Weston
Household income in the 89.5th percentile nationally and a university qualification rate of 54.6% place Weston firmly in the top tier of ACT suburbs, yet its median house price of $597,000 sits well below what comparable income levels command elsewhere. The suburb spans 3.85 km2 with a population of 4,000 and a density of 1,040 per km2. Three-bedroom and four-plus-bedroom dwellings dominate, accounting for 37.4% and 44.2% of stock respectively, reinforcing a family-oriented housing mix. Overseas-born residents make up 26.2%, which is 4.6 points above the national average, while the median age of 42 is 2 years above national, signalling an established, wealth-holding cohort rather than a young transient one.
Population
4,000
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,361/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
9
Median House
$597K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $597,000 is backed by a weekly rent of $420, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,200, putting the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 74.4% of dwellings, far higher than the ACT norm for inner suburbs, with semi-detached at 21.0% and apartments at just 4.6%. Stock skews large: 44.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 37.4% have three, meaning buyers looking for space have genuine options here rather than settling. Outright owners at 37.6% outnumber mortgage holders at 39.1%, indicating a mature, low-leverage ownership base typical of established ACT government-sector households. Affordability improved from 40.3% in 2011 to 33.8% in 2021, a trend that favours long-term value.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $597,000 is backed by a weekly rent of $420, and monthly mortgage repayments average $2,200, putting the mortgage-to-income ratio at 21.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses account for 74.4% of dwellings, far higher than the ACT norm for inner suburbs, with semi-detached at 21.0% and apartments at just 4.6%. Stock skews large: 44.2% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 37.4% have three, meaning buyers looking for space have genuine options here rather than settling. Outright owners at 37.6% outnumber mortgage holders at 39.1%, indicating a mature, low-leverage ownership base typical of established ACT government-sector households. Affordability improved from 40.3% in 2011 to 33.8% in 2021, a trend that favours long-term value.
For Investors
A 23.3% renter share sits below the ACT average, which limits the tenant pool compared to inner Canberra suburbs. Weekly rent of $420 against a $597,000 estimated median implies a gross yield near 3.7%, modest but in line with the ACT market. The vacancy rate of 5.5% is elevated and warrants monitoring, particularly given net internal migration running at minus 34 per year. Overseas migration offsets that with a positive 76 per year, leaving a net annual population gain of around 39 residents. Development activity is light at 8 applications in the past 12 months, almost all alterations rather than new supply, so stock compression is unlikely to push yields meaningfully higher. The investment case rests on income-backed demand from public-sector professionals rather than yield expansion.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
9
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
0.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Weston iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Orana Steiner School
K-12 · 413 students
Islamic School of Canberra
K-11 · 455 students
Demographics
The median age of 42 is 2 years above national. University qualifications reach 54.6%, which is 24.5 points above the national figure, consistent with a suburb that draws heavily from the ACT public service. Professionals (687) and managers (399) together make up the majority of the workforce, an occupational profile that sits high relative to national averages. Overseas-born residents at 26.2% are 4.6 points above national, with English (1,388), Irish (524) and Scottish (496) ancestries dominating, indicating a predominantly Anglo-Celtic heritage community. The top non-English languages are Mandarin (31 speakers), French and Punjabi (17 each). Volunteering runs at 20.9% of residents, above the national average, and couples with children account for the largest family type at 1,448 of 3,093 total families.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.4%
Houses
21.0%
Townhouse
4.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits with 37.6% owning outright, 39.1% on a mortgage and 23.3% renting. The fact that mortgage holders slightly outnumber outright owners suggests a mix of long-term residents and more recent buyers still paying down loans. Separate houses dominate at 74.4%, with semi-detached dwellings at 21.0% offering a secondary entry point. The bedroom profile is large-home dominated: 44.2% four-plus and 37.4% three-bedroom, with only 12.4% two-bedroom and 6.1% studio or one-bedroom. Rent-to-income sits at 17.8%, below the 30% stress threshold, and mortgage-to-income at 21.5% is similarly comfortable, meaning neither owners nor renters face structural housing stress at median income levels. The estimated median price of $597,000 represents good relative value given that household income sits in the 89.5th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$2,200
Rent / wk
$420
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,242
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
86
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.1%
Couples, no children
3,093
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration dominates employment at 36.7% of workers (545 people), a figure well above the national share, reflecting Weston's proximity to the ACT government precinct. Healthcare follows at 13.9% (206 workers) and Professional/Technical services at 13.3% (198), with Education at 11.4% rounding out a knowledge-intensive industry base. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, low compared to national averages, and the full-time employment rate is 68.1%. Real income grew 12.8% over the decade. SEIFA scores are strong across all four indexes: IRSAD decile 9, IRSD decile 9, IEO decile 10 and IER decile 8. The IER sitting one decile below the others reflects moderate asset levels because 23.3% of residents rent rather than own, which compresses aggregate household wealth measures.
