Holt
With 5,628 residents packed into 3.3 square kilometres, Holt is a 36-year median-age mortgage-belt suburb with household income at the 74.4th percentile nationally. Compared with nearby Kippax, it is more readily characterised by established family housing: 59.3% of dwellings are separate houses and 33.8% are semi-detached. Public administration accounts for 29.0% of employment, helping explain the suburb's stable professional and government-linked profile. The 43.3% mortgage tenure share is higher than the 27.4% renting share, while 11.5% work from home, so daily life remains car-oriented despite a compact 1,707.7 people per square kilometre.
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
7
Homebuyers in Holt are choosing a largely family-sized, established housing mix rather than a unit-led market. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 52.9% and four-bedroom-plus homes 24.1%, while separate houses account for 59.3%, semi-detached homes 33.8% and apartments 6.9%. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,950, with mortgage commitments at 22.7% of household income, higher than the 20.0% rent-to-income figure, although neither stress flag is active. A suburb-level median house price is not available, so compare recent sales by dwelling type and weigh Holt against nearby Kippax or Latham on land, condition and commuting needs.
For Buyers
Homebuyers in Holt are choosing a largely family-sized, established housing mix rather than a unit-led market. Three-bedroom dwellings make up 52.9% and four-bedroom-plus homes 24.1%, while separate houses account for 59.3%, semi-detached homes 33.8% and apartments 6.9%. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,950, with mortgage commitments at 22.7% of household income, higher than the 20.0% rent-to-income figure, although neither stress flag is active. A suburb-level median house price is not available, so compare recent sales by dwelling type and weigh Holt against nearby Kippax or Latham on land, condition and commuting needs.
For Investors
Investor appeal rests on an established tenant base rather than a large development pipeline. Renting households represent 27.4%, weekly rent is $396 and vacancy is 6.3%, giving a useful starting point for yield and leasing assumptions. The 14.8% rent-growth signal is higher than the 5.0% real-income-growth figure, so investors should stress-test whether future rent gains can outpace household budgets. Only 7 development applications were recorded in the last 12 months, while Balanced migration and Holt's 59.3% separate-house share point to a mostly built-out, family rental market compared with newer growth corridors.
Development Activity
Total DAs
39
Last 12 Months
7
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
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Kingsford Smith School (7-10)
Cranleigh School
Kingsford Smith School (P-6)
Demographics
Holt's median age of 36 is 4 years below the national comparison, while its university-educated share is 43.2%, or 13.1 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 26.1%, which is 4.5 points above the national comparison. Household size averages 2.4 people, 0.1 below the national comparison, fitting a mix of 636 couples with children, 610 couples without children and 250 one-parent families. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 1,971 people, followed by Other at 942 and Irish at 720. No religion is recorded by 2,430 residents, compared with 2,297 identifying with Christianity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
59.3%
Houses
33.8%
Townhouse
6.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Holt's tenure profile leans toward mortgage holders: 43.3% of households are buying, compared with 27.2% owning outright and 27.4% renting. The dwelling mix is 59.3% separate houses, 33.8% semi-detached homes and 6.9% apartments, with 52.9% of homes containing 3 bedrooms and 24.1% containing 4 or more. The $1,950 monthly mortgage equals 22.7% of household income, while $396 weekly rent equals 20.0%, so mortgage exposure is higher than rental exposure but neither is flagged as stressed. Compared with nearby Kippax, this profile points to a family-oriented market where lot, upkeep and renovation quality may matter more than apartment amenity.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$396
Census 2021
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
41.8%
Couples with children
40.1%
Couples, no children
16.4%
Single parent
1,520
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration dominates Holt's employment base at 29.0%, with 601 workers, followed by healthcare at 14.9% and education at 12.6%. Professional and technical work contributes 9.0%, while construction adds 8.5%, creating a mix linked to government, services and skilled trades. The labour-force participation rate is 66.2%, unemployment is 4.5% and full-time employment is 66.5%, so the labour profile is more active than a low-participation retirement suburb. SEIFA results are uneven: education and occupation rank in the 7th decile, IRSAD is also 7, but IRSD is 6 and IER is 5, indicating stronger skills and resources than financial or employment outcomes alone.
Unemployment
4.5%
Labour Force
3,013
Unemployed
135
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.5%
Part-time
27.2%
Participation
66.2%
Employed
2,878
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
43.2%
Postgraduate
12.6%
Born Overseas
26.1%
Dwellings
2,282
Transport to Work
Daily life in Holt is strongly car-dependent: 77.6% travel as car drivers, compared with 4.3% using public transport, while 11.5% work from home. Three government schools provide primary, high-school and other provision, with both P-6 and 7-10 coverage represented locally. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because school access can be narrower than suburb boundaries. An IRSAD decile of 7 indicates above-average relative advantage, while a street-level safety check remains important because conditions can differ by address. The 3.3 square kilometre area and 1,707.7 people per square kilometre make errands and services relatively concentrated compared with lower-density outer districts.
Drive
77.6%
Public Transport
4.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.1%
Work from Home
11.5%
Population Forecast
+1.37%/yr
(+83 people/yr)
EstablishedHolt's growth outlook is measured rather than explosive. The annual trend is 1.37%, while the wider area's population change is 16.9% over 10 years and migration is classified as Balanced. The shift trajectory is Mixed: rent growth reached 14.8%, senior share rose 2.4 points and working share fell 1.2 points, signalling an established suburb with changing age and tenure pressures. Gentrification remains at Early signs, with a score of 22, so market change is lower than a mature renewal phase. Affordability improved from 42.8 in 2011 to 38.0 in 2021, which may support demand, but the 7 development applications in 12 months suggest incremental change compared with a major release area.
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?
With 5,628 residents and a median age of 36, Holt suits households wanting established Canberra living. The 59.3% separate-house share and 11.5% working from home support a family-oriented, car-based routine, while 4.3% public transport use is lower than many transit-led areas.
What is the median house price in Holt?
A suburb-level median house price is not available for Holt. Buyers can still assess the $1,950 monthly mortgage figure, 22.7% mortgage-to-income ratio and 59.3% separate-house share, then compare recent sales by dwelling type because a single median can be less useful than a breakdown of 3-bedroom and 4-plus-bedroom homes.
What schools are in Holt?
Holt has 3 government schools, covering primary, high-school and other provision, with both P-6 and 7-10 coverage available locally. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because school access can be narrower than suburb boundaries, particularly for families comparing homes on opposite sides of Holt.
Is Holt safe?
Safety should be checked at the exact address rather than inferred from Holt's 5,628 residents or its 6.8% assistance-need rate. Review recent incidents, lighting, traffic and access around the property, because street conditions can vary more than suburb names suggest.
Is Holt good for property investment?
Holt may suit investors seeking established houses and steady tenant demand, with 27.4% renting, $396 weekly rent and 6.3% vacancy. The 14.8% rent-growth signal is higher than the 5.0% real-income-growth figure, so cash-flow assumptions should be tested carefully rather than relying on further rent increases.
How is Holt's population changing?
Holt has 5,628 residents today. Across the wider area, population change is 16.9% over 10 years, with annual growth trending at 1.37% and migration classified as Balanced. The trajectory is Mixed, so change looks steadier than a rapid expansion story.
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 education open registers (school locations), 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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