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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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Spence (ACT) has an estimated 2,537 residents, down from 2,587 at the 2021 Census — a change of 50 people, or 1.9%. That puts 1,669 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 evaluations of broader regional ABS demographic releases alongside address validation records post-Census, the suburb of Spence (ACT) records an estimated total of 2,537 residents as of Aug 2026. This indicates a contraction of 50 people (1.9%) compared to the 2,587 individuals counted at the 2021 Census. Such adjustments are derived from an estimated resident count of 2,535 determined via ABS ERP figures published in June 2025, combined with 2 verified new addresses added since the Census. Across the locality, this demographic profile yields a population density of 1,669 persons per square kilometer, sitting above the standard benchmark observed nationwide by AreaSearch.
In recent intervals, local demographic expansion was predominantly underpinned by natural increase, which generated approximately 59.0% of total local population additions. Projections applied by AreaSearch incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia models for individual SA2 regions published in 2024 using 2022 as a base year. Where SA2 regions lack coverage, and across projections extending beyond 2032, age-specific growth trajectories are sourced from ACT Government SA2 forecasts based on 2022. Looking at long-term outlooks, these demographic models point toward an overall downward trajectory, forecasting the suburb of Spence (ACT) to reduce by 270 persons by 2041. Conversely, select demographics will register increases, predominantly within the 85 and over bracket, where an addition of 23 people is projected. Further age-specific analysis is provided in the relevant section.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of building approvals from ABS statistical area releases indicate that Spence has recorded an average of roughly 2 newly approved dwellings each year, totaling approximately 11 residential approvals across the preceding 5 financial years (spanning FY-21 and FY-25), with no approvals recorded during FY-25 to date. Against a backdrop of recent population declines, residential supply has kept pace with local requirements, fostering an equilibrium across the market and providing purchasers with favorable options. Residential development in Spence is noticeably subdued relative to the Australian Capital Territory, running 89.0% below the per-capita regional benchmark.
Such constrained additions to dwelling stock tend to reinforce local pricing resilience and buyer interest across established residences. Construction rates also sit beneath nationwide norms, pointing to an established suburb with potential planning constraints. Approvals in recent times have split evenly between detached houses (50.0%) and medium-to-high density formats such as townhouses or apartments (50.0%). The emphasis on medium-density formats improves market accessibility for downsizing owner-occupiers, entry-level buyers, and investors. This pattern diverges markedly from the current dwelling stock (which stands at 92.0% standalone houses), highlighting a scarcity of greenfield parcels while catering to changing demographic preferences and affordability considerations. With an estimated 1685 people per dwelling approval, the market exhibits mature characteristics. Given expectations of a demographic profile that remains flat or trends downward, housing demand pressures across Spence are likely to ease, potentially generating favorable entry conditions for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Spence (ACT)
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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 4 current infrastructure and development projects close to Spence (ACT), worth an estimated $5.57 billion. 2 are already under construction. The pipeline spans communities and education & training. 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
Strategic planning policies, major developments, and surrounding infrastructure upgrades significantly shape local performance. AreaSearch has identified 1 key development poised to impact the surrounding district. Notable regional projects include Ginninderry Masterplanned Community - Strathnairn & Macnamara, Gold Creek Country Club Build-to-Rent (Gold Creek Golf Club Redevelopment), New Northside Hospital, and Canberra Light Rail Stage 3: Belconnen to City, with key local initiatives detailed below.
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
Second Gungahlin College (Nicholls)
A new public senior secondary college for Years 11 and 12 in Nicholls, built to meet growing enrolment demand in the Gungahlin district. The campus will open with capacity for 800 students, with room to expand to 1,100 in future. Facilities include flexible learning spaces, a performing arts theatre, a gymnasium, and outdoor sports space including a mixed soccer and rugby oval, two tennis courts, and two mixed basketball and netball courts, some of which will be shared with the community outside school hours.The design incorporates solar power and energy-efficient construction. Community consultation on the Development Application has closed and the application is now under assessment. The college is expected to open by 2030 at an estimated construction cost of 114 million AUD.
Macnamara Residential Estate
Macnamara is the second residential suburb in the Ginninderry Joint Venture, a 6 Star Green Star community on the western edge of Belconnen. Delivered by Suburban Land Agency and Riverview Developments, the suburb will deliver approximately 1,800 homes on land bordering the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor, with views to the Brindabella Mountains. Multiple land stages are actively selling as of 2025-2026, with blocks from 540sqm priced from $615,000. A local retail centre is planned for 2027 (subject to approval) and Strathnairn Early Childhood and Education Centre is partially opening in 2026.
