Acton
Compact and fast-growing, Acton packs 1,377 residents into 0.95 sq km, with density of 1,444.2 per sq km and a housing mix that remains 91.3% separate houses. The standout is contrast: household income sits at the 17.5th percentile, yet 10-year population change was 44.9%, above what its low-income profile might suggest. Compared with nearby Shorewell Park and Park Grove, Acton reads more as a dense, detached Burnie fringe pocket, shaped by modest incomes, high renting at 39.0%, and a younger median age of 35.
Local council: Burnie
Population
1,377
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,100/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
For homebuyers, Acton is mainly a detached-house market: 91.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 79.1% have 3 bedrooms, so choice is weighted toward conventional family stock rather than apartments. A suburb-level median house price is not available, but monthly mortgage payments of $867 and mortgage costs at 18.2% of income point to lower repayment pressure than many higher-priced coastal markets. Ownership is split between 24.1% owned outright and 35.7% with a mortgage, because turnover is limited by a 76.7% stayed-put rate.
For Buyers
For homebuyers, Acton is mainly a detached-house market: 91.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 79.1% have 3 bedrooms, so choice is weighted toward conventional family stock rather than apartments. A suburb-level median house price is not available, but monthly mortgage payments of $867 and mortgage costs at 18.2% of income point to lower repayment pressure than many higher-priced coastal markets. Ownership is split between 24.1% owned outright and 35.7% with a mortgage, because turnover is limited by a 76.7% stayed-put rate.
For Investors
Investors see a rental-heavy pocket, with 39.0% of homes rented and a weekly rent of $240. That rent is below many mainland benchmarks, so yield depends heavily on buy-in price rather than headline rent. Vacancy is elevated at 8.6%, which weakens pricing power because tenants have more choice. With 0 new development samples in the past 12 months and forecast growth at 2.88% a year, demand is more likely to come from household formation and migration than from a construction-led reset.
Demographics
Acton is younger than the national profile, with a median age of 35, 5.0 years below the national figure. Its overseas-born share is 6.5%, or 15.1 percentage points below national, and university attainment is 12.0%, 18.1 points lower. English ancestry leads with 570 people, followed by Irish at 105 and Scottish at 74. Compared with central Burnie areas that attract more mixed housing, Acton's 2.3 average household size and 25.7% one-parent family share point to a local, family-oriented population base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.3%
Houses
8.7%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Acton's housing stock is unusually consistent: 91.3% separate houses and 8.7% semi-detached, with no apartment share recorded. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 79.1%, while 4-plus bedroom homes are only 8.9%, below what many outer-family markets provide. Tenure is mixed, with 24.1% owned outright, 35.7% mortgaged and 39.0% rented. Because rent absorbs 21.8% of income and mortgage costs 18.2%, housing stress flags are lower even though household income is only at the 17.5th percentile.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$240
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$625
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.6%
Unoccupied
54
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.9%
Couples with children
34.6%
Couples, no children
25.7%
Single parent
381
Total families
Economy & Employment
Acton's workforce leans service and hands-on: healthcare accounts for 29.2% of local workers, ahead of retail at 11.6%, construction at 8.3%, education at 8.0% and wholesale at 5.3%. Occupations cluster in community and personal service roles with 98 workers, labourers with 97, and trades and sales at 77 each. Unemployment is 8.4% and participation is 54.9%, while IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD all sit in decile 1. That lower socioeconomic ranking explains why incomes trail higher-income Burnie coastal pockets.
Unemployment
8.4%
Labour Force
606
Unemployed
51
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
52.4%
Part-time
40.2%
Participation
54.9%
Employed
555
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
12.0%
Postgraduate
0.8%
Born Overseas
6.5%
Dwellings
574
Transport to Work
Everyday life in Acton is car-led: 85.9% of employed residents drive to work, while only 1.3% walk or cycle and 3.0% work from home. That pattern is higher car reliance than transit-rich inner suburbs, because the local layout is compact but still separated from many jobs and services. With 0.95 sq km and density of 1,444.2 people per sq km, trips are short but not necessarily walkable. IRSAD decile 1 signals lower relative advantage, so livability is practical rather than premium.
Drive
85.9%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
3.0%
Growth Outlook
Growth is the main outlier. The forecast trend runs at 2.88% a year, while the 10-year population-change signal is 44.9%, above a flat or slow-growth baseline. The primary driver is Overseas migration, but the shift trajectory is still labelled Stable, which suggests expansion without a major change in suburb character. Gentrification remains limited, with a score of 15 and stage of Not gentrifying; affordability is marked Improving, from 203.9 in 2011 to 3.5 in 2021.
Population trend: Burnie council area
Acton sits in the Burnie council area. These are the council area's residents, not Acton's.
Residents 2025
20,420
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.2%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
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 can suit buyers wanting modest costs and detached housing, with 91.3% separate houses and a median age of 35. It is more car-reliant than inner suburbs, with 85.9% driving to work, so daily convenience depends on location and transport needs.
What is the median house price in Acton?
A suburb-level median house price is not available for Acton. Affordability is better read through cash-flow indicators: typical mortgage payments are $867 a month, rent is $240 a week, and mortgage costs take 18.2% of income.
What schools are in Acton?
There are 0 schools within Acton's suburb boundary, so families usually look to the broader Burnie area and should check current catchments. Acton's 0.95 sq km size and 85.9% car commute share mean access is likely to be car-based for many households.
Is Acton safe?
A suburb-specific crime rate is not available for Acton, so safety should be checked against current local reports and street conditions. The suburb has density of 1,444.2 people per sq km and a 76.7% stayed-put rate, which points to relatively stable local residency.
Is Acton good for property investment?
Acton has investor-relevant demand signals, including 39.0% renting and forecast growth of 2.88% a year. The caution is vacancy at 8.6%, which is higher than a tight rental market and can reduce rent-growth pressure.
How is Acton's population changing?
Acton has 1,377 residents today and a 10-year population-change signal of 44.9%. Forecast annual growth is 2.88%, driven primarily by Overseas migration, while the suburb's shift trajectory is Stable rather than rapidly transforming.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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