Aranda vs Bruce

Bruce is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 42 in Aranda. In Aranda, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. In Bruce, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Aranda: a median of $1.36 million, against $1.17 million in Bruce, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Aranda tends to suit families with children and couples, while Bruce suits renters, young adults, and people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Aranda

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 21%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 38%)
  • But Bruce has more childcare (7 vs 4)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Bruce

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,165,000 vs $1,365,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bruce

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $530/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Bruce

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (79% vs 12%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • But Aranda has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 11%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Bruce

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.3% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Aranda and Bruce drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Aranda Bruce
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Aranda Bruce
Walkability 67 / 65
Aranda — Walkability: 67/100 Bruce — Walkability: 65/100
Safety 28 / 30
Aranda — Safety: 28/100 Bruce — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 53
Aranda — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bruce — Low fire risk: 53/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Aranda — Low flood risk: 100/100 Bruce — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bruce has more residents (7,520 vs 2,605); Aranda skews older (42 vs 29).

Aranda Bruce
Population 2,605 7,520
+189% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +7.5%
Median age 42 29
Median household income $164,372/yr
+28% vs other
 $117,832/yr
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+19% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Aranda Bruce
0-4 5.5% / 3.9%
Aranda — 0-4: 5.5% Bruce — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 14.2% / 6.6%
Aranda — 5-14: 14.2% Bruce — 5-14: 6.6%
15-19 5.5% / 7.5%
Aranda — 15-19: 5.5% Bruce — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 6.3% / 17.8%
Aranda — 20-24: 6.3% Bruce — 20-24: 17.8%
25-34 10.4% / 26.2%
Aranda — 25-34: 10.4% Bruce — 25-34: 26.2%
35-44 13.2% / 12.9%
Aranda — 35-44: 13.2% Bruce — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 13.1% / 7.6%
Aranda — 45-54: 13.1% Bruce — 45-54: 7.6%
55-64 13.0% / 6.3%
Aranda — 55-64: 13.0% Bruce — 55-64: 6.3%
65-74 9.3% / 5.8%
Aranda — 65-74: 9.3% Bruce — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 7.6% / 3.5%
Aranda — 75-84: 7.6% Bruce — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 2.4% / 1.8%
Aranda — 85+: 2.4% Bruce — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Aranda 56.9% couple families
Aranda — Couple Families: 56.9% Aranda — Lone Person: 23.3% Aranda — Group Household: 7.0% Aranda — One Parent Families: 12.3% Aranda — Other Families: 0.5%
Bruce 28.6% couple families
Bruce — Couple Families: 28.6% Bruce — Lone Person: 44.1% Bruce — Group Household: 15.2% Bruce — One Parent Families: 9.2% Bruce — Other Families: 2.9%
Couple Families Lone Person Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Aranda 16.1% renting
Aranda — Owned Outright: 44.5% Aranda — Mortgage: 39.4% Aranda — Renting: 16.1%
Bruce 51.6% renting
Bruce — Owned Outright: 20.1% Bruce — Mortgage: 28.3% Bruce — Renting: 51.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Aranda Bruce
Bachelor Degree 23.3% / 25.5%
Aranda — Bachelor Degree: 23.3% Bruce — Bachelor Degree: 25.5%
Postgraduate Degree 18.6% / 16.7%
Aranda — Postgraduate Degree: 18.6% Bruce — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 6.5%
Aranda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Bruce — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.8% / 6.6%
Aranda — Certificate III & IV: 4.8% Bruce — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.6% / 4.0%
Aranda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6% Bruce — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.5%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Aranda Bruce
China 3.1% / 6.2%
Aranda — China: 3.1% Bruce — China: 6.2%
England 4.5% / 2.1%
Aranda — England: 4.5% Bruce — England: 2.1%
India 1.5% / 4.9%
Aranda — India: 1.5% Bruce — India: 4.9%
Nepal 0.7% / 3.5%
Aranda — Nepal: 0.7% Bruce — Nepal: 3.5%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.1%
Aranda — New Zealand: 1.4% Bruce — New Zealand: 1.1%
Vietnam — / 1.6%
Aranda — Vietnam: not among its largest Bruce — Vietnam: 1.6%
Scotland 0.7% / —
Aranda — Scotland: 0.7% Bruce — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Aranda 87.5% houses
Aranda — Houses: 87.5% Aranda — Townhouses: 10.1% Aranda — Flats / Apartments: 2.3%
Bruce 20.7% houses
Bruce — Houses: 20.7% Bruce — Townhouses: 45.8% Bruce — Flats / Apartments: 33.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Aranda Bruce
Median house price $1,365,000 $1,165,000
Median unit price — $417,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 30 sales
 44 days
from 28 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Aranda Bruce
3 bed $1.11M / $797K
Aranda — 3 bed: $1.11M (9 sales) Bruce — 3 bed: $797K (9 sales)