Gold Creek School Senior Campus expansion
ACT Government project to expand the Gold Creek School Senior Campus (Years 7-10) with additional contemporary learning spaces, staff areas and amenity upgrades. Delivered to accommodate approximately 200 extra students and lift total capacity to a little over 1,000 from the start of the 2022 school year. Works included studios, adaptable classrooms, quiet spaces, staff workspace, meeting rooms and bike/parking upgrades. Contractor: Rork Projects.
Ginninderry Masterplanned Community - Strathnairn & Macnamara
Ginninderry is a cross-border masterplanned community in West Belconnen delivered by the ACT Government and Riverview Group joint venture. Planned to accommodate 30,000 residents across approximately 11,500 dwellings over a 37-year period, the project spans the ACT and NSW border. The first suburb, Strathnairn, is substantially developed with over 2,700 residents as of early 2025. The second suburb, Macnamara, is actively under development with approximately 300-400 lots released annually. Key recent milestones include the opening of Strathnairn School (programmed for the 2026 school year), multi-unit site releases in Strathnairn Village adjacent to the future retail centre, and ongoing single residential lot releases.The community is forecast to reach approximately 5,000 residents by 2028. The project incorporates a 6 Star Green Star sustainability rating, conservation corridor management along the Murrumbidgee River and Ginninderra Creek, and the SPARK employment program.
1,312 residents of Spence (ACT) are employed, from a labour force of 1,394. Unemployment sits at 5.9%, with participation at 67.6%. 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 1,962, 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
Aggregated statistical area figures compiled by AreaSearch highlight that Spence maintains an educated local workforce with solid presence across critical service sectors, showing an unemployment rate of 5.9% and steady employment conditions over the preceding twelve months. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,312, with local joblessness tracking 1.8% higher than the 4.1% recorded for the Australian Capital Territory, while labour force participation is slightly subdued at 67.6% (compared to 70.6% across the Australian Capital Territory). Census findings showed that only 12.8% of employed locals worked from home, a metric that may reflect prevailing conditions during Covid-19 restrictions.
Locals are primarily engaged across public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, alongside education & training. In particular, the suburb exhibits concentrated specialization in construction, where its share of employment reaches 1.6 times the territory standard. Conversely, public administration & safety holds a comparatively lower proportion at 25.6%, compared with 30.4% regionally. Given the disparity between Census counts of resident workers and local employment positions, this primarily residential suburb appears to generate limited work opportunities within its own borders. AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM metrics over the year leading up to March 2026 shows that local workforce numbers grew by 1.2% while employment slipped by 0.1%, leading to an increase of 1.2 percentage points in the unemployment rate. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory saw a 0.3% gain in total employment, a 1.1% expansion in the labour pool, and a 0.7 percentage point uptick in unemployment. Broader perspective on medium-term labour demand is offered by Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts from Mar-26, which project five- and ten-year shifts across industries. Although nationwide employment is estimated to expand by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over a ten-year horizon, sectoral trends vary considerably. Applying these national industry growth rates to the existing occupational mix of Spence indicates potential local employment growth of 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (noting that this weighting extrapolation serves illustrative purposes and excludes localized demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Spence (ACT) is $2,358 a week (about $123,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,125 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $66,021 a year against an average of $74,628. 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 compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 reveal that the suburb of Spence records a median taxpayer income of $66,021 alongside an average of $74,628. These metrics place the area high on a nationwide scale, though they trail the broader Australian Capital Territory benchmarks of $72,206 (median) and $85,981 (average). Factoring in a 10.44% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated figures for March 2026 are estimated at approximately $72,914 for median earnings and $82,419 for average earnings. According to Census 2021 records, local personal, family, and household earnings all sit in upper national tiers, falling between the 86th and 87th percentiles.
In terms of earnings brackets, 32.6% of residents (827 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly band, aligning closely with the 34.3% reported regionally. Additionally, 36.0% of earners receive weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, underscoring strong local affluence that underpins spending capacity. After meeting housing commitments, households retain 87.2% of their income, supporting robust discretionary power and placing the suburb in the 7th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Spence (ACT) had 926 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 0% apartments. 46% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $375 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,120 a month. Rent absorbs 15.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data indicates that residential stock in Spence is heavily skewed toward standalone houses, which account for 92.5% of properties, with 7.5% consisting of other dwellings such as apartments, semi-detached properties, and alternative formats; by comparison, the Australian Capital Territory features 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright home ownership in Spence reaches 33.2%, substantially exceeding territory levels, while mortgaged residences represent 46.1% and rental accommodations comprise 20.7%. Typical monthly mortgage payments stand at $2,120, above the Australian Capital Territory median of $2,080, while median weekly rent is $375, sitting below the territory figure of $450.
