Macarthur, ACT: suburb profile

The population of Macarthur ACT is 1,405 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Macarthur is $1,334 per week ($69,368 per year). Median rent in Macarthur is $520 per week ($2,253 per month). Macarthur has a median age of 39 years, older than the national median of 38. Macarthur has a population density of 1,080 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Macarthur is England. The most common religion is No religion (40.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Greek. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Macarthur is $2,200.

Population
1,405
Census 2021
Median income
$1,334/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$520/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
39years
Census 2021

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

Macarthur vs the typical ACT suburb

The median personal income in Macarthur is $1,334 a week, 12% above the typical ACT suburb ($1,192). That ranks 28th of 109 ACT suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $520 a week, $70 more than the typical ACT suburb. Rent takes 17.1% of the median household income here, against 18.2% in the typical ACT suburb. The median resident is 39, 1 year older 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.
MeasureMacarthurTypical ACTDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,334/wk$1,192/wk +12%$766/wk
Household income$3,037/wk$2,414/wk +26%$1,637/wk
Rent$520/wk$450/wk +16%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$2,200/mo$2,154/mo +2%$1,733/mo
Median age3938 +1 yrs42
Rent share of household income17.1%18.2% −1.1 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 Macarthur, the typical ACT suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Macarthur Population

1,405 residents at the 2021 Census.

Macarthur Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,334/wk
$69,368 per year
Ranked 244 of 14,663
Median Rent
$520/wk
$2,253 per month
Ranked 502 of 14,663
Median Age
39years
1 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$2,200/mo
Avg household size: 2.9 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Macarthur Rent Prices & Affordability

17% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $3,037/wk
Median rent $520/wk
Rent to income 17.1%

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

Median rent in Macarthur against your income

About $13,160 a month
Median rent $520/wk
Left after rent $2,517/wk
Rent share 17.1%

Macarthur Schools

8
schools nearby
7
government
1031
avg ICSEA score
2,176
total students
Farrer Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 252 students
1098
ICSEA
Holy Family Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 641 students
1076
ICSEA
Fadden Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 229 students
1076
ICSEA
Gowrie Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 228 students
1043
ICSEA
Caroline Chisholm School Government
Secondary · K-10 · 571 students
989
ICSEA
Gilmore Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 113 students
981
ICSEA
Richardson Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 142 students
952
ICSEA
Caroline Chisholm School - Junior Campus Government
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 Macarthur, with a map

Macarthur Map

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

Macarthur, Australian Capital Territory: 35.4050°S, 149.1329°E

Macarthur Schools (8)

People in Macarthur

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.4% (693) Female 50.6% (711)

Population Density

1,080
people per km²
1,405 people · 1.3 km²

Households

2.9
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$3,232
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
4.5%
India
1.7%
South Africa
0.9%
Sri Lanka
0.8%
New Zealand
0.7%
Philippines
0.7%
Singapore
0.6%
Germany
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

Greek
1.2%
Arabic
0.6%
French
0.6%
Mandarin
0.4%
German
0.4%
Hindi
0.4%
Punjabi
0.4%

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

Ancestry

Australian
40.1%
English
39.6%
Irish
16.7%
Scottish
14.3%
German
5.1%
Italian
3.1%
Dutch
2.8%
Greek
1.9%
Australian Aboriginal
1.8%
Croatian
1.6%
Polish
1.4%

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
40.3%
Catholic
27.7%
Anglican
12.4%
Not stated
2.9%
Eastern Orthodox
2.6%
Uniting Church
2.6%
Christian (other)
2.1%
Baptist
1.6%

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
60.9% 676
Separated
3.0% 33
Divorced
7.2% 80
Widowed
2.6% 29
Never married
26.3% 292

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
46.8%
Couple: no children
23.6%
Couple: no children under 15
20.4%
One parent: children under 15
6.4%
One parent: no children under 15
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
13.2%
2 persons
33.4%
3 persons
18.8%
4 persons
24.3%
5 persons
7.8%
6+ persons
2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Macarthur

Housing Tenure

Of the 488 occupied private dwellings in Macarthur at the 2021 Census, 9.8% were rented, 42.4% owned outright and 46.5% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
1.2% 6 dwellings
Owned outright
42.4% 207 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
46.5% 227 dwellings
Rented
9.8% 48 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.6% 8 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
97.1%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
2.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

2 bedrooms
2.3%
3 bedrooms
26.5%
4 bedrooms
57.6%
5 bedrooms
11.7%
6+ bedrooms
1.9%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
2.6%
$600-$799/mo
3.2%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
11.6%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
14.7%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
27.9%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
23.7%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
16.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.5%
1 vehicle
21.6%
2 vehicles
51.5%
3 vehicles
18.9%
4+ vehicles
6.6%

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

Work, income and education in Macarthur

Employment

Employed full-time
44.7% 472 people
Employed part-time
22.4% 237 people
Unemployed
1.9% 20 people
Not in labour force
31.0% 328 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
35.7%
Managers
21.7%
Clerical & Administrative
16.0%
Technicians & Trade Workers
11.8%
Community & Personal Service
8.9%
Labourers
2.5%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.3%
Sales Workers
1.1%

