Acton
With a median age of 19, Acton sits 21 years below the national figure, making it one of the youngest suburbs in Australia. That single number explains almost everything else: a 76.3% annual resident turnover, a 52.4% walk-and-cycle commute share, a 19% unemployment rate driven by full-time students, and an average household size of 1.0 compared to the national 2.5. Education dominates the local economy at 41.5% of workers, and university qualifications reach 42.3%, which is 12.2 points above the national average. The suburb grows at 2.88% per year, fuelled almost entirely by overseas arrivals at 187 net per year.
Population
2,848
Median Age
19.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$0/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
House price data is not recorded for Acton in this dataset, reflecting the suburb's near-total dominance by institutional land tied to the Australian National University. Rental supply is the relevant market, with weekly rent reported at low levels consistent with student accommodation. Buyers looking for a residential foothold in central Canberra are better served by neighbouring suburbs such as Turner or Braddon, where private title dwellings are available. For those weighing proximity to the city core, Acton's 5.99 km2 area sits within 2 km of the CBD, and 33.8% of residents reach destinations by car, lower than the national average, because walkability is high.
For Buyers
House price data is not recorded for Acton in this dataset, reflecting the suburb's near-total dominance by institutional land tied to the Australian National University. Rental supply is the relevant market, with weekly rent reported at low levels consistent with student accommodation. Buyers looking for a residential foothold in central Canberra are better served by neighbouring suburbs such as Turner or Braddon, where private title dwellings are available. For those weighing proximity to the city core, Acton's 5.99 km2 area sits within 2 km of the CBD, and 33.8% of residents reach destinations by car, lower than the national average, because walkability is high.
For Investors
The investment case for Acton is structurally limited by the university-dominated land tenure, which restricts private dwelling transactions. Weekly rent sits at a nominal level in the data, partly because much accommodation is institutional rather than private market. The suburb's 76.3% annual turnover rate reflects student cycling rather than speculative churn, and with overseas migration driving 187 new residents per year against just 1 from internal movement, demand is captive to ANU enrolment trends. Population is forecast to grow from around 3,616 in 2025 to 4,030 by 2031, a 11.5% rise, which could support peripheral residential demand in adjacent suburbs rather than direct investment in Acton itself.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Acton's median age of 19 is 21 years below the national figure, the defining feature of the suburb's profile. Overseas-born residents account for 31.6%, which is 10 percentage points above the national average, consistent with international student enrolment patterns. University qualifications reach 42.3%, which is 12.2 points above national, though this understates true educational attainment since many residents are currently enrolled rather than already graduated. English ancestry leads at 798 residents, followed by Irish at 323 and Chinese at 301. Average household size of 1.0 is 1.5 below the national figure because student studio and single-room occupancy dominates. Volunteering sits at 45.6%, well above typical community rates.
Age Distribution
Dwelling Structure
N/A
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
No median house price is recorded for Acton, as the suburb is largely occupied by ANU campus land and student accommodation rather than private residential dwellings. Weekly rent is nominal in the dataset. The average household size of 1.0 person per dwelling is the lowest you will encounter in most suburb comparisons, reflecting single-occupancy student rooms rather than family homes. With 0 recorded family households in the census data, Acton functions less as a residential suburb in the conventional sense and more as an institutional precinct with transient residents. Buyers and renters seeking family-sized housing will find greater supply in neighbouring suburbs within the 2601 postcode zone.
Mortgage / mo
$0
Rent / wk
$9
HH Size
1.0
Personal Income / wk
$257
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Economy & Employment
Education accounts for 41.5% of local employment, the dominant sector by a wide margin, which is expected given ANU's campus anchors the suburb. Hospitality follows at 15.6%, serving the student and visitor population, and Professional/Technical services add 9%. The unemployment rate of 19% is high in absolute terms but must be read against a participation rate of 52.8%, both shaped by full-time students who are not in the labour force or working only part-time. Part-time employment accounts for 1,150 workers compared to just 66 full-time, the inverse of a typical suburb. Personal weekly income of $257 is low compared to national averages, again reflecting the student income base rather than embedded disadvantage.
