Moving to Dickson ACT 2602
What the official numbers say about living in Dickson — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $500 a week, against a median household income of $2,277 a week.
About 53% of homes are owner-occupied and 46% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the apartment.
Who you'll be living with
Dickson grew 54% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,139 → 3,292 people).
Around 53% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: China, England, Vietnam; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Dickson sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (58% of workers), while 14% work from home.
Nearest train station: Canberra, 7.4 km south.
Nearest light rail stop: Dickson Interchange, 450 m north-west.
Nearest bus interchange: ANU Bus Stop, 2.7 km south.
Nearest airport: Canberra Airport, 7.7 km south-east.
The Canberra CBD is roughly 3 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 26 schools · 184 cafes & restaurants · 14 supermarkets · 19 parks — see them all on the Dickson profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Daramalan College 150 m · Emmaus Christian School 550 m · Lyneham High School 700 m · North Ainslie Primary School 950 m · Brindabella Christian College 950 m · Lyneham Primary School 1 km · Saint Josephs Primary 1.2 km · Blue Gum Community School 1.2 km
Groceries: Swan Asian Grocery 350 m · Deji Asian Supermarket 350 m · Abuy Asian Grocery 400 m · Woolworths 450 m · Coles 550 m · Lyneham Supaexpress 1.1 km · IGA 1.2 km · Braddon Supermarket 1.2 km
Parks and reserves: Jandura Park 950 m · Dickson Wetland 1 km · Southwell Park 1.1 km · Wakefield Gardens 1.1 km · Bill Pye Park 1.2 km · Baker Gardens 1.7 km · Corroboree Park 1.7 km · Banksia Street Wetland 1.7 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Dickson, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Crimson Rosella · Pied Currawong · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Red Wattlebird · Magpie-lark.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Dickson, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dickson here | 3,292 | — | 10/10 | 10% |
| Lyneham | 5,703 | — | 10/10 | 9% |
| Downer | 4,296 | — | 10/10 | 9% |
| Ainslie | 5,376 | — | 10/10 | 14% |
| Turner | 4,470 | — | 10/10 | 14% |
| O'connor | 5,917 | — | 10/10 | 25% |
| Braddon | 6,383 | — | 10/10 | 12% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Unincorporated ACT — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Canberra — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2602 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Dickson profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $500 a week, and about 46% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 54% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,139 people to 3,292. It sits about 3 km from the Canberra CBD in a straight line, and Canberra station is roughly 7.4 km away. Local government is Unincorporated ACT council, and the federal seat is Canberra.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Dickson vs Lyneham · Dickson vs Downer.
Nearby guides: Lyneham · Downer · Ainslie · Turner · O'connor · Braddon.
Keep an eye on Dickson
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