Macquarie
At 55.6% university-qualified, Macquarie sits 25.5 percentage points above the national average, making it one of Canberra's most credentialled suburbs per capita. Population grew 39.7% over ten years, driven primarily by internal migration averaging 864 arrivals per year, well above typical ACT suburb figures. Household income ranks in the 73rd percentile nationally, yet the median house price of $557,000 is considered affordable by ACT standards, creating an unusually favourable income-to-price ratio for a suburb at this education level. Gentrification is classed as Active, with a score of 40 and accelerating signals.
Population
3,104
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,947/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$557K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $557,000 sits below the ACT median, which makes Macquarie one of the more accessible entry points in the territory for buyers seeking established housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% stays comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, lower than many comparable Canberra suburbs. Separate houses make up 61.3% of stock, with apartments at 24.4% and semi-detached at 14.3%, so the market skews toward detached family homes rather than high-rise. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 44.2%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 25.6%, and two-bedroom at 18.2%. Outright owners account for 32.7% of tenure, roughly matching mortgagees at 29.3%, suggesting a mature, stable owner base rather than speculative turnover.
For Buyers
The median house price of $557,000 sits below the ACT median, which makes Macquarie one of the more accessible entry points in the territory for buyers seeking established housing. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% stays comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, lower than many comparable Canberra suburbs. Separate houses make up 61.3% of stock, with apartments at 24.4% and semi-detached at 14.3%, so the market skews toward detached family homes rather than high-rise. Three-bedroom dwellings dominate at 44.2%, followed by 4-plus bedroom at 25.6%, and two-bedroom at 18.2%. Outright owners account for 32.7% of tenure, roughly matching mortgagees at 29.3%, suggesting a mature, stable owner base rather than speculative turnover.
For Investors
A 38.0% renter share and weekly rent of $400 give landlords a solid tenant pool in a suburb where the vacancy rate of 8.8% is elevated, indicating softer rental conditions than tighter ACT markets. Against a $557,000 median, the $400 weekly rent implies a gross yield of approximately 3.7%, higher than inner-Canberra benchmarks. Population growth of 39.7% over ten years and net internal migration of 864 per year point to sustained demand, which supports occupancy over time. There were 9 development applications in the past 12 months, including dual-occupancy and lease-variation proposals, consistent with gradual infill rather than large-scale supply additions. The gentrification stage is Active, with rent growth of 54.8% recorded over the shift period, a strong signal of underlying rental market pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
32
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 Macquarie iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Canberra High School
7-10 · 898 students
Macquarie Primary School
K-6 · 291 students
Demographics
The median age of 37 is 3.0 years below the national figure, giving Macquarie a younger profile than many established suburbs. University qualifications reach 55.6%, which is 25.5 percentage points above national, ranking the suburb among the most educated in the ACT. Overseas-born residents account for 31.9% of the population, 10.3 points above national, reflecting Canberra's public-sector and university-driven migration patterns. Ancestry is led by English (984 residents), Irish (362) and Scottish (336). The top non-English languages are Mandarin (36 speakers), Hindi (20) and Arabic (17). Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national average. Couples with children form 873 households while couples without children number 680, indicating a mixed family and pre-family composition.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
61.3%
Houses
14.3%
Townhouse
24.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Macquarie's 62% separate-house rate positions it above many inner-ACT suburbs where medium-density stock dominates. Tenure splits fairly evenly: 32.7% own outright, 29.3% carry a mortgage and 38.0% rent, with renters forming the largest single tenure group. Three-bedroom homes make up 44.2% of dwellings, four-plus bedroom at 25.6%, and two-bedroom at 18.2%, so the stock leans heavily toward family-sized configurations. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and at a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% the suburb stays below the 30% stress mark compared to many higher-priced ACT locations. Rent-to-income sits at 20.5%, also below stress levels. The 8.8% vacancy rate is notable and higher than most ACT suburbs, likely depressing rental yields even though nominal rents of $400 per week appear reasonable.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,078
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.8%
Unoccupied
122
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.2%
Couples, no children
2,178
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration dominates the local workforce at 31.5% (388 workers), consistent with Macquarie's position in the ACT government employment corridor. Education follows at 16.1% (198 workers) and Professional/Tech services at 12.5% (154), with Healthcare at 11.4% (141). This four-sector concentration reflects the knowledge-economy character of the wider Belconnen district. By occupation, Professionals lead with 526 workers, Managers at 265 and Community/Personal Services at 188. The full-time employment rate is 69.5% and the unemployment rate is 5.0%, slightly above the ACT average but within normal cyclical range. The SEIFA IEO score of 1,100 places education and occupation advantage in decile 9 nationally, while the IRSD score of 1,031 puts relative disadvantage in decile 6, reflecting modest pockets of need alongside an overall educated, employed base.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
13,173
Unemployed
431
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
25.5%
Participation
59.6%
Employed
1,468
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.6%
Postgraduate
21.8%
Born Overseas
31.9%
Dwellings
1,266
Transport to Work
Car use is the dominant transport mode at 77.4%, above the national average for medium-density suburbs, though walking and cycling accounts for 7.3% and public transport 7.5%, both meaningful shares for ACT. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on nearby Belconnen institutions. The IRSAD decile of 8 places Macquarie in the upper advantage tier nationally, and 6.2% of residents (181 people) need daily assistance, a low proportion relative to the suburb size of 3,104 people. Volunteering reaches 21.6% of residents, above the national average, pointing to engaged community participation. The 67.5% residential stability rate (residents who have not moved in five years) suggests a settled population despite the suburb's active gentrification classification.
