Latham
Household income in the 80.5th percentile nationally, yet a median house price of $557,000 that sits well below the ACT average, that gap is what makes Latham stand out among Canberra's north-side suburbs. The suburb covers 2.73 km2 and holds 3,767 residents, with 87.9% of dwellings being separate houses and 40.4% containing four or more bedrooms. University qualifications reach 39.2%, which is 9.1 percentage points above the national figure, reflecting the Canberra-wide tilt toward public sector and professional employment. The trajectory is one of gradual aging, with population growing just 0.08% annually and the senior share rising 4.1 points over the decade.
Population
3,767
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,125/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$557K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $557,000 makes Latham notably more accessible than many ACT suburbs, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,000 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 87.9%, with 40.4% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 48.2% having three bedrooms, so buyers get substantial floor space compared to inner-city alternatives. Only 1.6% of dwellings are apartments, meaning competition for houses is concentrated in that dominant segment. Outright owners account for 32.7% and mortgage holders 45.9%, pointing to a suburb where recent purchasers are still paying down debt rather than an older, debt-free cohort. Rent-to-income at 18.8% is comfortable, below the national stress threshold.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $557,000 makes Latham notably more accessible than many ACT suburbs, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,000 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, below the 30% stress threshold. The stock is almost entirely separate houses at 87.9%, with 40.4% of dwellings having four or more bedrooms and 48.2% having three bedrooms, so buyers get substantial floor space compared to inner-city alternatives. Only 1.6% of dwellings are apartments, meaning competition for houses is concentrated in that dominant segment. Outright owners account for 32.7% and mortgage holders 45.9%, pointing to a suburb where recent purchasers are still paying down debt rather than an older, debt-free cohort. Rent-to-income at 18.8% is comfortable, below the national stress threshold.
For Investors
The 21.4% renter share and $400 weekly rent deliver modest gross yield against the $557,000 median, around 3.7% on headline numbers. Vacancy sits at 3.8%, slightly elevated, suggesting soft rental demand relative to current stock levels. Development activity in the past 12 months shows 9 applications, mostly secondary residences and alterations, a low volume consistent with an established suburb rather than a growth corridor. Migration patterns lean slightly negative: net internal migration runs at minus 52 per year while overseas migration adds 23, producing near-flat net flows. Population growth of 0.08% annually over the forecast horizon to 2031 means demand growth will be slow, so investment returns depend on the income-to-price ratio holding rather than capital growth momentum.
Development Activity
Total DAs
44
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Latham iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Latham Primary School
K-6 · 298 students
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, slightly younger than the ACT as a whole but aging: the senior share rose 4.1 points and working-age share fell 2.8 points over the decade. University qualifications at 39.2% run 9.1 percentage points above national, consistent with Canberra's government and professional workforce base. Overseas-born residents make up 20.5%, which is 1.1 percentage points below the national average. Ancestry is Anglo-Celtic dominant, led by English (1,334 residents), Irish (530), and Scottish (418). The top non-English languages are Hindi and Punjabi (20 each), Mandarin (19), and Italian (18), reflecting a small but growing South Asian presence. Average household size of 2.6 is 0.1 above national, and 44.6% of families are couples with children, pointing to a family-oriented residential base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.9%
Houses
10.5%
Townhouse
1.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits toward ownership: 32.7% own outright, 45.9% hold a mortgage, and 21.4% rent. The high mortgage-holder share relative to outright owners signals a younger ownership cohort still paying down debt. The stock is dominated by separate houses at 87.9%, with semi-detached at 10.5% and apartments at just 1.6%. Four-plus bedroom dwellings account for 40.4% and three-bedroom homes 48.2%, so the suburb is firmly oriented toward family-sized housing rather than apartments or smaller units. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7% sits well below the national stress benchmark. Vacancy at 3.8% is above a tight-market level, indicating some softness on the rental side rather than a landlord's market.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,089
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.8%
Unoccupied
56
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.1%
Couples, no children
3,041
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration dominates the local industry mix at 32.6% (441 workers), a figure well above the national average and reflecting Canberra's role as the seat of federal government. Education follows at 13.2% (178 workers) and Construction at 11.7% (158 workers), with Healthcare at 11.2% and Professional/Tech at 10.6%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 493 and Managers at 302, together accounting for the majority of employed residents. The SEIFA IRSAD decile of 7 places the suburb in the upper-middle band nationally on combined advantage and disadvantage, while the IEO decile of 8 shows stronger relative advantage on education and occupation specifically. Unemployment is 3.9% and the full-time employment rate is 67.0%. Personal weekly income averages $1,089 and family weekly income $2,495.
