Giralang
Household income in the 91.6th percentile nationally sets Giralang apart from most ACT suburbs, yet the median house price of $625,000 remains moderate compared to Canberra's broader market. On all four SEIFA indexes the suburb scores decile 9, placing it firmly in the top tier of national advantage. The resident base of 3,372 is highly educated, with 46.6% holding university qualifications, which is 16.5 points above the national figure. The dominant identity is an established, owner-occupier suburb with 93.8% separate houses, aging demographics, and a workforce heavily tilted toward public sector employment at 30.4% of all jobs.
Population
3,372
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,447/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$625K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $625,000 the median house price sits comfortably below the Canberra median, which makes Giralang one of the more accessible established suburbs in the ACT. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.8%, with 46.6% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 48.0% having 3 bedrooms, meaning buyers typically get substantial family homes. Outright owners account for 38.6% and mortgage holders 41.5%, reflecting a settled, low-turnover community. Affordability has improved compared to 2011, when the rent-to-income ratio sat at 45.1% versus 40.2% in 2021.
For Buyers
At $625,000 the median house price sits comfortably below the Canberra median, which makes Giralang one of the more accessible established suburbs in the ACT. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,167, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.5%, below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely separate houses at 93.8%, with 46.6% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms and 48.0% having 3 bedrooms, meaning buyers typically get substantial family homes. Outright owners account for 38.6% and mortgage holders 41.5%, reflecting a settled, low-turnover community. Affordability has improved compared to 2011, when the rent-to-income ratio sat at 45.1% versus 40.2% in 2021.
For Investors
Giralang presents a cautious investment case. Weekly rent of $460 against a $625,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, which is modest but sustainable. The renter share is just 19.9%, well below the national average, meaning tenant demand is thinner than in denser suburbs. The vacancy rate of 4.9% sits above the typical healthy threshold of 3%, suggesting some softness in rental competition. Net internal migration runs at minus 26 residents a year, partially offset by net overseas arrivals of 22, leaving population growth at minus 0.12% annually. Development activity is light at 3 applications in the past 12 months, which limits new-supply pressure but also signals limited price catalysts in the near term.
Development Activity
Total DAs
29
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-62.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Giralang iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Giralang Primary School
K-6 · 268 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, though the demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 8.7 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 6.5 points. Overseas-born residents make up 22.5%, only 0.9 points above the national rate, and ancestry leans strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,166), Irish (431) and Scottish (382). University qualifications at 46.6% run 16.5 points above the national average, reflecting the ACT's concentration of public sector professionals. The average household size of 2.7 is slightly above the national figure. Volunteering is notable at 21.1% of residents, above most comparable suburbs, consistent with a stable, established community with high civic engagement.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
93.8%
Houses
5.3%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Separate houses dominate at 93.8% of dwellings, one of the highest detached ratios in the ACT, with semi-detached dwellings at 5.3% and apartments at just 0.9%. The bedroom split shows 48.0% at 3 bedrooms and 46.6% at 4 or more, making Giralang a suburb of substantial family-sized homes. Tenure is weighted toward owners: 38.6% own outright and 41.5% carry a mortgage, leaving only 19.9% renting. Rent-to-income at 18.8% and mortgage-to-income at 20.5% are both below the national stress thresholds, indicating comfortable affordability relative to incomes that sit in the 91.6th percentile nationally. Resident stability is high, with 80.8% of residents remaining at the same address over the prior year and a turnover rate of only 19.2%.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$460
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,143
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.9%
Unoccupied
61
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.1%
Couples, no children
2,830
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Admin is the dominant employer at 30.4% of the local workforce, which is characteristic of the ACT's government-centric economy and higher than national averages for this sector. Education follows at 14.7% and Professional/Technical services at 11.7%, reinforcing a knowledge-sector base. By occupation, Professionals (481) and Managers (302) are the two largest groups, together accounting for over 60% of employed residents. The unemployment rate of 4.0% is near the national figure, and the full-time employment rate of 67.4% is solid. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 9, meaning Giralang ranks in the top 20% nationally for advantage, education, economic resources and relative disadvantage. Household income at $2,447 per week sits in the 91.6th percentile nationally.
Unemployment
4.8%
Labour Force
1,789
Unemployed
86
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.4%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
61.5%
Employed
1,576
Occupations
Top Industries
University
46.6%
Postgraduate
15.1%
Born Overseas
22.5%
Dwellings
1,189
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 87.1% of residents driving to work, compared to the national figure, with only 3.4% using public transport and 3.6% walking or cycling, reflecting Giralang's layout as a low-density suburban enclave. The IRSAD decile 9 ranking places the suburb in the top tier nationally for socioeconomic advantage, and mortgage and rent stress are both absent by the standard 30% threshold. Only 4.8% of residents need daily assistance, a low share that aligns with the younger-than-senior but aging demographic. The need-for-assistance count of 158 residents is low relative to a population of 3,372. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby ACT public schools, which is common for Canberra's smaller residential pockets.
Drive
87.1%
Public Transport
3.4%
Walk / Cycle
3.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.12%/yr
(-4 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has grown modestly from 3,350 in 2023 to 3,456 in 2025, but the medium forecast projects a slow decline to approximately 3,326 by 2031. The annual trend rate is minus 0.12% with a loss of about 4 residents per year, reflecting an aging profile rather than outward migration. The 10-year population change is just 2.2%, confirming a slow-growth classification. Net internal migration is minus 26 per year, partially offset by net overseas arrivals of 22. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is not gentrifying, consistent with a suburb already at decile 9 advantage with affordability improving from a ratio of 45.1% in 2011 to 40.2% in 2021. Rent growth of 14.4% over the period shows the rental market has firmed despite flat population.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+22
Net Internal / yr
-26
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Giralang compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Giralang a good suburb to live in?
Giralang scores decile 9 on all four SEIFA indexes, placing it in the top 20% nationally for advantage. Household income sits in the 91.6th percentile and mortgage stress is absent at a ratio of 20.5%. The suburb suits families seeking large established houses with low rental competition and a stable, owner-occupier community of 3,372 residents.
What is the median house price in Giralang?
The median house price in Giralang is estimated at $625,000 based on 2025 rental data. Weekly rent averages $460 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,167, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.5%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Giralang?
No schools are recorded inside the Giralang boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring ACT suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 46.6% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 16.5 points above the national average.
Is Giralang safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Giralang in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, in the top 20% nationally, and only 4.8% of its 3,372 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage environment.
Is Giralang good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $460 against a $625,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, modest but stable. The vacancy rate of 4.9% is slightly above the healthy threshold of 3%, and the renter share of 19.9% is well below the national average. Net population growth is slightly negative at minus 0.12% annually, so returns depend more on capital stability than yield expansion.
How is Giralang's population changing?
Population grew from 3,350 in 2023 to 3,456 in 2025 but the medium forecast projects a slow decline to around 3,326 by 2031. The 10-year change is just 2.2%. The suburb is on an aging trajectory, with the senior share rising 8.7 points and the working-age share falling 6.5 points over the decade.
What industries employ residents of Giralang?
Public Administration is the top industry at 30.4% of workers, reflecting the ACT's government focus and higher than most Australian suburbs. Education employs 14.7%, Professional and Technical services 11.7%, and Healthcare 11.3%. By occupation, Professionals (481) and Managers (302) are the largest groups, consistent with a decile 9 SEIFA advantage rating.
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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