Median house price
—
No data available
ACT · Unincorporated ACT Council
Symonston, 2609
Est. population · Jun 2025
742
Growth (1 yr)
-0.1%
Growth (5 yr)
+19.9%
Median age
55
Median income
$841/wk
Employment rate
31.7%
Languages at home
15%non-English
Most common: Filipino, Mandarin, Thai
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Heritage area
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
In Unincorporated ACT, Symonston is a settled smaller community with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with multiple generations sharing the same neighbourhood. Local shops and services cover the basics well, with more choice a short trip into neighbouring suburbs.
Open space is thinner than in many metro suburbs, so residents often travel a little further for a longer park day. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield. Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. Recognised heritage character runs through the streets, with older fabric still defining local identity.
The desirability picture is below average, weighed down by softer growth momentum, plus community and employment relative to similar metro suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Symonston snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
742
-0.1% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
1.5%
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
#9
among Metro Canberra · Mature
Safety
89th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
21st
percentile in ACT
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
82nd
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
- 26.7/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6061st in Australia
- State rank
- 108th in ACT
- Peer rank
- #9 among Metro Canberra · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #107 among Metro Canberra suburbs
- Data confidence
- 81%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
742(June 2025)
-0.1% annual · +19.9% over 5 years · 21th percentile in ACT
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.1%
- 5-year growth
- +19.9%
- Change in 1 year
- -1
- Change in 5 years
- +123
- Growth rank in ACT
- 21th 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 (~850), extrapolated at +2.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 655
- Median age
- 55
- Median household income / week
- $841
- Dwelling vacancy
- 1.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 4 of 264
- Median monthly mortgage
- $599
- Employment rate
- 31.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 88 / 21 / 0 (+ 147 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian 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 Profile — Australian 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)
- 58
- Against the person
- 6
- Against property
- 13
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 78.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 109 residents
- State safety percentile
- 88.5th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -46.6%
Most common offence types
- Assault - Fv4
- Other Offences39
- Property Damage6
- Theft (Excluding Motor Vehicles)7
- Assault - Non-Fv1
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 1,096
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 82th
School list
- Narrabundah CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1131 · 91th percentile · LBOTE 65% · 977 students · Top SEA quarter 56% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
- St Benedict's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1061 · 72th percentile · LBOTE 25% · 165 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 1.9 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Kids Club SymonstonSir Harold Raggatt Drivekindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Amenities
55 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 2 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 13/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 1.53
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.53
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0
Food & drink(1)
- Blackstone cafeCafe
Community(1)
- Kids Club SymonstonKindergarten
Sir Harold Raggatt Drive
Sport & outdoors(3)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (2)
Entertainment(1)
- Museum
Transport(7)
7 bus stops
Other(11)
- Artwork
- Bbq
- Bench (8)
- Garden
- Outdoor Seating (6)
- Yarning CircleOutdoor Seating
- Coach parkingParking
- Parking (15)
- Picnic Table (6)
- Public toilets
- Track
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 insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 0
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
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Barton Private Hospital (4.7 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Dhulwa mental health unitYes
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 23
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 31.0
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 27° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 171 mm · ~21 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 169 mm · ~21 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 12° / 1°
- Rainfall
- 183 mm · ~23 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from ACT planning register (lodged 2020–2026).
20 planning-related records
2025· 1 proposal
November 2025
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
2024· 2 proposals
August 2024
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
February 2024
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
2023· 4 proposals
December 2023
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
September 2023
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
August 2023
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
February 2023
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
2022· 2 proposals
November 2022
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
May 2022
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
2021· 6 proposals
October 2021
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
September 2021
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
July 2021
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
May 2021
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
March 2021
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
February 2021
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
2020· 5 proposals
August 2020
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
July 2020
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
June 2020
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
May 2020
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
March 2020
- SUBCSYMONSTON · JERRABOMBERRACompleted
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Active & completed development applications — ACT Planning · 2020–2026 · Updated
Heritage
80 heritage places
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraJA43 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraJA63 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraCallum Brae PAD3 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraJA13 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraJA10 (IF3)3 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraJA73 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraJA33 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraCallum Brae PAD3 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraJA23 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in the District of JerrabomberraJA9 (IF2)3 - Registered Places or Objects
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · 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 overlays — State 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 7.2 km away).
Coalition 23.8%Labor 76.2%
6.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- MawsonLabor 73.7% · Coalition 26.3% TPP (2025)5.5 km away
- Parkes (Bean)Labor 86.5% · Coalition 13.5% TPP (2025)5.6 km away
- FarrerLabor 73.3% · Coalition 26.7% TPP (2025)5.7 km away
- Garran (Bean)Labor 75.0% · Coalition 25.0% TPP (2025)5.9 km away
- Hughes (Bean)Labor 80.2% · Coalition 19.8% TPP (2025)6.2 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
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.