Australian Capital Territory · Postcode 2602
Watson postcode and suburb data
Australian Capital Territory · Phone area code 02 · 5 km from Canberra
Suburb snapshot
Watson at a glance vs ACT
Fast facts and benchmark bars show the suburb's key postcode, Census, SEIFA, school and LGA signals in context.
Quick facts
Benchmarks against ACT
Income, rent and SEIFA figures are from the ABS 2021 Census and are reported in 2021 dollars, not adjusted for subsequent inflation.
Where Watson ranks: SEIFA decile 10 puts it in the top 20% of Australia for socio-economic advantage.
ABS Census 2021 · SEIFA 2021Detailed comparison table
Watson vs the ACT average and the national average, using population-weighted 2021 Census data.
| Metric | Watson | ACT avg | AU avg | Greater Canberra |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household income/wk | $2,414 ≈ACT | $2,444 | $1,836 | $2,445 |
| Rent/wk | $437 ≈ACT | $446 | $390 | $447 |
| Mortgage/month | $2,067 ≈ACT | $2,115 | $1,958 | $2,115 |
| Median age | 34 | 37.5 | 45.0 | 37.0 |
| SEIFA decile | 10/10 ≈ACT | 10.0/10 | 6.0/10 | 10.0/10 |
| Unemployment | 2.8% -ACT | 4.0% | 5.0% | 4.0% |
Green pill = at least 10% above the ACT average; red = at least 10% below; grey = within 10%. For unemployment, colour polarity is inverted: lower is better.
Postcode 2602 covers Watson, an inland suburb of Canberra about 5 km from the city centre. It forms part of the Australian Capital Territory region of Australian Capital Territory. Local government services are provided by Unincorporated ACT.
According to the 2021 Census, Watson has a population of 6,727 with a median age of 34. The median weekly household income is $2,414, close to the ACT average. The unemployment rate is 2.8%, lower than the ACT average. The Indigenous population is 124 (1.8% of residents).
Housing in Watson includes a median weekly rent of $437, median monthly mortgage repayment of $2,067, with 2,658 total dwellings. Owner-occupied dwellings (owned or mortgaged) make up 66.1% of housing.
On the SEIFA Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, Watson scores in decile 10 out of 10, which is well above the national average.
Schools in Watson include Majura Primary School and Rosary Primary School.
Watson is part of the North Canberra statistical area in Australian Capital Territory.
Watson details
Location, Census, housing, SEIFA and geography fields used across this profile.
| Postcode | 2602 |
| State | Australian Capital Territory (ACT) |
| Phone Area Code | 02 |
| Population (2021) | 6,727 |
| Median Age | 34 years |
| Median Household Income (Census 2021) | $2,414/week |
| Median Personal Income (Census 2021) | $1,354/week |
| Median Weekly Rent (Census 2021) | $437 |
| Median Monthly Mortgage (Census 2021) | $2,067 |
| Average Household Size | 2.4 persons |
| Area | 3.7 km² |
| Population Density | 1831/km² |
| Total Dwellings | 2,658 |
| Australian Citizens | 86.1% |
| Indigenous Population | 124 (1.8%) |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% |
| SEIFA IRSAD Decile | 10/10 (well above average) |
| Latitude | -35.238333 |
| Longitude | 149.153333 |
| Distance from Canberra | 5 km |
| Region (SA4) | Australian Capital Territory |
| Area (SA3) | North Canberra |
| Local Government | Unincorporated ACT |
| Federal Electorate | Canberra |
| State Electorate | Kurrajong |
| Time Zone | AEST (UTC+10), Australia/Sydney (standard time) |
Age Profile
Show counts
| 0–14 years | 1,344 (20.0%) |
| 15–24 years | 763 (11.3%) |
| 25–44 years | 2,517 (37.4%) |
| 45–64 years | 1,467 (21.8%) |
| 65+ years | 648 (9.6%) |
Housing Tenure
SEIFA socio-economic index
Health Conditions (2021 Census)
| Asthma | 661 (9.8%) |
| Arthritis | 427 (6.3%) |
| Diabetes | 174 (2.6%) |
| Cancer | 147 (2.2%) |
| Heart Disease | 140 (2.1%) |
| Lung Condition | 81 (1.2%) |
| Dementia | 20 (0.3%) |
Long-term health conditions self-reported in the 2021 Census. Persons may report more than one condition.
Motor Vehicles per Dwelling
| No vehicle | 140 (5.3%) |
| 1 vehicle | 1,211 (45.9%) |
| 2 vehicles | 1,007 (38.2%) |
| 3+ vehicles | 278 (10.5%) |
Schools in Watson
ACARA 2025 school profiles for schools located in Watson. ICSEA is shown where ACARA publishes it.
Suburbs Near Watson
Same Postcode (2602)
More Watson Data
Page last reviewed . Data sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (CC BY 4.0), SEIFA 2021 IRSAD, ACARA school profiles 2025. How this data is sourced.