Turner

Population growth drivers in Turner are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

According to evaluations of ABS population adjustments for the wider region, alongside new addresses verified by AreaSearch subsequent to the Census, the suburb of Turner has a projected occupancy of approximately 4,894 residents as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 424 people (9.5%) relative to the 2021 Census, which documented a population of 4,470 people. This shift is derived from a resident headcount of 4,888, calculated by AreaSearch through analysing the most recent ERP statistics published by the ABS (June 2025) in addition to 305 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population scale translates to a density of 3,177 persons per square kilometer, placing the locality in the top quartile of Australian locations analyzed by AreaSearch. The 9.5% expansion rate in the suburb of Turner since the 2021 census outpaced the state (8.3%) and the SA4 region, establishing it as a regional growth frontrunner. The upward population trajectory was largely fueled by overseas arrivals, who accounted for roughly 80.0% of the overall population increases in recent times.

AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 district, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and for any points past 2032, age cohort growth coefficients from the ACT Government's SA2 district projections, with a 2022 baseline, are utilized. Looking at future demographic trends, population expansion in the suburb of Turner is projected to exceed the median for Australian statistical areas, with a forecasted increase of 840 individuals by 2041 based on compiled SA2-level models, representing an overall rise of 17.0% across the 16 years.

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

Based on AreaSearch assessments of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical area records, Turner has averaged approximately 55 approved residential dwellings annually, accumulating to roughly 278 homes over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, there have been 480 approvals registered. With an average of 1.5 new residents per year per dwelling built over the last 5 financial years (running from FY-21 to FY-25), the local sector displays a healthy equilibrium between supply and demand, fostering steady conditions, with new dwellings being constructed at an average cost of $615,000, which highlights developer activity in the high-end, upscale market. Furthermore, $1.2 million in commercial approvals have been logged during the current financial year, pointing to a predominantly residential orientation.

Relative to the Australian Capital Territory, Turner registers 11.0% less new development (per capita), though it places in the 92nd percentile among all areas evaluated nationwide, indicating a recent acceleration in building activity. This is significantly above the national norm, reflecting strong builder sentiment in the district. New construction breakdowns reveal 3.0% detached homes and 97.0% attached dwellings. This orientation toward higher-density housing formats provides accessible entry points and appeals to downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The district has approximately 69 people per residential approval, pointing to a growing market.

Demographic projections indicate Turner will add 834 residents by 2041 (calculated from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly projection). At current building velocities, the volume of incoming housing should easily satisfy demand, creating favorable buying conditions and potentially encouraging growth beyond current population estimates.

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

Local performance is strongly shaped by developments in local infrastructure, major construction initiatives, and planning strategies. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 32 projects expected to influence the area. Notable examples include Botanical Turner, Turner Build-to-Rent, 220 Northbourne Avenue, and the Turner One Affordable Housing Project, with details of the most significant works outlined below.

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

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AreaSearch assessment positions Turner ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Turner is characterized by a highly credentialed labor force with substantial representation in professional fields, an unemployment level of only 3.6%, and an estimated job growth rate of 0.6% over the preceding year, according to AreaSearch aggregations of statistical area data. As of March 2026, there are 3,387 working residents, and the unemployment rate sits 0.5% lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.1%, while workforce participation is exceptionally high at 76.2% compared to the Australian Capital Territory benchmark of 70.8%. Census records show that a modest 13.1% of residents worked from home, although this should be interpreted in light of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for residents are public administration & safety, professional & technical, and education & training. The community shows a particularly high density in public administration & safety, with staffing levels 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is underrepresented, making up only 7.5% of Turner's labor force compared to 11.7% in the Australian Capital Territory. The heavily residential layout of the area appears to limit local employment opportunities, as reflected in the ratio of the Census working population against the resident population.

According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from broader regions, the 12-month window experienced a 0.6% increase in employment alongside a 1.3% expansion of the labor force, resulting in a 0.6 percentage point rise in the unemployment rate. By comparison, the Australian Capital Territory saw job growth of 0.3% and a labor force increase of 1.1%, leading to a 0.7 percentage point rise. Employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional context on future demand in Turner. These models, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce structure to project growth trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rates vary widely by industry. Projecting these industry-specific trends onto Turner's job distribution suggests local employment will rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (note that this represents a direct weighted extrapolation for illustration and does not incorporate localized population growth models).

