Downer, ACT: suburb profile

The population of Downer ACT is 4,296 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Downer is $1,125 per week ($58,500 per year). Median rent in Downer is $420 per week ($1,820 per month). Downer has a median age of 35 years, younger than the national median of 38. Downer has a population density of 2,629 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Downer is England. The most common religion is No religion (54.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Downer is $2,167.

Population

4,296

Census 2021

Median income

$1,125/wk

Personal, Census 2021

Median rent

$420/wk

Weekly, Census 2021

Median age

35years

Census 2021

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

Downer vs the typical ACT suburb

The median personal income in Downer is $1,125 a week, 6% below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192). That ranks 77th of 109 ACT suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $420 a week, $30 less than the typical ACT suburb. Rent takes 18.5% 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.
Measure	Downer	Typical ACT	Difference	Typical Australia
Personal income	$1,125/wk	$1,192/wk	−6%	$766/wk
Household income	$2,267/wk	$2,414/wk	−6%	$1,637/wk
Rent	$420/wk	$450/wk	−7%	$330/wk
Mortgage repayment	$2,167/mo	$2,154/mo	+1%	$1,733/mo
Median age	35	38	−3 yrs	42
Rent share of household income	18.5%	18.2%	+0.4 pts	20.3%

Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au

Downer Population

4,296 residents at the 2021 Census.

Downer Median Income & Rent

Median Income

$1,125/wk

$58,500 per year

Ranked 623 of 14,663

Median Rent

$420/wk

$1,820 per month

Ranked 1,513 of 14,663

Median Age

35years

3 years younger than the national median

Mortgage

$2,167/mo

Avg household size: 2.5 · 0.9 per bedroom

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

Downer Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $2,267/wk

Median rent $420/wk

Rent to income 18.5%

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

Median rent in Downer against your income

Your weekly income

About $9,824 a month

Median rent $420/wk

Left after rent $1,847/wk

Rent share 18.5%

Downer Schools

schools nearby

government

1136

avg ICSEA score

8,890

total students

Blue Gum Community School Independent

Combined · K-10 · 167 students

1164

ICSEA

Brindabella Christian College Independent

Combined · K-12 · 929 students

1154

ICSEA

North Ainslie Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 527 students

1145

ICSEA

Turner School Government

Primary · K-6 · 318 students

1141

ICSEA

O'Connor Cooperative School Government

Primary · K-2 · 60 students

1141

ICSEA

Merici College Catholic

Secondary · 7-12 · 992 students

1138

ICSEA

Emmaus Christian School Independent

Combined · K-10 · 590 students

1138

ICSEA

Majura Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 675 students

1135

ICSEA

Lyneham Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 498 students

1135

ICSEA

Lyneham High School Government

Secondary · 7-10 · 1,034 students

1132

ICSEA

St Joseph's Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 334 students

1130

ICSEA

Daramalan College Independent

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,498 students

1127

ICSEA

Rosary Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 369 students

1121

ICSEA

Dickson College Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 899 students

1101

ICSEA

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

All schools near Downer, with a map

Downer Map

Downer, Australian Capital Territory Map data: OpenStreetMap

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People in Downer

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.3% (2,079) Female 51.7% (2,221)

Population Density

2,629

people per km²

4,296 people · 1.6 km²

Households

2.5

Avg household size

0.9

Persons per bedroom

$2,882

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

England

3.0%

China

2.7%

India

1.9%

Vietnam

1.5%

New Zealand

1.1%

United States of America

0.9%

Sri Lanka

0.8%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin

3.0%

Vietnamese

1.8%

Greek

1.0%

Spanish

1.0%

Nepali

0.9%

Cantonese

0.8%

Italian

0.7%

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

Ancestry

English

32.4%

Australian

32.0%

Irish

13.0%

Scottish

11.0%

Chinese

5.5%

German

4.0%

Italian

3.2%

Indian

2.4%

Dutch

2.3%

Vietnamese

2.1%

Greek

1.9%

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

54.3%

Catholic

14.0%

Buddhism

6.1%

Not stated

5.8%

Anglican

5.0%

Hinduism

2.5%

Eastern Orthodox

1.8%

Islam

1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.9%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married

41.5% 1,466

Separated

3.1% 111

Divorced

6.8% 241

Widowed

4.0% 142

Never married

44.5% 1,572

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15

49.7%

Couple: no children

27.9%

Couple: no children under 15

9.9%

One parent: children under 15

7.4%

One parent: no children under 15

5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person

27.1%

2 persons

30.7%

3 persons

17.5%

4 persons

16.2%

5 persons

5.8%

6+ persons

2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Downer

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,626 occupied private dwellings in Downer at the 2021 Census, 36.1% were rented, 26.9% owned outright and 34.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type

1.4% 23 dwellings

Owned outright

26.9% 437 dwellings

Owned with mortgage

34.6% 562 dwellings

Rented

36.1% 587 dwellings

Tenure type not stated

1.0% 16 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house

80.6%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

10.1%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

9.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

8.9%

2 bedrooms

19.0%

3 bedrooms

45.1%

4 bedrooms

21.5%

5 bedrooms

4.8%

6+ bedrooms

0.8%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

5.0%

$300-$449/mo

2.7%

$600-$799/mo

2.7%

$800-$999/mo

3.5%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

12.5%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

15.8%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

21.2%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

15.8%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

20.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles

6.9%

1 vehicle

42.5%

2 vehicles

35.9%

3 vehicles

11.0%

4+ vehicles

3.7%

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

Work, income and education in Downer

Employment

Employed full-time

44.0% 1,431 people

Employed part-time

25.6% 831 people

Unemployed

3.1% 102 people

Not in labour force

27.3% 887 people

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

Occupation

Professionals

39.2%

Managers

22.9%

Clerical & Administrative

11.8%

Technicians & Trade Workers

8.5%

Community & Personal Service

8.2%

Labourers

5.0%

Sales Workers

3.1%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.3%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

