Pearce
At just 1.7 square kilometres, Pearce packs a household income profile that sits at the 89.6th percentile nationally, and 54.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 24.6 points above the national figure. The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above national, and the suburb's trajectory is clearly aging, with the senior share rising 5.9 points over the decade. Public administration employs 33.9% of local workers, reflecting Pearce's position in the ACT's federal government corridor. The combined signals point to an established, high-income suburb maturing in place rather than regenerating.
Population
2,687
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,362/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$625K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $625,000 sits below many comparable Canberra suburbs given the income level, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,383 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, which is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 63.1% of dwellings and semi-detached homes for 32.5%, leaving only 4.4% apartments, so buyers can reasonably expect a traditional house in most street searches. Four-plus bedroom homes are the largest segment at 41.7%, followed by three-bedroom at 33.3%, so families have genuine options. Outright owners at 38.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 35.9%, which is higher than the national average and signals long-held, debt-free equity across the suburb.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $625,000 sits below many comparable Canberra suburbs given the income level, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $2,383 and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.3%, which is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 63.1% of dwellings and semi-detached homes for 32.5%, leaving only 4.4% apartments, so buyers can reasonably expect a traditional house in most street searches. Four-plus bedroom homes are the largest segment at 41.7%, followed by three-bedroom at 33.3%, so families have genuine options. Outright owners at 38.4% outnumber mortgage holders at 35.9%, which is higher than the national average and signals long-held, debt-free equity across the suburb.
For Investors
A 25.7% renter share is moderate, but the 6.9% vacancy rate is elevated compared to a healthy residential market typically running below 3%, which suggests tenant demand is not absorbing available stock. Weekly rent of $430 against a $625,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.6%, reasonable for ACT but constrained by that vacancy pressure. Net internal migration averages minus 22 residents a year, while overseas arrivals add 15, leaving the suburb slightly below net zero from migration alone. Annual population growth is 0.5%, and no development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so the supply picture is stable with little new competition entering the rental pool.
Development Activity
Total DAs
22
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Pearce iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Marist College Canberra
4-12 · 1852 students
Sacred Heart Primary School
K-6 · 210 students
Melrose High School
7-10 · 776 students
Demographics
The median age of 43 is 3.0 years above the national figure, and the age trajectory has reinforced this gap over the decade, with the senior share rising 5.9 points and the working-age share contracting 2.3 points. Overseas-born residents make up 25.3%, which is 3.7 points above national. English ancestry leads at 946 residents, followed by Irish (445), Scottish (314) and Italian (145). University qualifications reach 54.7%, compared to a national rate of around 30%, consistent with the ACT's concentration of professional and public sector workers. Average household size is 2.5, matching the national figure, and couples with children (907 families) make up the largest family type, with couples without children at 25.8%.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.1%
Houses
32.5%
Townhouse
4.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Pearce's tenure mix is weighted toward ownership: 38.4% own outright, 35.9% carry a mortgage and 25.7% rent, meaning owners collectively hold more than 74% of the housing stock. The 6.9% vacancy rate is the one soft spot, running higher than the sub-3% benchmark for tight rental markets. Separate houses at 63.1% and semi-detached at 32.5% together make apartments almost irrelevant at 4.4%, so buyers and renters alike are competing for house-and-garden dwellings. Four-plus bedroom homes dominate at 41.7%, which aligns with the suburb's family and established-couple profile. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383, and rent averages $430 per week, with rent-to-income at a comfortable 18.2%, well below the 30% stress level.
Mortgage / mo
$2,383
Rent / wk
$430
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,222
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.9%
Unoccupied
78
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.8%
Couples, no children
2,120
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration is the dominant industry by a wide margin, employing 33.9% of the local workforce (366 workers), which is far above the national share and reflects the ACT's role as Australia's government capital. Healthcare follows at 16.7% and Professional/Technical services at 12.3%, giving the suburb a white-collar occupational base. By occupation, Professionals number 438 and Managers 325, together accounting for most of the employed population. The unemployment rate is 3.4%, near the ACT's structural floor, and the full-time employment rate of 67.1% is high. Household income sits at the 89.6th percentile nationally and real income grew 11.0% over the decade. All four SEIFA indexes score above national: IRSAD decile 9, IRSD decile 9, IEO decile 10 and IER decile 8.
