Barton vs Kingston

Kingston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 39 in Barton. In both, about half of households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Barton is closer to the city centre: 6.6 km, against 8 km.

Kingston is significantly larger with 6,579 residents compared to Barton's 1,946, offering more suburban amenities and activity. Barton is closer to the CBD at 6.6 km versus Kingston's 8.0 km, and has lower crime risk at 57 versus 65. House prices differ notably—Barton's median is $845,000 while Kingston's is $645,000—though unit prices are nearly identical around $670,000. Kingston scores slightly higher on walkability (74 versus 70) and liveability (59 versus 56), while Barton has a higher gross rental yield on units at 5.6% compared to 5.1%. Both suburbs share the same median household income and socio-economic decile, making them comparable on affluence.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Barton

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Kingston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($645,000 vs $981,052)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Kingston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 70/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Kingston

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 70/100)
  • But Barton has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 12%)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Barton returns a higher gross yield on units (6.0% vs 5.1%)
  • Kingston is growing faster (48.7% vs 35.2%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Barton Kingston
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.

Barton Kingston
Walkability 70 / 78
Barton — Walkability: 70/100 Kingston — Walkability: 78/100
Safety 42 / 34
Barton — Safety: 42/100 Kingston — Safety: 34/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Barton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kingston — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 14 / 39
Barton — Low flood risk: 14/100 Kingston — Low flood risk: 39/100

Demographics

Kingston has more residents (6,579 vs 1,946); Barton skews older (39 vs 35).

Barton Kingston
Population 1,946 6,579
+238% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +35.2% +48.7%
Median age 39 35
Median household income $128,024/yr $128,388/yr
Median weekly rent $525/wk
+3% vs other
 $510/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Barton Kingston
0-4 2.8% / 3.6%
Barton — 0-4: 2.8% Kingston — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 4.6% / 5.0%
Barton — 5-14: 4.6% Kingston — 5-14: 5.0%
15-19 2.0% / 2.2%
Barton — 15-19: 2.0% Kingston — 15-19: 2.2%
20-24 6.6% / 7.0%
Barton — 20-24: 6.6% Kingston — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 26.6% / 30.3%
Barton — 25-34: 26.6% Kingston — 25-34: 30.3%
35-44 15.0% / 18.3%
Barton — 35-44: 15.0% Kingston — 35-44: 18.3%
45-54 13.5% / 11.3%
Barton — 45-54: 13.5% Kingston — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 12.4% / 10.4%
Barton — 55-64: 12.4% Kingston — 55-64: 10.4%
65-74 12.0% / 7.8%
Barton — 65-74: 12.0% Kingston — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 4.5% / 3.3%
Barton — 75-84: 4.5% Kingston — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 0.6% / 0.6%
Barton — 85+: 0.6% Kingston — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Barton 70.3% lone person
Barton — Lone Person: 70.3% Barton — Couple Families: 16.6% Barton — Group Household: 7.9% Barton — One Parent Families: 4.7% Barton — Other Families: 0.6%
Kingston 64.2% lone person
Kingston — Lone Person: 64.2% Kingston — Couple Families: 15.5% Kingston — Group Household: 10.5% Kingston — One Parent Families: 8.8% Kingston — Other Families: 1.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Barton 48.0% renting
Barton — Owned Outright: 23.2% Barton — Mortgage: 28.8% Barton — Renting: 48.0%
Kingston 51.4% renting
Kingston — Owned Outright: 17.7% Kingston — Mortgage: 31.0% Kingston — Renting: 51.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Barton Kingston
Bachelor Degree 29.6% / 30.6%
Barton — Bachelor Degree: 29.6% Kingston — Bachelor Degree: 30.6%
Postgraduate Degree 24.2% / 20.2%
Barton — Postgraduate Degree: 24.2% Kingston — Postgraduate Degree: 20.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 6.3% / 6.5%
Barton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 6.3% Kingston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 6.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 6.4%
Barton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Kingston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.8% / 4.5%
Barton — Certificate III & IV: 3.8% Kingston — Certificate III & IV: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.6%).

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.