Drive
77.4%
Public Transport
7.5%
Walk / Cycle
7.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.71%/yr
(+642 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 39.7% over the decade, driven by net internal migration averaging 864 persons per year, making internal mobility the primary driver rather than overseas arrivals of 50 per year. Historical population in the broader SA2 rose from 21,634 in 2023 to 23,649 in 2025. Medium forecasts project continued growth from 22,928 in 2026 to 26,140 by 2031, adding roughly 642 persons per year at a 2.71% annual rate. Rent growth of 54.8% over the shift period outpaced real income growth of 26.4%, putting upward pressure on affordability despite the base price remaining stable at 55.2% of income in 2021 compared to 55.5% in 2011. The gentrification score of 40 is Active stage, with signals including accelerating internal migration and a shift from 5% to 61% in a key indicator, pointing to continued demand from workers relocating within the ACT.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+50
Net Internal / yr
+864
Gentrification Signal
Active
Net internal migration +864/yr, Accelerating: 5% → 61%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Macquarie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Macquarie a good suburb to live in?
Macquarie ranks in decile 8 on IRSAD nationally, an upper advantage tier, with 55.6% of residents university-qualified, which is 25.5 percentage points above the national figure. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% is below the 30% stress threshold, and the volunteering rate of 21.6% reflects a notably engaged resident base.
What is the median house price in Macquarie?
The median house price is estimated at $557,000, below the broader ACT median. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000 and weekly rent is $400, giving a gross yield of approximately 3.7%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% keeps repayments affordable relative to local household incomes.
What schools are in Macquarie?
No schools are recorded inside the Macquarie boundary in this dataset. Families rely on nearby Belconnen district schools. Despite this, 55.6% of Macquarie residents hold university qualifications, which is 25.5 percentage points above the national average, reflecting the highly educated adult population.
Is Macquarie safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Macquarie in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 8 on the IRSAD index of advantage nationally, and only 6.2% of its 3,104 residents need daily assistance. The unemployment rate is 5.0% and 67.5% of residents have not moved in the past five years, suggesting residential stability.
Is Macquarie good for property investment?
Rent of $400 per week against a $557,000 median implies a gross yield of approximately 3.7%, higher than tighter ACT markets. Population grew 39.7% over ten years and net internal migration of 864 per year is the primary driver. The 8.8% vacancy rate is elevated and warrants monitoring, but rent growth of 54.8% over the measured shift period shows underlying rental market strength.
How is Macquarie's population changing?
Population grew 39.7% over ten years, with internal migration of 864 net arrivals per year as the dominant driver compared to just 50 overseas arrivals per year. Medium forecasts project growth from 22,928 in 2026 to 26,140 by 2031, an annual rate of 2.71%. The suburb is classified as Active gentrification stage.
What languages are spoken in Macquarie?
About 31.9% of residents were born overseas, which is 10.3 percentage points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (36 speakers), Hindi (20), Arabic (17), Italian (17) and Nepali (13) the most common non-English languages, reflecting Canberra's multicultural public sector and university community.
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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