Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Ainslie
4 km²
Ainslie is one of the most advantaged and highly qualified communities in the region. It is a mature, professional area where the typical resident is 42, making it noticeably older than the national average. This is a high-earning neighbourhood with a strong presence of university-educated residents and a growing number of seniors. Its ability to combine high incomes with exceptional walkability to parks and schools makes it a distinctive residential pocket of the capital.
Ainslie's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The area is noticeably older than the rest of the ACT, with 20% of residents aged 65 and over—a figure that has risen by 3.7 points since 2011. Children under 15 make up 16.6% of the population, which is lower than most similar areas.
About 75% of residents were born in Australia, with English and Irish ancestry being common. The proportion of people born overseas is 22%, which is well below both the territory and national figures.
English is the dominant language, spoken by 84% of the community. Only 12.6% of residents use another language at home, a figure far below the ACT average.
A majority of residents report no religion (57.6%), which is far above the national figure. This trend has grown significantly, rising 16 points since 2011.
Ainslie is among the most educated areas in the region, with 53.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also very high at 81.4%, far above the national average.
The community is very wealthy, with 41.2% of households earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical weekly family income of $3,578 is far above the national figure.
Health needs are higher here than in most areas, with 33.5% of people living with a long-term health condition. About 13% of residents have a mental health condition, which is well above the territory average.
Volunteering is very common, with 26% of people contributing their time, far above the national figure. Unpaid care for others is also high, affecting 15.4% of the population.
First Nations people make up 1.8% of the population. In this group, the unemployment rate is 16.3%, which is well above the territory average, and typical personal incomes are much lower than for other residents.
About 30% of people live alone, a figure well above the national average. Family homes are typical, with 60.5% of households consisting of couples with children.
The area features many detached houses, though this fell 10 points since 2011. Monthly mortgage payments are very high, typically $2,600, which is well above the territory average.
Ainslie is very convenient for commuters, with a typical 6-minute drive to the city. While 9.8% of homes have no car, 14.8% of the workforce now works from home, up 11 points since 2011.
The population is relatively stable, with 38.4% of residents moving in the last five years, which is well below the territory average. Recent overseas arrivals make up 13.2% of the community.
The workforce is largely employed in public administration and safety (33.6%) and professional roles. The unemployment rate is low at 4.0%, slightly below the national figure.
Ainslie ranks as highly advantaged, sitting in the top 10% of all areas. This is underpinned by a top-tier score for education and job skills.
The area experiences an average annual rainfall of 778mm, which is a little below the ACT average. Minimum temperatures are among the lowest at this level.
Ainslie is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a school and a park. It provides far more walkable amenities per 1,000 residents than the territory average.