Across Australia, local mortgage repayments remain considerably above the national median of $1,863, whereas weekly rents match the nationwide baseline of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Spence (ACT) counted 926 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 21% 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
Family arrangements constitute 75.6% of all local households, led by couples with children at 35.6%, couples without children at 27.2%, and single parent families representing 11.0%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 24.4%, made up of lone person households (21.1%) and group households (2.8%). The typical household size in the suburb is 2.7 people, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
34.6% of adults in Spence (ACT) hold a university qualification, including 20.7% with a bachelor degree and 8.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 100% of areas nationally. A further 20.2% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment within the locality presents an area for development, as the proportion of residents holding university qualifications (34.6%) sits notably below the regional SA4 mark of 46.8%. Bachelor degrees constitute the primary higher education level at 20.7%, with postgraduate qualifications at 8.6% and graduate diplomas accounting for 5.3%. Meanwhile, vocational and technical pathways are well established, with 31.8% of individuals aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, divided into certificates (20.2%) and advanced diplomas (11.6%). Participation across formal education remains robust, involving 31.2% of the local population. Current enrolments comprise 10.1% attending primary schooling, 8.6% enrolled in secondary education, and 5.6% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Spence (ACT) reaches 23 stops on 82 routes, timetabled for about 5,500 services a week. The typical home sits about 170 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
An assessment of local transit options shows 23 active public transport stops situated across Spence, catering to bus services. A network of 82 separate routes utilizes these stops to deliver 5,543 weekly passenger trips. Public transit access is outstanding, with households typically situated 167 meters away from their closest stop. Given the suburb's residential focus, outward travel is widespread; private motor vehicles are the primary mode for 90% of commuters, while buses account for 6%. Household car ownership averages 1.6 vehicles per dwelling, above the territory benchmark. In addition, 12.8% of the local workforce reported working from home during the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 settings.
Across all transit routes, service frequency averages 791 trips daily, delivering approximately 241 weekly trips for each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.0% of residents in Spence (ACT) report no long-term health condition. 5.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 56.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.0 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 assessments of chronic illness and mortality, Spence exhibits notable health challenges, with routine medical conditions observed across younger as well as older demographics, while private health insurance membership remains strong at roughly 57% of residents (~1,437 people), compared to 62.4% across the Australian Capital Territory. Asthma and mental health issues represent the most prevalent diagnosed conditions locally, affecting 9.4% and 10.9% of residents, respectively, whereas 63.0% of the community reported having no diagnosed long-term medical conditions, trailing the Australian Capital Territory average of 70.2%. Health burdens are evident among working-age individuals through elevated chronic illness rates.
Furthermore, residents aged 65 and over represent 17.6% of the population (446 people), tracking above the 14.2% registered for the Australian Capital Territory. Overall health indicators for senior residents present some challenges, aligning generally with national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Spence (ACT) is largely Australian-born, at 83.3% of residents, with 11.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (28.5%) and English (26.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Demographic indicators reflect lower cultural diversity in Spence relative to broader averages, with 83.3% of the community born in Australia, 93.5% holding Australian citizenship, and 88.5% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious faith, followed by 47.5% of residents. The most notable non-majority religious group is Buddhism, accounting for 1.5% of the population compared with 3.0% territory-wide. Regarding parental lineage, Australian ancestry is most prominent, representing 28.5% of residents (well above the territory rate of 23.0%), followed by English at 26.7% and Irish at 10.2%. Minor variations also appear among other ancestries, with Polish heritage representing 0.9% (versus 0.8% across the territory), Welsh comprising 0.7% (compared to 0.6% regionally), and Spanish recorded at 0.6% (against 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Spence (ACT) is 38. 25.4% 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 structures in Spence align closely with the Australian Capital Territory, with every broad demographic category sitting within 6.6 percentage points of territory proportions. The median age is estimated at 38, matching the 2021 Census outcome and remaining 3 years older than the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 from that same Census. The most noticeable demographic shift since the Census occurred in the 25 - 44 age bracket, which decreased from 27.4% to an estimated 26.2%. This shift reflects aging in place, with the 5 to 14 cohort dropping from 14.0% to an estimated 11.8% while the 15 to 24 group rose from 12.2% to 14.7%.
Looking ahead to 2041, residents aged 45 - 64 are projected to capture most net additions, increasing by 6 residents (1%) to a total of 587, whereas young adult, child, and young-to-middle aged cohorts are expected to experience contractions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Spence (ACT)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 this 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 this 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 this month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| 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 — 2 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,587 at the 2021 Census → 2,537 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 (SAL80118). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.