0.8%

$1-$149/wk

0.9%

$150-$299/wk

0.8%

$300-$399/wk

1.6%

$400-$499/wk

4.9%

$500-$649/wk

3.1%

$650-$799/wk

3.8%

$800-$999/wk

4.3%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

5.5%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

6.0%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.0%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

5.8%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

11.8%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

7.5%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

7.5%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

6.9%

$4,000+/wk

22.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

7.0%

$1-$149/wk

3.8%

$150-$299/wk

4.4%

$300-$399/wk

2.4%

$400-$499/wk

2.9%

$500-$649/wk

3.1%

$650-$799/wk

6.1%

$800-$999/wk

8.5%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

10.8%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

8.9%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

9.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.9%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

17.6%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

3.7%

$3,500+/wk

4.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

61.0%

Did not go to work

13.2%

Bicycle

8.5%

Tram/Light Rail

5.5%

Car (passenger)

5.5%

Bus

2.1%

Walked only

2.0%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.2%

Other

0.4%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.4%

Truck

0.3%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

87.1%

Year 10 or equivalent

8.4%

Year 11 or equivalent

2.3%

Year 9 or equivalent

2.2%

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

Bachelor Degree

41.3%

Postgraduate Degree

28.1%

Certificate III/IV

11.8%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

9.9%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

7.7%

Certificate I/II

1.2%

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

Field of Study

Society & Culture

31.3%

Management & Commerce

18.2%

Natural & Physical Sciences

7.2%

Education

7.0%

Creative Arts

7.0%

Health

6.9%

Engineering

5.9%

Information Technology

5.6%

Architecture & Building

3.8%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

3.8%

Agriculture & Environment

3.2%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government

30.0%

Secondary: Government

21.9%

Vocational Education

17.2%

Pre-school

11.7%

Primary: Catholic

7.6%

Secondary: Catholic

4.4%

Primary: Other Non-Govt

3.9%

Secondary: Other Non-Govt

3.4%

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

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Charnwood

Income: $948/wk Rent: $380/wk $40/wk less rent

Scullin

Income: $1,041/wk Rent: $390/wk $30/wk less rent

Lyons (ACT)

Income: $1,097/wk Rent: $360/wk $60/wk less rent

Richardson

Income: $1,012/wk Rent: $391/wk $29/wk less rent

Holt

Income: $1,041/wk Rent: $396/wk $24/wk less rent

Conder

Income: $1,179/wk Rent: $390/wk $30/wk less rent

Macquarie

Income: $1,078/wk Rent: $400/wk $20/wk less rent

Chisholm (ACT)

Income: $1,088/wk Rent: $410/wk $10/wk less rent

Suburbs near Downer

The closest suburb to Downer is Lyneham, 1.1 km away.

Lyneham

1.1 km away · income $1,200/wk · rent $425/wk

Dickson

1.3 km away · income $1,303/wk · rent $500/wk

Watson

1.5 km away · income $1,354/wk · rent $437/wk

Hackett

1.8 km away · income $1,361/wk · rent $374/wk

Ainslie

2.3 km away · income $1,236/wk · rent $367/wk

Braddon

3.1 km away · income $1,512/wk · rent $495/wk

Compare Downer

Frequently Asked Questions About Downer

What is the population of Downer ACT?

The population of Downer ACT is 4,296 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 2,629 people per km². Downer is ranked #1,793 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Downer?

The median personal income in Downer ACT is $1,125 per week, or $58,500 per year. The median household income is $2,267 per week. Family income is $2,882 per week. Downer is ranked #623 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Downer?

Median rent in Downer ACT is $420 per week ($1,820 per month). Rent represents 18.5% of household income, which is considered affordable. Downer ranks #1,513 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Downer?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Downer ACT is $2,167. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Downer?

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

Is Downer a good suburb to live in?

Downer is a suburb in Australian Capital Territory with a population of 4,296. The median income is $1,125/wk, which is below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.5% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Canberra Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 80047. All dollar figures in AUD.

Downer, ACT: suburb profile

Downer vs the typical ACT suburb

Downer Population

Downer Median Income & Rent

Downer Rent Prices & Affordability

Median rent in Downer against your income

Downer Schools

Downer Map

People in Downer

Demographics

Gender Split

Population Density

Households

Age Distribution

Most common overseas birthplaces

Most common languages at home other than English

Ancestry

Religion

Indigenous Population

Marital Status

Family Structure

Household Size

Homes in Downer

Housing Tenure

Dwelling Types

Number of Bedrooms

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

Car Ownership

Work, income and education in Downer

Employment

Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

How People Get to Work

Education Level

Qualifications

Field of Study

School & University Attendance

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Long-term Health Conditions

Unpaid Carers

Volunteering

Military Service

Children Ever Born

When Migrants Arrived

Population Mobility

Where Residents Moved From

Unpaid Domestic Work

Family Blending

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Suburbs near Downer

Compare Downer

Frequently Asked Questions About Downer

Explore More