🏙️ Top 25 Most Densely Populated Suburbs in Australian Capital Territory
Population density — the number of residents packed into each square kilometre — is one of the clearest signals of how a suburb lives. High-density suburbs are built around apartments, walkable streets, public transport and close-in amenities; low-density suburbs spread out into detached houses, bigger blocks and a reliance on the car. This ranking lists the 25 most densely populated suburbs in Australian Capital Territory, calculated from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census population divided by each suburb's gazetted land area.
Kingston leads with about 4,686 residents per square kilometre — 6,579 people living across just 1.40 km². That is well ahead of the midpoint of this list (Downer, ~2,629/km²). The densest suburbs cluster tightly around inner-city apartment precincts and high-rise renewal areas, where former industrial land has been rebuilt into vertical living.
Only suburbs (ABS SAL geographies) with a Census 2021 population of at least 500 residents and a land area above 0.1 km² are included, which keeps the list to genuine residential neighbourhoods and removes tiny localities whose density figures would be statistical noise. Note that area covers the whole gazetted locality — including any parks, water or non-residential land — so the lived density of the built-up core can be even higher than the figure shown.
Kingston ACT 2604
Kingston is a vibrant inner suburb of Canberra, postcode 2604, located approximately 3 kilometres south-east of the Canberra CBD. With a 2021 Census population of 6,579 — a remarkable jump from 4,424 in 2016 — Kingston has undergone significant urban renewal and apartment development, making it one of the fastest-growing inner suburbs in the ACT. Covering 1.4 square kilometres at an elevation of 564 metres within the ACT Unincorporated area, Kingston offers an active lifestyle precinct that is highly sought after by young professionals and established couples. The median household income is notably high, reflecting the area's premium inner-city appeal.
Braddon ACT 2612
Braddon is a vibrant inner-north suburb of Canberra, located just 2 km northeast of the CBD (Civic). With a population of around 6,400 and a high density of 4,560 people per square kilometre, it is one of Canberra's most densely populated suburbs. Established in 1928, Braddon has transformed from a quiet residential area into one of Canberra's trendiest neighbourhoods, known for its eclectic mix of cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and bars along Lonsdale Street.
City ACT 2601
City (also known as Civic) is the central business district of Canberra, the Australian capital, located within the district of Canberra Central. With a population of 4,835 (2021 census) and a notably young median age of 27, it is a dense urban hub covering just 1.5 km² at an elevation of 577 metres. Established in 1927, it sits at the heart of Canberra's planned urban layout, north of Lake Burley Griffin.
Franklin ACT 2913
Franklin is a modern suburb in the Gungahlin district of Canberra, located approximately 11 kilometres north-north-west of the CBD. With a population of around 7,480, the suburb was established in 2007 and is named after novelist Miles Franklin. Franklin covers 2.3 square kilometres at an elevation of 611 metres and is one of Gungahlin's newer residential developments. The suburb features a mix of detached houses and townhouses with a predominantly young demographic.
Wright ACT 2611
Wright is a modern master-planned suburb located in the Molonglo Valley corridor of the Australian Capital Territory, approximately 8 kilometres west of Canberra's city centre. Established in the early 2010s as part of the ACT Government's Molonglo Valley development, the suburb has grown rapidly to a population of around 3,800 residents. Nestled between the Molonglo River and the hills of Stromlo, Wright offers a contemporary urban feel with expansive green spaces and new community infrastructure.
Turner ACT 2612
Turner is a compact inner-north suburb of Canberra, situated approximately 2 kilometres from the city centre within the Australian Capital Territory. With a population of 4,470 packed into just 1.5 square kilometres, it is one of Canberra's denser residential precincts, characterised by apartment buildings, townhouses, and share houses. The suburb skews notably young, with a median age of just 31 and a high median household income of $2,330 per week, reflecting the presence of well-employed professionals and government workers.
Crace ACT 2911
Crace is a modern, planned residential suburb in Canberra's Gungahlin district, established in 2009 and named after pioneer settler Edward Kendall Crace. With a population of approximately 4,800, it is one of Gungahlin's more mature newer suburbs and has grown rapidly with a strong emphasis on sustainable urban design. The suburb features an attractive town pond, open green corridors, and diverse housing stock including detached homes, townhouses, and apartments.
