Holt
Affordability is the defining trait here: a $548,000 median house price and a 44.2% mortgage share mark Holt as a working-mortgage belt rather than a Canberra premium pocket. The median age of 36 sits 4.0 years below the national figure, and the population has climbed 16.9% over the past decade to 5,628, a faster rise than most established suburbs manage. Household income reaches the 74.4th percentile nationally, while university qualifications at 43.2% run 13.1 points above national, a gap driven by Holt's reliance on Canberra's public sector. Separate houses make up 59.3% of dwellings, so this remains a detached-house, family-formation area rather than a unit market.
Population
5,628
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,983/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$548K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $548,000 median, Holt is one of Canberra's more reachable detached-house markets, and the affordability shows in the household budget. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes in the 74.4th percentile. Stock favours families: 59.3% are separate houses, three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.9% and four-plus-bedroom dwellings add 24.1%, while apartments are just 6.9%. Mortgage holders at 44.2% outnumber outright owners at 27.8%, a sign that buyers are actively entering rather than a settled, debt-free base. The combination of low entry price and roomy three-bed stock explains why first-home and upgrader families anchor demand here more than investors or downsizers.
For Buyers
At a $548,000 median, Holt is one of Canberra's more reachable detached-house markets, and the affordability shows in the household budget. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes in the 74.4th percentile. Stock favours families: 59.3% are separate houses, three-bedroom homes dominate at 52.9% and four-plus-bedroom dwellings add 24.1%, while apartments are just 6.9%. Mortgage holders at 44.2% outnumber outright owners at 27.8%, a sign that buyers are actively entering rather than a settled, debt-free base. The combination of low entry price and roomy three-bed stock explains why first-home and upgrader families anchor demand here more than investors or downsizers.
For Investors
Holt's case rests on tenant demand and affordability rather than yield headlines. Renters make up 28.0% of households and weekly rent runs $396, which against the $548,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.8%, stronger than most Sydney or Melbourne equivalents. The 6.3% vacancy rate is moderate, leaving some letting risk, but rent has grown 14.8% over the period and rent-to-income stays low at 20.0%, so tenants have headroom for increases. Demand support is balanced: net overseas migration adds 32 residents a year and net internal migration 35, with the population forecast to rise from 6,047 to 6,401 by 2031. Development is thin at 6 applications in 12 months, so supply stays tight, which favours existing landlords over new build competition.
Development Activity
Total DAs
38
Last 12 Months
6
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Holt iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kingsford Smith School
K-10 · 742 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below national, and the trajectory leans young: the youth share edged up 0.5 points while the working-age share slipped 1.2 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents reach 26.1%, which is 4.5 points above national, and ancestry is led by English (1,971), Irish (720) and Scottish (599). The top non-English languages are Punjabi (44 speakers), Nepali (35) and Mandarin (27), a South-Asian skew that is unusual for an Anglo-majority Canberra suburb. University qualifications at 43.2% run 13.1 points above national, reflecting the public-service workforce. Average household size is 2.4, just 0.1 below national, and couples with children (1,894) clearly outnumber couples without (1,234), consistent with the family-formation profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
59.3%
Houses
33.8%
Townhouse
6.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward active buyers: 44.2% carry a mortgage against 27.8% who own outright and 28.0% who rent. Mortgage holders outnumbering outright owners points to a suburb still filling with new entrants rather than a settled base. The stock is 59.3% separate houses and 33.8% semi-detached, leaving apartments at only 6.9%, which keeps the market firmly detached and family-oriented. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 52.9% and four-plus-bedroom homes 24.1%, so two-bed and smaller stock is scarce at 22.9% combined. The $548,000 median against household income in the 74.4th percentile keeps the price-to-income ratio modest, and both mortgage-to-income at 22.7% and rent-to-income at 20.0% sit well below the 30% stress line, a rare comfort in the current market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$396
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,041
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.3%
Unoccupied
154
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.0%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.5%
Couples, no children
4,330
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is anchored in government, as expected for Canberra: Public Administration leads at 29.0% (601 workers), Healthcare follows at 14.9% (309) and Education at 12.6% (260), with Professional/Tech at 9.0% and Construction at 8.5%. By occupation, Professionals (756) and Clerical/Admin (477) dominate, ahead of Managers (393), which fits a public-sector economy. Unemployment is low at 4.8% and the full-time employment rate is 71.0%, while participation reads 62.2%. On SEIFA, Holt scores decile 7 on IRSAD and IEO but only decile 5 on IER, the economic resources index. That gap is the telling anomaly: education and occupation rank above the national midpoint, yet the affordable housing and mortgage-heavy base pull aggregate household wealth measures down.
