Fisher
With household income in the 87.4th percentile nationally and 49.4% of residents holding university qualifications, 30 points above the national figure, Fisher ranks among Canberra's most educated suburbs. The suburb is compact at 1.58 km2, housing 3,219 people at a density of 2,034 per km2, and its stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 82.8%. A low 19.6% renter share, combined with 40% outright ownership, signals an owner-occupier community with low debt stress, where mortgage costs consume only 23.9% of household income, well below the 30% stress threshold.
Population
3,219
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,275/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$610K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $610,000 positions Fisher as more affordable than most comparable ACT suburbs with similar socioeconomic credentials. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,354, and at 23.9% of household income, mortgage stress is below the typical stress threshold, reflecting the suburb's above-average earning base. Dwellings skew large: 43.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and another 40.3% have 3 bedrooms, making Fisher predominantly a family housing market. Separate houses account for 82.8% of stock, with apartments a minor 11.5%, so buyers seeking detached homes have a straightforward choice without competing against a crowded apartment segment.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $610,000 positions Fisher as more affordable than most comparable ACT suburbs with similar socioeconomic credentials. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,354, and at 23.9% of household income, mortgage stress is below the typical stress threshold, reflecting the suburb's above-average earning base. Dwellings skew large: 43.4% have 4 or more bedrooms and another 40.3% have 3 bedrooms, making Fisher predominantly a family housing market. Separate houses account for 82.8% of stock, with apartments a minor 11.5%, so buyers seeking detached homes have a straightforward choice without competing against a crowded apartment segment.
For Investors
Fisher's rental market is limited in scale but stable. Only 19.6% of dwellings are rented, well below the national average, which tightens supply for landlords in a low-turnover suburb where 78.7% of residents stayed in place over the measured period. Weekly rent sits at $415 and the vacancy rate is 6.2%, elevated relative to typical ACT markets. Development activity is modest at 8 applications in the past 12 months, including dual occupancy and secondary residence conversions, suggesting incremental infill rather than large-scale supply pressure. Net overseas migration of 40 residents per year is the primary population driver, supporting steady demand rather than speculative growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
31
Last 12 Months
8
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
Demographics
Fisher's median age is 40, exactly at the national figure, but its education profile sits far higher: 49.4% hold university qualifications, which is 19.3 percentage points above the national rate. The overseas-born share is 23.3%, modestly above the national average by 1.7 points. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,183 residents), Irish (446) and Scottish (389), with German heritage also notable at 157. The top non-English languages spoken at home are Malayalam (32) and Nepali (23), reflecting small South Asian communities. Couples with children form the largest household type at 1,323 families, and couples without children account for 24.3%, consistent with a mid-lifecycle, family-oriented suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
82.8%
Houses
5.7%
Townhouse
11.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Fisher divides almost evenly between outright owners (40.0%) and mortgage holders (40.4%), with renters at just 19.6%. That parity between outright owners and mortgage holders points to an established suburb where long-term residents coexist with newer buyers still paying down loans. The stock is dominated by 3-bedroom (40.3%) and 4-plus bedroom (43.4%) homes, meaning smaller dwellings are rare, which compresses options for downsizers or first-time buyers seeking entry-level stock. At 82.8% separate houses and only 5.7% semi-detached, the streetscape is consistently suburban. Mortgage-to-income sits at 23.9%, below the stress threshold, and rent-to-income at 18.2% is similarly comfortable, so housing costs are not a burden relative to local incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$2,354
Rent / wk
$415
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,206
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
80
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.3%
Couples, no children
2,589
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration dominates Fisher's employment base at 34.9% of workers (422 people), which reflects the suburb's position within Canberra's public service geography. Healthcare ranks second at 15.1% and Education third at 12.2%, producing a workforce concentrated in government-adjacent, stable-income sectors. By occupation, Professionals (520) and Managers (305) are the top two categories, consistent with SEIFA scores placing Fisher in decile 9 on the IRSAD, IRSD and IEO indexes, all indicating high advantage relative to the national distribution. Unemployment is low at 3.8% and the full-time employment rate is 68.3%. Real income growth ran at 10.3% over the decade, reinforcing the income stability that the public sector base provides.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
1,748
Unemployed
84
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.3%
Part-time
27.9%
Participation
60.0%
Employed
1,462
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.4%
Postgraduate
16.0%
Born Overseas
23.3%
Dwellings
1,210
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high in Fisher, with 87.8% of residents driving to work, compared to lower rates in inner Canberra suburbs closer to the city core. Only 3.9% use public transport, reflecting the suburb's layout and distance from rapid transit corridors. Fisher scores decile 9 on the IRSAD index, placing it in the top 10% nationally for socioeconomic advantage, and decile 8 on the IER index of economic resources. Volunteering runs at 21.0%, above typical suburban rates, suggesting strong community engagement. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in adjoining Weston Creek suburbs. Housing stress is absent: mortgage-to-income at 23.9% and rent-to-income at 18.2% both sit well below stress thresholds.
Drive
87.8%
Public Transport
3.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.51%/yr
(+17 people/yr)
EstablishedFisher is an established suburb with measured growth: population rose 6.8% over 10 years to reach 3,219, and the annual trend adds roughly 17 people per year, a 0.51% rate. Overseas migration averaging 40 residents per year drives this gain, partially offset by net internal outflow of 26 per year, a pattern common across Canberra's inner suburbs as families move outward for more space. Medium forecasts project a population of around 3,398 by 2031. Affordability has improved slightly, falling from 37.1% of income in 2011 to 34.4% in 2021, meaning housing has become marginally more accessible relative to local earnings. The gentrification score is low at 15, confirming Fisher as an already-advantaged, stable suburb rather than one undergoing demographic change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+40
Net Internal / yr
-26
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Accelerating: -4% → 10%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Fisher compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fisher a good suburb to live in?
Fisher ranks in decile 9 on IRSAD nationally, placing it in the top 10% for socioeconomic advantage. Household income sits in the 87.4th percentile and 49.4% of residents hold university qualifications. Housing costs are manageable with mortgage-to-income at 23.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Fisher?
The estimated median house price in Fisher is $610,000, based on 2025 rent data. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,354 and weekly rent averages $415. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.9% is below the typical stress level given local household incomes in the 87.4th percentile nationally.
What schools are in Fisher?
No schools are recorded within the Fisher suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Weston Creek area. The local population is highly educated, with 49.4% holding university qualifications, which is 19.3 percentage points above the national rate.
Is Fisher safe?
Specific crime statistics for Fisher are not available in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, Fisher scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it among the least disadvantaged suburbs nationally. Unemployment is low at 3.8% and incomes are in the 87.4th percentile nationally.
Is Fisher good for property investment?
Fisher has a small rental market at 19.6% of dwellings rented, below the national average, which limits yield-focused strategies. Weekly rent of $415 against a $610,000 median implies a modest gross yield. The 6.2% vacancy rate is somewhat elevated. Overseas migration of 40 residents per year and a stable public-sector employment base support consistent demand.
How is Fisher's population changing?
Fisher's population is growing slowly at 0.51% per year, adding about 17 residents annually. The 10-year change was 6.8%, reaching 3,219 residents. Overseas migration of 40 per year is the primary driver, partly offset by net internal outflow of 26. Medium forecasts project around 3,398 residents by 2031.
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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