Unemployment
0.8%
Labour Force
2,261
Unemployed
18
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
5.4%
Part-time
75.6%
Participation
52.8%
Employed
1,216
Occupations
Top Industries
University
42.3%
Postgraduate
16.1%
Born Overseas
31.6%
Dwellings
0
Transport to Work
Active transport defines how Acton moves: 52.4% of residents walk or cycle to work or study, by far the highest mode share in this dataset, compared to the national car-dependent norm. A further 10.7% use public transport, leaving only 33.8% driving, which is well below the national average. The suburb's compact layout and on-campus amenities make car ownership optional for most residents. No schools are recorded within Acton, consistent with its near-zero family-household count, so school catchment is not a consideration for current residents. Only 0.3% of the population, or 8 people, require daily assistance, the lowest rate possible, reflecting the young and physically active age structure with a median of 19.
Drive
33.8%
Public Transport
10.7%
Walk / Cycle
52.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.88%/yr
(+104 people/yr)
EstablishedActon's population grew 44.9% over the decade to 2021, among the faster-growing ACT suburbs, and the annual growth rate sits at 2.88%, adding roughly 104 residents per year. Historical records show 3,307 residents in 2023 rising to 3,616 by 2025. Medium forecasts project 4,030 residents by 2031, a further 11.5% above the 2025 level. The growth engine is almost entirely overseas migration at 187 net arrivals per year, compared to just 1 net internal migrant annually, reflecting international student intake at ANU rather than lifestyle relocation. The suburb is classified as established with a stable trajectory and a gentrification score of 0, meaning upward socioeconomic shift is not a current dynamic.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+187
Net Internal / yr
+1
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: 2% → 70%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Acton compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acton a good suburb to live in?
Acton suits students and university staff very well. Its 52.4% walk-and-cycle commute share and proximity to ANU make car-free living practical. For families, the suburb has 0 recorded family households and no schools in the data, so it functions as a student precinct rather than a general residential suburb. The median age of 19 is 21 years below the national figure.
What is the median house price in Acton?
No median house price is recorded for Acton in this dataset, because the suburb is dominated by ANU campus land and institutional accommodation rather than privately titled dwellings. Weekly rent appears at a nominal level. Buyers seeking residential property close to Acton typically look to neighbouring suburbs in the 2601 postcode area such as Turner or Braddon.
What schools are in Acton?
No schools are recorded within Acton's boundaries in this dataset. The suburb's average household size of 1.0 and 0 recorded family households indicate that school-age children are essentially absent. Families with school-aged children generally reside in adjacent suburbs where local primary and secondary schools operate.
Is Acton safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Acton in this dataset. As a contextual indicator, only 0.3% of residents, or 8 people, require daily assistance, and the suburb's high education level of 42.3% with university qualifications is 12.2 points above the national average. The transient student population of around 3,616 means most residents cycle through within 1 to 4 years.
Is Acton good for property investment?
Direct residential investment in Acton is constrained by the dominance of ANU institutional land and the absence of recorded house prices in the dataset. The suburb grows at 2.88% per year driven by 187 net overseas arrivals annually, but this demand flows mostly into institutional and purpose-built student housing. Investors targeting student rental demand may find better opportunities in adjacent suburbs with private title dwellings.
How is Acton's population changing?
Population grew 44.9% over the decade and reached approximately 3,616 in 2025, up from 3,307 in 2023. Annual growth runs at 2.88%, adding about 104 residents per year. Overseas migration accounts for 187 net arrivals annually versus just 1 from internal movement, so growth tracks ANU international enrolment. Medium forecasts project 4,030 residents by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Acton?
About 31.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 10 percentage points above the national average, driven by international student enrolment at ANU. Mandarin is the most common non-English language with 84 speakers, followed by Hindi with 22 and Cantonese with 16, reflecting the mix of students from China, India and Southeast Asia.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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