Phillip
Almost no other established Canberra district has grown its population 150.1% over the decade while keeping separate houses at just 0.1% of dwellings, yet Phillip does both, and the two facts are linked. The Woden Valley town centre has been rebuilt as apartment stock, which now makes up 67.1% of homes against semi-detached at 32.8%, so the 5,197 residents live at 2,018 people per square kilometre. The median age of 32 sits 8.0 years below the national figure, a young profile reinforced by 50.3% renting and a 51.9% annual turnover rate. Household income reaches the 78th percentile nationally, and 62.4% hold university qualifications, 32.3 points above national.
Population
5,197
Median Age
32.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,075/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
7
Median House
$545K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At a $545,000 median, Phillip is markedly cheaper than most Canberra house markets, but that figure reflects what the stock actually is: 67.1% apartments and 32.8% semi-detached dwellings, with separate houses at only 0.1%. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 49.6% and one-bedroom or studio units at 32.0%, while three-bedroom dwellings reach 17.7% and four-plus bedroom homes just 0.6%, so a buyer here is purchasing an apartment, not a backyard. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,608, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes in the 78th percentile. That affordability comes because the dwelling type caps the entry price, which suits first buyers and downsizers rather than families wanting a detached house.
For Buyers
At a $545,000 median, Phillip is markedly cheaper than most Canberra house markets, but that figure reflects what the stock actually is: 67.1% apartments and 32.8% semi-detached dwellings, with separate houses at only 0.1%. Two-bedroom homes dominate at 49.6% and one-bedroom or studio units at 32.0%, while three-bedroom dwellings reach 17.7% and four-plus bedroom homes just 0.6%, so a buyer here is purchasing an apartment, not a backyard. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,608, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.9%, well below the 30% stress threshold despite incomes in the 78th percentile. That affordability comes because the dwelling type caps the entry price, which suits first buyers and downsizers rather than families wanting a detached house.
For Investors
A 50.3% renter share, the larger half of the suburb, gives landlords a deep tenant pool, and weekly rent of $440 against the $545,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.2%, strong for the ACT. Rent grew 15.8% over the period, supporting income returns. The 9.6% vacancy rate is the main caution, higher than a tight market, and points to apartment supply running ahead of absorption in a town centre that added stock fast. Demand is real: net internal migration averages 311 residents a year and overseas migration 101, with internal movement the primary driver. Development is light at 6 applications in 12 months, mostly alterations and lease variations rather than new towers, so the recent supply wave may be slowing, which would tighten vacancy over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
58
Last 12 Months
7
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-56.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Phillip iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
The Canberra College
11-12 · 1174 students
Demographics
The median age of 32 runs 8.0 years below national, one of the younger profiles in the ACT, and the share of overseas-born residents reaches 45.6%, which is 24.0 points above national. University qualifications at 62.4% sit 32.3 points above the national figure, consistent with a workforce drawn to the Woden government precinct. Average household size is 1.9, which is 0.6 below national, a small-household pattern that fits the apartment stock and the 45.8% of families that are couples with no children. Ancestry leads with English (1,308), Irish (503) and Scottish (443), but Indian (420) ranks fourth, and the top non-English languages are Nepali (164), Malayalam (113) and Mandarin (67), reflecting a strong South Asian presence behind the Anglo base.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
0.1%
Houses
32.8%
Townhouse
67.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts heavily to renting at 50.3%, with 35.5% carrying a mortgage and only 14.2% owning outright, the inverse of older Canberra suburbs and a direct result of an apartment-dominant stock at 67.1% of dwellings. Separate houses are effectively absent at 0.1%, and semi-detached homes make up 32.8%. By size, two-bedroom dwellings lead at 49.6% and one-bedroom units at 32.0%, leaving three-bedroom homes at 17.7% and four-plus at 0.6%, so larger families are poorly served. The $545,000 median against household income gives a low entry hurdle, and both housing stress measures stay clear of trouble: rent-to-income at 21.2% and mortgage-to-income at 17.9%, both below the 30% threshold, because the cheaper apartment stock keeps repayments contained relative to high local incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,608
Rent / wk
$440
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$1,342
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.6%
Unoccupied
277
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.8%
Couples, no children
