Belconnen vs Nicholls

Belconnen is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 44 in Nicholls. In Belconnen, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Nicholls, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Belconnen is closer to the city centre: 13.2 km, against 15.4 km. On these figures, Belconnen tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Nicholls suits couples.

Belconnen and Nicholls are both ACT suburbs, but they appeal to quite different priorities. Nicholls has a notably higher median household income of $162,968 compared to Belconnen's $92,352, and scores much better on liveability (55 versus 12) and walkability (50 versus 26). Belconnen is slightly closer to the CBD at 13.2 km and has a younger population with a median age of 30, whereas Nicholls skews older at 44 years. Rent is higher in Nicholls at $502 per week versus $430 in Belconnen, though both suburbs face low bushfire risk. Nicholls suits buyers seeking a more established, walkable neighbourhood with higher incomes, while Belconnen may appeal to those prioritising proximity to the city and a younger demographic.

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

Nicholls

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 0%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (76% vs 25%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • But Belconnen has more parks and reserves (12 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Belconnen

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (66% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $502/wk)
  • But Nicholls leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Belconnen

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (25 min vs 30 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (13.2 km vs 15.4 km)
  • But Nicholls is more walkable (50/100 vs 26/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nicholls

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 90/100)
  • is more walkable (50/100 vs 26/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 9%)
  • But Belconnen has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 11%)

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

Where they sit

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

Belconnen Nicholls
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.

Belconnen Nicholls
Walkability 26 / 50
Belconnen — Walkability: 26/100 Nicholls — Walkability: 50/100
Safety 10 / 57
Belconnen — Safety: 10/100 Nicholls — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 12
Belconnen — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nicholls — Low fire risk: 12/100
Low flood risk 24 / 45
Belconnen — Low flood risk: 24/100 Nicholls — Low flood risk: 45/100

Demographics

Nicholls has higher household incomes ($162,968 vs $92,352); Nicholls skews older (44 vs 30).

Belconnen Nicholls
Population 8,502
+21% vs other
 6,680
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — -2.7%
Median age 30 44
Median household income $92,352/yr $162,968/yr
+76% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $502/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belconnen Nicholls
0-4 4.5% / 4.0%
Belconnen — 0-4: 4.5% Nicholls — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 4.2% / 13.1%
Belconnen — 5-14: 4.2% Nicholls — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 2.7% / 7.1%
Belconnen — 15-19: 2.7% Nicholls — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 15.6% / 7.1%
Belconnen — 20-24: 15.6% Nicholls — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 37.8% / 8.7%
Belconnen — 25-34: 37.8% Nicholls — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 14.2% / 10.8%
Belconnen — 35-44: 14.2% Nicholls — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 7.0% / 17.2%
Belconnen — 45-54: 7.0% Nicholls — 45-54: 17.2%
55-64 4.8% / 15.4%
Belconnen — 55-64: 4.8% Nicholls — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 3.8% / 10.6%
Belconnen — 65-74: 3.8% Nicholls — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 3.2% / 5.1%
Belconnen — 75-84: 3.2% Nicholls — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 2.2% / 0.9%
Belconnen — 85+: 2.2% Nicholls — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (37.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Belconnen 15.8% couple families
Belconnen — Couple Families: 15.8% Belconnen — Lone Person: 58.2% Belconnen — One Parent Families: 9.1% Belconnen — Group Household: 14.4% Belconnen — Other Families: 2.5%
Nicholls 65.0% couple families
Nicholls — Couple Families: 65.0% Nicholls — Lone Person: 19.8% Nicholls — One Parent Families: 11.5% Nicholls — Group Household: 2.6% Nicholls — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Belconnen 66.2% renting
Belconnen — Owned Outright: 11.8% Belconnen — Mortgage: 22.0% Belconnen — Renting: 66.2%
Nicholls 14.8% renting
Nicholls — Owned Outright: 41.5% Nicholls — Mortgage: 43.7% Nicholls — Renting: 14.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Belconnen Nicholls
Bachelor Degree 27.5% / 18.9%
Belconnen — Bachelor Degree: 27.5% Nicholls — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Postgraduate Degree 18.7% / 10.7%
Belconnen — Postgraduate Degree: 18.7% Nicholls — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 8.9%
Belconnen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Nicholls — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 8.4%
Belconnen — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Nicholls — Certificate III & IV: 8.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 3.9%
Belconnen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Nicholls — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.5%).

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.

Belconnen Nicholls
China 11.1% / 3.8%
Belconnen — China: 11.1% Nicholls — China: 3.8%
India 6.2% / 2.3%
Belconnen — India: 6.2% Nicholls — India: 2.3%
Nepal 5.7% / —
Belconnen — Nepal: 5.7% Nicholls — Nepal: not among its largest
England 2.0% / 3.6%
Belconnen — England: 2.0% Nicholls — England: 3.6%
Vietnam 1.4% / 1.4%
Belconnen — Vietnam: 1.4% Nicholls — Vietnam: 1.4%
Philippines 2.4% / —
Belconnen — Philippines: 2.4% Nicholls — Philippines: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.3%
Belconnen — New Zealand: not among its largest Nicholls — New Zealand: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Belconnen 0.5% houses
Belconnen — Houses: 0.5% Belconnen — Flats / Apartments: 74.8% Belconnen — Townhouses: 24.7%
Nicholls 89.3% houses
Nicholls — Houses: 89.3% Nicholls — Flats / Apartments: 0.3% Nicholls — Townhouses: 10.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Belconnen Nicholls
Median house price — $1,227,500
Median unit price — $800,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 22 days
from 86 sales

Development activity

Belconnen Nicholls
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.

Belconnen Nicholls
Houses — 4.5%
$750/wk on $875K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Belconnen Nicholls
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 8% of ACT Higher than 89% of ACT
Schools — Higher than 100% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 17% of ACT Higher than 34% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 17% of ACT Higher than 37% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of ACT Higher than 90% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 66% of ACT

Liveability

Nicholls scores higher overall (52 vs 24); Nicholls is more walkable (50 vs 26).

Belconnen Nicholls
Grade D B
Score 24/100 52/100
Socio-economic band — very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Nicholls carries more bushfire risk (88 vs 0); Belconnen carries more crime risk (90 vs 43).

Belconnen Nicholls
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
88/100
Crime High
90/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood High
76/100
 Moderate
55/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Belconnen Nicholls
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 6.4 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 6.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.6% 3.5%

Schools in Belconnen

  • University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra Government · Secondary

Schools in Nicholls

  • Holy Spirit Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St John Paul II College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Gold Creek School Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Belconnen Nicholls
Supermarkets 18 1
Cafes & restaurants 87 5
Parks & reserves 12 2
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 9 1
Pharmacies 5 1
Police stations 4 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 0
Fuel stations 3 2
EV chargers 0 2
Beaches 6 0
Waterways 1 2

Mobility

Nicholls sits further from the CBD (15.4 km vs 13.2 km).

Belconnen Nicholls
Walkability score 26/100 50/100
Distance to Canberra 13.2 km 15.4 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 455.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 99.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2615
 2.7%
postcode 2913
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 2615
 47
postcode 2913

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.

Belconnen Nicholls
Car (driver) 52.8% / 75.5%
Belconnen — Car (driver): 52.8% Nicholls — Car (driver): 75.5%
Worked from Home 9.7% / 14.6%
Belconnen — Worked from Home: 9.7% Nicholls — Worked from Home: 14.6%
Bus 18.2% / 1.7%
Belconnen — Bus: 18.2% Nicholls — Bus: 1.7%
Walked Only 11.9% / 0.6%
Belconnen — Walked Only: 11.9% Nicholls — Walked Only: 0.6%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 6.3%
Belconnen — Car (passenger): 5.8% Nicholls — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Bicycle 1.2% / 0.8%
Belconnen — Bicycle: 1.2% Nicholls — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.5%).

Setting

Belconnen Nicholls
Elevation 613 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 627 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Belconnen Nicholls
Connectivity score 69/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
5,370 premises
 100%
2,517 premises

Climate

Belconnen Nicholls
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)

Belconnen Nicholls
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

Belconnen Nicholls
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Belconnen Nicholls
Division Fenner
same for both
Member Andrew Leigh
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Belconnen Nicholls
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Belconnen

Apartments Middle-Ring Multicultural Professionals Townhouses

Nicholls

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belconnen

Belconnen vs Dunlop Belconnen vs Macgregor Belconnen vs Holt Belconnen vs Evatt Belconnen vs Crace Belconnen vs Giralang

Other comparisons with Nicholls

Nicholls vs Ngunnawal Nicholls vs Gungahlin Nicholls vs Casey Nicholls vs Palmerston Nicholls vs Crace Nicholls vs Giralang
Full data on Belconnen Full data on Nicholls
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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