Australian Capital Territory · Suburb Profile

Spence ACT — Suburb Profile

Population, median income, rent prices, housing costs and demographics for Spence, Australian Capital Territory. ABS Census 2021.

The population of Spence ACT is 2,587 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Spence is $1,125 per week ($58,500 per year). Median rent in Spence is $375 per week ($1,625 per month). Spence has a median age of 38 years, equal to the national median. Spence has a population density of 1699.3 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Spence is England. The most common religion is No Religion (51% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Spence is $2,120.

Spence Map

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Spence Population

residents (Census 2021)

Spence Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$1,125/wk

$58,500 per year

#623 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$375/wk

$1,625 per month

#2632 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

38years

Same as than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$2,120/mo

Avg household size: —

Spence Demographics

Gender Split

Male 49.5% (1,282) Female 50.5% (1,307)

Population Density

1699.3

people per km²

2,587 people · 1.5 km²

Households

—

Avg household size

—

Persons per bedroom

$2,747

Family income/wk

Spence Age Distribution

0-4

5-9

10-14

15-19

20-24

25-29

30-34

35-39

40-44

45-49

50-54

55-59

60-64

65-69

70-74

75-79

80-84

85+

♂ Male ♀ Female

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Spence Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

42.0% 304 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

58.0% 419 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021 — Suburb & Locality (SAL)

Spence Country of Birth

Australia

93.2%

England

2.8%

Germany

0.8%

Bosnia & Herzegovina

0.7%

Chile

0.7%

Canada

0.4%

Greece

0.4%

India

0.4%

Cambodia

0.3%

China

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G09 — Country of Birth by SAL

Spence Religion

No Religion

50.8%

Catholic

23.4%

Anglican

10.5%

Not stated

5.9%

Uniting Church

2.6%

Christian (other)

2.5%

Eastern Orthodox

2.1%

Pentecostal

2.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Spence Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

76.3%

Year 10 or equivalent

15.2%

Year 11 or equivalent

5.5%

Year 9 or equivalent

3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G16 — Highest Year of School by SAL

Spence Languages Spoken at Home

Other

28.9%

Spanish

20.0%

Greek

13.3%

Mandarin

10.0%

Vietnamese

8.9%

Arabic

7.8%

Khmer

6.7%

Afrikaans

4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G13 — Language Spoken at Home by SAL

Spence Employment

💼

Employed full-time

42.2% 806 people

⏰

Employed part-time

21.6% 413 people

🔍

Unemployed

3.0% 58 people

🏠

Not in labour force

33.2% 634 people

Source: ABS Census 2021 G46 — Labour Force Status by SAL

Spence Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

31.8%

Certificate III/IV

27.0%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

18.6%

Postgraduate Degree

13.3%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

7.9%

Certificate I/II

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G49 — Non-School Qualification by SAL

Spence Occupation

Professionals

32.9%

Managers

18.7%

Clerical & Administrative

16.3%

Technicians & Trade Workers

14.1%

Community & Personal Service

10.8%

Sales Workers

3.4%

Labourers

2.5%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Industry of Employment by Occupation

Spence Field of Study

Society & Culture

20.7%

Management & Commerce

17.7%

Engineering

10.3%

Architecture & Building

8.6%

Education

8.5%

Health

8.2%

Creative Arts

7.4%

Information Technology

7.4%

Natural & Physical Sciences

4.8%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

3.8%

Agriculture & Environment

2.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G51 — Field of Study by SAL

Spence Dwelling Types

Separate house

92.5%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

6.5%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Spence Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

1.0%

$150-$299/wk

1.5%

$300-$399/wk

2.1%

$400-$499/wk

4.0%

$500-$649/wk

2.1%

$650-$799/wk

4.7%

$800-$999/wk

4.0%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

5.0%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

6.9%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

6.3%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

4.1%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

12.0%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

10.2%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

8.4%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

7.6%

$4,000+/wk

20.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Spence Marital Status

💍

Married

49.4% 1,022

↔️

Separated

2.8% 58

📋

Divorced

9.0% 186

🕊️

Widowed

3.1% 64

👤

Never married

35.7% 739

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Spence Ancestry

Australian

30.3%

English

28.4%

Irish

10.9%

Scottish

9.4%

Other

8.2%

German

3.4%

Italian

2.1%

Chinese

1.9%

Aboriginal Australianralian

1.8%

Greek

1.4%

Dutch

1.3%

Polish

0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Spence School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

27.3%

Secondary — Government

20.4%

Vocational Education

13.1%

Primary — Catholic

12.2%

Pre-school

11.3%

Secondary — Catholic

9.4%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

4.6%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

1.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G15 — Type of Educational Institution by SAL

Spence Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

5.8% 288

✅

No need for assistance

94.2% 4,673

Source: ABS Census 2021 G18 — Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Spence Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

20.1% 399

—

Not a volunteer

79.9% 1,586

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Spence Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

2.9%

$300-$449/mo

1.3%

$450-$599/mo

1.3%

$600-$799/mo

1.6%

$800-$999/mo

1.6%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

11.1%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

16.1%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

31.0%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

20.4%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

12.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Spence How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

73.6%

Did not go to work

13.3%

Car (passenger)

5.3%

Bus

3.5%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.0%

Bicycle

1.0%

Truck

0.9%

Other

0.5%

Walked only

0.4%

Train

0.3%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G62 — Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Spence Car Ownership

0 vehicles

4.0%

1 vehicle

29.2%

2 vehicles

45.7%

3 vehicles

13.5%

4+ vehicles

7.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G34 — Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Spence Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

