Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Watson
4 km²
Much higher than most similar areas in both education and income, Watson is a highly advantaged and professional community. The population has grown by 31% since 2011, becoming a younger suburb where the typical resident is just 34. This shift is seen in the high proportion of young adults and children, alongside a significant number of people in de facto relationships. It is a highly qualified place where over half of adults hold a university degree, which helps explain the high typical weekly household income of $2,414.
An affluent area whose schools serve an equally well-off community.
A family-heavy area that's short on schools per child.
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The community is noticeably younger than the national figure, with children under 15 making up 20% of the population. Residents aged 65 and over are much fewer than in most other areas, and the number of people in de facto relationships is well above the territory average.
About 26.2% of residents were born overseas, a figure that has barely changed since 2011. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, while England and India are the most frequent overseas birthplaces.
Nearly one in five people use a language other than English at home, which is higher than most similar areas. Despite this, very few residents speak little or no English, with only 1.7% in this group.
A large majority of residents report no religion, at 57%, which is far above the national figure. This trend has grown significantly, rising 19 points since 2011.
Education levels are exceptionally high, with 55.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far above the national figure, and Year 12 completion is also among the highest at this level.
Earnings are much higher than in most areas, with 37.5% of households earning $3,000 or more a week. The typical personal weekly income of $1,354 is far above the national figure.
While the number of people needing help with daily activities is much lower than most areas, there is a higher rate of mental health conditions, affecting 11.8% of residents.
Volunteerism is very high here, with 23.8% of people volunteering, well above the national figure. There is also a higher rate of people caring for children unpaid compared to most other areas.
First Nations residents in Watson have an unemployment rate of 0.0%, which is far below the national figure. Their typical personal income is also among the highest for this group.
Family life is varied, with 59.1% of households consisting of couples with children. About 27.5% of people live alone, which is a little above the territory and national figures.
Renting is more common than in most areas, and the typical weekly rent of $437 is much higher than the national figure. Detached houses are also much less common here than in most other areas.
Commuting by public transport is more common than in most areas, though 53.3% of workers still rely on a car. Working from home has risen significantly, now accounting for 12.9% of jobs.
The suburb is very mobile, with 53.4% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas also make up a much higher proportion of the population than in most areas.
The workforce is very active, with 75.2% of adults working or looking for work, which is far above the national figure. Many residents work in public administration and safety.
Watson is rated as highly advantaged, ranking in the top 10% of areas for overall advantage. It also has a high score for education and job skills and has grown by 10% since 2021.
The area experiences lower average maximum temperatures than most areas. Its annual rainfall is around the middle for its level, though slightly below the territory average.
The suburb is very walkable, especially for groceries, with 95.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of a store. However, access to schools and health services by walking is far below the territory average.