Reid
At 0.94 square kilometres, Reid packs a remarkable concentration of highly educated residents into one of Canberra's smallest inner-city suburbs. University qualifications reach 62.5%, which is 32.4 percentage points above the national figure, and household income sits at the 87.3rd percentile nationally. The suburb carries three distinct identity signals: a 18.7% vacancy rate higher than most ACT peers, apartments making up 41.6% of dwellings, and an aging trajectory with the senior share rising 5.8 points over the past decade. These are connected: as the population ages and smaller households form, compact apartments fill the demand while a relatively high vacancy signals some supply overhang in that segment.
Population
1,544
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,272/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
4
Median House
$616K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price in Reid is estimated at $616,000, meaningfully lower than broader ACT medians that often exceed $800,000, which reflects the suburb's apartment-heavy stock rather than a weakness in the market. Separate houses account for only 36.4% of dwellings, with apartments at 41.6% and semi-detached homes at 22.1%, so buyers seeking a freestanding house are competing for a minority of the stock. Bedroom distribution skews toward smaller homes: 21.9% are studio or one-bedroom, 31.2% are two-bedroom, and 25.9% are three-bedroom, with 4-plus rooms at 21.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning purchase remains affordable relative to the suburb's high income base.
For Buyers
The median house price in Reid is estimated at $616,000, meaningfully lower than broader ACT medians that often exceed $800,000, which reflects the suburb's apartment-heavy stock rather than a weakness in the market. Separate houses account for only 36.4% of dwellings, with apartments at 41.6% and semi-detached homes at 22.1%, so buyers seeking a freestanding house are competing for a minority of the stock. Bedroom distribution skews toward smaller homes: 21.9% are studio or one-bedroom, 31.2% are two-bedroom, and 25.9% are three-bedroom, with 4-plus rooms at 21.0%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%, below the 30% stress threshold, meaning purchase remains affordable relative to the suburb's high income base.
For Investors
Reid's 46.9% renter share is substantially higher than the national average and supports a consistent tenant pool, underpinned by its proximity to the Australian National University and Canberra's public sector employment core. Weekly rent of $430 against the $616,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.6%, modest but more competitive than comparable inner-city ACT suburbs. The 18.7% vacancy rate is the key risk for investors, signalling that the apartment segment faces real competition for tenants. Population is growing at 1.09% annually with net overseas migration adding around 40 residents per year and net internal migration contributing 71 more, so underlying demand remains positive. Gentrification signals are active, with vacancy accelerating from 4% to 18% and population up 23% since 2011.
Development Activity
Total DAs
18
Last 12 Months
4
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+33.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Reid's population skews toward high-income professionals: 62.5% hold university qualifications, which is 32.4 percentage points above national, placing the suburb among the most educated in ACT. The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, but the trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 5.8 points over the decade and the young adult share falling 3.3 points. Overseas-born residents account for 31.7% of the population, which is 10.1 percentage points above the national rate. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (548), Irish (238) and Scottish (193). Average household size is 2.0 persons, which is 0.5 below the national average, consistent with a higher share of couples without children: 45.3% of families have no children at home.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
36.4%
Houses
22.1%
Townhouse
41.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Reid's tenure mix shows 30.8% owning outright, 22.3% with a mortgage, and 46.9% renting, a renter majority that is substantially above national averages and reflects the suburb's role as a transit zone for public servants and university-affiliated residents. Apartments make up 41.6% of dwellings, separate houses 36.4%, and semi-detached homes 22.1%. The high 18.7% vacancy rate sits above typical ACT benchmarks, driven largely by the apartment segment where supply has expanded faster than demand. Two-bedroom dwellings are the most common at 31.2%, with three-bedroom at 25.9% and studio or one-bedroom at 21.9%. Mortgage-to-income at 23.4% and rent-to-income at 18.9% both remain below stress thresholds, indicating housing costs are manageable against the suburb's above-average income base.
Mortgage / mo
$2,300
Rent / wk
$430
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,335
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.7%
Unoccupied
161
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.3%
Couples, no children
852
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration dominates the local workforce at 38.5%, a concentration reflecting Reid's location within the parliamentary and administrative zone of Canberra. Professional and technical services follow at 15.8%, education at 11.4%, and healthcare at 8.1%. By occupation, Professionals form the largest group at 351 workers, followed by Managers at 178 and Clerical/Admin at 120. The unemployment rate is 4.8% against a participation rate of 60.1%, the latter below what the income data would suggest, because 411 residents are not in the labour force. The SEIFA IEO score sits at decile 10, the highest tier nationally for education and occupation, while IRSAD is also decile 10. Real income growth of 24.3% over the decade confirms rising prosperity, though the IER score of decile 3 reflects that high renter share depressing asset-based wealth measures.