Barton Kingston
England 4.2% / 3.7%
Barton — England: 4.2% Kingston — England: 3.7%
China 1.8% / 1.5%
Barton — China: 1.8% Kingston — China: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.5%
Barton — New Zealand: 1.6% Kingston — New Zealand: 1.5%
India 1.3% / 1.4%
Barton — India: 1.3% Kingston — India: 1.4%
Malaysia 0.9% / 0.8%
Barton — Malaysia: 0.9% Kingston — Malaysia: 0.8%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.8%
Barton — South Africa: 0.5% Kingston — South Africa: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Barton 90.8% flats / apartments
Barton — Flats / Apartments: 90.8% Barton — Townhouses: 3.0% Barton — Houses: 6.3%
Kingston 90.6% flats / apartments
Kingston — Flats / Apartments: 90.6% Kingston — Townhouses: 6.4% Kingston — Houses: 3.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Barton Kingston
Median house price $981,052 $645,000
Median unit price $677,500 $670,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 25 days
from 8 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Barton Kingston
1 bed $560K / $516K
Barton — 1 bed: $560K (32 sales) Kingston — 1 bed: $516K (88 sales)

32 vs 88 sales

2 bed $830K / $702K
Barton — 2 bed: $830K (41 sales) Kingston — 2 bed: $702K (164 sales)

41 vs 164 sales

3 bed $1.27M / $1.17M
Barton — 3 bed: $1.27M (10 sales) Kingston — 3 bed: $1.17M (24 sales)

10 vs 24 sales

Development activity

Barton Kingston
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.

Barton Kingston
Houses — 2.2%
$648/wk on $1.5M
Units 6.0%
$695/wk on $602K
 5.1%
$630/wk on $644K

Ranking within ACT

Barton Kingston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 59% of ACT Higher than 60% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 64% of ACT Higher than 79% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 78% of ACT Higher than 53% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of ACT Higher than 74% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 3% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 44% of ACT Higher than 20% of ACT

Liveability

Kingston scores higher overall (76 vs 68); Kingston is more walkable (78 vs 70).

Barton Kingston
Grade A
same for both
Score 68/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Barton carries more flood risk (86 vs 61).

Barton Kingston
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
58/100
 Moderate
66/100
Flood High
86/100
 Moderate
61/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Barton Kingston
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
UNSW Canberra, 0.0 km
 3
UNSW Canberra, 1.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 1.7%

Schools in Barton

  • Telopea Park School Government · Combined

Schools in Kingston

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Barton Kingston
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 14 40
Parks & reserves 7 3
Childcare 5 0
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
EV chargers 1 2
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Barton Kingston
Walkability score 70/100 78/100
Distance to Canberra 6.6 km 8 km
+21% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 15 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 74.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 66.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.2%
postcode 2600
 3.6%
postcode 2604
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 2600
 16
postcode 2604

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.

Barton Kingston
Car (driver) 41.2% / 54.4%
Barton — Car (driver): 41.2% Kingston — Car (driver): 54.4%
Walked Only 29.2% / 12.8%
Barton — Walked Only: 29.2% Kingston — Walked Only: 12.8%
Worked from Home 13.8% / 14.8%
Barton — Worked from Home: 13.8% Kingston — Worked from Home: 14.8%
Bus 7.7% / 7.6%
Barton — Bus: 7.7% Kingston — Bus: 7.6%
Bicycle 4.2% / 5.1%
Barton — Bicycle: 4.2% Kingston — Bicycle: 5.1%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 5.2%
Barton — Car (passenger): 4.0% Kingston — Car (passenger): 5.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.4%).

Setting

Barton Kingston
Elevation 559 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 562 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Barton Kingston
Connectivity score 72/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 22%
1,616 premises
 35%
4,325 premises

Climate

Barton Kingston
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)

Barton Kingston
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Barton Kingston
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Barton Kingston
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Barton Kingston
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Barton

Apartments Inner Parks Premium Professionals

Kingston

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals River Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Barton

Barton vs Campbell Barton vs Griffith Barton vs Forrest Barton vs Fyshwick

Other comparisons with Kingston

Kingston vs Griffith Kingston vs Fyshwick
Full data on Barton Full data on Kingston
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.

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