Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Palmerston
2 km²
Centred around highly walkable streets and an abundance of local services, Palmerston is a well-off residential hub in the ACT. It is a relatively young community where the typical resident is 36, which helps explain why 20.3% of people are children. The area is notably diverse, with over 31% of residents born overseas and a strong presence of people using languages other than English at home. This mix of young families and international backgrounds creates a distinct, multicultural character.
Palmerston's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
Palmerston has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
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The typical resident is 36, making this area much younger than most. Children under 15 make up 20.3% of the population, which is a little above the national figure.
Overseas birthplaces are common here, with 31.3% of people born abroad, well above the national average. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, Irish, Chinese and Scottish.
Language diversity is very high, with 31.1% of people using a language other than English at home. This is well above the ACT average, and 5.0% of residents speak little or no English.
Religious views are split, with 40.4% of people identifying as Christians and 40.3% reporting no religion. This is slightly above the national figure for those with no religion.
Education levels are very high, with 38.3% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far above the national average, and 73.9% of residents have completed Year 12.
Incomes are much higher than in most areas, with a typical weekly household income of $2,316. About 34.2% of households earn $3,000 or more a week.
Mental health conditions are reported by 10.4% of residents, which is a little above the national figure. Long-term health conditions affect 28.7% of the community.
Unpaid childcare is common here, with 29.8% of people caring for children, which is well above the national average. Around 15.6% of the population are volunteers.
First Nations residents have a very strong employment record, with an unemployment rate of 0.0%. Their typical personal income is $911, far above the national figure.
Families with children are the norm, making up 60.6% of households. Because of this, homes are slightly larger than usual, with 2.6 people per dwelling.
Large homes are common, as 84.8% of houses have three or more bedrooms. Rent is a little above the national average, with a typical weekly cost of $450.
While public transport stops are very common, most people still drive to work, as 63.2% use a car. Only 10.4% of people work from home, which is far below the national figure.
The area is quite mobile, with 37.4% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 11.8% of the population.
Employment is strong, with 70.2% of adults working or looking for work. Many residents are employed in public administration and safety, which accounts for 27.2% of jobs.
The area is very safe, with recorded offences per 100,000 being lower than most areas. Burglary and motor vehicle theft rates are among the lowest at this level.
The area is very walkable, with 100% of homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. Almost all residents can reach groceries and health services within 15 minutes on foot.