Belconnen
Two-thirds of Belconnen residents rent (66.2%), nearly double the national average, while 64.9% hold university degrees, placing the suburb 34.8 percentage points above the national rate. This combination of highly educated renters reflects its role as a student and young professional hub, with a median age of 30 sitting a full decade below the national figure. The population grew 91.7% over the past 10 years, driven by apartment construction that now accounts for 74.8% of housing. Despite this growth, the SEIFA economic resources index sits at decile 1 (most disadvantaged) while education and occupation scores reach decile 9, a rare divergence that signals high human capital paired with low accumulated wealth.
Population
8,502
Median Age
30.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,776/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$526K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median price of $526,000 makes Belconnen one of the ACT's more affordable entry points, though stock is overwhelmingly apartments (74.8%) rather than houses (0.5%). One and two-bedroom units dominate, with 33.8% being studio/1-bed and 47.9% two-bedroom, limiting options for larger families. Only 11.8% of residents own outright and 22% carry a mortgage, far below the national average, because most of the population rents. Mortgage-to-income sits at 19.7%, well under the 30% stress line. Buyers here are typically entering a market that favours compact living. Semi-detached options at 24.7% offer a middle ground compared to apartments.
For Buyers
The estimated median price of $526,000 makes Belconnen one of the ACT's more affordable entry points, though stock is overwhelmingly apartments (74.8%) rather than houses (0.5%). One and two-bedroom units dominate, with 33.8% being studio/1-bed and 47.9% two-bedroom, limiting options for larger families. Only 11.8% of residents own outright and 22% carry a mortgage, far below the national average, because most of the population rents. Mortgage-to-income sits at 19.7%, well under the 30% stress line. Buyers here are typically entering a market that favours compact living. Semi-detached options at 24.7% offer a middle ground compared to apartments.
For Investors
With 66.2% of residents renting, Belconnen has one of the highest renter concentrations nationally. Weekly rent of $430 against the estimated $526,000 median suggests reasonable yields. However, vacancy at 10.5% is significantly elevated, likely reflecting oversupply from recent apartment developments. The 52.3% turnover rate (highest among ACT suburbs of this size) means tenants cycle frequently, increasing management costs. Population is growing at 3.36% annually (322 persons per year), with projections reaching 11,743 by 2031, which should eventually absorb current oversupply. The 703-dwelling Macnamara Estate application signals further pipeline supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
58
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-9.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Belconnen iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra
11-12 · 781 students
Demographics
Over half the population (52.7%) was born overseas, 31.1 percentage points above the national average, making Belconnen a majority-migrant suburb. Chinese ancestry ranks third (1,309), and Mandarin is the most spoken non-English language (446 speakers), followed by Nepali (256) and Hindi (77). University attainment of 64.9% is nearly triple the national rate of 30.1%, reflecting both the university precinct and Canberra's knowledge-economy workforce. Average household size of 1.9 is 0.6 below the national average, consistent with the student and young singles demographic. The population skews heavily young, with a median age of 30 compared to 40 nationally.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
0.5%
Houses
24.7%
Townhouse
74.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Apartments dominate at 74.8% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 24.7% and standalone houses nearly absent at 0.5%. This makes Belconnen one of the most apartment-heavy suburbs outside CBD cores. Two-bedroom units account for 47.9% of stock, while studio/one-bedroom makes up 33.8%. Ownership is low: just 11.8% outright and 22% with mortgages, versus 66.2% renting, far above the national renting average. The 10.5% vacancy rate points to a supply overshoot from recent construction. Monthly mortgage repayments of $1,517 are moderate for the ACT. Affordability improved over the decade, with the ratio falling from 45% in 2011 to 42.6% in 2021.
