ACT · Unincorporated ACT Council

Isabella Plains, 2905

Est. population · Jun 2025

4,522

Growth (1 yr)

+0.1%

Growth (5 yr)

-0.3%

Median age

36

Median income

$2,131/wk

Employment rate

66.5%

Languages at home

20.8%non-English

Most common: Arabic, Punjabi, Malayalam

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

58.5/100
Good

60th in ACT

Verified 70% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Isabella Plains is known for: Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Isabella Plains is a practical mid-sized suburb in Unincorporated ACT, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix. Schooling is a clear local strength compared with many peer areas.

Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Everyday errands are walkable, and buses keep the wider city within easy reach. Property prices run toward the upper end of the local market.

Reported crime has been falling recently. Construction and infill projects are noticeably reshaping parts of the area.

Desirability rates good overall, led by community and employment, while growth momentum land closer to the middle of the pack for similar metro suburbs.

At a glance

Isabella Plains snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

No data available

Population (ERP)

4,522

+0.1% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

4.0%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#15

among Metro Canberra · Growth area

Safety

19th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

43rd

percentile in ACT

Advantage (IRSAD)

8/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

69th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
58.5/100 — Good
National rank
1181st in Australia
State rank
60th in ACT
Peer rank
#15 among Metro Canberra · Growth area suburbs
Cohort rank
#60 among Metro Canberra suburbs
Data confidence
70%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

4,522(June 2025)

+0.1% annual · -0.3% over 5 years · 43th percentile in ACT

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.1%
5-year growth
-0.3%
Change in 1 year
+6
Change in 5 years
-15
Growth rank in ACT
43th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~4,500), extrapolated at -0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
4,329
Median age
36
Median household income / week
$2,131
Dwelling vacancy
4%
Unoccupied private dwellings
68 of 1,682
Median monthly mortgage
$1,880
Employment rate
66.5%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,211 / 394 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
50
Against the person
8
Against property
13
Rate per 1,000 residents
11.1
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 541 residents
State safety percentile
18.6th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-66.4%

Most common offence types

  • Assault - Fv5
  • Assault - Non-Fv2
  • Other Offences29
  • Property Damage9
  • Theft (Excluding Motor Vehicles)3

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

  • ACT crime statistics by suburb (quarterly)ACT Policing / dataACT · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Quarterly XLSX release

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
7
Median school ICSEA (7 schools)
1,052
Median ICSEA percentile
69th
School list
  • Isabella Plains Early Childhood SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1052 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 36% · 69 students · Top SEA quarter 28% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
  • St Mary MacKillop CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1068 · 75th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 2,088 students · Top SEA quarter 27% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
  • Bonython Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1034 · 62th percentile · LBOTE 30% · 341 students · Top SEA quarter 17% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
  • Covenant Christian SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1090 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 54% · 320 students · Top SEA quarter 33% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
  • Monash Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1063 · 73th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 414 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
  • Calwell Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1010 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 201 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →
  • Richardson Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 952 · 25th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 142 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.8 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

53 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 restaurants · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 3 playgrounds

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Highly walkable for everyday errands
  • Great for outdoor family life5 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport24 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
72/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.23
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.16
Food & drink(1)
  • Isabella TakeawayRestaurant
Shopping(2)
  • SupaexpressSupermarket
Community(2)
  • Isabella Plains Primary SchoolSchool
  • St Mary MacKillop College - Isabella CampusSchool
Health & services(1)
  • Capital ChemistPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(9)
  • Park (5)
  • Findon Place Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Keverston Circuit Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Yabtree Place Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
  • Sports field
Transport(24)

24 bus stops

Other(3)
  • Parking (13)
  • Isabella GardensSocial Facility
  • KarralikaSocial Facility

    155 Keverstone Circuit

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
6
Parks (OSM)
5

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Canberra Hospital (9.1 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
159
Participants per 1,000 residents
35.2

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
25° / 10°
Rainfall
168 mm · ~21 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
19° / 5°
Rainfall
142 mm · ~18 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
11° / -2°
Rainfall
105 mm · ~13 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 4°
Rainfall
161 mm · ~20 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from ACT planning register (lodged 2020–2026).

35 planning-related records

2025· 6 proposals
  • December 2025

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • September 2025

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGActive
  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • July 2025

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • February 2025

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • January 2025

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2024· 5 proposals
  • November 2024

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • September 2024

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • May 2024

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • January 2024

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2023· 3 proposals
  • September 2023

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • July 2023

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • February 2023

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2022· 13 proposals
  • December 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • November 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • October 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • September 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • August 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • July 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • June 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • May 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • March 2022

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2021· 4 proposals
  • December 2021

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • November 2021

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • September 2021

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • June 2021

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
2020· 4 proposals
  • October 2020

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • August 2020

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • March 2020

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted
  • January 2020

  • SUBC
    ISABELLA PLAINS · TUGGERANONGCompleted

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

  • Active & completed development applicationsACT Planning · 2020–2026 · Updated

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via ACT Bushfire Prone Area (SBMP) mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Bean
Member of Parliament
David SMITH (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
113,876
Turnout (2025)
92.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+6.3 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 30.7%Labor 69.3%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.8 km away).

Coalition 32.1%Labor 67.9%

1.4 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +7.5 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Isabella PlainsLabor 69.7% · Coalition 30.3% TPP (2025)0.5 km away
  • BonythonLabor 69.0% · Coalition 31.0% TPP (2025)1.1 km away
  • Gordon NorthLabor 56.0% · Coalition 44.0% TPP (2025)1.3 km away
  • MonashLabor 68.0% · Coalition 32.0% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • RichardsonLabor 64.1% · Coalition 35.9% TPP (2025)1.7 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
8/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

This suburb ranks highly for

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Unincorporated ACT Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory or interstate.