Unemployment
6.2%
Labour Force
2,026
Unemployed
126
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.0%
Part-time
29.1%
Participation
62.7%
Employed
1,795
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.2%
Postgraduate
12.2%
Born Overseas
20.5%
Dwellings
1,404
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high, with 86.8% of residents driving to work, compared to only 4.0% using public transport and 2.5% walking or cycling. The IRSAD decile of 7 places Latham in the upper-middle band nationally for combined advantage, and the IEO decile of 8 is higher still, reflecting the education and occupation profile of residents. Housing stress is absent by both measures: rent-to-income at 18.8% and mortgage-to-income at 21.7% both sit below the 30% stress threshold. Volunteering rate of 17.3% is solid, and 5.9% of residents (212 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the older-skewing demographic. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in adjacent Belconnen-area suburbs.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
4.0%
Walk / Cycle
2.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.08%/yr
(+3 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation has declined modestly from 3,777 in 2023 to 3,763 in 2025, a trend driven by net internal outflow of 52 residents per year offsetting overseas arrivals of 23 per year. The medium forecast holds population near 3,757 by 2031, an annual growth rate of just 0.08%. The gentrification score is not gentrifying and the suburb sits at a gentrification score of 0, fitting an established area that already registers SEIFA decile 7 to 8 advantage with limited room for socioeconomic uplift. Real income grew 3.6% over the decade, while affordability improved from 42.7% in 2011 to 36.7% in 2021, meaning residents are now spending a smaller share of income on housing than a decade ago. Rent grew 9.6% over the period, faster than income growth, which is worth watching for renters.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+23
Net Internal / yr
-52
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Latham compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Latham a good suburb to live in?
Latham sits in the SEIFA IEO decile 8 nationally on education and occupation, and the IRSAD decile 7 for combined advantage. Household income is in the 80.5th percentile nationally. Both housing stress measures are comfortable, with mortgage-to-income at 21.7% and rent-to-income at 18.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What is the median house price in Latham?
The estimated median house price is $557,000 based on 2025 data, with weekly rent averaging $400. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000. At these levels, the mortgage-to-income ratio is 21.7%, making Latham notably more affordable than many ACT suburbs for owner-occupiers.
What schools are in Latham?
No schools are recorded within the Latham suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically draw on schools in adjacent Belconnen-area suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with university qualifications at 39.2%, which is 9.1 percentage points above the national average.
Is Latham safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Latham in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb scores SEIFA IRSD decile 7, the upper-middle advantage band nationally for relative disadvantage, and housing stress is absent with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.7%, both consistent with a low-disadvantage community of 3,767 residents.
Is Latham good for property investment?
The $557,000 median and $400 weekly rent imply a gross yield near 3.7%, moderate by ACT standards. Vacancy at 3.8% is slightly elevated, and net population growth is near flat at 0.08% annually through 2031. Returns are more likely to come from the income-to-price ratio than from capital growth driven by population pressure.
How is Latham's population changing?
Population declined slightly from 3,777 in 2023 to 3,763 in 2025 and is forecast to reach about 3,757 by 2031, equivalent to 0.08% annual growth. Net internal migration runs at minus 52 per year, partially offset by 23 overseas arrivals. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.1 points over the past decade.
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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