3,242
Total families
Economy & Employment
The workforce is anchored in government and care work: Public Administration leads at 31.2% (909 workers) and Healthcare follows at 26.7% (777), together more than half of local employment, because Phillip sits inside the Woden office and hospital precinct. Professional/Tech (8.6%), Retail (6.1%) and Hospitality (6.0%) round out the top five. By occupation, Professionals (1,369) dominate, ahead of Clerical/Admin (509) and Managers (473). Unemployment is low at 3.6% and the full-time rate reaches 77.3%, with participation at 75.6%. The SEIFA picture is mixed: IEO sits at decile 10 for education and occupation while IER reads only decile 2 for economic resources, an anomaly driven by the 50.3% renter base and small 1.9-person households that depress aggregate wealth despite high individual incomes.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
6,818
Unemployed
192
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
77.3%
Part-time
19.1%
Participation
75.6%
Employed
3,364
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.4%
Postgraduate
22.4%
Born Overseas
45.6%
Dwellings
2,620
Transport to Work
Getting around leans on cars at 62.7% of commuters, but active transport is high for a town centre, with 17.7% walking or cycling and 12.6% using public transport, above the car-only norm thanks to the dense Woden hub. The suburb scores decile 9 on both IRSAD and IRSD, near the top tier for advantage and very low relative disadvantage, so few residents face deprivation despite the high renter share. Only 3.1% of residents (151 people) need daily assistance, consistent with the young median age of 32. No schools are recorded inside the 2.57 square kilometre boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring Woden suburbs, a practical trade-off for a compact, apartment-led centre at 2,018 residents per square kilometre.
Drive
62.7%
Public Transport
12.6%
Walk / Cycle
17.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+4.19%/yr
(+299 people/yr)
High GrowthPhillip is one of the ACT's fastest-expanding districts, with population up 150.1% over the decade and a forecast annual growth rate of 4.19%, roughly 299 additional residents a year. The historical run is steep: from 5,645 in 2023 to 7,135 in 2025, and the medium projection continues to 8,254 by 2031. Internal migration is the primary driver at 311 net residents a year, ahead of 101 from overseas, so the engine is people relocating within Australia rather than fresh arrivals. The young-resident share rose 1.7 points while the senior share fell 0.9 points, reinforcing the youthful tilt. Affordability improved from 35.3% in 2011 to 32.8% in 2021, yet the gentrification stage reads as new development rather than displacement, fitting a town centre being built up rather than upgraded around existing owners.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+101
Net Internal / yr
+311
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Phillip compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phillip a good suburb to live in?
Phillip scores decile 9 on both IRSAD and IRSD, near the top advantage tier nationally, with household income in the 78th percentile and university qualifications at 62.4%, 32.3 points above national. The main trade-off is an apartment-dominant stock at 67.1% of dwellings, which suits young professionals and downsizers more than families.
What is the median house price in Phillip?
The median house price is $545,000, cheaper than most Canberra markets because 67.1% of dwellings are apartments and only 0.1% are separate houses. Weekly rent averages $440 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,608, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.9%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Phillip?
No schools are recorded inside the 2.57 square kilometre Phillip boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring Woden suburbs. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 62.4%, which is 32.3 points above the national figure.
Is Phillip safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Phillip in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 9 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, near the highest tier, and only 3.1% of its 5,197 residents need daily assistance, both consistent with a low-disadvantage area.
Is Phillip good for property investment?
Rent of $440 a week against the $545,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.2%, strong for the ACT, and 50.3% of residents rent, a deep tenant pool. The caution is a 9.6% vacancy rate from recent apartment supply, though net internal migration of 311 a year supports ongoing demand.
How is Phillip's population changing?
Population grew 150.1% over the decade and is forecast to rise 4.19% a year, about 299 residents annually, from 7,135 in 2025 toward 8,254 by 2031. Internal migration drives it at 311 net residents a year, ahead of 101 from overseas, and the young-resident share rose 1.7 points.
What languages are spoken in Phillip?
About 45.6% of residents were born overseas, 24.0 points above the national figure. English is the dominant language, with Nepali (164 speakers), Malayalam (113), Mandarin (67) and Cantonese (40) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a notable South Asian community in the suburb.
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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