Calwell
Despite household income sitting in the 91.8th percentile nationally, Calwell carries a median house price of just $596,000, a combination that defines this established Tuggeranong suburb. The detached-house share runs to 86.8% with apartments at only 2.6%, and 54.6% of households are paying a mortgage, well above the renter share of 15.2%. The population of 5,730 has slipped 1.8% over a decade and the median age of 37 is 3.0 years below national, yet the senior share rose 7.5 points, signalling an aging owner base. Public Admin employs 32.7% of the workforce, far higher than most suburbs, reflecting Calwell's role as a Canberra government commuter belt.
Population
5,730
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,460/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$596K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $596,000 median makes Calwell affordable for a suburb whose households earn in the 91.8th percentile, and monthly mortgage repayments of $2,000 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 18.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock suits families because 86.8% of dwellings are separate houses and only 2.6% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.2% and four-plus-bedroom homes 44.9%, so two-bedroom options are scarce at 3.7%. With 54.6% of households on a mortgage versus 30.2% owning outright, the suburb skews toward established buyers servicing loans rather than recent entrants, and the low debt burden relative to income gives buyers more headroom than higher-priced Canberra markets.
For Buyers
The $596,000 median makes Calwell affordable for a suburb whose households earn in the 91.8th percentile, and monthly mortgage repayments of $2,000 produce a mortgage-to-income ratio of just 18.8%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The stock suits families because 86.8% of dwellings are separate houses and only 2.6% are apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.2% and four-plus-bedroom homes 44.9%, so two-bedroom options are scarce at 3.7%. With 54.6% of households on a mortgage versus 30.2% owning outright, the suburb skews toward established buyers servicing loans rather than recent entrants, and the low debt burden relative to income gives buyers more headroom than higher-priced Canberra markets.
For Investors
Weekly rent of $448 against the $596,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.9%, stronger than premium inner-city suburbs where yields fall below 2%. The vacancy rate of 3.9% is balanced rather than tight, and the renter pool is shallow because only 15.2% of households rent, against 54.6% holding a mortgage. Rent climbed 19.1% over the period, supporting income returns, but demand drivers are weak: net internal migration runs at minus 104 a year and population is forecast to fall 0.58% annually. Development is minimal at 3 applications in 12 months, mostly secondary residences and deck work rather than new supply. The investment case rests on yield and rent escalation more than capital growth, given the slow-growth, not-gentrifying trajectory.
Development Activity
Total DAs
25
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Calwell iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Francis of Assisi Primary School
K-6 · 516 students
Calwell Primary School
K-6 · 201 students
Calwell High School
7-10 · 371 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below national, but the trajectory is aging because the senior share rose 7.5 points while the young share fell 1.6 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 19.1%, which is 2.5 points below national, making Calwell more Anglo-leaning than typical Canberra suburbs. Ancestry is led by English (2,113), Irish (675) and Scottish (614), and the top non-English languages are Arabic (27), Hindi (21) and Punjabi (20). University qualifications at 35.8% run 5.7 points above national, consistent with the government-professional workforce. Average household size is 2.7, which is 0.2 above national, reflecting the family profile where couples with children (2,092 families) outnumber couples without children (1,105, or 23.1%).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
86.8%
Houses
10.6%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is mortgage-heavy: 54.6% carry a mortgage, 30.2% own outright and only 15.2% rent, a profile of working families buying into a stable market rather than churning through it. The stock is 86.8% separate houses with semi-detached at 10.6% and apartments at just 2.6%, so detached living dominates. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 51.2% and four-plus-bedroom homes 44.9%, leaving two-bedroom stock at 3.7%. The median house price of $596,000 stays affordable relative to the 91.8th-percentile household income, and mortgage-to-income at 18.8% sits well below the stress threshold while rent-to-income at 18.2% is equally comfortable. Affordability improved from 40.0% in 2011 to 37.6% in 2021, an unusual easing in a Canberra context.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$448
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,192
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.9%
Unoccupied
81
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.1%
Couples, no children
4,774
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is dominated by government: Public Admin employs 32.7% (727 workers), more than double any other sector, followed by Healthcare at 14.1% (312), Construction at 10.9% (242), Education at 10.0% (222) and Professional/Tech at 8.6% (192). By occupation, Professionals (726), Clerical and Admin staff (603) and Managers (488) lead, aligning with the decile 8 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.4% and the full-time employment rate is 69.5%, though participation reads 67.1% because 1,181 residents sit outside the labour force, consistent with the aging trend. SEIFA scores are strong across the board: IRSD decile 9, IER decile 9, IEO decile 8 and IRSAD decile 8, all in the advantaged tiers nationally.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
3,277
Unemployed
114
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
27.1%
Participation
67.1%
Employed
2,984
Occupations
Top Industries
University
35.8%
Postgraduate
8.7%
Born Overseas
19.1%
Dwellings
2,017
Transport to Work
Calwell is heavily car-dependent: 89.1% of commuters drive, far above the national reliance on cars, while only 3.8% use public transport and 1.1% walk or cycle, reflecting its outer-Tuggeranong position away from rapid transit. The suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and decile 8 on IRSAD, both in the advantaged tiers, meaning few residents face deprivation. Only 5.3% of the 5,730 residents need daily assistance and volunteering runs at 14.3%. Housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 18.2% and mortgage-to-income at 18.8%, both well below the 30% threshold. No schools are recorded inside the 3.89 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Tuggeranong suburbs.
Drive
89.1%
Public Transport
3.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.58%/yr
(-32 people/yr)
EstablishedCalwell is contracting: the population is forecast to decline 0.58% annually, about 32 residents a year, and it has already fallen from 5,648 in 2023 to 5,520 in 2025. The 10-year change reads minus 1.8%, classifying it as an established, slow-growth suburb, and medium projections take the population to 5,367 by 2031. The only positive driver is overseas migration at plus 32 a year, offset by net internal outflow of minus 104, as families move out faster than they arrive. The gentrification stage reads not gentrifying with a score of 0, fitting a settled suburb with little new development. Real income growth was modest at 3.1% over the decade, and the senior share rising 7.5 points confirms the aging, outflow-led trajectory.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+32
Net Internal / yr
-104
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Net internal outflow -104/yr
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Calwell compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Calwell a good suburb to live in?
Calwell scores decile 9 on IRSD and IER and decile 8 on IRSAD and IEO, all advantaged tiers nationally, with household income in the 91.8th percentile. Housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 18.8%. The main trade-offs are heavy car dependence, with 89.1% driving, and a shrinking population.
What is the median house price in Calwell?
The median house price is $596,000, affordable for a suburb whose households earn in the 91.8th percentile. Weekly rent averages $448 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Calwell?
No schools are recorded inside the 3.89 km2 Calwell boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Tuggeranong suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 35.8%, which is 5.7 points above the national figure.
Is Calwell safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Calwell in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, a high tier, and only 5.3% of its 5,730 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Calwell good for property investment?
Rent of $448 a week against a $596,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, stronger than premium suburbs below 2%. But only 15.2% of households rent and population is forecast to fall 0.58% a year, so returns depend on yield and 19.1% rent growth rather than capital gains.
How is Calwell's population changing?
The population is shrinking, down from 5,648 in 2023 to 5,520 in 2025, a 10-year change of minus 1.8%. It is forecast to decline 0.58% annually to 5,367 by 2031. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 7.5 points and the young share down 1.6 points over the decade.
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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