3.5%

2 bedrooms

2.9%

3 bedrooms

45.6%

4 bedrooms

39.9%

5 bedrooms

5.8%

6+ bedrooms

2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G41 — Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Spence Population Mobility

8.7%

moved in the last year

29.5%

moved in the last 5 years

4.3%

unemployment rate (Census)

65.9%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Spence Indigenous Population

2.5%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

123

Indigenous residents

4,848

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Spence Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

332

Asthma

117

Arthritis

100

Diabetes

Heart disease

Cancer

Kidney disease

Lung condition

Stroke

Dementia

Source: ABS Census 2021 G19 — Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Spence Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

7.9%

$1-$149/wk

5.1%

$150-$299/wk

4.6%

$300-$399/wk

2.3%

$400-$499/wk

2.2%

$500-$649/wk

2.5%

$650-$799/wk

7.0%

$800-$999/wk

8.3%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.2%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

11.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

10.2%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

7.6%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

15.6%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

2.4%

$3,500+/wk

4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Spence Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

45.5%

Couple — no children

25.6%

Couple — no children under 15

16.4%

One parent — no children under 15

6.5%

One parent — children under 15

6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Spence Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

0.3% 5

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.4% 8

🏅

Previously served

5.1% 102

👤

Never served

94.2% 1,883

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Spence Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

15.3% 304

—

Did not provide

84.7% 1,688

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Spence Children Ever Born

No children

31.7%

1 child

10.3%

2 children

30.4%

3 children

19.0%

4 children

7.7%

5+ children

1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G28 — Children Ever Born by SAL

Spence When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

1971–1980

1981–1990

1991–2000

2001–2010

2011–2015

2017

2018

2019

Source: ABS Census 2021 G10 — Year of Arrival by SAL

Spence Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

24.1%

5–14 hours

35.3%

15–29 hours

14.9%

30+ hours

7.2%

Did not do domestic work

18.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G24 — Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Spence Household Size

1 person

21.0%

2 persons

33.9%

3 persons

15.8%

4 persons

18.2%

5 persons

8.0%

6+ persons

3.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Spence Where Residents Moved From

Same address

2,253

Moved from ACT

143

Moved from NSW

Moved from overseas

Moved from QLD

Moved from VIC

Moved — same area (SA2)

Source: ABS Census 2021 G44 — Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Spence Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

86.4%

Step family — no other children

8.6%

Blended family — no other children

3.8%

Other couple — children only

1.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Spence Schools

schools nearby

government

1054

avg ICSEA score

5,627

total students

St Monica's Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 412 students

1080

ICSEA

Miles Franklin Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 394 students

1077

ICSEA

St John the Apostle Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 368 students

1077

ICSEA

St Francis Xavier College Catholic

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,323 students

1070

ICSEA

Giralang Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 268 students

1070

ICSEA

Mount Rogers Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 461 students

1056

ICSEA

Evatt Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 281 students

1047

ICSEA

Fraser Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 462 students

1042

ICSEA

Florey Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 397 students

1042

ICSEA

Melba Copland Secondary School Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 953 students

1041

ICSEA

Charnwood-Dunlop School Government

Primary · K-6 · 308 students

987

ICSEA

Melba Copland Secondary School Copland Campus Years 7 - 9 Government

Secondary

Source: ACARA — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2025. ICSEA = Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

View all schools in Spence with map →

Spence Rent Prices & Affordability

16%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $2,358/wk

Median Rent $375/wk

Rent-to-Income 15.9%

Rent is under 25% of household income — generally considered affordable.

If you earn X in Spence

Your weekly income

≈ $10,218/month

Median rent $375/wk

Left after rent $1,983/wk

Rent share 15.9%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Rivett

Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $322/wk Save: $53/wk

Lyons (ACT)

Income: $1,097/wk Rent: $360/wk Save: $15/wk

Taylor

Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $282/wk Save: $93/wk

Ainslie

Income: $1,236/wk Rent: $367/wk Save: $8/wk

Spence vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in ACT

Bonython

Pop: 3,839 Income: $1,135/wk Rent: $445/wk

Wright

Pop: 3,808 Income: $1,446/wk Rent: $461/wk

Theodore (ACT)

Pop: 3,798 Income: $1,195/wk Rent: $430/wk

Farrer

Pop: 3,787 Income: $1,223/wk Rent: $450/wk

Latham (ACT)

Pop: 3,767 Income: $1,089/wk Rent: $400/wk

Garran

Pop: 3,706 Income: $1,349/wk Rent: $550/wk

Compare Spence (ACT)

Spence (ACT) vs Bonython →Spence (ACT) vs Wright →Spence (ACT) vs Theodore (ACT) →Spence (ACT) vs Farrer →

Frequently Asked Questions About Spence

What is the population of Spence ACT?

The population of Spence ACT is 2,587 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 1699.3 people per km².Spence is ranked #2,668 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Spence?

The median personal income in Spence ACT is $1,125 per week, or $58,500 per year.The median household income is $2,358 per week.Family income is $2,747 per week.Spence is ranked #623 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Spence?

Median rent in Spence ACT is $375 per week ($1,625 per month).Rent represents 15.9% of household income, which is considered affordable.Spence ranks #2,632 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Spence?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Spence ACT is $2,120. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Spence?

The median age in Spence ACT is 38 years.This is equal to the national median age of 38 years.

Is Spence a good suburb to live in?

Spence is a suburb in Australian Capital Territory with a population of 2,587.The median income is $1,125/wk, which is below the ACT average of $1,190/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (15.9% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 80118. All dollar figures in AUD.