Charnwood, ACT: suburb profile

The population of Charnwood ACT is 3,055 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Charnwood is $948 per week ($49,296 per year). Median rent in Charnwood is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). Charnwood has a median age of 35 years, younger than the national median of 38. Charnwood has a population density of 1,646 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Charnwood is Philippines. The most common religion is No religion (44.6% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Arabic. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Charnwood is $1,755.

Population
3,055
Census 2021
Median income
$948/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$380/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
35years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Charnwood vs the typical ACT suburb

The median personal income in Charnwood is $948 a week, 20% below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192). That ranks 103rd of 109 ACT suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $380 a week, $70 less than the typical ACT suburb. Rent takes 20.9% of the median household income here, against 18.2% in the typical ACT suburb. The median resident is 35, 3 years younger than in the typical ACT suburb (38).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureCharnwoodTypical ACTDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$948/wk$1,192/wk −20%$766/wk
Household income$1,818/wk$2,414/wk −25%$1,637/wk
Rent$380/wk$450/wk −16%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,755/mo$2,154/mo −19%$1,733/mo
Median age3538 −3 yrs42
Rent share of household income20.9%18.2% +2.7 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Charnwood, the typical ACT suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Charnwood Population

3,055 residents at the 2021 Census.

Charnwood Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$948/wk
$49,296 per year
Ranked 1,638 of 14,663
Median Rent
$380/wk
$1,647 per month
Ranked 2,445 of 14,663
Median Age
35years
3 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,755/mo
Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Charnwood Rent Prices & Affordability

21% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,818/wk
Median rent $380/wk
Rent to income 20.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Charnwood against your income

About $7,878 a month
Median rent $380/wk
Left after rent $1,438/wk
Rent share 20.9%

Charnwood Schools

15
schools nearby
10
government
1043
avg ICSEA score
6,776
total students
St Monica's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 412 students
1080
ICSEA
St John the Apostle Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 368 students
1077
ICSEA
St Francis Xavier College Catholic
Secondary · 7-12 · 1,323 students
1070
ICSEA
Mount Rogers Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 461 students
1056
ICSEA
Macgregor Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 590 students
1050
ICSEA
St Thomas Aquinas Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 374 students
1045
ICSEA
Fraser Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 462 students
1042
ICSEA
Florey Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 397 students
1042
ICSEA
Melba Copland Secondary School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 953 students
1041
ICSEA
Latham Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 298 students
1038
ICSEA
Cranleigh School Government
Primary · K-6 · 88 students
1036
ICSEA
Kingsford Smith School Government
Combined · K-10 · 742 students
991
ICSEA
Charnwood-Dunlop School Government
Primary · K-6 · 308 students
987
ICSEA
Melba Copland Secondary School Copland Campus Years 7 - 9 Government
Secondary
Brindabella Christian College - Charnwood campus Independent
Primary

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Charnwood, with a map

Charnwood Map

Charnwood, Australian Capital Territory Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Charnwood, Australian Capital Territory: 35.2005°S, 149.0340°E

Charnwood Schools (15)

People in Charnwood

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.1% (1,499) Female 50.9% (1,552)

Population Density

1,646
people per km²
3,055 people · 1.9 km²

Households

2.5
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,218
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

Philippines
2.2%
England
2.1%
India
1.8%
New Zealand
1.0%
Vietnam
0.9%
China
0.7%
Pakistan
0.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Arabic
1.3%
Vietnamese
1.2%
Punjabi
1.0%
Tagalog
1.0%
Mandarin
0.9%
Spanish
0.9%
Italian
0.6%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
36.8%
Australian
35.3%
Irish
11.7%
Scottish
9.8%
German
4.8%
Australian Aboriginal
4.1%
Italian
3.0%
Filipino
2.9%
Chinese
2.4%
Dutch
2.0%
Indian
1.7%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
44.6%
Catholic
19.3%
Anglican
10.0%
Not stated
5.4%
Islam
3.5%
Christian (other)
2.8%
Pentecostal
2.0%
Buddhism
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

4.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
40.0% 962
Separated
3.8% 91
Divorced
11.2% 270
Widowed
3.9% 95
Never married
41.1% 989

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
44.1%
Couple: no children
22.1%
One parent: children under 15
12.1%
One parent: no children under 15
10.9%
Couple: no children under 15
10.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
27.4%
2 persons
29.9%
3 persons
18.8%
4 persons
15.0%
5 persons
6.1%
6+ persons
2.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Charnwood

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,167 occupied private dwellings in Charnwood at the 2021 Census, 31.3% were rented, 22.3% owned outright and 45.2% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.3% 3 dwellings
Owned outright
22.3% 260 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
45.2% 527 dwellings
Rented
31.3% 365 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.2% 14 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
87.4%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
12.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
1.7%
2 bedrooms
9.7%
3 bedrooms
68.7%
4 bedrooms
17.3%
5 bedrooms
2.3%
6+ bedrooms
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
2.2%
$300-$449/mo
0.8%
$450-$599/mo
1.6%
$600-$799/mo
2.6%
$800-$999/mo
5.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
12.0%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
28.1%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
30.3%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
10.6%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
6.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.5%
1 vehicle
39.1%
2 vehicles
38.3%
3 vehicles
11.4%
4+ vehicles
5.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Charnwood

