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
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 1073
Nearby (within 10km)
- Burgmann Anglican SchoolCombined · Independent · 0.8kmICSEA 1160
- Gungahlin CollegeSecondary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1062
- Holy Spirit Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.2kmICSEA 1082
- Gold Creek SchoolCombined · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1055
- Franklin SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.3kmICSEA 1097
- St John Paul II CollegeSecondary · Catholic · 2.5kmICSEA 1089
- Harrison SchoolCombined · Government · 2.9kmICSEA 1065
- Ngunnawal Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.9kmICSEA 1037
- Mother Teresa SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.1kmICSEA 1100
- Giralang Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.1kmICSEA 1077
- Good Shepherd Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.3kmICSEA 1101
- St Michael's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.3kmICSEA 1077
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
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
Population & Growth
High GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Unincorporated ACT
Compare Palmerston with another suburb
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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 1073 (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.