Palmerston ACT 2913
Palmerston is an established residential suburb in Canberra's Gungahlin district, postcode 2913, within the ACT Unincorporated area. With a 2021 Census population of 5,579 — slightly up from 5,525 in 2016 — Palmerston is a mature community at 613 metres elevation, covering approximately 1.95 square kilometres. Located approximately 16 kilometres north of the Canberra CBD, the suburb was developed in the 1990s and features a good mix of housing types, schools, and community parks characteristic of Canberra's northern residential suburbs.
Harrison ACT 2914
Harrison is a modern, master-planned suburb in the Gungahlin district of Canberra, located approximately 10 kilometres north of the Canberra CBD. With a population of around 8,244 (2021 Census), it is one of the newer suburbs in the ACT, with most development occurring from the mid-2000s. The suburb features contemporary housing, a high proportion of young families, and a notably higher median income than the national average, reflecting Canberra's public service workforce.
Moncrieff ACT 2914
Moncrieff is a newer residential suburb in Canberra's Gungahlin district, postcode 2914, within the ACT Unincorporated area. With a 2021 Census population of 5,310 — a dramatic increase from just 105 in 2016 — Moncrieff has been one of Canberra's fastest-growing suburbs, with extensive new housing development transforming the area from fringe land into an established residential community. The suburb sits at 631 metres elevation and covers approximately 1.9 square kilometres, approximately 16 kilometres north of the Canberra CBD.
Bonner ACT 2914
Bonner is a modern suburb in the district of Gungahlin in the northern part of Canberra, ACT. With a population of around 7,300, it is one of the newer suburbs in the Gungahlin area, with development beginning in the mid-2000s. The suburb is named after Neville Bonner, the first Indigenous Australian to serve in the Australian Parliament.
Ngunnawal ACT 2913
Ngunnawal is a large established residential suburb in Canberra's Gungahlin district, postcode 2913, within the ACT Unincorporated area. With a 2021 Census population of 10,957 — growing from 10,486 in 2016 — Ngunnawal is one of the Gungahlin district's most significant residential communities at 631 metres elevation, covering approximately 4.2 square kilometres. Located approximately 14 kilometres north of the Canberra CBD, the suburb was developed from the 1990s onwards and named in recognition of the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Custodians of the ACT region. Median household income is near the broader ACT average.
Downer ACT 2602
Downer is an established inner-north suburb of Canberra, located just 5 kilometres north of the CBD in the district of North Canberra. With a population of around 4,300, it was gazetted in 1960 and named after Sir John Downer, a former Premier of South Australia and founding Australian Senator. The suburb is bounded by Northbourne Avenue, Antill Street, and Philip Avenue. With a median age of 35 and high household incomes, it attracts a mix of young professionals, academics, and families.
Casey ACT 2913
Casey is a newer residential suburb in Canberra's northern Gungahlin district, postcode 2913, within the ACT Unincorporated area. With a 2021 Census population of 6,471 — growing from 5,758 in 2016 — Casey is one of Canberra's younger but rapidly growing family suburbs. The suburb sits at an elevation of 664 metres and covers 2.6 square kilometres, forming part of Gungahlin's expanding urban footprint approximately 15 kilometres north of the Canberra CBD. Median household income sits around the Canberra average, reflecting its diverse mix of working families.
Amaroo ACT 2914
Amaroo is a modern residential suburb in Canberra's northern Gungahlin district, postcode 2914, within the ACT's Unincorporated area. With a 2021 Census population of 6,129 — growing from 5,710 in 2016 — Amaroo is a well-established family suburb at an elevation of 628 metres. The suburb covers approximately 2.6 square kilometres and forms part of the urban area of Gungahlin, one of Canberra's fastest-growing districts located approximately 15 kilometres north of the city centre.
Forde ACT 2914
Forde is an affluent suburb in the Gungahlin district of Canberra, located approximately 15 kilometres north of the CBD. Named after former Prime Minister Frank Forde, the suburb was established in 2008 and had a population of 4,435 at the 2021 census. It is a relatively new, family-oriented neighbourhood characterised by modern housing, generous green spaces, and proximity to the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary.
