Curtin
Household income here sits in the 96.6th percentile nationally, yet the median house price reads $667,000, a combination that flags how affordable Canberra's established inner-south remains relative to the people who live in it. Curtin scores decile 10 on the IRSAD, IEO and IRSD indexes, the top advantage tier on three of four SEIFA measures, driven by 63.6% of residents holding university qualifications, which runs 33.5 points above the national figure. The dwelling stock is overwhelmingly detached at 83.8%, with 46.8% of homes carrying four or more bedrooms, and 41.2% of those homes are owned outright. Public Admin employs 38.4% of the workforce, a concentration that reflects the suburb's role as a public-servant heartland 6km from Parliament House.
Population
5,569
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,886/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
10
Median House
$667K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $667,000 median is low for a suburb where household incomes reach the 96.6th percentile, and the gap is the headline opportunity for buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, so a typical purchase here leaves real headroom that pricier markets do not. The stock suits families: 83.8% are separate houses and 46.8% carry four or more bedrooms, with three-bedroom homes adding another 37.4%. Apartments are scarce at 11.3%, so buyers chasing low-maintenance stock have thin choice. Affordability has improved over the decade, from 37.9% of income in 2011 to 33.6% in 2021, a rare direction of travel that makes the entry point more reasonable now than ten years ago.
For Buyers
The $667,000 median is low for a suburb where household incomes reach the 96.6th percentile, and the gap is the headline opportunity for buyers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, so a typical purchase here leaves real headroom that pricier markets do not. The stock suits families: 83.8% are separate houses and 46.8% carry four or more bedrooms, with three-bedroom homes adding another 37.4%. Apartments are scarce at 11.3%, so buyers chasing low-maintenance stock have thin choice. Affordability has improved over the decade, from 37.9% of income in 2011 to 33.6% in 2021, a rare direction of travel that makes the entry point more reasonable now than ten years ago.
For Investors
A 24.7% renter share and $450 weekly rent give landlords a modest but stable tenant base, and the numbers favour holding over chasing yield. Against the $667,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 3.5%, higher than premium harbour-city suburbs though not exceptional. Rent has grown 18.4% over the decade, ahead of the 8.8% real income growth, which points to genuine rental tightness rather than a soft market. The 5.4% vacancy rate is moderate and consistent with steady demand. Net overseas migration adds 69 residents a year while internal migration removes 59, leaving thin natural growth, so the case rests on the income base and rental escalation more than volume. Development is light at 9 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations, which keeps new supply from diluting existing values.
Development Activity
Total DAs
58
Last 12 Months
10
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+11.1%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Curtin iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Curtin Primary School
K-6 · 408 students
Holy Trinity Primary School
K-6 · 387 students
Demographics
The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above the national figure, and the trajectory is broadly stable: the senior share rose 0.8 points while the working-age share fell only 0.6 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 63.6%, which is 33.5 points above national, among the highest concentrations anywhere and a direct reflection of the public-service and academic workforce. Overseas-born residents reach 24.6%, 3.0 points above national, with ancestry leaning Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,972), Irish (866) and Scottish (722). The top non-English languages are Nepali (42 speakers), Mandarin (40) and French (24), a small international layer. Average household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, consistent with the family profile where couples with children (2,076 families) outnumber couples without children (1,147).
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
83.8%
Houses
4.9%
Townhouse
11.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure skews toward ownership: 41.2% own outright, 34.1% carry a mortgage and only 24.7% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders points to long-held, debt-free homes rather than a churn of recent buyers, which is typical of an established suburb. The stock is 83.8% separate houses and just 11.3% apartments, so detached family homes define the market, and 46.8% of dwellings carry four or more bedrooms against 37.4% three-bedroom. The $667,000 median against household incomes in the 96.6th percentile keeps the price-to-income relationship comfortable, and both stress measures sit clear of the threshold, with mortgage-to-income at 20.8% and rent-to-income at 15.6%. That low rent-to-income figure shows how far purchasing power outruns housing costs here compared with most Australian markets.
