Palmerston
ACT 2913 · Unincorporated ACT
5,579 (2021) → 5,567 est. (2025) · High Growth
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Palmerston is a high growth suburb in Unincorporated ACT, ACT 2913, about 10km from Canberra CBD. Recent property sales in Palmerston are too limited to report a reliable median price. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 55/100, and is about 112km inland. Palmerston has an overall score of 69/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 89/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2913 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: China (3.84%), India (3.64%), Vietnam (2.42%), England (2.04%), Philippines (1.22%)
Top languages: Mandarin (4.79%), Vietnamese (3.01%), Cantonese (1.67%), Arabic (1.29%), Urdu (1.24%)
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
Strong school options
Well above average — good-quality schools within reach and a healthy range of options to choose from.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1080 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Palmerston District Primary SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1077
Nearby (within 10km)
- Burgmann Anglican SchoolCombined · Independent · 0.8kmICSEA 1165
- Gungahlin CollegeSecondary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1061
- Holy Spirit Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.2kmICSEA 1085
- Gold Creek SchoolCombined · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1052
- Franklin SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1098
- St John Paul II CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 2.5kmICSEA 1089
- Harrison SchoolCombined · Government · 2.9kmICSEA 1058
- Ngunnawal Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.9kmICSEA 1049
- Mother Teresa SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.1kmICSEA 1102
- Giralang Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.1kmICSEA 1070
- Good Shepherd Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.3kmICSEA 1095
- St Michael's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.3kmICSEA 1094
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
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.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Decent access
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of fitness facilities, with more variety a short drive away.
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
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
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
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 · Updated July 2026
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
High GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Unincorporated ACT
Compare Palmerston with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Palmerston
Is Palmerston safe?
Palmerston has a residential safety score of 89/100, 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 1,147 per 100,000 across all categories.
How far is Palmerston from Canberra CBD?
Palmerston is about 9.7 km from Canberra CBD, an estimated 41 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Palmerston?
Palmerston has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1077 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Palmerston?
Palmerston has a transport score of 55/100 and 24 bus stops.