Australian Capital Territory · Suburb Profile

Watson ACT — Suburb Profile

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

The population of Watson ACT is 6,727 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Watson is $1,354 per week ($70,408 per year). Median rent in Watson is $437 per week ($1,894 per month). Watson has a median age of 34 years, younger than the national median of 38. Watson has a population density of 1830.8 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Watson is England. The most common religion is No Religion (61% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Other. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Watson is $2,067.

Watson Map

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Watson Population

residents (Census 2021)

Watson Median Income & Rent

💰

Median Income

$1,354/wk

$70,408 per year

#220 of 14,663

🏠

Median Rent

$437/wk

$1,894 per month

#1323 of 14,663

👤

Median Age

34years

4 years younger than national median

🏡

Mortgage

$2,067/mo

Avg household size: 2.4 · 0.8 per bedroom

Watson Demographics

Gender Split

Male 48.4% (3,259) Female 51.6% (3,471)

Population Density

1830.8

people per km²

6,727 people · 3.7 km²

Households

2.4

Avg household size

0.8

Persons per bedroom

$3,066

Family income/wk

Watson 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)

Watson Housing Tenure

🏠

Owned outright

34.8% 601 dwellings

🏦

Owned with mortgage

65.2% 1,128 dwellings

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

Watson Country of Birth

Australia

88.5%

England

3.7%

India

3.1%

China

1.6%

Germany

1.0%

Canada

0.5%

Hong Kong

0.5%

Indonesia

0.5%

Afghanistan

0.4%

Bangladesh

0.3%

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

Watson Religion

No Religion

61.1%

Catholic

15.9%

Anglican

6.5%

Not stated

5.5%

Buddhism

4.6%

Hinduism

3.1%

Christian (other)

1.8%

Uniting Church

1.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G14 — Religion by SAL

Watson Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent

88.7%

Year 10 or equivalent

7.2%

Year 11 or equivalent

3.0%

Year 9 or equivalent

1.1%

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

Watson Languages Spoken at Home

Other

37.1%

Mandarin

15.1%

IAL Nepali

9.3%

Spanish

8.9%

Vietnamese

7.9%

SAL Tot

7.9%

Cantonese

6.9%

Hindi

6.9%

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

Watson Employment

💼

Employed full-time

50.7% 2,522 people

⏰

Employed part-time

24.0% 1,193 people

🔍

Unemployed

2.3% 114 people

🏠

Not in labour force

23.0% 1,144 people

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

Watson Qualifications

Bachelor Degree

39.5%

Postgraduate Degree

29.2%

Certificate III/IV

11.2%

Advanced Diploma/Diploma

10.8%

Graduate Diploma/Certificate

8.7%

Certificate I/II

0.6%

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

Watson Occupation

Professionals

43.6%

Managers

22.7%

Clerical & Administrative

10.5%

Community & Personal Service

7.6%

Technicians & Trade Workers

7.2%

Labourers

4.3%

Sales Workers

3.1%

Machinery Operators & Drivers

0.9%

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

Watson Field of Study

Society & Culture

28.7%

Management & Commerce

17.7%

Engineering

8.1%

Education

7.8%

Creative Arts

7.7%

Natural & Physical Sciences

7.6%

Information Technology

7.2%

Health

6.7%

Architecture & Building

3.6%

Agriculture & Environment

2.9%

Food, Hospitality & Personal Services

2.0%

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

Watson Dwelling Types

Separate house

66.3%

Semi-detached (2+ storey)

30.7%

Semi-detached (1 storey)

3.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G36 — Dwelling Structure by SAL

Watson Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk

0.4%

$1-$149/wk

0.1%

$150-$299/wk

1.1%

$300-$399/wk

1.4%

$400-$499/wk

3.0%

$500-$649/wk

2.5%

$650-$799/wk

2.7%

$800-$999/wk

3.9%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

5.1%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

5.7%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

5.6%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

6.5%

$2,000-$2,499/wk

14.6%

$2,500-$2,999/wk

8.2%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

9.7%

$3,500-$3,999/wk

5.8%

$4,000+/wk

23.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G33 — Household Income by SAL

