Downer
ACT 2602 · Unincorporated ACT
4,296 (2021) → 4,567 est. (2025) · High Growth
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Downer is a high growth suburb in Unincorporated ACT, ACT 2602, about 4km from Canberra CBD. Recent property sales in Downer are too limited to report a reliable median price. The suburb has no schools recorded, a transport score of 57/100, and is about 107km inland. Downer has an overall score of 76/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 40/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (3.03%), China (2.65%), India (1.91%), Vietnam (1.54%), New Zealand (1.09%)
Top languages: Mandarin (3%), Vietnamese (1.82%), Greek (1.05%), Spanish (0.95%), Nepali (0.86%)
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
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1131 (above the national average of 1000).
No schools inside the suburb boundary — the schools below are in adjoining suburbs (counted within 10km for the education score).
Nearby (within 10km)
- Daramalan CollegeSecondary · Independent · 1.1kmICSEA 1118
- Dickson CollegeSecondary · Government · 1.1kmICSEA 1106
- Rosary Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.1kmICSEA 1123
- Emmaus Christian SchoolCombined · Independent · 1.1kmICSEA 1138
- Majura Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.2kmICSEA 1126
- North Ainslie Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 1140
- Lyneham High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1141
- Brindabella Christian CollegeCombined · Independent · 1.5kmICSEA 1146
- Lyneham Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.9kmICSEA 1134
- Blue Gum Community SchoolCombined · Independent · 1.9kmICSEA 1109
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.3kmICSEA 1130
- Merici CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 2.6kmICSEA 1124
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
Fitness paradise
Top 20% nationally — gyms, leisure centres, pools and sports fields all close by. Easy to stay active without travelling far.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Outdoor paradise
Top 20% nationally — abundant parks and green space, plus trails, bike paths and places to enjoy the outdoors.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Rich cultural scene
Well above average — a strong mix of cultural venues nearby.
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
Solid scene
Well above average for licensed venues — you won't struggle for a night out or a good meal.
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
Childcare desert
Very limited childcare services in and around this suburb — families may face significant travel for childcare.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
High GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Unincorporated ACT
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Frequently asked questions about Downer
Is Downer safe?
Downer has a residential safety score of 40/100, 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 3,468 per 100,000 across all categories.
How far is Downer from Canberra CBD?
Downer is about 4.3 km from Canberra CBD, an estimated 25 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Downer?
Downer has 0 schools. Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Downer?
Downer has a transport score of 57/100 and 18 bus stops.