Yarralumla
Household income in the 98.7th percentile nationally makes Yarralumla one of the wealthiest suburbs in the country, yet the population sits at just 3,120 residents across 8.3 square kilometres. The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national figure, reflecting an established, aging resident base where 49.1% of dwellers own their home outright. University qualifications reach 66.6%, which is 36.5 points above the national figure. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 10, placing Yarralumla in the top tier of advantage on every measure. With a 10.8% vacancy rate and 73.6% of residents staying put over five years, the suburb combines high stability with a meaningful share of unoccupied stock.
Population
3,120
Median Age
50.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,327/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
13
Median House
$841K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $841,000, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $3,425. Separate houses make up 65.2% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 27.4%, leaving apartments at just 7.5%, giving buyers a predominantly detached stock that is unusual close to a capital city centre. Large homes dominate: 42.2% have four or more bedrooms and 39.5% have three. Mortgage-to-income sits at 23.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes in the 98.7th percentile absorb the cost comfortably. Outright owners at 49.1% outnumber mortgage holders (27.3%) by a wide margin, a pattern typical of long-held wealth rather than recent buyer churn. The 10.8% vacancy rate is worth investigating before purchase as it signals meaningful unoccupied supply.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $841,000, with monthly mortgage repayments averaging $3,425. Separate houses make up 65.2% of dwellings and semi-detached homes 27.4%, leaving apartments at just 7.5%, giving buyers a predominantly detached stock that is unusual close to a capital city centre. Large homes dominate: 42.2% have four or more bedrooms and 39.5% have three. Mortgage-to-income sits at 23.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold, because household incomes in the 98.7th percentile absorb the cost comfortably. Outright owners at 49.1% outnumber mortgage holders (27.3%) by a wide margin, a pattern typical of long-held wealth rather than recent buyer churn. The 10.8% vacancy rate is worth investigating before purchase as it signals meaningful unoccupied supply.
For Investors
Rental yield in Yarralumla faces structural pressure. Weekly rent of $547 against an $841,000 median implies a gross yield below 3.4%, low by ACT standards. The 10.8% vacancy rate is high compared to typical ACT markets and signals an oversupply condition in the rental segment, which accounts for only 23.6% of tenures. Net overseas migration drives 41 arrivals per year against a net internal outflow of 26, leaving thin demand growth. Development activity recorded 13 applications in the past 12 months, modest for the suburb size. The medium population forecast puts residents at 3,181 by 2031, just 61 above the current 3,120. Investors should weigh the scarcity premium of a decile 10 suburb against the thin yield and high vacancy before committing.
Development Activity
Total DAs
66
Last 12 Months
13
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+44.4%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Yarralumla iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Yarralumla Primary School
K-6 · 313 students
Demographics
The median age of 50 is 10 years above the national average, and the trend is accelerating: the senior share rose 9.2 points while the working-age share fell 7.4 points over the decade. Overseas-born residents are 29.5%, which is 7.9 points above national. Ancestry is predominantly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,139 residents), Irish (510) and Scottish (397) lead, with Italian (137) and a catchall Other (398) also present. University qualifications at 66.6% sit 36.5 points above the national figure, reflecting the suburb's proximity to the diplomatic and public service precinct. Average household size is 2.4, slightly below national. Couples without children (35.8% of families) and couples with children (38% of families) both feature strongly, consistent with the older but established household profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
65.2%
Houses
27.4%
Townhouse
7.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure in Yarralumla is heavily owner-dominated. Outright owners at 49.1% nearly double the mortgage-holder share (27.3%), with renters at 23.6%. That ownership structure reflects long-held, low-debt wealth. The stock is predominantly large detached homes: 65.2% separate houses, 27.4% semi-detached, and just 7.5% apartments. Four-plus bedroom homes account for 42.2% and three-bedroom 39.5%, so small dwellings are genuinely rare. The 10.8% vacancy rate stands above typical owner-occupier suburbs and warrants scrutiny. Rent-to-income at 16.4% and mortgage-to-income at 23.8% both sit comfortably below stress thresholds, indicating that housing costs are well within reach for current residents relative to the 98.7th-percentile household incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$3,425
Rent / wk
$547
HH Size
2.4
Personal Income / wk
$1,591
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.8%
Unoccupied
149
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
35.8%
Couples, no children
2,494
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public administration employs 28.9% of local workers (348 people), the highest single sector, reflecting Yarralumla's position adjacent to the national parliament and diplomatic strip. Professional and technical services follow at 20.7% (250 workers) and healthcare at 16.4% (198 workers). By occupation, Professionals (595) and Managers (365) together dominate the workforce. Unemployment is low at 3.5% and the full-time employment rate is 66.2%, though a large share of residents (1,014) are not in the labour force because the aging median age of 50 pushes many past peak participation. All four SEIFA indexes score decile 10: IRSAD 1,161, IEO 1,181, IRSD 1,111 and IER 1,091. Real incomes grew 14.5% over the decade, above many ACT peers.
