Spence
ACT 2615 · Unincorporated ACT
2,587 (2021) → 2,561 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Spence is a moderate growth suburb in Unincorporated ACT, ACT 2615, about 11km from Canberra CBD. Recent property sales in Spence are too limited to report a reliable median price. The suburb has no schools recorded, a transport score of 57/100, and is about 116km inland. Spence has an overall score of 59/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 37/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (2.86%), China (0.93%), Germany (0.85%), USA (0.7%), Chile (0.58%)
Top languages: Spanish (1.43%), Mandarin (1.08%), Greek (0.85%), Vietnamese (0.85%), Serbian (0.66%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Residential Safety
Small population (under 3,000) — crime rates may be volatile due to low sample size.
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 1051 (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)
- Evatt Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1055
- Mount Rogers Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1054
- Miles Franklin Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 1087
- Melba Copland Secondary School Copland Campus Years 11 - 12Secondary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 1032
- St Monica's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.7kmICSEA 1077
- Fraser Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.1kmICSEA 1050
- Melba Copland Secondary SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.2km
- Charnwood-Dunlop SchoolPrimary · Government · 2.6kmICSEA 1001
- Giralang Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.2kmICSEA 1077
- St Thomas Aquinas Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 3.2kmICSEA 1045
- Brindabella Christian College - Charnwood campusPrimary · Independent · 3.2km
- Florey Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.3kmICSEA 1039
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
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
Not much nightlife
No licensed on-premises venues recorded in this suburb.
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
Strong options nearby
Well above average for childcare services — good choice and quality, with most families finding a place without a long drive.
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 Spence with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Spence
Is Spence safe?
Spence has a residential safety score of 37/100, 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 3,711 per 100,000 across all categories.
How far is Spence from Canberra CBD?
Spence is about 10.9 km from Canberra CBD, an estimated 45 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Spence?
Spence has 0 schools. Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Spence?
Spence has a transport score of 57/100 and 24 bus stops.