Chapman
Household income in the 97.7th percentile nationally makes Chapman one of the ACT's wealthiest residential pockets, yet its population of 2,867 has barely shifted over a decade, growing just 5.3% since 2011. The suburb scores decile 10 across all four SEIFA indexes, an unusual clean sweep that reflects the concentration of senior public servants and professionals in a compact 1.86 km2 footprint. A median age of 47, seven years above the national figure, and a senior share that rose 8.0 points over the decade point clearly toward an aging, established base. University qualifications reach 57.6%, which is 27.5 percentage points above the national rate, consistent with the dominant Professionals and Managers occupational profile.
Population
2,867
Median Age
47.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,111/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$667K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price sits at $667,000, estimated from rental data, which places Chapman below many comparable inner-ACT suburbs despite its top-decile income profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3% stays comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning even recent buyers face manageable debt loads relative to local earnings. The stock is heavily detached: 89.2% are separate houses, with only 2.9% apartments and 7.9% semi-detached dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 72.0% of all dwellings, reflecting the family-oriented original design of this 1970s planned suburb. A 49.0% outright ownership rate, higher than the ACT state average, signals how long established many residents are, with fewer than 40% carrying a mortgage.
For Buyers
The median house price sits at $667,000, estimated from rental data, which places Chapman below many comparable inner-ACT suburbs despite its top-decile income profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3% stays comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, meaning even recent buyers face manageable debt loads relative to local earnings. The stock is heavily detached: 89.2% are separate houses, with only 2.9% apartments and 7.9% semi-detached dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 72.0% of all dwellings, reflecting the family-oriented original design of this 1970s planned suburb. A 49.0% outright ownership rate, higher than the ACT state average, signals how long established many residents are, with fewer than 40% carrying a mortgage.
For Investors
The investment case in Chapman is thin on yield but built on stability. Weekly rent averages $450 against a $667,000 median, implying a gross yield around 3.5%, modest by national standards. The renter share is just 11.1%, well below the national average, because 49.0% of dwellings are owned outright and tenure is deeply entrenched. Vacancy sits at 3.3%, slightly elevated, pointing to limited rental demand in a suburb where most residents own. Net overseas migration adds around 14 residents annually while internal migration is effectively flat, so population growth of 0.21% per year (around 6 persons) offers little demand catalyst. With zero development applications in the past 12 months, no new supply is entering the market, which supports capital preservation over the medium term.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
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
Schools in Chapman iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Chapman Primary School
K-6 · 502 students
Demographics
The median age of 47 runs 7.0 years above the national figure, and the senior share grew 8.0 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 5.6 points, a pronounced aging trajectory for a suburb that was established in the 1970s. University qualifications at 57.6% are 27.5 percentage points above the national rate, among the highest in the ACT. The overseas-born share is 22.7%, only 1.1 points above national, making this an Anglo-leaning suburb: the top ancestries are English (1,125), Irish (407) and Scottish (373). The average household size of 2.7 is slightly above the national figure of 2.5, and 42.2% of families are couples with children, consistent with the large 4-plus bedroom stock. Volunteering runs at 26.8%, well above typical suburban rates, reflecting an older, civically engaged population.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.2%
Houses
7.9%
Townhouse
2.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Chapman's tenure structure is unusual: 49.0% of dwellings are owned outright, well above the national average, while only 39.9% carry a mortgage and just 11.1% rent. This high outright ownership reflects the suburb's age profile and long residential tenure, with 83.3% of residents having stayed in the same address for five or more years. Separate houses account for 89.2% of stock, the highest tier consistent with the suburb's detached-house character. Bedrooms skew large, with 72.0% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and only 8.6% having two. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3% and rent-to-income of 14.5% both sit below stress thresholds, meaning neither owners nor renters face housing cost pressure despite the $667,000 median house price.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,378
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.3%
Unoccupied
35
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
14.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.1%
Couples, no children
2,500
Total families
Economy & Employment
The dominant industry is Public Administration at 35.1% (382 workers), higher than virtually any comparable suburb nationally, directly reflecting proximity to ACT government employment hubs. Professional and Technical services follow at 15.8% (172 workers), Healthcare at 12.4% (135) and Education at 10.9% (118). By occupation, Professionals (509) and Managers (315) together account for over 60% of the employed workforce, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation outcomes. The unemployment rate is 2.9%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 65.4% is solid. The participation rate of 58.0% is moderate because 860 residents are not in the labour force, consistent with the older demographic. Real income grew 9.1% over the decade.