Watson Marital Status

💍

Married

42.3% 2,278

↔️

Separated

2.7% 144

📋

Divorced

8.3% 448

🕊️

Widowed

2.6% 140

👤

Never married

44.2% 2,381

Source: ABS Census 2021 G05 — Marital Status by SAL

Watson Ancestry

English

26.5%

Australian

26.0%

Other

12.8%

Irish

10.5%

Scottish

8.2%

German

3.9%

Chinese

3.5%

Italian

2.8%

Indian

1.9%

Dutch

1.6%

Aboriginal Australianralian

1.3%

Vietnamese

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G08 — Ancestry by SAL

Watson School & University Attendance

Primary — Government

36.7%

Secondary — Government

19.9%

Vocational Education

13.2%

Pre-school

11.0%

Secondary — Catholic

5.8%

Primary — Catholic

5.4%

Primary — Other Non-Govt

4.5%

Secondary — Other Non-Govt

3.4%

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

Watson Need for Assistance

♿

Needs assistance

4.2% 545

✅

No need for assistance

95.8% 12,439

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

Watson Volunteering

🤝

Volunteer

24.8% 1,283

—

Not a volunteer

75.2% 3,895

Source: ABS Census 2021 G23 — Voluntary Work by SAL

Watson Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo

3.8%

$300-$449/mo

1.7%

$450-$599/mo

0.7%

$600-$799/mo

1.4%

$800-$999/mo

3.6%

$1,000-$1,399/mo

13.0%

$1,400-$1,799/mo

17.8%

$1,800-$2,399/mo

25.7%

$2,400-$2,999/mo

17.6%

$3,000-$3,999/mo

14.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G38 — Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Watson How People Get to Work

Car (driver)

64.4%

Did not go to work

14.3%

Bicycle

6.9%

Car (passenger)

5.1%

Tram/Light Rail

3.2%

Bus

2.8%

Walked only

1.2%

Motorbike/Scooter

1.1%

Other

0.4%

Taxi/Rideshare

0.4%

Truck

0.2%

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

Watson Car Ownership

0 vehicles

5.3%

1 vehicle

45.9%

2 vehicles

38.2%

3 vehicles

7.1%

4+ vehicles

3.4%

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

Watson Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom

6.7%

2 bedrooms

23.5%

3 bedrooms

46.5%

4 bedrooms

20.2%

5 bedrooms

2.9%

6+ bedrooms

0.3%

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

Watson Population Mobility

22.9%

moved in the last year

55.4%

moved in the last 5 years

2.8%

unemployment rate (Census)

75.2%

labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021 G43 — Summary by SAL

Watson Indigenous Population

1.9%

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

245

Indigenous residents

12,791

Non-Indigenous residents

Source: ABS Census 2021 G07 — Indigenous Status by SAL

Watson Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health

798

Asthma

299

Arthritis

157

Diabetes

100

Heart disease

Lung condition

Cancer

Kidney disease

Stroke

Dementia

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

Watson Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk

5.8%

$1-$149/wk

3.2%

$150-$299/wk

3.8%

$300-$399/wk

1.8%

$400-$499/wk

1.7%

$500-$649/wk

2.8%

$650-$799/wk

5.8%

$800-$999/wk

8.0%

$1,000-$1,249/wk

8.7%

$1,250-$1,499/wk

9.1%

$1,500-$1,749/wk

10.1%

$1,750-$1,999/wk

9.3%

$2,000-$2,999/wk

20.2%

$3,000-$3,499/wk

3.8%

$3,500+/wk

6.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G17 — Personal Income by SAL

Watson Family Structure

Couple — children under 15

49.9%

Couple — no children

27.3%

Couple — no children under 15

10.1%

One parent — children under 15

7.5%

One parent — no children under 15

5.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G29 — Family Composition by SAL

Watson Military Service

🎖️

Current ADF — Regular

1.9% 97

🛡️

Current ADF — Reserves

0.7% 39

🏅

Previously served

3.3% 171

👤

Never served

94.1% 4,894

Source: ABS Census 2021 G22 — ADF Service by SAL

Watson Unpaid Carers

🤲

Provided unpaid assistance

12.4% 639

—

Did not provide

87.6% 4,535

Source: ABS Census 2021 G25 — Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Watson Children Ever Born