Mortgage / mo
$2,600
Rent / wk
$450
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,341
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.4%
Unoccupied
116
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
15.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.5%
Couples, no children
4,504
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local workforce is dominated by government: Public Admin leads at 38.4% (876 workers), far above any other sector, with Healthcare next at 14.6% (333), Professional/Tech at 12.9% (295) and Education at 10.9% (248). By occupation, Professionals (1,095) and Managers (612) account for the bulk of jobs, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.7% and the full-time employment rate is 66.9%, while participation reads 61.9%, held down by 1,420 residents not in the labour force given the older profile. Real incomes grew 8.8% over the decade. One nuance: the IER score for economic resources sits at decile 9 against decile 10 on the other three indexes, a small step down that reflects the 24.7% renter base trimming aggregate household wealth.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
2,959
Unemployed
107
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.9%
Part-time
29.4%
Participation
61.9%
Employed
2,670
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.6%
Postgraduate
24.9%
Born Overseas
24.6%
Dwellings
2,024
Transport to Work
Curtin earns decile 10 on the IRSAD index, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on the IRSD measure of relative disadvantage, meaning very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 24.1%, high for any suburb, and only 6.4% of residents (344 people) need daily assistance despite the median age of 41. Car reliance is high at 79.1% of commuters, with public transport at just 6.2% and active travel at 6.8%, a pattern that reflects Canberra's dispersed layout more than any local failing. No schools are recorded inside the 4.81 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off offset by the low density of 1,158 residents per km2 and the family-oriented detached stock.
Drive
79.1%
Public Transport
6.2%
Walk / Cycle
6.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.23%/yr
(+13 people/yr)
EstablishedCurtin is effectively flat: annual population growth registers 0.23%, about 13 people a year, and the 10-year change is 7.6%, classifying it as an established, slow-growth suburb. The population has edged from 5,547 in 2023 to 5,585 in 2025, and medium forecasts hold it near 5,638 by 2031, so little expansion is expected on current land use. Overseas migration of 69 a year is the primary driver, partly offset by net internal outflow of 59. The gentrification reading is not gentrifying, which fits a suburb already at decile 10 advantage with little room to climb, though the shift index notes early signs with a score of 26. Affordability improving from 37.9% to 33.6% of income over the decade is the clearest sign the suburb is holding its character rather than re-pricing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+69
Net Internal / yr
-59
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Curtin compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Curtin a good suburb to live in?
Curtin ranks in decile 10 on IRSAD, IEO and IRSD, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 96.6th percentile. University qualifications reach 63.6%, 33.5 points above national. The main trade-off is car reliance at 79.1% of commuters and no schools inside the boundary.
What is the median house price in Curtin?
The median house price is about $667,000, low for a suburb with incomes in the 96.6th percentile. Weekly rent averages $450 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,600, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Curtin?
No schools are recorded inside the 4.81 km2 Curtin boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 63.6%, which is 33.5 points above the national figure.
Is Curtin safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Curtin in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 6.4% of its residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Curtin good for property investment?
Rent of $450 a week against a $667,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.5%, higher than premium harbour-city suburbs. Rent grew 18.4% over the decade against 8.8% real income growth, and the 5.4% vacancy rate is moderate, so returns lean on rental escalation more than 0.23% population growth.
How is Curtin's population changing?
Population growth is 0.23% annually, about 13 people a year, with a 7.6% rise over 10 years. Residents edged from 5,547 in 2023 to 5,585 in 2025, and forecasts hold the figure near 5,638 by 2031. Overseas migration of 69 a year is the main driver, offset by net internal outflow of 59.
What do people in Curtin do for work?
Public Admin dominates at 38.4% of the workforce (876 workers), reflecting the suburb's proximity to Parliament House, followed by Healthcare at 14.6% and Professional/Tech at 12.9%. Professionals (1,095) and Managers (612) lead by occupation, and unemployment is low at 3.7%.
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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