Unemployment
2.5%
Labour Force
2,100
Unemployed
53
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.1%
Part-time
28.2%
Participation
56.9%
Employed
1,774
Occupations
Top Industries
University
54.6%
Postgraduate
21.3%
Born Overseas
26.2%
Dwellings
1,467
Transport to Work
Car dependency is pronounced at 82.6% of commuters driving, above the national average, with only 5.9% using public transport and 4.6% walking or cycling. This reflects the suburb's layout and distance from major Canberra transit corridors. The IRSAD decile of 9 and IRSD decile of 9 both sit in the top advantage tier nationally, confirming low deprivation. Rent-to-income at 17.8% keeps tenants well below stress levels. About 7.8% of residents (300 people) need daily assistance, somewhat elevated given the median age of 42 and the size of the older resident cohort. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families depend on institutions in neighbouring ACT suburbs. Mobility is relatively stable, with 78.6% of residents having stayed put over the five-year reference period.
Drive
82.6%
Public Transport
5.9%
Walk / Cycle
4.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.97%/yr
(+39 people/yr)
EstablishedAnnual population growth runs at 0.97%, adding roughly 39 residents a year, with the population forecast to reach 4,285 by 2031 on the medium projection. The 10-year population change was 22.9%, placing Weston above many established ACT suburbs in growth terms. Overseas migration is the primary driver at a net positive 76 per year, which more than offsets internal outflow of 34 per year. Rent grew 16.3% over the period and real incomes rose 12.8%, together indicating genuine demand-side pressure rather than stagnation. The gentrification score of 7 classifies the suburb as not actively gentrifying, which fits an already high-advantage area with an IRSAD decile of 9. Affordability improved from 40.3% to 33.8% between 2011 and 2021, a positive trend for buyers entering now.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+76
Net Internal / yr
-34
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +20% since 2011
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Weston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Weston a good suburb to live in?
Weston ranks in the IRSAD decile 9 and IEO decile 10 nationally, placing it firmly in the top advantage tier. Household income sits in the 89.5th percentile and the university qualification rate of 54.6% is 24.5 points above national. The median house price of $597,000 and mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.5% make ownership accessible relative to comparable income levels.
What is the median house price in Weston?
The estimated median house price is $597,000, based on 2025 rent data. Weekly rent averages $420 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,200. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 21.5% is well below the 30% stress benchmark, and rent-to-income sits at 17.8%, both indicating manageable housing costs.
What schools are in Weston?
No schools are recorded inside the Weston boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring ACT suburbs. Despite this, the local population is highly educated: 54.6% hold university qualifications, which is 24.5 points above the national figure, reflecting the suburb's professional public-sector workforce.
Is Weston safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Weston in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb scores IRSD decile 9 nationally, the top disadvantage-free tier, and household income sits in the 89.5th percentile. High-advantage, high-income suburbs of this profile consistently record low crime rates compared to national averages.
Is Weston good for property investment?
Weston offers a gross yield near 3.7% based on $420 weekly rent and a $597,000 estimated median. The 5.5% vacancy rate is elevated, and net internal migration runs at minus 34 per year, offset by overseas migration of plus 76 annually. Population is forecast to reach 4,285 by 2031, and rent grew 16.3% over the prior period, supporting gradual income growth for landlords.
How is Weston's population changing?
Weston grew 22.9% over the past decade and is currently adding around 39 residents per year, a 0.97% annual rate. The medium forecast puts the population at 4,285 by 2031. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver at net positive 76 per year, while internal migration is negative at minus 34 annually.
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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