Cook
Household income ranks at the 87.3rd percentile, making Cook one of Canberra's more affluent residential pockets, while its median age of 42 is 2 years above the national figure. Its 2,965 residents occupy just 1.58 sq km at 1,872.9 people per sq km, yet 60.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 36.5% semi-detached. That mix creates a compact, low-rise feel rather than an apartment-led setting. Public administration employs 34.6% of workers, helping explain the strong professional profile and socioeconomic scores of IEO decile 10 and IRSAD decile 9. Compared with nearby Macquarie's busier commercial role and Aranda's broader suburban layout, Cook is more tightly scaled and residential, with university attainment at 63.7%.
Local council: Unincorporated ACT
Population
2,965
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,269/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Cook suits buyers prioritising established low-rise housing, but a median house price is not quoted, so current listings matter more than a headline estimate. The monthly mortgage measure is $2,167, and the mortgage-stress flag is false at 22.1% of household income. Ownership is split between 40.6% outright and 34.6% with a mortgage, while 23.9% rent. The dwelling mix is 60.7% separate houses, 36.5% semi-detached and 2.8% apartments, with 44.0% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 30.6% 4 or more. Compared with a high-rise market, Cook provides more ground-oriented choice, while $440 weekly rent and a 5.5% vacancy rate frame the alternative to buying.
For Buyers
Cook suits buyers prioritising established low-rise housing, but a median house price is not quoted, so current listings matter more than a headline estimate. The monthly mortgage measure is $2,167, and the mortgage-stress flag is false at 22.1% of household income. Ownership is split between 40.6% outright and 34.6% with a mortgage, while 23.9% rent. The dwelling mix is 60.7% separate houses, 36.5% semi-detached and 2.8% apartments, with 44.0% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 30.6% 4 or more. Compared with a high-rise market, Cook provides more ground-oriented choice, while $440 weekly rent and a 5.5% vacancy rate frame the alternative to buying.
For Investors
Investor appeal rests more on rental income and migration demand than on a known entry price, because Cook's median house price is not quoted. Weekly rent is $440, vacancy is 5.5%, and 23.9% of occupied dwellings are rented, giving a meaningful tenant base without indicating a severe shortage. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the wider-area trend is 4.57% annually and rent growth is 13.9%. The 5 development applications in 12 months indicate some renewal, mainly dwelling alterations rather than a large construction pipeline. Compared with its 40.6% outright-owner share, renting is lower, pointing to a mixed tenure base rather than a pure investor market.
Development Activity
Total DAs
36
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-14.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Cook has an older and more highly educated profile than Australia overall: median age is 42, 2 years above the national figure, while university attainment is 63.7%, or 33.6 percentage points higher. Overseas-born residents account for 24.9%, 3.3 points above the national comparison, but ancestry remains strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English at 1,181 people, Irish at 455 and Scottish at 402. No religion is the largest recorded affiliation at 1,680, ahead of Christianity at 904. Average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below the national comparison, reflecting 41.9% couples without children and 40.8% couples with children. With 80.2% staying at the same address, Cook is less transient than a high-turnover area.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.7%
Houses
36.5%
Townhouse
2.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Cook's housing is low-rise: separate houses make up 60.7% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 36.5%, while apartments are only 2.8%. The house share is higher and apartment share lower than in an apartment-led market, so buyers should compare like-for-like stock rather than apply a single suburb price. Three-bedroom homes lead at 44.0%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 30.6% and 2-bedroom homes at 22.7%. Tenure is 40.6% owned outright, 34.6% mortgaged and 23.9% rented. Weekly rent is $440, vacancy 5.5%, and mortgage stress is false at 22.1%, indicating less pressure than where housing costs are higher. The median house price is not quoted, so condition and dwelling type should guide comparisons with Aranda and Macquarie.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$440
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,288
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
72
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.8%
Couples with children
41.9%
Couples, no children
15.2%
Single parent
811
Total families
Economy & Employment
Cook's labour market is anchored by Canberra's public-sector and knowledge economy. Public administration accounts for 34.6% of employment, followed by education at 16.1%, professional and technical services at 14.2%, healthcare at 11.5% and construction at 4.1%. The occupational mix is similarly skilled, with 604 professionals and 322 managers ahead of 176 clerical and administrative workers. Unemployment is 4.4%, participation is 65.1% and 932 people work full time, supporting household income at the 87.3rd percentile. Socioeconomic results are above national norms overall: IEO is decile 10, IRSAD and IRSD are both decile 9, while IER is lower at decile 7. That gap suggests educational and neighbourhood advantage are stronger than economic resources alone, even though the overall position remains higher than average.