9 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.39M / $1.28M
Aranda — 4 bed: $1.39M (30 sales) Bruce — 4 bed: $1.28M (14 sales)

30 vs 14 sales

5 bed $1.8M / $1.5M
Aranda — 5 bed: $1.8M (5 sales) Bruce — 5 bed: $1.5M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Aranda Bruce
New dwellings approved 3,750
across Unincorporated ACT
same for both
Approvals change year on year -48%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Aranda Bruce
Houses 2.9%
$850/wk on $1.5M
 5.3%
$780/wk on $760K
Units — 6.3%
$500/wk on $412K

Ranking within ACT

Aranda Bruce
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 90% of ACT Higher than 34% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 59% of ACT Higher than 55% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 47% of ACT Higher than 29% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 15% of ACT Higher than 64% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 8% of ACT Higher than 93% of ACT
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 68% of ACT

Liveability

Aranda scores higher overall (78 vs 64).

Aranda Bruce
Grade A B
Score 78/100 64/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Bruce carries more bushfire risk (47 vs 0).

Aranda Bruce
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
47/100
Crime High
72/100
 High
70/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Aranda Bruce
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 1.7 km
 3
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 14.6%

Schools in Aranda

  • Aranda Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Vincent's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Bruce

  • Radford College Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Aranda Bruce
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2 7
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 4 7
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1

Mobility

Aranda Bruce
Walkability score 67/100 65/100
Distance to Canberra 7.3 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 12 min
Public transport score 71/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 24.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 356.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.3%
postcode 2614
 2.7%
postcode 2617
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 2614
 29
postcode 2617

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Aranda Bruce
Car (driver) 61.2% / 63.4%
Aranda — Car (driver): 61.2% Bruce — Car (driver): 63.4%
Worked from Home 17.0% / 10.4%
Aranda — Worked from Home: 17.0% Bruce — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Bus 8.0% / 12.9%
Aranda — Bus: 8.0% Bruce — Bus: 12.9%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 5.5%
Aranda — Car (passenger): 5.4% Bruce — Car (passenger): 5.5%
Bicycle 5.7% / 2.5%
Aranda — Bicycle: 5.7% Bruce — Bicycle: 2.5%
Walked Only 2.5% / 4.9%
Aranda — Walked Only: 2.5% Bruce — Walked Only: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.4%).

Setting

Aranda Bruce
Elevation 643 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 620 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Aranda Bruce
Connectivity score 45/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,248 premises
 24%
3,868 premises

Climate

Aranda Bruce
Annual rainfall 622 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Aranda Bruce
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.41 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Aranda Bruce
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Aranda Bruce
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Aranda Bruce
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Aranda

Inner Large Blocks Premium Professionals Quiet

Bruce

Affordable Apartments Inner Professionals Students Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Aranda

Aranda vs Belconnen Aranda vs Belconnen Aranda vs Macquarie Aranda vs Cook

Other comparisons with Bruce

Bruce vs Belconnen Bruce vs Kaleen Bruce vs O'Connor Bruce vs Lyneham Bruce vs Macquarie Bruce vs Lawson
Full data on Aranda Full data on Bruce
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or