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The suburb of Turner features a median taxpayer income of $73,332 and an average of $94,358, based on the latest postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This represents a very high level nationally, compared to the Australian Capital Territory median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Factoring in a Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to roughly $80,988 (median) and $104,209 (average) as of March 2026. Based on 2021 Census records, household, family, and individual incomes in Turner all place in high percentiles nationally, ranging from the 84th to the 97th percentile. The income distribution shows the largest cohort comprises 38.6% of residents (1,889 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, aligning with regional patterns where 34.3% fall into this same band. Economic capacity is shown by the 36.8% of households earning high weekly incomes above $3,000, which supports strong local spending. Elevated housing expenses take up 16.4% of earnings, yet strong wages keep disposable income in the 83rd percentile, with the area's SEIFA income score placing it in the 10th decile.

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

Residential structures in Turner, as recorded in the latest Census, consisted of 12.6% separate houses and 87.4% other formats (semi-detached, apartments, and alternative dwellings), compared to the Australian Capital Territory breakdown of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Furthermore, home ownership in Turner lagged behind the Australian Capital Territory average, standing at 18.0%, with the remaining properties occupied under mortgages (26.6%) or rented (55.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was lower than the Australian Capital Territory benchmark at $1,901, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $480, compared to the Australian Capital Territory figures of $2,080 and $450. On a national scale, Turner's mortgage costs exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and rent levels are considerably higher than the national baseline of $375.

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

Families represent 46.9% of all local households, containing 11.5% couples with offspring, 29.6% couples without offspring, and 4.2% single parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 53.1%, with single-person households at 38.6% and shared group households making up 14.8% of the total. The median household occupancy of 2.0 people is below the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.

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

Educational profiles in Turner are significantly higher than broader averages, with 69.4% of residents aged 15+ holding tertiary qualifications, compared to 30.4% across Australia and 46.8% in the SA4 region. This high concentration of academic qualifications positions the community well for professional services and knowledge-based roles. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 37.8%, followed by postgraduate credentials (25.6%) and graduate diplomas (6.0%). Vocational and technical training accounts for 10.9% of qualifications among residents aged 15+, consisting of advanced diplomas (5.4%) and certificates (5.5%).

Learning participation is exceptionally strong, with 31.8% of the local population enrolled in courses of study. This is composed of 20.7% attending higher education, 3.8% in primary school, and 3.1% in secondary school education.

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

Analysis of public transit options indicates 25 active stops operating in Turner, containing a combination of light rail and bus services. These stops are linked to 63 distinct routes, which combine to support 4,635 passenger journeys weekly. Transit accessibility is classified as excellent, with residents living an average of 148 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most working residents commute out of the area; private vehicles remain the primary transit mode at 48%, followed by walking at 22% and bus travel at 12%. Average vehicle ownership is 0.7 per household, which is lower than the regional average. A relatively low 13.1% of residents work from home (based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era patterns).

Transit service frequency averages 662 daily journeys across all routes, which corresponds to approximately 185 weekly journeys per individual stop.

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

Turner displays strong health statistics according to AreaSearch assessments of mortality patterns and chronic illnesses, with both younger and older cohorts showing low rates of standard medical conditions, while private health insurance rates are very high at approximately 64% of the population (3,154 people). This compares to 62.4% in the Australian Capital Territory and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent health issues recorded locally were mental health conditions and asthma, affecting 12.3 and 8.2% of the population, respectively, while 70.1% of residents reported having no ongoing medical concerns compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory. Health profiles for working-age locals are generally standard. The suburb has 10.6% of residents aged 65 and over (518 people), which sits below the 14.3% figure for the Australian Capital Territory. Health outcomes for older residents are particularly positive, ranking higher nationally than the general population.

Turner was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Turner exhibits a higher level of cultural diversity than most regional property markets, with 32.7% of its inhabitants born outside Australia and 25.8% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 26.7% of residents. The most noticeable statistical divergence is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.4% of the population compared to 0.2% across the Australian Capital Territory.

Regarding ancestry (the birthplace of parents), the top three recorded groups in Turner are English at 22.4% of the population, Australian at 19.4%, and Other at 11.6%. There are also distinct concentrations of other heritage groups, with Polish overrepresented at 1.1% of Turner (compared to 0.8% regionally), French at 0.8% (compared to 0.5%), and Korean at 0.8% (compared to 0.6%).

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

With a median age of 30, Turner is younger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 35 and significantly younger than the national median of 38. The age distribution shows a high concentration of 25 - 34 year-olds (34.3%), while the 5 - 14 cohort is smaller (3.9%) than in the broader Australian Capital Territory. This 25 - 34 bracket is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Post-2021 Census statistics show that the 25 to 34 age group rose from 31.7% to 34.3% of the population, and the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 14.6% to 16.1%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 group dropped from 19.1% to 16.3%, and the 5 to 14 group fell from 5.2% to 3.9%. By 2041, Turner is expected to undergo shifts in its demographic makeup, with the 35 to 44 cohort projected to expand by 153 people (19%) from 787 to 941, while the 5 to 14 age group is projected to decrease by three.