Mortgage / mo
$1,517
Rent / wk
$430
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,009
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.5%
Unoccupied
474
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.5%
Couples, no children
4,856
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration employs 23.7% of workers (1,021 people), consistent with Canberra's government-dominated economy but lower than some neighbouring suburbs. Healthcare (14.6%), professional services (14.0%), and hospitality (11.1%) follow, creating a more diverse base than typical ACT suburbs. Professionals make up the largest occupational group (1,719), far outpacing the next categories. Unemployment at 6.0% sits above the national rate, possibly reflecting recent graduates entering the job market. The SEIFA education/occupation decile of 9 ranks Belconnen in the top 20% nationally for human capital, while the economic resources decile of 1 reveals that this educated population has not yet accumulated wealth.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
6,573
Unemployed
298
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.3%
Part-time
26.7%
Participation
69.8%
Employed
5,096
Occupations
Top Industries
University
64.9%
Postgraduate
26.2%
Born Overseas
52.7%
Dwellings
4,045
Transport to Work
Public transport usage is strong at 18.5%, the highest in this cohort, supported by the Belconnen bus interchange and light rail planning. Walking and cycling combined at 14.9% is also well above the national average, reflecting compact apartment living. University of Canberra Senior Secondary College (ICSEA 1066, 781 students) provides local secondary education above the national median standard. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 8 indicates the overall suburb sits in the top 30% for combined advantage. The 15.4% volunteering rate and 3.9% needing assistance are both relatively favourable figures nationally.
Drive
60.0%
Public Transport
18.5%
Walk / Cycle
14.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+3.36%/yr
(+322 people/yr)
EstablishedBelconnen is one of Canberra's fastest-growing suburbs, expanding at 3.36% annually with 322 new residents per year. The population surged 91.7% over the past decade, from around 4,400 to 8,500 at census. Medium projections place it at 11,743 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver at 274 net arrivals per year, while internal migration shows a net outflow of 77, suggesting residents move on after a period. The gentrification score registers as 'new development' rather than gentrification, reflecting that growth comes from construction of new apartment supply rather than upgrading existing housing stock.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+274
Net Internal / yr
-77
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Belconnen compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Belconnen a good suburb to live in?
Belconnen suits young professionals and students who value proximity to the University of Canberra and public transport (18.5% usage rate). The median age of 30 is 10 years below national, creating an energetic atmosphere. Mortgage stress is low at 19.7%, and SEIFA advantage sits at decile 8. The trade-off is high rental turnover (52.3%) and apartment-heavy stock (74.8%).
What is the median house price in Belconnen?
The estimated median is $526,000, derived from rental data. Given 74.8% apartment stock and only 0.5% standalone houses, this primarily reflects unit values. Monthly mortgage repayments sit around $1,517. Two-bedroom units make up 47.9% of available stock, with studio/1-bed at 33.8%.
What schools are in Belconnen?
University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra (government, secondary) has an ICSEA score of 1066, above the national median of 1000, with 781 students enrolled. This provides local Year 11-12 education. Primary and lower secondary students typically access schools in adjacent suburbs.
Is Belconnen safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Belconnen. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 8 (top 30% nationally) and IRSD decile of 7 suggest relatively low disadvantage. The high proportion of university-educated residents (64.9%) and a public-sector employment base (23.7%) are typically associated with lower crime profiles in comparable suburbs.
Is Belconnen good for property investment?
Strong population growth at 3.36% per year and 66.2% renter base create solid demand fundamentals. However, vacancy of 10.5% signals current oversupply from recent apartment construction. Weekly rent of $430 offers reasonable yields against the $526,000 median. The 703-unit Macnamara Estate pipeline means supply will continue growing, so investors should monitor absorption rates before committing.
How is Belconnen's population changing?
The population is growing rapidly at 3.36% annually, adding roughly 322 residents per year. It grew 91.7% over the past decade. Overseas migration drives growth at 274 net arrivals per year, while 77 people per year leave for other parts of Australia. Projections place the 2031 population at approximately 11,743, up from about 9,592 in 2025.
What languages are spoken in Belconnen?
With 52.7% of residents born overseas, linguistic diversity is high. Mandarin leads with 446 speakers, followed by Nepali (256), Hindi (77), Korean (75), and Cantonese (73). Chinese ancestry ranks third overall at 1,309 people. This multilingual profile sits 31.1 percentage points above the national overseas-born average.
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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