Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Calwell suburb profile
Calwell, ACT · Postcode 2905
This Calwell suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Calwell, ACT (postcode 2905). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Calwell with nearby suburbs.
Calwell at a glance
Population
5,730
Median rent
$448/wk
Household income
$2,460/wk
Median age
37
Calwell trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
-1.8% over 10 years
Population
5,730
was 5,758 in 2016
-28 · -0.5%
Median rent
$448/wk
was $385/wk in 2016
+$63 · +16.4%
Household income
$2,460/wk
was $2,225/wk in 2016
+$235 · +10.6%
Median age
37
was 36 in 2016
+1 · +2.8%
Dig deeper: Calwell population growth · Calwell then and now
Calwell vs nearby & ACT
Median Census 2021 figures for Calwell, nearby suburbs (8), and the ACT state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-0.4% vs area
- Calwell$448/wk
- Nearby$430/wk
- ACT$450/wk
Household income
+2.4% vs area
- Calwell$2,460/wk
- Nearby$2,257.5/wk
- ACT$2,403.5/wk
Median age
-1.3% vs area
- Calwell37
- Nearby37
- ACT37.5
Personal income
-0.1% vs area
- Calwell$1,192/wk
- Nearby$1,115/wk
- ACT$1,193.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in ACT.
Socio-economic profile
How Calwell compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Calwell ranks among Australia's most advantaged suburbs. It shows strong access to economic resources and high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 91,072.7
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 91,064.6
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 91,075.2
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 91,050.2
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Calwell on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Calwell, ACT.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Calwell people
- Population
- 5,730
- Median age
- 37
- Born overseas
- 18.5%
- Average household size
- 2.7
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Calwell income
- Median household income
- $2,460/wk
- Median personal income
- $1,192/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Calwell housing
- Median rent
- $448/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $2,000/mo
- Separate houses
- 83.5%
- Flats & apartments
- 2.5%
- Owned outright
- 28.6%
- Mortgaged
- 51.8%
- Rented
- 14.4%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 3.9%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Calwell work
- Employment to population
- 68.9%
- Unemployment rate
- 3.2%
- Year 12 or above
- 68.7%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 2905)
Compare Calwell with nearby suburbs
Calwell in numbers
Calwell had 5,730 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 23rd most populous suburb or locality in ACT out of 127. The median age is 37, close to the typical ACT suburb. The average household has 2.7 people. 18.5% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 28.6% own their home outright, 51.8% are paying a mortgage, 14.4% rent. Separate houses make up 83.5% of dwellings, with 2.5% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $448/wk, close to the typical ACT suburb.
Median household income was $2,460/wk, close to the typical ACT suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 3.2%. 68.7% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 9 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 0.5% (from 5,758 to 5,730). Median rent moved from $385/wk to $448/wk (+16.4%).
Calwell suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Calwell, ACT?
- The median weekly rent in Calwell was $448/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Calwell, ACT?
- Calwell had 5,730 residents at the 2021 Census, down 0.5% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Calwell?
- Median household income in Calwell was $2,460/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Calwell?
- 14.4% of occupied homes in Calwell were rented, 28.6% were owned outright and 51.8% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Calwell suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Calwell. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology