Phillip

Phillip lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Phillip as of May 2026 is around 7,528. This reflects an increase of 2,331 people (44.9%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,197 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 7,147 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 2,137 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,929 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Phillip's 44.9% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (7.0%) and the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 51.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, age group growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 area projections, with 2022 as a base, are adopted. Moving forward with demographic trends, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the suburb expected to grow by 3,882 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 46.4% in total over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Phillip among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, Phillip has seen approximately 541 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 2,709 homes were approved, with no approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 0.8 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years, indicating that new supply has kept pace with or exceeded demand, providing ample buyer choice and capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction value of new properties was $423,000, suggesting developers focused on the premium market with high-end developments. This year, $27.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Phillip has 510.0% more building activity per person, offering buyers greater choice, although building activity has slowed in recent years. This activity is significantly higher than the national average, reflecting strong developer confidence in the location. Recent development has been entirely comprised of medium and high-density housing, providing accessible entry options that appeal to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 18 people per approval, Phillip reflects a developing area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Phillip is forecasted to gain approximately 3,492 residents by 2041. Given current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Phillip has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 29 projects that could affect this area. Notable projects include Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip), Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip), and Luxury Canberra Residential Tower. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Phillip demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Phillip has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.4% over the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025, there are 4,641 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 0.7% lower than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is at 75.4%, slightly higher than the ACT's 70.5%. According to Census responses, only 9.7% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety (16.2%), health care & social assistance (13.8%), and professional & technical services (12.4%). Phillip has a high specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level.

Conversely, education & training employs only 5.4% of local workers, lower than the ACT's 9.6%. The area functions as an employment hub with 1.4 workers per resident, hosting more jobs than residents and attracting external workers. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 1.4%, while labour force grew by 2.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 0.6 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis). In contrast, the ACT experienced employment growth of 0.9% and labour force growth of 1.2%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Phillip's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Phillip had an extremely high income level nationally according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Phillip was $72,422 and the average income stood at $90,447. This compares to figures for the Australian Capital Territory of $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $79,983 (median) and $99,890 (average) as of March 2026. From the 2021 Census, individual earnings stood out at the 95th percentile nationally ($1,342 weekly). Income brackets indicated that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominated with 47.2% of residents (3,553 people), mirroring the surrounding region where 34.3% occupied this bracket. High housing costs consumed 17.1% of income, though strong earnings still placed disposable income at the 68th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

Phillip features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Phillip's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 0.1% houses and 99.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Australian Capital Territory's 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Phillip stood at 13.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.4% and rented ones at 50.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,608, lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent was $440, slightly higher than the Australian Capital Territory figure of $450. Nationally, Phillip's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,608 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher at $440 versus the national figure of $375.

Phillip features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 49.9% of all households, including 14.7% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 6.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 50.1%, with lone person households at 44.2% and group households comprising 5.9%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

Phillip shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Phillip has a notably high level of educational attainment, with 60.1% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure surpasses both the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's average of 46.8%. The area's educational advantage is reflected in its strong focus on higher education, with bachelor degrees being the most common qualification at 34.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 19.5% and graduate diplomas at 5.7%. Vocational pathways are also well-represented, accounting for 20.5% of qualifications among residents aged 15 and above.

This includes advanced diplomas at 9.5% and certificates at 11.0%. Educational participation is particularly high in Phillip, with 25.9% of its residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.7% pursuing tertiary education, 4.7% in primary education, and 2.7% engaged in secondary education.

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

Phillip has 43 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus services. These stops are covered by 96 routes, facilitating 7,858 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 160 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from Phillip. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 65%, followed by bus at 16% and walking at 15%. The area has a lower than average vehicle ownership rate of 0.6 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, only 9.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 1,122 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 182 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Phillip is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

Phillip's health outcomes are above average based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts have low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 63% of the total population (4,736 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 9.5% of residents and asthma impacting 7.6%. A majority, 75.1%, declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 70.2%. Under-65 population health outcomes are better than average. The area has 8.3% of residents aged 65 and over (624 people), lower than the Australian Capital Territory's 14.3%. Senior health outcomes rank higher nationally compared to general population rankings.

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

Phillip's population shows high cultural diversity, with 41.7% speaking a language other than English at home and 45.6% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 35.9%. Hinduism is notably overrepresented at 11.2%, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.8%.

Top ancestry groups are English (19.3%), Other (18.8%), and Australian (15.9%). Notably, Filipino (4.8%) and Spanish (0.9%) populations are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.2% and 0.5%, respectively. Korean population is also notably higher at 1.3%.

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

Phillip's median age is 32 years, which is slightly younger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and substantially under the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Phillip has a higher concentration of 25-34 year-olds at 34.6%, but fewer 5-14 year-olds at 5.6%. This 25-34 age group concentration is well above the national average of 14.6%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has grown from 17.3% to 18.6% of Phillip's population. Conversely, the 25-34 age cohort has declined from 36.1% to 34.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Phillip's age profile will evolve significantly. The 35-44 age cohort is projected to expand considerably, increasing by 711 people (51%) from 1,400 to 2,112.