Aranda vs Macquarie

Macquarie is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Aranda. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Aranda, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Aranda: a median of $1.36 million, against $1 million in Macquarie, and rent is higher there too. Aranda is closer to the city centre: 7.3 km, against 9.1 km. On these figures, Aranda tends to suit couples, while Macquarie suits young adults, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 46%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (88% vs 62%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Aranda leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 24%)
  • Macquarie has cheaper houses ($1,000,000 vs $1,365,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Macquarie

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $530/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Macquarie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 67/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Macquarie

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 12%)
  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 67/100)

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

Investors

Macquarie

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (15.0% vs 8.9%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Aranda and Macquarie 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 Macquarie
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 Macquarie
Walkability 67 / 85
Aranda — Walkability: 67/100 Macquarie — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 28 / 25
Aranda — Safety: 28/100 Macquarie — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Aranda — Low fire risk: 100/100 Macquarie — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Aranda — Low flood risk: 100/100 Macquarie — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Aranda has higher household incomes ($164,372 vs $101,244); Aranda rents higher ($530/wk vs $400/wk).

Aranda Macquarie
Population 2,605 3,104
+19% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +15.0%
Median age 42 37
Median household income $164,372/yr
+38% vs other
 $101,244/yr
Median weekly rent $530/wk
+25% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Aranda Macquarie
0-4 5.5% / 4.8%
Aranda — 0-4: 5.5% Macquarie — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 14.2% / 11.6%
Aranda — 5-14: 14.2% Macquarie — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.5% / 4.3%
Aranda — 15-19: 5.5% Macquarie — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 6.3% / 7.8%
Aranda — 20-24: 6.3% Macquarie — 20-24: 7.8%
25-34 10.4% / 17.4%
Aranda — 25-34: 10.4% Macquarie — 25-34: 17.4%
35-44 13.2% / 15.2%
Aranda — 35-44: 13.2% Macquarie — 35-44: 15.2%
45-54 13.1% / 11.4%
Aranda — 45-54: 13.1% Macquarie — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 13.0% / 10.0%
Aranda — 55-64: 13.0% Macquarie — 55-64: 10.0%
65-74 9.3% / 8.9%
Aranda — 65-74: 9.3% Macquarie — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 7.6% / 7.2%
Aranda — 75-84: 7.6% Macquarie — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 2.4% / 1.9%
Aranda — 85+: 2.4% Macquarie — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Aranda 56.9% couple families
Aranda — Couple Families: 56.9% Aranda — Lone Person: 23.3% Aranda — One Parent Families: 12.3% Aranda — Group Household: 7.0% Aranda — Other Families: 0.5%
Macquarie 32.1% couple families
Macquarie — Couple Families: 32.1% Macquarie — Lone Person: 44.5% Macquarie — One Parent Families: 14.3% Macquarie — Group Household: 7.5% Macquarie — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household 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%
Macquarie 38.0% renting
Macquarie — Owned Outright: 32.7% Macquarie — Mortgage: 29.3% Macquarie — Renting: 38.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Aranda Macquarie
Bachelor Degree 23.3% / 20.9%
Aranda — Bachelor Degree: 23.3% Macquarie — Bachelor Degree: 20.9%
Postgraduate Degree 18.6% / 13.5%
Aranda — Postgraduate Degree: 18.6% Macquarie — Postgraduate Degree: 13.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.8% / 8.5%
Aranda — Certificate III & IV: 4.8% Macquarie — Certificate III & IV: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 6.0%
Aranda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Macquarie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.6% / 4.4%
Aranda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6% Macquarie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.3%).

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 Macquarie
England 4.5% / 3.5%
Aranda — England: 4.5% Macquarie — England: 3.5%
China 3.1% / 2.4%
Aranda — China: 3.1% Macquarie — China: 2.4%
India 1.5% / 2.6%
Aranda — India: 1.5% Macquarie — India: 2.6%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.9%
Aranda — New Zealand: 1.4% Macquarie — New Zealand: 0.9%
Vietnam — / 1.7%
Aranda — Vietnam: not among its largest Macquarie — Vietnam: 1.7%
Philippines — / 1.1%
Aranda — Philippines: not among its largest Macquarie — Philippines: 1.1%
Scotland 0.7% / —
Aranda — Scotland: 0.7% Macquarie — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Aranda 87.5% houses
Aranda — Houses: 87.5% Aranda — Flats / Apartments: 2.3% Aranda — Townhouses: 10.1%
Macquarie 61.6% houses
Macquarie — Houses: 61.6% Macquarie — Flats / Apartments: 24.0% Macquarie — Townhouses: 14.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Aranda Macquarie
Median house price $1,365,000 $1,000,000
Median unit price — $585,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 30 sales
 22 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 Macquarie
3 bed $1.11M / $929K
Aranda — 3 bed: $1.11M (9 sales) Macquarie — 3 bed: $929K (24 sales)

9 vs 24 sales

4 bed $1.39M / $1.29M
Aranda — 4 bed: $1.39M (30 sales) Macquarie — 4 bed: $1.29M (13 sales)

30 vs 13 sales

Development activity

Aranda Macquarie
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 Macquarie
Houses 2.9%
$850/wk on $1.5M
 4.1%
$730/wk on $922K
Units — 7.8%
$550/wk on $365K

Ranking within ACT

Aranda Macquarie
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 90% of ACT Higher than 11% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 59% of ACT Higher than 91% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 47% of ACT Higher than 44% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 15% of ACT Higher than 51% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 8% of ACT Higher than 37% of ACT
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 95% of ACT

Liveability

Macquarie is more walkable (85 vs 67); Aranda scores higher overall (78 vs 65).

Aranda Macquarie
Grade A
same for both
Score 78/100 65/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Aranda Macquarie
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 High
75/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Aranda Macquarie
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 2
same for both
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, 2.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 2.5%

Schools in Aranda

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

Schools in Macquarie

  • Canberra High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Macquarie Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Aranda Macquarie
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 9
Parks & reserves 1
same for both
Childcare 4
same for both
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Aranda Macquarie
Walkability score 67/100 85/100
Distance to Canberra 7.3 km 9.1 km
+25% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 15 min
Public transport score 71/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 24.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 58.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.3%
postcode 2614
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 2614
same for both

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 Macquarie
Car (driver) 61.2% / 67.4%
Aranda — Car (driver): 61.2% Macquarie — Car (driver): 67.4%
Worked from Home 17.0% / 11.7%
Aranda — Worked from Home: 17.0% Macquarie — Worked from Home: 11.7%
Bus 8.0% / 7.7%
Aranda — Bus: 8.0% Macquarie — Bus: 7.7%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 6.9%
Aranda — Car (passenger): 5.4% Macquarie — Car (passenger): 6.9%
Bicycle 5.7% / 3.2%
Aranda — Bicycle: 5.7% Macquarie — Bicycle: 3.2%
Walked Only 2.5% / 3.2%
Aranda — Walked Only: 2.5% Macquarie — Walked Only: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.4%).

Setting

Aranda Macquarie
Elevation 643 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 616 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Aranda Macquarie
Connectivity score 45/100 56/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,248 premises
 20%
1,603 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Aranda Macquarie
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

Macquarie

Inner Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Aranda

Aranda vs Belconnen Aranda vs Belconnen Aranda vs Bruce Aranda vs Cook

Other comparisons with Macquarie

Macquarie vs Belconnen Macquarie vs Belconnen Macquarie vs Bruce Macquarie vs Page Macquarie vs Cook Macquarie vs Weetangera
Full data on Aranda Full data on Macquarie
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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.

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