Unemployment
3.1%
Labour Force
4,952
Unemployed
154
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
67.1%
Part-time
29.5%
Participation
60.3%
Employed
1,296
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.7%
Postgraduate
19.2%
Born Overseas
25.3%
Dwellings
1,057
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 82.1% of residents commuting by private vehicle, and public transport use is low at 5.6%, broadly in line with suburban ACT norms but well below inner-city benchmarks. Walking and cycling accounts for 5.0% of commutes, a small but visible active-transport cohort. No schools are recorded within the Pearce boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby institutions, though the surrounding Woden Valley has several well-regarded options. The suburb scores decile 10 on IEO and decile 9 on IRSAD, placing it among the most advantaged communities nationally. Only 4.9% of residents (128 people) need daily assistance, a low figure given the older median age of 43. The volunteering rate of 23.9% is higher than national averages, pointing to a civically engaged, settled community.
Drive
82.1%
Public Transport
5.6%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.5%/yr
(+41 people/yr)
EstablishedPearce is growing slowly, at 0.5% per year or about 41 persons annually, and the 10-year population rise of 7.3% reflects steady absorption rather than rapid expansion. Medium forecasts project the broader SA2 population rising from 8,272 in 2025 to around 8,530 by 2031, continuing the same pace. The aging trajectory is the dominant structural shift: the senior share rose 5.9 points and the young adult share fell 1.7 points over the decade. Net internal migration is a small negative at minus 22 per year, offset partially by overseas arrivals of 15, making natural growth the primary driver. Affordability has worsened slightly from 43.0% in 2011 to 46.7% in 2021, and the gentrification score is in the active range at 46 overall, though the suburb's high baseline leaves limited room for further uplift.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+15
Net Internal / yr
-22
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Pearce compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pearce a good suburb to live in?
Pearce scores decile 10 on the Index of Education and Occupation (IEO) and decile 9 on IRSAD nationally, placing it among Australia's most advantaged suburbs. Household income sits at the 89.6th percentile and the unemployment rate is just 3.4%. The main trade-offs are limited public transport (5.6% usage) and a 6.9% vacancy rate that signals softer rental demand.
What is the median house price in Pearce?
The estimated median house price in Pearce is $625,000 (estimated from 2025 rent data). Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,383 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 23.3%, which is below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent averages $430.
What schools are in Pearce?
No schools are recorded inside the Pearce suburb boundary in this dataset. The surrounding Woden Valley precinct has several schools in adjacent suburbs. Locally, 54.7% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 24.6 points above the national figure, reflecting the area's strong educational culture.
Is Pearce safe?
Crime statistics by suburb are not separately reported for Pearce in this dataset. As a proxy, the suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD (relative disadvantage), meaning very few residents face material deprivation. Only 4.9% of the 2,687 residents (128 people) need daily assistance, consistent with a stable, low-disadvantage community.
Is Pearce good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $430 against a $625,000 median implies a gross yield near 3.6%, reasonable for ACT. However, the 6.9% vacancy rate is elevated compared to the below-3% benchmark for tight markets. No development applications were recorded in the past 12 months, so supply pressure is minimal, but the net internal migration of minus 22 per year is a mild demand headwind.
How is Pearce's population changing?
Pearce is growing at 0.5% annually, adding about 41 persons per year, with a 7.3% population rise over the decade. The profile is aging, with the senior share up 5.9 points and the working-age share down 2.3 points since 2011. Medium forecasts project the SA2 reaching around 8,530 residents by 2031.
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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