Griffith
Among inner-Canberra suburbs, few pair a $621,000 median house price with household incomes in the 92.8th percentile nationally, but Griffith does, and the gap is explained by an apartment-heavy stock. Apartments make up 53.5% of dwellings against 35.7% separate houses, so the cheaper unit market pulls the headline median down even though families earn $3,649 a week. The suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSAD, IEO and IRSD indexes, the top advantage tier nationally, and university qualifications reach 68.2%, which is 38.1 points above the national figure. The median age of 38 sits 2.0 years below national, and the population has grown 36.7% over the decade.
Population
5,328
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,542/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$621K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The $621,000 median is low for a decile 10 suburb, and the reason is composition rather than affordability: 53.5% of dwellings are apartments while only 35.7% are separate houses, so the median reflects unit pricing more than a family home. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 41.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes are 23.7%, so buyers chasing a detached house compete for a minority of the stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,118, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold and comfortable given household incomes in the 92.8th percentile. Owners with a mortgage (33.0%) outnumber outright owners (25.6%), pointing to active buying rather than long-held wealth.
For Buyers
The $621,000 median is low for a decile 10 suburb, and the reason is composition rather than affordability: 53.5% of dwellings are apartments while only 35.7% are separate houses, so the median reflects unit pricing more than a family home. Two-bedroom dwellings dominate at 41.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes are 23.7%, so buyers chasing a detached house compete for a minority of the stock. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,118, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold and comfortable given household incomes in the 92.8th percentile. Owners with a mortgage (33.0%) outnumber outright owners (25.6%), pointing to active buying rather than long-held wealth.
For Investors
A 41.4% renter share and weekly rent of $462 give landlords a deep tenant pool, larger than most owner-occupier suburbs. Against the $621,000 median, that rent implies a gross yield near 3.9%, healthier than premium Sydney markets where yields fall below 2%. The 9.9% vacancy rate is elevated and signals some apartment oversupply, since units are 53.5% of dwellings. Demand support is steady: net overseas migration adds 91 residents a year and net internal migration adds 50, a balanced driver rather than a single dependency. Development is modest at 17 applications in 12 months, and rent grew 15.5% over the period, so the investment case rests on yield and tenant depth more than rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
80
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+28.6%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Griffith iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Clare's College
7-12 · 887 students
St Edmund's College Canberra
4-12 · 935 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2.0 years below the national figure, younger than the apartment-dominant profile would suggest, because public service careers draw working-age professionals. Overseas-born residents reach 27.7%, which is 6.1 points above national, and ancestry leans Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,968), Irish (795) and Scottish (603), with Chinese (305) the largest non-European group. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (50), French (42) and Nepali (32). University qualifications at 68.2% run 38.1 points above national, among the highest anywhere. Average household size is 2.1, which is 0.4 below national, consistent with the couples-without-children share of 36.8% and a small-dwelling stock.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
35.7%
Houses
10.8%
Townhouse
53.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into thirds with a rental tilt: 25.6% own outright, 33.0% carry a mortgage and 41.4% rent, a higher renter share than most established suburbs. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to active buying rather than long-held, debt-free wealth. The stock is 53.5% apartments and 10.8% semi-detached, leaving separate houses at only 35.7%, which is why the $621,000 median reads low for a decile 10 area. Two-bedroom dwellings account for 41.4% and 4-plus bedroom homes 23.7%, a barbell shape with few three-bedroom options at 19.0%. Mortgage-to-income at 19.2% and rent-to-income at 18.2% both sit well below the 30% stress threshold, a comfort that reflects how strong incomes are relative to prices.
Mortgage / mo
$2,118
Rent / wk
$462
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$1,572
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.9%
Unoccupied
256
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.8%
Couples, no children
3,675
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is dominated by the public sector: Public Admin leads at 43.4% (1,174 workers), far above any private suburb, with Professional/Tech at 15.2% (410) and Healthcare at 10.4% (280) following. By occupation, Professionals (1,338) and Managers (740) account for the bulk of jobs, which aligns with the decile 10 IEO score for education and occupation. Unemployment is low at 3.4% and the full-time rate is 75.2%. The suburb scores decile 10 on IRSAD and IRSD, yet the IER economic-resources index reads decile 7, a notch lower, because the 41.4% renter base depresses aggregate household wealth measures even where incomes are high. Real incomes grew 8.9% over the decade.
Unemployment
1.3%
Labour Force
3,707
Unemployed
50
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
75.2%
Part-time
21.4%
Participation
68.1%
Employed
3,051
Occupations
Top Industries
University
68.2%
Postgraduate
27.5%
Born Overseas
27.7%
Dwellings
2,313
Transport to Work
Griffith leans on cars more than transit: 68.8% drive, 15.3% walk or cycle and just 7.6% take public transport, below the active-transport mix of denser harbour suburbs. The suburb earns decile 10 on IRSAD, the top advantage tier nationally, and decile 10 on IRSD for relative disadvantage, so very few residents face deprivation. Volunteering runs at 22.5% and only 5.3% (272 people) need daily assistance. Rent-to-income at 18.2% keeps tenants comfortable, well under the 30% stress line. No schools are recorded inside the 2.76 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs, a practical trade-off for a compact inner-city setting at 1,933 residents per km2.
Drive
68.8%
Public Transport
7.6%
Walk / Cycle
15.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.73%/yr
(+101 people/yr)
EstablishedGriffith is growing steadily: annual population growth runs 1.73%, or about 101 residents a year, and the 10-year change is a strong 36.7%, well above the flat trajectory of many established inner suburbs. The population rose from 5,466 in 2023 to 5,826 in 2025, and medium forecasts lift it to 6,343 by 2031. Growth is balanced between net overseas migration of 91 a year and net internal migration of 50, rather than relying on a single source. The gentrification stage reads early signs with a score of 29, supported by a population up 43% since 2011 and an accelerating university share. Affordability improved from 34.1% in 2011 to 29.4% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+91
Net Internal / yr
+50
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +43% since 2011, Accelerating: 14% → 25%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Griffith compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Griffith a good suburb to live in?
Griffith ranks in decile 10 on the IRSAD, IEO and IRSD indexes, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 92.8th percentile. University qualifications reach 68.2%, which is 38.1 points above the national figure. The main trade-off is a 9.9% apartment vacancy rate and heavy car reliance at 68.8%.
What is the median house price in Griffith?
The median house price is $621,000, low for a decile 10 suburb because apartments make up 53.5% of dwellings. Weekly rent averages $462 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $2,118, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Griffith?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.76 km2 Griffith boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring inner-Canberra suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 68.2%, which is 38.1 points above the national figure.
Is Griffith safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Griffith in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest tier, and only 5.3% of its residents (272 people) need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Griffith good for property investment?
Rent of $462 a week against a $621,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.9%, stronger than premium Sydney suburbs below 2%. A 41.4% renter share offers a deep tenant pool, though the 9.9% vacancy rate signals some apartment oversupply. Net migration of 141 a year supports demand.
How is Griffith's population changing?
Population growth runs 1.73% annually, about 101 residents a year, with a 36.7% rise over 10 years. The population grew from 5,466 in 2023 to 5,826 in 2025 and is forecast to reach 6,343 by 2031, driven by balanced overseas migration of 91 and internal migration of 50 each 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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