routes. These locations are serviced by 51 individual routes providing an aggregate of 3,030 weekly passenger trips. Stop accessibility is strong, with typical walking distances of 226 meters to the closest boarding point. Given the residential layout, outward journeys predominate: 93% of work trips are made by car, while 5% utilize bus transport. Vehicle ownership sits above regional benchmarks at an average of 1.6 per dwelling, while 9.5% of workers reported working from home in the 2021 Census under potential pandemic restrictions.
Bus networks operate at a general frequency of 432 trips per day across all connections, delivering roughly 126 weekly departures for each designated stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.1% of residents in Isabella Plains report no long-term health condition. 5.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 55.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments by AreaSearch evaluating chronic illness and mortality indicators show widespread health conditions across both younger and older cohorts in Isabella Plains. Private health insurance participation is substantial, with roughly 55% of all residents (~2,387 people) covered, compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Asthma and mental health conditions represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, affecting 9.3% and 9.2% of the population, respectively. Overall, 67.1% of residents reported having no medical ailments, behind the Australian Capital Territory level of 70.2%. Working-age adults experience above-average chronic health rates. Residents aged 65 and over make up 17.5% of the community (756 people), outpacing the 14.2% territory share.
Senior health metrics present several challenges, tracking broadly in line with broader national age patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Isabella Plains is largely Australian-born, at 76.4% of residents, with 20.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (26.1%) and English (25.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Isabella Plains exhibits above-average cultural diversity relative to most Australian areas, with 23.6% of residents born abroad and 20.8% using a language other than English in the home. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation at 47.8% of the community. The most pronounced demographic divergence occurs in the Other category, which accounts for 2.3% of locals against 1.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental lineage, the primary ancestral backgrounds in Isabella Plains are Australian (26.1%), English (25.6%), and Other (9.5%). Specific cultural backgrounds show elevated representation relative to regional averages, including Spanish ancestry at 0.9% (compared to 0.5% across the territory), Serbian at 0.7% (versus 0.4%), and Macedonian at 0.5% (versus 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Isabella Plains is 36. 26.0% 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
Age distributions in Isabella Plains correspond closely with Australian Capital Territory, with the greatest band divergence being 3.9 percentage points. The median age is estimated at 36, identical to the 2021 Census result and 1 year above the territory median of 35 logged at that time. Since the Census, the share of seniors aged 65+ has increased from 13.7% to an estimated 17.5%. Through 2041, senior brackets are forecast to see the largest expansion, climbing by 137 residents (18%) to reach 894, while young to middle-aged adults, children, and youth are anticipated to see reductions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Isabella Plains
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 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 2 months ago 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 2 months ago 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 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 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 Aug 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 — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,329 at the 2021 Census → 4,324 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 (SAL80079). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.