Moving to Downer ACT 2602
What the official numbers say about living in Downer — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $420 a week, against a median household income of $2,267 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Downer grew 21% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (3,555 → 4,296 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, China, India; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Vietnamese, Greek.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Downer sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (67% of workers), while 14% work from home.
Nearest train station: Canberra, 8.4 km south.
Nearest light rail stop: Swinden Street, 850 m west.
Nearest bus interchange: ANU Bus Stop, 4 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Canberra Airport, 8.1 km south-east.
The Canberra CBD is roughly 4 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 25 schools · 76 cafes & restaurants · 11 supermarkets · 16 parks — see them all on the Downer profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Dickson College 1 km · Rosary Primary School 1 km · Emmaus Christian School 1.1 km · Daramalan College 1.1 km · Blue Gum Community School 1.2 km · North Ainslie Primary School 1.2 km · Majura Primary School 1.2 km · Brindabella Christian College 1.5 km
Groceries: Coles 750 m · Woolworths 800 m · Swan Asian Grocery 900 m · Abuy Asian Grocery 950 m · Deji Asian Supermarket 1000 m · SupaBarn Express 1.1 km · Hackett IGA 1.8 km · Lyneham Supaexpress 1.9 km
Parks and reserves: Watson Micro-forest 950 m · Dickson Wetland 950 m · Southwell Park 1.2 km · Flemington Park 1.3 km · Central Park 1.4 km · Bill Pye Park 1.6 km · Calvert Park 1.6 km · Drover Square 1.6 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Downer, 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 Downer, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downer here | 4,296 | — | 10/10 | 65% |
| Dickson | 3,292 | — | 10/10 | 34% |
| Lyneham | 5,703 | — | 10/10 | 30% |
| Ainslie | 5,376 | — | 10/10 | 68% |
| Watson | 6,727 | — | 10/10 | 47% |
| Hackett | 3,227 | — | 10/10 | 73% |
| O'connor | 5,917 | — | 10/10 | 78% |
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 Downer profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $420 a week.
The population grew 21% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 3,555 people to 4,296. It sits about 4 km from the Canberra CBD in a straight line. Local government is Unincorporated ACT council, and the federal seat is Canberra.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Downer vs Dickson · Downer vs Lyneham.
Nearby guides: Dickson · Lyneham · Ainslie · Watson · Hackett · O'connor.
Keep an eye on Downer
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