ACT 2615 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Flynn

Household income in Flynn sits in the 94.9th percentile nationally, yet the median house price of $642,000 remains well below the ACT average, making it one of the territory's better-value high-income pockets. The suburb has 3,671 residents across 2.1 square kilometres, giving a density of 1,752 people per km2. SEIFA scores are consistently strong, with IRSD and IRSAD both at decile 9, and IRSAD at decile 9 compared to a national median of decile 5. The workforce leans heavily on the public sector, with 31.3% employed in Public Administration, reflecting Flynn's position in the broader Canberra employment basin.

Flynn urban fabric map

Population

3,671

Median Age

37.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,728/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

5

Median House

$642K

Estimated from rent (2025)

2.1 km²· 1,751.8 people/km²· Family income $2,997/wk

The estimated median house price is $642,000, with a monthly mortgage repayment of roughly $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.5%, with only 3.5% semi-detached and no significant apartment supply. Larger dwellings dominate: 4-plus bedroom homes account for 58.5% and 3-bedroom dwellings for 37.9%, well suited to the average household size of 2.9 persons. Outright owners represent 34.5% of households and mortgage holders 49.6%, indicating a stable, established owner base. At 84.1% combined ownership rate, competition for listings is steady but not speculative.

For Buyers

The estimated median house price is $642,000, with a monthly mortgage repayment of roughly $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is overwhelmingly separate houses at 96.5%, with only 3.5% semi-detached and no significant apartment supply. Larger dwellings dominate: 4-plus bedroom homes account for 58.5% and 3-bedroom dwellings for 37.9%, well suited to the average household size of 2.9 persons. Outright owners represent 34.5% of households and mortgage holders 49.6%, indicating a stable, established owner base. At 84.1% combined ownership rate, competition for listings is steady but not speculative.

For Investors

Rental demand in Flynn is moderate, with 15.8% of households renting and weekly rent at $481. The vacancy rate of 4.8% is elevated compared to the ACT's typical tight rental market, suggesting some softness in investor returns. Gross yield on the $642,000 median at $481 weekly rent works out to approximately 3.9%, higher than inner-Canberra suburbs. Net overseas migration averages 27 per year while net internal migration runs at negative 38, meaning the suburb is a net exporter of residents domestically. Development activity is low at only 5 applications in the past 12 months, so new supply pressure is minimal. The aging trajectory and slow 0.19% annual growth cap the upside for capital appreciation.

Development Activity

Total DAs

35

Last 12 Months

5

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+66.7%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

New Dwelling
3
Renovation / Extension
2
Garage / Carport / Shed
1
Deck / Pergola / Patio
1
Demolition
1

Demographics

The median age is 37, which is 3 years below the national figure of 40, though the suburb is on an aging trajectory with the senior share rising 4.5 points over the decade. University qualifications reach 44.5%, which is 14.4 percentage points above the national average, consistent with Flynn's proximity to Canberra's knowledge-economy employers. Overseas-born residents at 20.4% are marginally below the national figure by 1.2 points. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic dominant: English (1,458 residents), Irish (537) and Scottish (400) are the three largest groups. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, reflecting the high share of couples-with-children families at 47.8% of all families.

Age Distribution

0-14
21.0%
15-24
11.9%
25-44
27.3%
45-64
24.3%
65+
15.4%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
1.1%
2 bed
2.6%
3 bed
37.9%
4+ bed
58.5%

Dwelling Structure

96.5%

Houses

3.5%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 34.5% Mortgage 49.6% Rent 15.8%

Owner-occupation is the defining tenure characteristic: 34.5% own outright and 49.6% carry a mortgage, giving a combined ownership rate of 84.1%, substantially higher than the national average. Only 15.8% rent, limiting the investment-property pool. The stock is dominated by larger detached homes, with 96.5% separate houses and 58.5% having 4 or more bedrooms, which aligns with the family-oriented household composition. Mortgage-to-income at 18.3% and rent-to-income at 17.6% both sit below the 30% stress threshold, meaning housing affordability is not a meaningful pressure for Flynn residents compared to most Australian markets. Affordability improved from 44.7% in 2011 to 41.0% in 2021.

Mortgage / mo

$2,167

Rent / wk

$481

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$1,173

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.8%

Unoccupied

61

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

17.6%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.3%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
26
Urdu
26

Ancestry

English
1,458
Irish
537
Other
478
Scottish
400
German
170
Italian
139

Household Composition

22.8%

Couples, no children

3,118

Total families

Economy & Employment

Public Administration accounts for 31.3% of employed residents, by far the largest industry and higher than ACT norms because of Flynn's working-class government-sector base. Education (13.8%), Construction and Healthcare (9.9% each), and Professional/Technical services (9.5%) fill out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 519 workers, followed by Managers (297) and Clerical/Admin (285). The unemployment rate is 4.6%, slightly above the ACT's typically low rates, with a participation rate of 63.9%. Real income grew 6.6% over the decade. SEIFA decile 9 on IRSD and IRSAD places Flynn in the top 20% nationally on both disadvantage indexes, consistent with a comfortable working and middle-class workforce.