Page ACT 2614
Page is a well-established residential suburb in the Belconnen district of Canberra, ACT. With a population of around 3,050, it covers 1.3 square kilometres and was established in 1968. Named after former Prime Minister Sir Earle Page, the suburb features streets named after Australian scientists. It has a mature, leafy character typical of Canberra's planned suburbs.
Banks ACT 2906
Banks is a residential suburb in Canberra's Tuggeranong district, situated in the Australian Capital Territory at an elevation of 631 metres in the city's southern reaches. With a population of 5,100 across just 2.25 square kilometres, it is a compact, well-established suburb with a relatively young demographic — the median age is 35 — and a median household income of ,419 per week, comfortably above the national average. The suburb is characterised by a mix of family homes, townhouses, and a diverse community with residents of Australian, English, Irish, Indian, and Filipino heritage.
Scullin ACT 2614
Scullin is a quiet, established residential suburb in Canberra's Belconnen district, located approximately 10 kilometres north-west of the city centre. Named after Australia's 10th Prime Minister James Scullin, the suburb was developed in the late 1960s and 1970s as part of Canberra's planned expansion into the Belconnen area. With a population of around 3,069, Scullin offers a peaceful, leafy neighbourhood feel that appeals to families and long-term residents alike.
Coombs ACT 2611
Coombs is a modern suburb in the Molonglo Valley district of Canberra, approximately 10 kilometres southwest of the CBD. Named after economist H.C. "Nugget" Coombs, it has been under development since 2011 and has grown rapidly to a population of around 4,850. The suburb features contemporary housing with a mix of detached homes, townhouses, and apartments, attracting young families and professionals with its modern infrastructure.
Dickson ACT 2602
Dickson is a vibrant inner-north suburb of Canberra, postcode 2602, within the ACT Unincorporated area. With a 2021 Census population of 3,292 — significantly up from 2,149 in 2016 — Dickson has seen rapid growth driven by apartment development and urban infill. Situated approximately 4 kilometres north of the Canberra CBD at an elevation of 583 metres, Dickson covers 1.6 square kilometres and is particularly known for its diverse restaurant and café scene, especially along Woolley Street, which is often called Canberra's 'Chinatown' precinct.
Rivett ACT 2611
Rivett is a quiet residential suburb in Canberra's Weston Creek district, established in the late 1960s and named after Sir David Rivett, a distinguished Australian scientist. With a population of around 3,350, it sits on the western edge of Weston Creek, featuring leafy streets lined with mature trees and a mix of detached houses and townhouses. The suburb has a settled, family-friendly character.
Fisher ACT 2611
Fisher is a residential suburb in Canberra's southern Tuggeranong district, situated approximately 16 kilometres south of the city centre (Civic) within the ACT. With a population of 3,219 residents, the suburb has a median age of 40 and a median household income of $2,275 per week — above the national average, reflecting the influence of Canberra's public service workforce. Developed largely in the 1970s and 1980s, Fisher is characterised by established single-family homes on tree-lined streets, typical of Canberra's planned suburban layout.
Dunlop ACT 2615
Dunlop is a well-planned suburban community in Canberra's Belconnen district, home to approximately 7,265 residents across 3.6 square kilometers. Located at the northwestern edge of Canberra near the New South Wales border, this suburb was established in 1993 and named after Lieutenant Colonel Sir Ernest 'Weary' Dunlop. The community features a relatively young demographic with a median age of 33 years and is characterized by modern residential estates, abundant parkland, and family-oriented amenities.
Phillip ACT 2606
Phillip is the commercial heart of Canberra's Woden Valley district, located 9 kilometres south of the city centre. With around 5,200 residents and a strong median income of approximately $64,000, it's notable for having 67% of its population living in apartments—unusually high for Canberra. The suburb centres on Woden Town Centre, one of Canberra's major regional shopping destinations.
đź“Š Methodology
Population density is calculated as Census 2021 total population ÷ gazetted land area (km²) for each suburb (ABS SAL geography) in Australian Capital Territory. Only suburbs with at least 500 residents and a land area above 0.1 km² are included, to avoid distortion from very small or sparsely populated localities. Ties are broken by total population (larger first). Land area covers the whole locality, including parks, water and non-residential land, so the density of the built-up residential core may be higher than shown.