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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
Analyzing ABS demographic updates for the wider region alongside newly verified addresses from AreaSearch since the Census, the population of the suburb of Spence (ACT) is calculated at approximately 2,537 for May 2026. This indicates a loss of 50 people (1.9%) compared to the 2021 Census, which recorded 2,587 residents. This adjustment is derived from the resident population of 2,535, calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP data release, with 2 new validated addresses added since the Census. The suburb of Spence (ACT) has a population density of 1,669 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical ratio found across locations analyzed by AreaSearch.
Recent population gains were mostly fueled by natural increases, which accounted for approximately 59.0% of the overall growth. AreaSearch utilizes projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 regions lacking this information, and for periods after 2032, age cohort growth trends from the ACT Government's projections for SA2 areas, based in 2022, are applied. Looking at future demographic projections, the methodology predicts a population reduction in the suburb of Spence (ACT), with a projected loss of 272 persons by 2041. Even so, expansion is expected within particular age cohorts, led by residents aged 85 and over, who are forecast to grow by 26 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
AreaSearch assessment of ABS building approvals assigned from statistical data indicates that Spence has registered a yearly average of approximately 2 new home approvals, with 11 dwellings approved during the last 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and none in FY-26. Amidst recent population declines, construction volumes have been appropriate in relative terms, presenting favorable conditions for purchasers, while newly built properties carry an average value of $209,000—below regional benchmarks—suggesting more budget-friendly purchasing options. Spence displays considerably lower residential construction compared to the Australian Capital Territory, tracking at 85.0% below the regional per capita average.
This limited addition of new stock generally bolsters demand and valuations for established properties. This rate is also below the national average, showcasing a mature residential market and highlighting potential hurdles for new development. Recent building activity is divided equally, with 50.0% consisting of detached houses and 50.0% comprised of townhouses or units. This concentration on compact configurations provides more affordable paths to ownership and draws interest from downsizers, property investors, and first-home buyers. This marks a clear departure from the current housing mix, which stands at 92.0% houses, showing that buildable land is becoming scarcer while reflecting shifting lifestyle preferences and the demand for more varied, lower-cost housing options. Recording roughly 1264 people for each approved dwelling, the local market exhibits high maturity. Given that the local population is projected to remain steady or contract, Spence will likely experience less pressure on its housing market, which could open up favorable options for prospective buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Spence (ACT)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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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
Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and new developments are key drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a single project expected to influence this locality. The primary developments in the region include the 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 the most relevant ones detailed in the list 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 68.3%. 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
The local workforce is highly educated with significant representation in essential services, showing an unemployment rate of 5.9% and steady employment levels over the prior year, based on consolidated statistical area data from AreaSearch. In March 2026, 1,312 residents were employed, while the local jobless rate sat 1.8% higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.1%, and participation in the labor force was slightly lower than regional patterns, recording 68.3% compared to 70.8% across the territory. Census details indicate that a modest 12.8% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic restrictions.
The primary employment fields for local residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The community displays a strong concentration in construction, with its employment share reaching 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety is underrepresented at 25.6% compared to the territory-wide average of 30.4%. The location is mostly residential and appears to offer few local jobs, as shown by comparing the count of Census workers against the resident population. AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS data for the broader statistical area show that the labor force expanded by 1.2% over the 12-month timeframe while total employment declined by 0.1%, leading to a rise of 1.2 percentage points in the unemployment rate. This differed from the Australian Capital Territory, which experienced a 0.3% increase in employment, a 1.1% expansion of the labor force, and a 0.7 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future demand trends in Spence can be explored using national employment forecasts from May-25 released by Jobs and Skills Australia. These five and ten-year forecasts were applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Across the nation, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these rates vary across sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to the local occupational mix suggests that employment for residents should rise by 6.5% after five years and 13.3% after ten years, though this is a basic weighted calculation that does not factor in local demographic projections.
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
Based on financial year 2023 ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch, residents in the suburb of Spence earn incomes well above the national benchmark. Taxpayers in the suburb of Spence record a median income of $66,021 and an average income of $74,628, compared to Australian Capital Territory averages of $72,206 and $85,981. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, March 2026 estimates suggest these figures have risen to approximately $72,914 for the median and $82,419 for the average. The 2021 Census shows household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Spence are highly ranked, placing between the 86th and 87th percentiles nationwide.
The weekly income band of $1,500 - 2,999 is the most common, accounting for 32.6% of residents (827 people), which aligns with the broader regional figure of 34.3%. A notable 36.0% of earners receive more than $3,000 per week, indicating affluent segments that support local business activity. After paying for housing, households retain 87.2% of their income, indicating high disposable income, and the suburb of Spence is positioned in the 7th decile for SEIFA income.
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
According to the latest Census, the local housing stock consisted of 92.5% houses and 7.5% other dwelling types, such as townhouses, apartments, or alternative options, compared to 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings in the Australian Capital Territory. Home ownership rates in the suburb of Spence were considerably higher than the territory average, with 33.2% of residents owning outright, while the remaining homes were occupied by mortgagors (46.1%) or renters (20.7%). The median monthly home loan payment was $2,120, above the territory average of $2,080, while median weekly rent was $375, compared to $450 in the Australian Capital Territory.
Globally, local monthly mortgage costs are notably higher than the Australian median of $1,863, whereas weekly rents match the national average 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
Families make up the majority of households at 75.6%, which includes 35.6% couples raising children, 27.2% couples without children, and 11.0% single parent households. The remaining 24.4% consists of non-family households, with lone person households representing 21.1% and group shared homes making up 2.8% of the total. The median household occupancy of 2.7 individuals exceeds the Australian Capital Territory benchmark 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
Educational outcomes in the area present room for improvement, as the proportion of residents with university qualifications (34.6%) falls well short of the SA4 regional average of 46.8%. This gap highlights a key focus area for local educational programs. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees are the most common at 20.7%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 8.6% and graduate diplomas at 5.3%. Vocational and practical training are highly prevalent, with 31.8% of residents aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, comprising advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (20.2%). A high proportion of the population is engaged in learning, with 31.2% of residents currently undertaking formal studies.
Of these, 10.1% are in primary school, 8.6% attend high school, and 5.6% are enrolled in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Spence (ACT) reaches 27 stops on 98 routes, timetabled for about 7,200 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 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
Analysis of local transit options shows 27 active passenger stops operating in the suburb of Spence (ACT), consisting of bus services. These stops support 98 different routes, which together provide 7,199 passenger journeys each week. Access to transit is highly rated, with typical residences situated within 150 meters of the nearest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, the majority of workers travel elsewhere to work, with cars remaining the main transport choice at 90%, and buses used by 6%. Household car ownership averages 1.6 vehicles, which is higher than the regional average.
A relatively low 12.8% of workers performed their jobs from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions. Transit vehicles make an average of 1,028 trips each day across all active routes, which translates to approximately 266 weekly trips for each individual 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
Local health data analyzed by AreaSearch shows notable challenges regarding death rates and chronic illness, with common health concerns observed across both younger and older demographics, while the share of residents with private health insurance is very high at approximately 57% of the population, representing about 1,437 people. This is slightly lower than the 62.4% rate recorded across the Australian Capital Territory. The most frequent diagnoses among residents are mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 10.9% and 9.4% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 63.0% of the community reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 70.2% in the Australian Capital Territory.
Working-age residents face clear health challenges, marked by higher rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 18.2% of the local population (461 people), which is higher than the territory average of 14.3%. Health trends for older residents show some difficulties, with national performance metrics generally mirroring those of the wider community.
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
The suburb of Spence (ACT) exhibits below-average cultural diversity metrics, with 83.3% of residents born in Australia, 93.5% holding citizenship, and 88.5% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 47.5% of the population. The most prominent disproportionate religious cohort is Buddhism, which is practiced by 1.5% of residents, compared to a higher average of 3.0% across the Australian Capital Territory. Regarding family heritage based on parental birthplaces, the three most common ancestries in the suburb of Spence (ACT) are Australian at 28.5% of the population, which is much higher than the regional average of 23.0%, English at 26.7%, and Irish at 10.2%.
There are also slight variances in other heritage groups, with Welsh ancestry overrepresented at 0.7% compared to 0.6% in the region, Polish heritage at 0.9% compared to 0.8%, and Spanish background at 0.6% compared to 0.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Spence (ACT) is 38. 24.2% 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 median age in the suburb of Spence (ACT) is 38 years, which is older than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and matches the national figure of 38. Compared to the wider territory, the suburb of Spence (ACT) has a higher proportion of residents aged 75 - 84 (7.7%) but fewer residents aged 25 - 34 (10.9%). Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 5.1% to 7.7% of the population, and the 0 to 4 group has expanded from 6.0% to 7.4%. In contrast, the 65 to 74 demographic has dropped from 11.6% to 8.6%, and the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 14.0% to 11.7%.
Future projections suggest the age structure in the suburb of Spence (ACT) will shift notably by 2041. The 85 and over group is expected to grow the fastest at 49%, adding 23 residents to reach 72. Older residents aged 65 and over will account for 85% of total population growth, highlighting the aging trend, while the 75 to 84 and 25 to 34 cohorts are forecast to decline.
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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 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) | Jul 2026 last 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 May 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 May 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.