Unemployment
1.7%
Labour Force
1,471
Unemployed
25
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.4%
Part-time
31.7%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
1,322
Occupations
Top Industries
University
57.6%
Postgraduate
19.7%
Born Overseas
22.7%
Dwellings
1,031
Transport to Work
Chapman is almost entirely car-dependent, with 86.9% of residents driving to work, well above the national average, and only 2.3% using public transport. Walking and cycling account for 3.6%, low for a suburb of this income profile. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the highest advantage tier nationally, meaning very few residents face any form of deprivation. Only 5.3% (149 people) need daily assistance despite the older median age of 47. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 19.3% and rent-to-income at 14.5% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset; the established demographic suggests residents access schools in neighbouring suburbs such as Weston and Duffy.
Drive
86.9%
Public Transport
2.3%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.21%/yr
(+6 people/yr)
EstablishedChapman's population has been essentially flat for a decade: the 10-year change was 5.3% and annual growth runs at just 0.21%, or around 6 persons per year. The medium forecast shows gradual drift from 2,874 residents in 2026 to 2,905 by 2031, well below any meaningful demand inflection. Net overseas migration of 14 persons annually provides the only positive driver, while internal migration is marginally negative at minus 2 per year. The gentrification score is 0, classified as not gentrifying, appropriate for a suburb already at decile 10 across all SEIFA dimensions with no capacity to upgrade its socioeconomic position. Affordability improved from 44.1% in 2011 to 32.7% in 2021, indicating income growth has outpaced price rises over the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+14
Net Internal / yr
-2
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Chapman compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chapman a good suburb to live in?
Chapman scores decile 10 across all four SEIFA indexes, the highest advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 97.7th percentile. University qualifications at 57.6% are 27.5 points above national. The suburb suits established families and retirees; the main trade-off is car dependence, with only 2.3% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Chapman?
The median house price is approximately $667,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.3%, below the 30% stress threshold despite the premium ACT income base.
What schools are in Chapman?
No schools are recorded inside the Chapman boundary in this dataset. The suburb's high education level, with 57.6% of residents holding university qualifications (27.5 points above national), reflects the professional workforce, while families access schools in adjacent Weston Creek suburbs.
Is Chapman safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Chapman in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, Chapman scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative socioeconomic disadvantage, the top advantage tier nationally. Only 5.3% of residents (149 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a low-disadvantage, stable community.
Is Chapman good for property investment?
Chapman offers stability rather than yield. Rent of $450 per week against a $667,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.5%, modest compared to national averages. The renter share is just 11.1%, vacancy is 3.3%, and annual population growth is only 0.21%. Zero development applications in 12 months means no new supply pressure, supporting capital preservation.
How is Chapman's population changing?
Population grew just 5.3% over 10 years and is forecast to increase from 2,867 to around 2,905 by 2031, a gain of under 40 people over 5 years. The suburb is aging: the senior share rose 8.0 points while the working-age share fell 5.6 points. Net overseas migration of 14 people per year is the only meaningful growth driver.
What is the occupational profile of Chapman residents?
Professionals (509 workers) and Managers (315) dominate the workforce, together accounting for over 60% of employed residents. Public Administration is the leading industry at 35.1%, reflecting ACT government employment. The full-time employment rate is 65.4% and unemployment is 2.9%, below the national 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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