Unemployment
2.4%
Labour Force
1,608
Unemployed
38
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.2%
Part-time
30.3%
Participation
55.1%
Employed
1,405
Occupations
Top Industries
University
66.6%
Postgraduate
27.2%
Born Overseas
29.5%
Dwellings
1,232
Transport to Work
Yarralumla scores decile 10 on IRSAD, the highest national advantage tier, indicating very low deprivation across the suburb. Car reliance is high at 81% of commuters, while only 3.6% use public transport and 7.6% walk or cycle, consistent with the low-density, leafy layout of an 8.3 square kilometre suburb. Volunteering runs at 26.8%, markedly above average, and only 4.0% of residents (121 people) require daily assistance despite the older median age of 50. Housing stress is absent: rent-to-income at 16.4% and mortgage-to-income at 23.8% both sit well below stress thresholds. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions in neighbouring suburbs such as Deakin, Garran and Weston Creek. The 10.8% vacancy rate is the main livability flag, suggesting a softer rental market than the suburb's prestige might imply.
Drive
81.0%
Public Transport
3.6%
Walk / Cycle
7.6%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.25%/yr
(+8 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is minimal at 0.25% annually (around 8 persons per year), and the medium forecast holds the suburb at 3,181 by 2031 compared with 3,120 today. The 10-year change is 6.8%, slower than the ACT average. Net overseas migration of 41 per year is the only positive driver, offset by net internal outflow of 26. The gentrification score is effectively zero; at decile 10 advantage across all SEIFA indexes, there is no upward trajectory remaining. The aging trajectory is notable: the senior share rose 9.2 points over the decade while the working-age share contracted 7.4 points. Affordability improved slightly from 35.8% in 2011 to 34.4% in 2021, signalling stable rather than deteriorating conditions. Rent grew 35.1% over the period, faster than income growth of 14.5%.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+41
Net Internal / yr
-26
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Yarralumla compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Yarralumla a good suburb to live in?
Yarralumla ranks decile 10 on all four SEIFA indexes, the top advantage tier nationally. Household income sits in the 98.7th percentile and university qualifications reach 66.6%, which is 36.5 points above the national figure. The main trade-offs are an aging median age of 50 and a 10.8% vacancy rate.
What is the median house price in Yarralumla?
The median house price is estimated at $841,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $3,425, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.8%, well below the 30% stress threshold given that household incomes sit in the 98.7th percentile nationally. Weekly rent averages $547.
What schools are in Yarralumla?
No schools are recorded inside the Yarralumla boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs. The local population is highly educated, with 66.6% holding university qualifications, which is 36.5 points above the national figure.
Is Yarralumla safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Yarralumla in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 10 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, the highest national tier, and only 4.0% of its 3,120 residents require daily assistance, both consistent with a very low-disadvantage area.
Is Yarralumla good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $547 against an $841,000 median implies a gross yield below 3.4%, which is low. The 10.8% vacancy rate signals excess supply in the rental segment. Net overseas migration adds 41 residents per year, but annual population growth is just 0.25%, so returns depend on capital growth rather than rental yield.
How is Yarralumla's population changing?
Population is growing slowly at 0.25% per year, adding about 8 people annually. The 10-year change was 6.8%. Medium forecasts put residents at 3,181 by 2031. The suburb is aging: the senior share rose 9.2 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 7.4 points.
What industries employ most Yarralumla residents?
Public administration employs 28.9% of local workers (348 people), followed by Professional and technical services at 20.7% (250 workers) and Healthcare at 16.4% (198 workers). The occupation mix is top-heavy, with 595 Professionals and 365 Managers, aligned with the suburb's proximity to federal government precincts.
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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