Unemployment
4.3%
Labour Force
1,248
Unemployed
54
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.0%
Part-time
27.2%
Participation
60.1%
Employed
815
Occupations
Top Industries
University
62.5%
Postgraduate
26.5%
Born Overseas
31.7%
Dwellings
693
Transport to Work
Reid stands out for its unusually high active transport use: 36.5% of residents walk or cycle to work, far above national averages and consistent with the suburb's compact 0.94 km2 footprint close to Canberra's city centre and ANU. Another 10.2% use public transport, leaving only 50.0% reliant on cars, well below the national norm. The IRSAD decile 10 ranking places Reid among the least-disadvantaged suburbs in the country. Volunteering runs at 26.4% of residents, notably above typical rates, and only 3.3% need daily assistance. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families depend on institutions in adjacent suburbs. Turnover is elevated at 34.9% annually, meaning roughly one-third of residents move each year, which gives the suburb a more transient character than the income data alone would suggest.
Drive
50.0%
Public Transport
10.2%
Walk / Cycle
36.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.09%/yr
(+22 people/yr)
EstablishedReid's population reached 2,013 in 2025, up from 1,897 in 2023, representing annual growth of around 1.09% or roughly 22 persons per year. The gentrification signals are active: population is 23% higher than in 2011, vacancy has accelerated from 4% to 18%, and the suburb recovered fully from a 3.2% COVID-era dip. The medium forecast projects the population reaching 2,017 by 2031, a measured increase that reflects an established inner-city suburb with limited new land supply. Migration patterns are balanced, with net internal migration adding 71 residents annually and overseas migration contributing 40, so growth is not reliant on a single driver. Rent growth of 147.1% over the period is well above the income growth of 24.3%, indicating affordability has worsened from 19.9% rent-to-income in 2011 to 32.2% in 2021.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+40
Net Internal / yr
+71
Gentrification Signal
Active
Population +23% since 2011, Net internal migration +71/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 18%, COVID recovered (-3% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Reid compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reid a good suburb to live in?
Reid ranks at IRSAD decile 10 and IEO decile 10, the top advantage tier nationally, with household income at the 87.3rd percentile. University qualifications reach 62.5%, which is 32.4 points above national. Active transport is exceptionally high, with 36.5% walking or cycling. The main consideration is a 34.9% annual turnover rate, giving the suburb a more transient feel.
What is the median house price in Reid?
The median house price in Reid is estimated at $616,000, reflecting the apartment-dominant stock where 41.6% of dwellings are apartments. Weekly rent averages $430 and monthly mortgage repayments are around $2,300, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.4%, below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Reid?
No schools are recorded within the Reid suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in adjacent Canberra suburbs. The local population is exceptionally educated, with 62.5% of residents holding university qualifications, which is 32.4 percentage points above the national figure.
Is Reid safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Reid in this dataset. As indirect indicators, Reid scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the highest national advantage tier, and only 3.3% of residents (48 people) need daily assistance. The suburb's professional, high-income profile is generally consistent with low disadvantage and lower crime rates.
Is Reid good for property investment?
Reid has a 46.9% renter share, well above national averages, supporting a consistent tenant pool near ANU and the public sector core. Weekly rent of $430 against a $616,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.6%. However, the 18.7% vacancy rate signals apartment oversupply risk. Annual population growth of 1.09% and net migration of around 111 residents per year provide moderate demand support.
How is Reid's population changing?
Population grew from 1,897 in 2023 to 2,013 in 2025 and is forecast to reach 2,017 by 2031 at around 1.09% annually. The suburb recovered fully from a 3.2% COVID dip and is 23% larger than in 2011. Net internal migration adds 71 residents a year and overseas migration adds 40, providing balanced growth drivers.
What languages are spoken in Reid?
About 31.7% of Reid residents were born overseas, which is 10.1 percentage points above the national figure. English dominates, with Mandarin (20 speakers) and Korean (19 speakers) the most common non-English languages, reflecting a modest but internationally connected resident mix concentrated in the professional and university sectors.
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.
Explore Reid on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map