Johnston
A 63.3% renting share sits alongside household income at the 87th percentile, giving Johnston a young but financially capable housing market. With 2,386 residents and a median age of 28, the suburb is 12 years younger than the national median. Its compact 2.6 sq km footprint supports 916.5 people per sq km, creating a denser setting than detached-only estates. Compared with nearby Rosebery and Zuccoli, Johnston's clearest local distinction is its renter-majority, young-resident mix, shaped by a high share of working households and relatively limited outright ownership at 2.0%.
Local council: Palmerston
Population
2,386
Median Age
28.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,254/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers need to weigh Johnston's housing variety against its limited ownership base. Monthly mortgage repayments are $2,400 and mortgage costs equal 24.6% of household income, below the suburb's 63.3% renting share but still important for buyers assessing cash flow. Separate houses account for 58.1% of homes, while apartments make up 23.5% and semi-detached dwellings 18.4%. Bedroom choice is broad, with 37.0% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 39.0% having 4 or more. Compared with a detached-only estate, this mix gives buyers more scope to trade space, maintenance and entry cost. The 33.9% mortgage tenure share suggests owner-occupier demand exists, but Johnston is more renter-led than owner-led.
For Buyers
Homebuyers need to weigh Johnston's housing variety against its limited ownership base. Monthly mortgage repayments are $2,400 and mortgage costs equal 24.6% of household income, below the suburb's 63.3% renting share but still important for buyers assessing cash flow. Separate houses account for 58.1% of homes, while apartments make up 23.5% and semi-detached dwellings 18.4%. Bedroom choice is broad, with 37.0% of homes having 3 bedrooms and 39.0% having 4 or more. Compared with a detached-only estate, this mix gives buyers more scope to trade space, maintenance and entry cost. The 33.9% mortgage tenure share suggests owner-occupier demand exists, but Johnston is more renter-led than owner-led.
For Investors
Johnston has a substantial rental market because 63.3% of households rent, compared with 33.9% paying a mortgage, and weekly rent is $370. Vacancy is 9.1%, so investors should test achievable rent and leasing time carefully rather than assume that renter depth guarantees tight conditions. Rent growth of 19.0% is higher than the 0.25% annual population trend, indicating stronger recent rental movement than underlying resident growth. Migration is classified as Balanced and development activity recorded 0 projects in the last 12 months, which limits the immediate supply pipeline. That combination can support established rental stock, but the 40.3% turnover rate makes property condition, tenant retention and management costs especially relevant.
Demographics
Johnston's median age of 28 is 12 years below the national figure, yet the suburb is not entirely transient: 59.7% of residents stayed at the same address while turnover reached 40.3%. University attainment is 27.8%, which is 2.3 percentage points below the national level, while the overseas-born share is 25.9%, or 4.3 points above national. Average household size is 2.9, 0.4 higher than the national figure, supported by 50.2% of families being couples with children and 28.8% couples without children. English, Scottish and Irish ancestries are prominent, alongside Nepali, Punjabi and Hindi language groups. Compared with nearby Rosebery and Zuccoli, Johnston's combination of younger residents, higher renter mobility and above-national overseas birth share gives it a distinct social mix.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
58.1%
Houses
18.4%
Townhouse
23.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Johnston is renter-led: 63.3% of households rent, while 33.9% have a mortgage and only 2.0% own their home outright. That tenure pattern is higher on the rental side than the ownership side because the suburb attracts mobile households and a relatively young workforce. The built form is mixed rather than uniformly detached, with 58.1% separate houses, 23.5% apartments and 18.4% semi-detached dwellings. Larger homes remain common, with 37.0% containing 3 bedrooms and 39.0% containing 4 or more, while 2-bedroom homes account for 22.1%. Compared with nearby low-density family estates, Johnston's apartment and semi-detached shares create more varied entry points, although the 9.1% vacancy rate means buyers and landlords should compare individual properties closely.
