Palmerston
Public administration dominates Palmerston's employment at 32.0%, while 49.4% of residents hold a university qualification, 19.3 percentage points above the national figure. The suburb has 5,579 residents, a median age of 36, and a household income percentile of 88.4, giving it a younger, higher-income profile than the national average. Its density of 2,863.8 residents per square kilometre reflects compact planning near Gungahlin, with Franklin and Crace close by. A 5.91% annual growth trend, driven by internal migration, makes Palmerston more dynamic than a settled low-growth market.
Population
5,579
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,316/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Palmerston suits buyers who value family-sized layouts but need to budget without a current median house-price figure. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,940 and weekly rent is $450, while mortgage and rent burdens are almost level at 19.3% and 19.4% of household income. Compared with an apartment-heavy market, the dwelling mix is more house-oriented, with 60.3% separate houses and 39.7% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 47.3%, and four-plus bedrooms 38.4%, matching the 46.2% share of couples with children. The 28.6% outright-ownership share versus 42.3% with a mortgage points to a strong mortgage-belt cohort, so buyers should test repayments against rates, deposits and commuting costs.
For Buyers
Palmerston suits buyers who value family-sized layouts but need to budget without a current median house-price figure. The monthly mortgage benchmark is $1,940 and weekly rent is $450, while mortgage and rent burdens are almost level at 19.3% and 19.4% of household income. Compared with an apartment-heavy market, the dwelling mix is more house-oriented, with 60.3% separate houses and 39.7% semi-detached homes. Three-bedroom dwellings account for 47.3%, and four-plus bedrooms 38.4%, matching the 46.2% share of couples with children. The 28.6% outright-ownership share versus 42.3% with a mortgage points to a strong mortgage-belt cohort, so buyers should test repayments against rates, deposits and commuting costs.
For Investors
Palmerston's rental case rests on tenant demand rather than a high-yield claim, because no purchase median is available for a reliable gross-yield calculation. Weekly rent is $450, with 28.5% of households renting, almost the same as the 28.6% owning outright and below the 42.3% mortgage cohort. Vacancy is 3.8%, a figure investors should compare with current Gungahlin conditions before assuming tight supply. Only 2 development matters appeared in the latest 12-month window, so the immediate pipeline is limited rather than construction-heavy. Internal migration is the stated growth driver, while the 5,579-resident base and 5.91% annual growth trend point to a high-growth setting. Check body-corporate costs and insurance for attached stock before buying.
Development Activity
Total DAs
15
Last 12 Months
2
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 Palmerston
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Palmerston District Primary School
Demographics
Palmerston is younger and more highly educated than the national profile: the median age is 36, four years below national, while university attainment is 49.4%, or 19.3 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 32.2%, 10.6 points above national, adding to a culturally mixed local profile. English ancestry counts 1,607, followed by Irish at 563, Chinese at 462 and Scottish at 459. Mandarin is the most recorded non-English language at 134 people, followed by Punjabi at 42 and Urdu at 41. Household size is 2.6, just 0.1 above national, and 79.3% stayed at the same address, higher than the 20.7% turnover rate. Palmerston sits near Franklin and Crace in Gungahlin, but its local figures point to a settled, skilled and internationally connected suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
60.3%
Houses
39.7%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Palmerston's housing is tilted toward practical family formats rather than compact apartments. Separate houses make up 60.3% and semi-detached dwellings 39.7%, while three-bedroom homes account for 47.3% and four-plus-bedroom homes 38.4%. Compared with a more rental-oriented market, tenure is mixed: 42.3% of households have a mortgage, 28.6% own outright and 28.5% rent. Mortgage and rent stress indicators are both false, with costs at 19.3% and 19.4% of household income respectively, so neither burden is higher by more than 0.1 percentage points. The 46.2% couples-with-children share helps explain demand for larger layouts, while the 2.6-person average household is only 0.1 above national. A current median sale price and price-to-income ratio are not available, so buyers should compare recent settled sales rather than infer value from rent alone.
