Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Higgins
2 km²
Most homes in Higgins are separate houses, making this a spacious residential pocket of the Australian Capital Territory. The community is generally well-off and family-oriented, with a high number of large homes and a noticeable population of children. While it is a stable area, there has been a significant rise in the number of people identifying as having no religion since 2011. It is a highly walkable suburb where residents enjoy easy access to health services and public transport.
Families are well catered for: 19 schools serve Higgins.
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The population has grown by 7.4% since 2011 to reach 3,321 people. It is slightly older than the territory average, with 17.1% of residents aged 65 and over, and a higher proportion of children under 15 than most similar areas.
About 23.1% of residents were born overseas, which is well below the figures for both the ACT and the national average. Australian and English are the most common ancestries, accounting for 36.3% and 34.0% respectively.
English is the primary language for 80.1% of the community. While 17.0% of people use another language at home—a figure higher than in most similar areas—this is still well below the territory and national averages.
The area has seen a shift toward secularism, with the proportion of people reporting no religion rising by 16 points since 2011 to reach 46.0%. This is well above the national figure.
Higgins is well-qualified, with 69.8% of residents completing Year 12 and 32.0% holding a bachelor degree or higher. The latter is well above the national average, though far below the ACT average.
Typical weekly household incomes are much higher than in most similar areas at $2,248. This wealth is reflected in the 31.7% of households earning $3,000 or more per week, a figure that rose by 19 points since 2011.
Residents report more long-term health conditions than most similar areas, with 33.0% affected. This includes asthma and mental health conditions, which are the most common reported issues.
Participation in unpaid work is high, with 31.7% of people caring for children and 14.9% providing other forms of unpaid care. Additionally, 5.3% of residents have served in the Defence Force.
The First Nations community is small, consisting of 87 people. This group sees higher typical personal incomes than most similar areas, and 49.1% have completed Year 12.
Families are common here, with 59.6% of households consisting of couples with children. This helps explain why the typical home holds 2.6 people, which is higher than most similar areas.
The suburb is dominated by separate houses, making up 96.2% of all dwellings. These are typically large, with 86.8% of homes having three or more bedrooms.
While 63.6% of workers drive to work, the area is very well served by public transport, with a high number of bus stops per 1,000 people and a short 2-minute walk to the nearest stop.
The population is relatively stable, as 35.8% of residents moved in the last five years, which is far below the ACT average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 10.5% of the community.
Employment is strong, with 65.3% of the population working full-time. Many residents work in public administration and safety, which accounts for 27.0% of all jobs.
Higgins is considered an advantaged area, scoring an 8 out of 10 for overall advantage. This is higher than about 80% of similar areas across the country.
The area experiences a typical local climate with an average annual rainfall of 842mm. Minimum temperatures are among the lowest for its level, averaging 6.8 degrees.
The suburb is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a park or public transport. However, only 40.6% of residents can reach groceries within a 15-minute walk, which is far below the territory average.