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

Weekly Household Income

$150-$299/wk
0.9%
$400-$499/wk
1.1%
$500-$649/wk
2.0%
$650-$799/wk
1.1%
$800-$999/wk
1.8%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
4.1%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.2%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
4.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
11.5%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
13.8%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
7.2%
$4,000+/wk
31.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
8.2%
$1-$149/wk
3.7%
$150-$299/wk
3.6%
$300-$399/wk
2.0%
$400-$499/wk
1.4%
$500-$649/wk
1.9%
$650-$799/wk
5.3%
$800-$999/wk
8.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
8.0%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.3%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
9.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
20.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.4%
$3,500+/wk
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
77.8%
Did not go to work
12.1%
Car (passenger)
5.9%
Motorbike/Scooter
1.7%
Bus
1.4%
Walked only
0.6%
Bicycle
0.5%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
79.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
13.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
5.2%
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
35.3%
Certificate III/IV
24.8%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
18.6%
Postgraduate Degree
12.5%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
8.3%
Certificate I/II
0.4%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
21.5%
Society & Culture
18.5%
Engineering
13.1%
Health
8.8%
Education
7.8%
Architecture & Building
6.5%
Natural & Physical Sciences
6.0%
Information Technology
6.0%
Creative Arts
4.9%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
4.1%
Agriculture & Environment
3.0%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
21.4%
Primary: Catholic
18.0%
Secondary: Government
17.1%
Secondary: Catholic
14.4%
Vocational Education
9.8%
Pre-school
9.2%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
6.7%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
3.4%

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
95.6%
Has need for assistance
3.1%
Need for assistance not stated
1.3%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
125
Asthma
68
Arthritis
44
Heart disease
38
Diabetes
33
Cancer
24
Kidney disease
19
Stroke
9
Lung condition
7
Dementia
3

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
13.6% 148
Did not provide
86.4% 942

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
19.7% 215
Not a volunteer
80.3% 874

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.7% 8
Current ADF: Reserves
1.5% 16
Previously served
6.5% 71
Never served
91.3% 999

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
25.6%
1 child
12.3%
2 children
37.1%
3 children
20.0%
4 children
5.0%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
4
1951: 1960
15
1961: 1970
35
1971: 1980
23
1981: 1990
31
1991: 2000
33
2001: 2010
47
2011: 2015
28
2016
6
2018
3
2019
6

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

Population Mobility

9.7%
moved in the last year
31.3%
moved in the last 5 years
2.9%
unemployment rate (Census)
69.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
1,234
Moved from ACT
104
Moved from NSW
15
Moved from VIC
8
Moved from QLD
3
Moved from overseas
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
21.6%
5: 14 hours
37.6%
15: 29 hours
19.2%
30+ hours
6.8%
Did not do domestic work
14.9%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
91.4%
Step family: no other children
6.8%
Blended family: no other children
1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Oxley (ACT)
Income: $1,132/wk Rent: $400/wk $120/wk less rent
Torrens
Income: $1,286/wk Rent: $478/wk $42/wk less rent
Spence (ACT)
Income: $1,125/wk Rent: $375/wk $145/wk less rent
Waramanga
Income: $1,179/wk Rent: $379/wk $141/wk less rent
Reid (ACT)
Income: $1,335/wk Rent: $430/wk $90/wk less rent
Gilmore (ACT)
Income: $1,164/wk Rent: $430/wk $90/wk less rent
Chifley (ACT)
Income: $1,191/wk Rent: $450/wk $70/wk less rent
Fraser
Income: $1,164/wk Rent: $450/wk $70/wk less rent

Suburbs near Macarthur

The closest suburb to Macarthur is Gilmore (ACT), 1.2 km away.

Gilmore (ACT)
1.2 km away · income $1,164/wk · rent $430/wk
Fadden
1.4 km away · income $1,415/wk · rent $620/wk
Chisholm (ACT)
2.0 km away · income $1,088/wk · rent $410/wk
Gowrie (ACT)
2.1 km away · income $1,207/wk · rent $440/wk
Richardson
2.8 km away · income $1,012/wk · rent $391/wk
Wanniassa
4.0 km away · income $1,127/wk · rent $400/wk

Compare Macarthur (ACT)

Frequently Asked Questions About Macarthur

What is the population of Macarthur ACT?

The population of Macarthur ACT is 1,405 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,080 people per km². Macarthur is ranked #3,481 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Macarthur?

The median personal income in Macarthur ACT is $1,334 per week, or $69,368 per year. The median household income is $3,037 per week. Family income is $3,232 per week. Macarthur is ranked #244 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Macarthur?

Median rent in Macarthur ACT is $520 per week ($2,253 per month). Rent represents 17.1% of household income, which is considered affordable. Macarthur ranks #502 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Macarthur?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Macarthur ACT is $2,200. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Macarthur?

The median age in Macarthur ACT is 39 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Macarthur a good suburb to live in?

Macarthur is a suburb in Australian Capital Territory with a population of 1,405. The median income is $1,334/wk, which is above the typical ACT suburb ($1,192/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (17.1% 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: 80088. All dollar figures in AUD.