Charnwood
ACT 2615 · Unincorporated ACT
3,055 (2021) → 3,091 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Charnwood is a moderate growth suburb in Unincorporated ACT, ACT 2615, about 13km from Canberra CBD. Recent property sales in Charnwood are too limited to report a reliable median price. The suburb has 3 schools, a transport score of 50/100, and is about 118km inland. Charnwood has an overall score of 58/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 47/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: Philippines (2.16%), England (2.09%), India (1.8%), New Zealand (0.98%), Vietnam (0.88%)
Top languages: Arabic (1.31%), Vietnamese (1.24%), Punjabi (1.05%), Tagalog (1.01%), Mandarin (0.92%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: ACT Policing (suburb-level) · Updated 2024
Schools
Reasonable school mix
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of schools, though the strongest options may require some travel.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1046 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- St Thomas Aquinas Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1045
- Charnwood-Dunlop SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1001
- Brindabella Christian College - Charnwood campusPrimary · Independent
Nearby (within 10km)
- Fraser Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 1050
- Melba Copland Secondary SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.1km
- Latham Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.2kmICSEA 1033
- Mount Rogers Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.2kmICSEA 1054
- Macgregor Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1038
- St Francis Xavier CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 2.7kmICSEA 1076
- Melba Copland Secondary School Copland Campus Years 11 - 12Secondary · Government · 2.7kmICSEA 1032
- Cranleigh SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.8kmICSEA 1041
- St Monica's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.9kmICSEA 1077
- St John the Apostle Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3kmICSEA 1062
- Miles Franklin Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.3kmICSEA 1087
- Kingsford Smith SchoolCombined · Government · 3.3kmICSEA 1006
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Great outdoor access
Well above average — plenty of parkland and outdoor recreation within easy reach.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Some cultural venues
Around the national average — a handful of cultural venues, with more on offer a short trip away.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Quiet area
Pretty light on licensed venues. Good for peace and quiet; less so for spontaneous nights out.
Government liquor register data is not yet available for ACT. Venue counts are estimated from OpenStreetMap within 2km of the suburb centre.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: OpenStreetMap
Childcare
Outstanding childcare access
Top 20% nationally for childcare service density and quality — an excellent suburb for families with young children.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Unincorporated ACT
Compare Charnwood with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Charnwood
Is Charnwood safe?
Charnwood has a residential safety score of 47/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 3,666 per 100,000 across all categories.
How far is Charnwood from Canberra CBD?
Charnwood is about 12.5 km from Canberra CBD, an estimated 50 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Charnwood?
Charnwood has 3 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1023 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Charnwood?
Charnwood has a transport score of 50/100 and 19 bus stops.