No children

45.5%

1 child

15.5%

2 children

26.4%

3 children

9.9%

4 children

2.4%

5+ children

0.3%

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

Watson When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951

1951–1960

1961–1970

114

1971–1980

129

1981–1990

171

1991–2000

179

2001–2010

332

2011–2015

323

2016

2017

2018

106

2019

101

2020

2021

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

Watson Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours

24.3%

5–14 hours

38.5%

15–29 hours

15.2%

30+ hours

6.7%

Did not do domestic work

15.3%

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

Watson Household Size

1 person

27.5%

2 persons

32.9%

3 persons

17.1%

4 persons

16.7%

5 persons

4.7%

6+ persons

1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G35 — Household Size by SAL

Watson Where Residents Moved From

Same address

4,949

Moved from ACT

770

Moved from NSW

259

Moved — same area (SA2)

192

Moved from overseas

Moved from VIC

Moved from QLD

Moved from SA

Moved from WA

Moved from NT

Moved from TAS

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

Watson Family Blending

Intact family — no other children

91.0%

Step family — no other children

4.9%

Blended family — no other children

2.9%

Other couple — children only

0.8%

Intact family — other children present

0.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021 G31 — Family Blending by SAL

Watson Schools

schools nearby

government

1127

avg ICSEA score

5,969

total students

Blue Gum Community School Independent

Combined · K-10 · 167 students

1164

ICSEA

North Ainslie Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 527 students

1145

ICSEA

Emmaus Christian School Independent

Combined · K-10 · 590 students

1138

ICSEA

Majura Primary School Government

Primary · K-6 · 675 students

1135

ICSEA

Lyneham High School Government

Secondary · 7-10 · 1,034 students

1132

ICSEA

Daramalan College Independent

Secondary · 7-12 · 1,498 students

1127

ICSEA

Rosary Primary School Catholic

Primary · K-6 · 369 students

1121

ICSEA

Dickson College Government

Secondary · 7-12 · 899 students

1101

ICSEA

Shirley Smith High School Government

Secondary · 7-8 · 210 students

1078

ICSEA

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

View all schools in Watson with map →

Watson Rent Prices & Affordability

18%

of income

Affordable

Household Income $2,414/wk

Median Rent $437/wk

Rent-to-Income 18.1%

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

If you earn X in Watson

Your weekly income

≈ $10,461/month

Median rent $437/wk

Left after rent $1,977/wk

Rent share 18.1%

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Downer

Income: $1,125/wk Rent: $420/wk Save: $17/wk

Banks

Income: $1,168/wk Rent: $424/wk Save: $13/wk

Lyneham

Income: $1,200/wk Rent: $425/wk Save: $12/wk

Lyons (ACT)

Income: $1,097/wk Rent: $360/wk Save: $77/wk

Theodore (ACT)

Income: $1,195/wk Rent: $430/wk Save: $7/wk

Throsby

Income: $1,342/wk Rent: $375/wk Save: $62/wk

Conder

Income: $1,179/wk Rent: $390/wk Save: $47/wk

Chisholm (ACT)

Income: $1,088/wk Rent: $410/wk Save: $27/wk

Watson vs State & National Average

Nearby Suburbs in ACT

Giralang

Pop: 3,372 Income: $1,143/wk Rent: $460/wk

Melba

Pop: 3,383 Income: $1,118/wk Rent: $400/wk

Duffy

Pop: 3,395 Income: $1,251/wk Rent: $445/wk

Mawson

Pop: 3,440 Income: $1,158/wk Rent: $400/wk

Flynn (ACT)

Pop: 3,671 Income: $1,173/wk Rent: $481/wk

Garran

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

Compare Watson

Watson vs Giralang →Watson vs Melba →Watson vs Duffy →Watson vs Mawson →

Frequently Asked Questions About Watson

What is the population of Watson ACT?

The population of Watson ACT is 6,727 according to the ABS Census 2021.The suburb has a population density of 1830.8 people per km².Watson is ranked #1,125 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Watson?

The median personal income in Watson ACT is $1,354 per week, or $70,408 per year.The median household income is $2,414 per week.Family income is $3,066 per week.Watson is ranked #220 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Watson?

Median rent in Watson ACT is $437 per week ($1,894 per month).Rent represents 18.1% of household income, which is considered affordable.Watson ranks #1,323 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Watson?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Watson ACT is $2,067. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Watson?

The median age in Watson ACT is 34 years.This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Watson a good suburb to live in?

Watson is a suburb in Australian Capital Territory with a population of 6,727.The median income is $1,354/wk, which is above the ACT average of $1,190/wk.Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.1% 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: 80131. All dollar figures in AUD.