Mortgage / mo
$1,940
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$450
Census 2021
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$1,134
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.8%
Unoccupied
80
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
46.2%
Couples with children
35.0%
Couples, no children
17.2%
Single parent
1,553
Total families
Economy & Employment
Palmerston's income and employment profile is closely tied to Canberra's public-sector and service economy. Public administration accounts for 32.0% of industry employment, followed by education at 12.7%, professional and technical services at 12.5%, healthcare at 11.7% and construction at 6.7%. The leading occupations are professionals at 853, clerical and administrative workers at 519, managers at 453, trades at 328 and community or personal service workers at 328. Participation is 70.2%, unemployment is 3.8%, and the full-time employment rate is 65.7%, supporting a stronger labour-market position than a low-participation area. Household income sits at the 88.4 percentile. SEIFA places Palmerston in decile 8 for IEO, decile 7 for IER, and decile 8 for both IRSD and IRSAD. The slightly lower IER result versus the other deciles may reflect economic-resource variation despite high education and employment.
Unemployment
3.8%
Labour Force
3,124
Unemployed
120
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.7%
Part-time
28.6%
Participation
70.2%
Employed
3,004
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.4%
Postgraduate
17.6%
Born Overseas
32.2%
Dwellings
2,034
Transport to Work
Daily life in Palmerston is car-led: 75.3% drive, compared with 3.2% using public transport, while 12.4% work from home and 2.1% walk or cycle. That pattern makes parking and road access more important than transit frequency, although local trips can still be active for some households. Palmerston District Primary School is the local government primary option; families should confirm enrolment zones and current places against the exact address, since school access can differ across Gungahlin. Socioeconomic standing is above the middle of the scale, with IRSAD and IRSD both at decile 8, while IEO is decile 8 and IER decile 7. No suburb-specific crime rate is available, so compare current ACT Police information with an in-person visit at different times. The 1.95 square kilometre footprint and 2,863.8 density support a compact neighbourhood, but traffic conditions deserve more attention than in lower-density areas.
Drive
75.3%
Public Transport
3.2%
Walk / Cycle
2.1%
Work from Home
12.4%
Population Forecast
+5.91%/yr
(+536 people/yr)
High GrowthPalmerston carries a high-growth outlook, with a forecast trend of 5.91% annually and internal migration identified as the primary driver. That pace is materially above a static outlook because new arrivals can add demand for homes, local services and transport, while the suburb's compact 1.95 square kilometres and density of 2,863.8 residents per square kilometre limit easy land release. The current population is 5,579, providing an established base rather than a greenfield starting point. The forecast recorded no Covid dip, suggesting the growth pattern was not interrupted during that period. With only 2 development matters in the latest 12-month window, future change may come more from household turnover and regional expansion than a large local construction pipeline. Compared with slower established suburbs, Palmerston's 5.91% trend warrants attention to congestion, school capacity and resale timing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+77
Net Internal / yr
+328
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Palmerston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Palmerston a good suburb to live in?
Palmerston can suit households seeking established family housing, a strong employment base and access to a government primary school. It has 5,579 residents, a median age of 36, and IRSAD and IRSD deciles of 8, above the middle of the national socioeconomic scale. Car dependence is high at 75.3%, so transport preferences matter.
What is the median house price in Palmerston?
A current median house price is not available for Palmerston, so recent settled sales should be used for a reliable comparison. The main cost benchmarks are a $1,940 monthly mortgage figure and $450 weekly rent, with mortgage costs at 19.3% of household income versus 19.4% for rent. These are affordability indicators, not a sale-price substitute.
What schools are in Palmerston?
Palmerston has 1 named local school, Palmerston District Primary School, a government primary campus. Families should compare the exact address with current enrolment-zone rules and confirm places directly, because school boundaries can cross suburb edges. ICSEA and enrolment figures should be checked before comparing options, and location alone does not establish performance.
Is Palmerston safe?
A suburb-specific crime rate is not available, so a safety decision should combine current ACT Police information with an in-person visit during daytime and evening. Palmerston's IRSAD and IRSD scores are both decile 8, above the middle of the socioeconomic scale, but that does not replace checking street-level conditions. Compare recent incident patterns around the exact address before renting or buying.
Is Palmerston good for property investment?
Palmerston may suit investors seeking exposure to a high-growth Gungahlin market, but the missing median sale price prevents a sound gross-yield calculation. Weekly rent is $450, vacancy is 3.8%, and 28.5% of households rent, compared with 42.3% with a mortgage. Only 2 development matters appeared in 12 months, so check attached-home costs, insurance and future competing supply before purchasing.
How is Palmerston's population changing?
Palmerston's current population is 5,579, and the wider growth outlook is high-growth with a 5.91% annual trend. Internal migration is the primary driver, while the forecast had no Covid dip. Compared with a stable-growth suburb, that points to stronger demand pressure on homes, roads and services, although only 2 development matters appeared in the latest 12 months. Local construction and infrastructure updates remain important.
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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