Employment

Employed full-time
44.7% 983 people
Employed part-time
19.1% 420 people
Unemployed
3.5% 77 people
Not in labour force
32.7% 719 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
25.4%
Technicians & Trade Workers
17.0%
Clerical & Administrative
16.1%
Community & Personal Service
15.5%
Managers
13.8%
Sales Workers
4.2%
Labourers
4.1%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
3.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.4%
$1-$149/wk
0.7%
$150-$299/wk
1.7%
$300-$399/wk
2.3%
$400-$499/wk
5.1%
$500-$649/wk
4.1%
$650-$799/wk
5.6%
$800-$999/wk
5.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.8%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.1%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.6%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
14.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
10.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
7.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
5.2%
$4,000+/wk
7.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.5%
$1-$149/wk
3.8%
$150-$299/wk
5.5%
$300-$399/wk
3.1%
$400-$499/wk
3.3%
$500-$649/wk
2.6%
$650-$799/wk
7.1%
$800-$999/wk
10.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
11.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
11.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.1%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
9.7%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.2%
$3,500+/wk
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.7%
Did not go to work
10.9%
Car (passenger)
5.4%
Bus
3.4%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.0%
Walked only
0.7%
Truck
0.5%
Bicycle
0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
67.6%
Year 10 or equivalent
21.2%
Year 11 or equivalent
6.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
4.3%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
36.8%
Bachelor Degree
26.2%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
19.8%
Postgraduate Degree
10.2%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.0%
Certificate I/II
3.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Society & Culture
19.3%
Management & Commerce
19.0%
Engineering
11.3%
Health
8.7%
Education
8.3%
Architecture & Building
7.7%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
7.4%
Information Technology
7.2%
Creative Arts
5.2%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.2%
Agriculture & Environment
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
35.2%
Secondary: Government
24.4%
Vocational Education
15.8%
Pre-school
9.6%
Primary: Catholic
6.2%
Secondary: Catholic
4.5%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
2.6%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
89.7%
Has need for assistance
6.0%
Need for assistance not stated
4.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
395
Asthma
164
Arthritis
88
Diabetes
79
Heart disease
60
Lung condition
52
Cancer
45
Kidney disease
30
Stroke
27
Dementia
6

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.8% 317
Did not provide
86.2% 1,975

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
14.7% 336
Not a volunteer
85.3% 1,957

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.1% 3
Current ADF: Reserves
0.3% 8
Previously served
3.9% 90
Never served
95.6% 2,193

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
34.2%
1 child
14.3%
2 children
28.6%
3 children
14.5%
4 children
6.4%
5+ children
2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
8
1951: 1960
25
1961: 1970
62
1971: 1980
60
1981: 1990
98
1991: 2000
61
2001: 2010
136
2011: 2015
109
2016
22
2017
26
2018
19
2019
12
2020
5

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

11.8%
moved in the last year
34.1%
moved in the last 5 years
4.7%
unemployment rate (Census)
66.0%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
2,563
Moved from ACT
219
Moved from NSW
45
Moved: same area (SA2)
21
Moved from VIC
13
Moved from overseas
12
Moved from SA
9
Moved from WA
3
Moved from QLD
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.2%
5: 14 hours
34.0%
15: 29 hours
12.4%
30+ hours
7.2%
Did not do domestic work
25.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
85.0%
Blended family: no other children
7.2%
Step family: no other children
6.6%
Intact family: other children present
1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Lyons (ACT)
Income: $1,097/wk Rent: $360/wk $20/wk less rent
Spence (ACT)
Income: $1,125/wk Rent: $375/wk $5/wk less rent
Rivett
Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $322/wk $58/wk less rent
Taylor
Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $282/wk $98/wk less rent

Suburbs near Charnwood

The closest suburb to Charnwood is Flynn (ACT), 1.1 km away.

Flynn (ACT)
1.1 km away · income $1,173/wk · rent $481/wk
Fraser
1.4 km away · income $1,164/wk · rent $450/wk
Dunlop
1.4 km away · income $1,176/wk · rent $465/wk
Latham (ACT)
1.8 km away · income $1,089/wk · rent $400/wk
Melba
2.1 km away · income $1,118/wk · rent $400/wk
Macgregor (ACT)
2.2 km away · income $1,172/wk · rent $464/wk

Compare Charnwood

Frequently Asked Questions About Charnwood

What is the population of Charnwood ACT?

The population of Charnwood ACT is 3,055 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,646 people per km². Charnwood is ranked #2,382 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Charnwood?

The median personal income in Charnwood ACT is $948 per week, or $49,296 per year. The median household income is $1,818 per week. Family income is $2,218 per week. Charnwood is ranked #1,638 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Charnwood?

Median rent in Charnwood ACT is $380 per week ($1,647 per month). Rent represents 20.9% of household income, which is considered affordable. Charnwood ranks #2,445 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Charnwood?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Charnwood ACT is $1,755. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Charnwood?

The median age in Charnwood ACT is 35 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Charnwood a good suburb to live in?

Charnwood is a suburb in Australian Capital Territory with a population of 3,055. The median income is $948/wk, which is below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (20.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Canberra Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 80035. All dollar figures in AUD.