Mortgage / mo
$2,400
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$370
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,179
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.1%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.2%
Couples with children
28.8%
Couples, no children
19.9%
Single parent
624
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration is Johnston's largest industry at 24.0%, or 197 workers, followed by healthcare at 17.0% and 140 workers, education at 10.1% and 83, construction at 7.8% and 64, and retail at 7.4% and 61. The occupation base includes 273 community and personal service workers, 193 professionals, 182 trades workers, 182 clerical and administrative workers, and 140 managers. Labour force participation is 74.9%, with 1,283 people in the labour force, 874 employed full time and unemployment at 4.1%. Household income is relatively strong at the 87th percentile, above the area's IRSAD decile of 2. IEO is also decile 2, while IER is 4 and IRSD is 3, lower than the household income result. This contrast suggests solid earners coexist with broader area-level disadvantage, partly because public-sector and professional employment does not lift every household equally.
Unemployment
4.1%
Labour Force
1,283
Unemployed
53
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
71.1%
Part-time
23.1%
Participation
74.9%
Employed
1,230
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.8%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
25.9%
Dwellings
776
Transport to Work
Johnston is compact at 2.6 sq km and has a density of 916.5 people per sq km, creating a more concentrated environment than a low-density fringe suburb. Daily mobility is strongly car dependent: 85.1% travel as car drivers, compared with 2.1% using public transport and 1.4% walking or cycling. Only 4.1% work from home, so commuting access remains important because most workers travel beyond the immediate neighbourhood. Families should check nearby school options and exact enrolment zones by address, including government and non-government choices, as practical access depends on the wider Palmerston network. Johnston's IRSAD decile of 2 is lower than its household income percentile of 87, so amenity expectations should be tested at street level rather than inferred from income alone.
Drive
85.1%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
4.1%
Growth Outlook
Johnston is an established suburb with a modest annual growth trend of 0.25%, below the pace associated with rapid-release growth areas. Migration is classified as Balanced, while population change across the wider area is 6.3% over 10 years. The shift trajectory is Aging, supported by a 6.4% increase in the senior share, a 1.8% decline in the young share and a 3.2% decline in the working share. That direction matters because housing demand may gradually favour established households, accessibility and lower-maintenance options. The shift indicators record a gentrification score of 24 at the Early signs stage, while the current gentrification classification is 0, Not gentrifying. Compared with faster-changing suburbs, Johnston's growth is likely to be incremental rather than redevelopment-led.
Population trend: Palmerston council area
Johnston sits in the Palmerston council area. These are the council area's residents, not Johnston's.
Residents 2025
43,193
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.4%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Johnston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Johnston a good suburb to live in?
Johnston can suit residents who value compact housing and car access. It has 2,386 residents, a median age of 28 and 63.3% renting, so the feel is younger and more renter-oriented than a conventional owner suburb. Check street-level amenity, transport needs and school catchments before committing.
What is the median house price in Johnston?
A current median house price should be confirmed from recent Johnston sales rather than inferred from asking prices. Weekly rent is $370, while 63.3% of households rent and 33.9% hold a mortgage. Compare like-for-like properties because 58.1% of homes are separate houses, 23.5% apartments and 18.4% semi-detached.
What schools are in Johnston?
School choices for Johnston should be checked using the exact street address and current enrolment zones, including nearby government and non-government options. The suburb covers 2.6 sq km and has 2,386 residents, but practical access depends on the wider Palmerston network rather than the postcode alone. Confirm transport and eligibility before enrolling.
Is Johnston safe?
Johnston's safety should be assessed at street level using current local police and community information rather than a simple suburb-wide label. The suburb has 2,386 residents and a density of 916.5 people per sq km, while 85.1% of commuters drive. Check lighting, parking, evening activity and the route home at the times your household uses them.
Is Johnston good for property investment?
Johnston may suit investors seeking a substantial rental market: 63.3% of households rent, weekly rent is $370 and vacancy is 9.1%. Rent growth is 19.0%, but the annual population trend is only 0.25% and development activity was 0 projects over 12 months. Assess tenant turnover, property condition and achievable rent rather than relying on growth alone.
How is Johnston's population changing?
Johnston's resident base is changing gradually rather than rapidly. The population is 2,386 today, the annual trend is 0.25%, and population change across the wider area is 6.3% over 10 years. The trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 6.4% and the young share down 1.8%, pointing to gradually stronger demand from established households.
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).
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