Reid (ACT)

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

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of Reid (ACT) is around 2063 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 519 people (33.6%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1544 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2013, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2194 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Reid's population growth of 33.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 8.3%, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 62.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, 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. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Reid (ACT) is forecast to grow by 642 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 28.7% in total over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Reid according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows approximately one new home approved annually in Reid. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around nine homes were approved, with none yet recorded for FY26.

Each year, an average of 41.4 people move to the area per dwelling built during these years. This significant demand outpaces supply, typically putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. Developers focus on the premium market, constructing new properties at an average cost of $1,200,000 each. Compared to the Australian Capital Territory, Reid has significantly less development activity, 92.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings, although building activity has accelerated in recent years.

Recent developments have been entirely detached dwellings, preserving the area's suburban nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. New construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (36.0% at Census), indicating robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. The location has approximately 766 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Population forecasts indicate Reid will gain 592 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. If current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects likely to impact this area. Notable ones include Light Rail Stage 2A: City to Commonwealth Park, Australian War Memorial Redevelopment, Crystalbrook Aurora, and UNSW Canberra City Campus - Stage 1. The following list 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.

Employment conditions in Reid remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Reid's workforce is highly educated with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate was 4.3% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 1.7%. As of December 2025, 1,194 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 4.8%, 0.5% higher than the Australian Capital Territory's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was at 67.7%, below the Australian Capital Territory average of 70.5%. According to Census responses, 15.3% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in public administration & safety, professional & technical services, and education & training. The area has a particularly strong specialization in professional & technical services, employing 1.4 times the regional level.

In contrast, health care & social assistance employs only 6.9% of local workers, below the Australian Capital Territory average of 11.7%. Employment levels increased by 1.7% and labour force grew by 1.2% in Reid during the year to December 2025, leading to a fall in unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Australian Capital Territory saw employment rise by 0.9%, labour force grow by 1.2%, but unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Reid's employment mix indicates a potential local employment increase of 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years.

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

The suburb of Reid has an exceptionally high national income level according to the latest Australian Taxation Office (ATO) data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Reid is $67,610, with an average income of $86,994. These figures compare to those for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), which stand at $72,206 and $85,981 respectively. Based on a 10.44% growth in wages since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $74,668 (median) and $96,076 (average). Data from the 2021 Census shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Reid all rank highly nationally, between the 82nd and 95th percentiles. The income band of $1,500 - $2,999 captures 31.9% of Reid's community (658 individuals), which is similar to the surrounding region where 34.3% fall into this bracket. Notably, 38.0% of residents earn more than $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power within the suburb. Housing expenses account for 14.0% of income, and Reid's residents rank in the 83rd percentile for disposable income. The area's Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Reid features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The latest Census evaluated Reid's dwelling structure as 36.4% houses and 63.7% 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 Reid was at 31.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.1% and rented dwellings at 46.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Reid was $2,300, higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080. The median weekly rent figure for Reid was $430, compared to the Australian Capital Territory's $450. Nationally, Reid's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,300 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 47.9% of all households, including 15.2% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 4.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 52.1%, with lone person households at 40.9% and group households making up 10.8%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Reid's educational attainment exceeds broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 61.5% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 46.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 31.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (23.1%) and graduate diplomas (6.9%). Vocational pathways account for 16.0%, with advanced diplomas at 8.5% and certificates at 7.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.0% in tertiary, 4.2% in primary, and 4.0% in secondary education.

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

Reid has 15 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 40 different routes, together offering 3,175 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living 168 meters from the nearest stop. As it's mainly residential, most commutes are outward-bound. Cars remain the primary mode at 48%, followed by walking at 26% and buses at 13%. On average, there are 0.9 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 15.3% of residents work from home, which might reflect COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 453 trips per day, equating to around 211 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Reid demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Both young and old age cohorts show low prevalence of common health conditions.

The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (1,269 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 11.6 and 8.1% of residents respectively. Sixty-five point seven percent of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Working-age residents show above average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 16.9% of residents aged 65 and over (348 people), higher than the 14.3% in Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

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

Reid's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local markets, with 20.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 31.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Reid, comprising 36.7%. However, Judaism was notably overrepresented at 0.6%, compared to 0.2% in Australian Capital Territory.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (25.4%), Australian (20.6%), and Other (11.5%). Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Polish was overrepresented at 1.3% versus 0.8%, French at 1.0% versus 0.5%, and Hungarian at 0.5% versus 0.3%.

Reid's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Reid has a median age of 39, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory's figure of 35 and comparable to Australia's median age of 38 years. The age group of 25-34 shows strong representation in Reid at 23.1%, compared to the Australian Capital Territory figure, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 5.0%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and the present time, Reid's median age has decreased by 1.4 years from 40 to 39, indicating a shift towards a younger demographic. During this period, the 25-34 age group has grown from 19.8% to 23.1%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 11.3% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has declined from 14.9% to 13.1%, and the 65-74 group dropped from 11.5% to 9.8%. Demographic modeling suggests that Reid's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 65-74 age group projected to grow by 52% (105 people), reaching a total of 308 from the current figure of 202.