Unemployment
4.4%
Labour Force
1,596
Unemployed
70
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
33.0%
Participation
65.1%
Employed
1,526
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.7%
Postgraduate
26.5%
Born Overseas
24.9%
Dwellings
1,229
Transport to Work
Cook is compact at 1.58 sq km, with density of 1,872.9 people per sq km and an IRSAD decile of 9, placing neighbourhood advantage above the national middle. Daily travel is car-oriented: 60.6% drive to work, compared with 8.0% using public transport and 10.3% walking or cycling. That pattern suits households valuing direct road access, while 15.8% work from home and may benefit from shorter commuting frequency. Community participation is notable, with volunteering at 29.2%, and 4.7% of residents report needing assistance. Cook's 2,965 residents and 2.3-person average household size support a quieter, settled feel than a larger activity centre. Families should check exact enrolment zones and nearby services before buying, because practical access can differ within the wider Belconnen area.
Drive
60.6%
Public Transport
8.0%
Walk / Cycle
10.3%
Work from Home
15.8%
Growth Outlook
Cook sits in a high-growth profile, with an annual trend of 4.57% and overseas migration as the primary driver. The wider-area trajectory is Growing (all ages), while population change across the wider area reaches 205.2% over 10 years. Rent growth of 13.9% is higher than real income growth of -3.8%, creating affordability pressure even though the trend is Stable, moving from 39.8% in 2011 to 38.3% in 2021. The gentrification score is 0 and the shift profile labels the area Not gentrifying, so momentum appears more migration-led than renovation-led. Compared with a flat-growth suburb, 4.57% signals stronger demand, but dwelling condition and tenure still matter.
Population trend: Unincorporated ACT council area
Cook sits in the Unincorporated ACT council area. These are the council area's residents, not Cook's.
Residents 2025
484,630
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.7%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.3%
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 Cook compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cook a good suburb to live in?
Cook suits buyers who value low-rise housing, established streets and a highly educated population. Median age is 42, university attainment is 63.7%, and 60.7% of dwellings are separate houses. Compared with a high-rise district, it may feel more residential, but transport is car-led at 60.6% and exact local amenity should be checked.
What is the median house price in Cook?
A median house price is not quoted for Cook. Buyers should compare current listings by dwelling type and condition, using $440 weekly rent, a $2,167 monthly mortgage measure and 22.1% mortgage-to-income as affordability reference points. Compared with a single headline number, the 60.7% separate-house share makes like-for-like comparisons more useful.
What schools are in Cook?
School options should be checked against the exact Cook address, including nearby primary and secondary catchments, because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. Cook's 8.0% public-transport share compares with 60.6% for car drivers, suggesting many school and work trips may be easier by car than transit. Confirm current availability directly before signing a contract.
Is Cook safe?
A definitive safety rating cannot be given because a suburb-level crime rate is not quoted for Cook. Check recent ACT Police statistics and visit the street at different times before deciding. Cook has 2,965 residents, density of 1,872.9 people per sq km and a 29.2% volunteering rate, useful context when comparing its day-to-day feel with other Canberra suburbs.
Is Cook good for property investment?
Cook can suit a long-term investor, but the missing median house price makes entry valuation the key question. Rental evidence includes $440 per week, 5.5% vacancy and 23.9% renting, while overseas migration drives a 4.57% annual growth trend. Compared with a flat-demand suburb, the 13.9% rent growth is supportive, but 5 development applications in 12 months point to modest rather than large-scale renewal.
How is Cook's population changing?
Cook's wider-area trajectory is Growing (all ages), with a 4.57% annual trend and overseas migration as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 205.2% over 10 years, higher than a flat-growth pattern. Rent growth is 13.9%, above real income growth of -3.8%, although affordability is labelled Stable. These signals point to sustained demand, with affordability worth monitoring.
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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