Unemployment
6.1%
Labour Force
3,301
Unemployed
201
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.0%
Part-time
24.2%
Participation
62.2%
Employed
2,696
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.2%
Postgraduate
12.6%
Born Overseas
26.1%
Dwellings
2,282
Transport to Work
Holt is car-dependent: 87.7% drive to work while only 4.9% use public transport and 1.3% walk or cycle, higher car reliance than the national norm and typical of outer Belconnen. No schools are recorded inside the 3.3 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Belconnen institutions, a practical trade-off for the low $548,000 median. On disadvantage, the suburb scores decile 6 on IRSD, above the national midpoint, and 6.8% of residents (367 people) need daily assistance. Volunteering runs at 15.7% and rent-to-income stays low at 20.0%, both signs of a settled, affordable family area rather than a transient one. Population density of 1,708 per km2 keeps the suburb suburban in feel despite the steady growth.
Drive
87.7%
Public Transport
4.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.37%/yr
(+83 people/yr)
EstablishedHolt is growing steadily rather than booming: annual population growth registers 1.37%, about 83 residents a year, and the 10-year change is 16.9%, well above most established Canberra suburbs. The medium forecast lifts the population from 6,047 in 2025 to 6,401 by 2031, a continuation of the recent trend rather than a step change. Growth is balanced across drivers, with net overseas migration of 32 a year and net internal migration of 35. The gentrification reading sits at an early-signs stage with a score of 22, supported by a population up 22% since 2011 and an acceleration from minus 7% to plus 31%. Affordability improved from 42.8% in 2011 to 38.0% in 2021, an unusual easing that reflects incomes rising faster than this suburb's entry prices.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+32
Net Internal / yr
+35
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Accelerating: -7% → 31%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Holt compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holt a good suburb to live in?
Holt suits affordability-focused families. Its $548,000 median house price is low for Canberra, mortgage-to-income sits at 22.7%, below the 30% stress line, and the population has grown 16.9% over a decade. University qualifications reach 43.2%, 13.1 points above national, reflecting the public-service base.
What is the median house price in Holt?
The median house price in Holt is $548,000, affordable by Canberra standards. Weekly rent averages $396 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.7%, which stays below the 30% mortgage-stress threshold.
What schools are in Holt?
No schools are recorded inside the 3.3 km2 Holt boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Belconnen suburbs. The local population is well educated, with university qualifications at 43.2%, which is 13.1 points above the national figure.
Is Holt safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Holt in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 6 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, above the national midpoint, and only 6.8% of its 5,628 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a settled area.
Is Holt good for property investment?
Rent of $396 a week against a $548,000 median gives a gross yield near 3.8%, stronger than most Sydney or Melbourne equivalents. The 6.3% vacancy rate is moderate and rent grew 14.8% over the period, while population is forecast to rise to 6,401 by 2031, supporting tenant demand.
How is Holt's population changing?
Holt's population is growing about 1.37% a year, or 83 residents, and rose 16.9% over the past decade to 5,628. The medium forecast lifts it to 6,401 by 2031. Growth is balanced, with net overseas migration of 32 a year and net internal migration of 35.
How much development is happening in Holt?
There were 6 development applications lodged in Holt over the past 12 months, a low rate for a 3.3 km2 suburb. They are mostly single dwellings, carports and sheds rather than new supply, consistent with an established detached-house area where 59.3% of dwellings are separate houses.
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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