Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Aranda
2 km²
High typical incomes and a strong presence of university degrees define Aranda, a wealthy residential pocket of the ACT. The community is noticeably older than the national average, with a high proportion of established families and retirees. It is a place of significant advantage, where most residents own their homes outright and live in large, detached houses. This combination of professional success and residential stability creates a quiet, affluent atmosphere with a growing trend toward secularism.
Aranda's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The typical resident is 42, making the area noticeably older than the territory average. It has a higher proportion of children under 15 and seniors over 65 than most similar areas, and the total population grew by 4.9% since 2011.
About 25.7% of people were born overseas, which is well below the territory figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, though the proportion of overseas-born residents has risen since 2011.
English is the main language for 81.4% of the community, meaning far fewer people use another language at home than in the rest of the territory. Those who do most commonly speak Mandarin.
A striking 59.2% of residents report no religion, a figure far above the national average. This trend has accelerated, with the proportion of non-religious people rising 19 points since 2011.
This is a highly qualified community where 59.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, far exceeding the national figure. Year 12 completion is also very high at 85.3%.
Wealth is a defining feature here, with typical weekly household incomes at $3,161, which is far above the national figure. Nearly half of all households earn $3,000 or more per week.
People needing help with daily activities are less common here than in most areas. About 28.1% of residents live with a long-term health condition, which is about the same as the territory average.
Volunteerism is very high at 29.8%, far above the national figure. This community also sees a higher rate of people providing unpaid care and caring for children than most similar areas.
The First Nations population is small, numbering 27 people. This group is noticeably younger than the average resident, with a typical age of 20.
Families are larger here, with 2.8 people per home. This is higher than the national figure and is consistent with the fact that very few people live alone compared to other areas.
Homes are typically large and stable; 92.9% have three or more bedrooms and 43% are owned outright. This is far above the territory average and helps explain why renting is much lower than usual.
Most people use a car to get around, though commuting by public transport is higher than in most areas. Working from home has become more common, rising 10 points since 2011.
Residents tend to stay put, as fewer people have moved in the last five years compared to the rest of the territory. Recent overseas arrivals make up 16% of the population.
The workforce is dominated by professionals and managers, with 63% of people employed full-time. This is well above the national figure, while the unemployment rate remains very low at 3%.
Aranda is ranked at the highest possible level for overall advantage, with a score of 1,147. It is seen as one of the most advantaged areas in the region for both job skills and access to resources.
The area experiences average annual rainfall of 802mm, which is a little below the territory average. Winter nights are among the coldest for similar areas, with a typical minimum of 6.7 degrees.
The area is very walkable, with almost every home within a short stroll of a park or school. However, access to groceries on foot is far below the territory average.