Unemployment

5.0%

Labour Force

2,033

Unemployed

101

Quarterly Trend

Mar-24 Dec-25

Source: SALM Dec-25

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
9
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
9
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

69.9%

Part-time

25.5%

Participation

63.9%

Employed

1,767

Occupations

Professionals 519
Managers 297
Clerical/Admin 285
Community/Personal 203
Sales 132
Labourers 104
Machinery/Drivers 50

Top Industries

Public Admin 31.3%
Education 13.8%
Construction 9.9%
Healthcare 9.9%
Professional/Tech 9.5%

University

44.5%

Postgraduate

14.1%

Born Overseas

20.4%

Dwellings

1,216

Transport to Work

Car dependency is pronounced: 89.3% of residents drive to work, above the national average, while only 2.4% use public transport and 0.9% walk or cycle. This reflects Flynn's suburban layout in west Canberra, where direct bus access to the city centre is available but car travel remains faster. SEIFA IRSAD at decile 9 places Flynn in the top 20% nationally for relative socioeconomic advantage, and only 5.3% of residents (190 people) need daily assistance. Volunteering is notably high at 20.0% of residents. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Belconnen suburbs. The vacancy rate of 4.8% and rent-to-income of 17.6% together suggest renters face reasonable, not extreme, housing costs.

Drive

89.3%

Public Transport

2.4%

Walk / Cycle

0.9%

Work from Home

N/A

Population Forecast

+0.19%/yr

(+7 people/yr)

Established

Population growth is minimal at 0.19% per year, adding approximately 7 residents annually, which is typical of established ACT suburbs rather than growth corridors. The 10-year population change was 3.3%, placing Flynn in the slow-growth category. Medium forecasts project the population to reach 3,698 by 2031, a modest increase from the current 3,671. Overseas migration of 27 per year is the sole positive driver, offset by net internal outflow of 38 residents annually. The suburb is classified as not gentrifying with a gentrification score of 0, having already achieved decile 9 advantage across multiple SEIFA measures. The aging trajectory, with the senior share up 4.5 points and working-age share down 4.6 points over the decade, is the primary demographic shift to monitor.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+27

Net Internal / yr

-38

0

Gentrification Signal

Not gentrifying

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Flynn compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 15%
Household Income
Top 5%
Rent Level
Top 6%
Renters
Bottom 36%
Uni Educated
Top 13%
Public Transport
Bottom 39%
Born Overseas
Top 29%
Density
Top 10%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Flynn a good suburb to live in?

Flynn scores well on most liveability measures: SEIFA IRSAD decile 9, household income in the 94.9th percentile nationally, and housing costs well below stress thresholds (mortgage-to-income 18.3%). The suburb suits families, with 96.5% detached houses and an average household size of 2.9. Car dependency is high at 89.3% driving to work.

What is the median house price in Flynn?

The estimated median house price is $642,000 (estimated from rent data, 2025). Weekly rent averages $481 and monthly mortgage repayments run approximately $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold.

What schools are in Flynn?

No schools are recorded within the Flynn suburb boundary in this dataset. The suburb is part of the broader Belconnen district in Canberra, which includes several government and Catholic schools in neighbouring areas. The local population is highly educated, with 44.5% holding university qualifications, which is 14.4 points above the national figure.

Is Flynn safe?

Crime statistics are not available for Flynn in this dataset. As an indirect measure, Flynn scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it in the top 20% nationally, and only 5.3% of residents (190 people) require daily assistance. These indicators are broadly consistent with a low-disadvantage, low-crime area.

Is Flynn good for property investment?

Flynn offers a gross rental yield of approximately 3.9% based on $481 weekly rent and a $642,000 median, higher than most inner-Canberra suburbs. However, the vacancy rate of 4.8% is elevated, annual population growth is only 0.19%, and net internal migration is negative 38 per year. Returns depend on stable capital growth rather than strong rental demand or tenant churn.

How is Flynn's population changing?

Flynn's population grows at 0.19% per year, adding about 7 residents annually, with a 3.3% increase over the past decade. Medium projections reach 3,698 by 2031. The primary demographic shift is aging, with the senior share up 4.5 points and working-age share down 4.6 points over the decade. Overseas migration of 27 per year partially offsets an internal outflow of 38 per year.

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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