Belconnen vs Strathnairn

In Belconnen, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Strathnairn, 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 16.4 km. On these figures, Belconnen tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Strathnairn suits families with children and couples.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Belconnen has more childcare (8 vs 3)
  • Strathnairn has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 0%)

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 6%)
  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $515/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Belconnen sits closer to the CBD (13.2 km vs 16.4 km)
  • Strathnairn is more walkable (34/100 vs 26/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Belconnen

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 17%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (9% vs 2%)
  • But Strathnairn is more walkable (34/100 vs 26/100)

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

Where they sit

Belconnen and Strathnairn 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 Strathnairn
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 Strathnairn
Walkability 26 / 34
Belconnen — Walkability: 26/100 Strathnairn — Walkability: 34/100
Safety 10 / 17
Belconnen — Safety: 10/100 Strathnairn — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 2
Belconnen — Low fire risk: 100/100 Strathnairn — Low fire risk: 2/100
Low flood risk 24 / 100
Belconnen — Low flood risk: 24/100 Strathnairn — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Belconnen has more residents (8,502 vs 714); Strathnairn has higher household incomes ($136,708 vs $92,352).

Belconnen Strathnairn
Population 8,502
+92% vs other
 714
Population trend (2016 → 2021) —
same for both
Median age 30
same for both
Median household income $92,352/yr $136,708/yr
+48% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $515/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belconnen Strathnairn
0-4 4.5% / 11.5%
Belconnen — 0-4: 4.5% Strathnairn — 0-4: 11.5%
5-14 4.2% / 12.9%
Belconnen — 5-14: 4.2% Strathnairn — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 2.7% / 3.9%
Belconnen — 15-19: 2.7% Strathnairn — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 15.6% / 7.7%
Belconnen — 20-24: 15.6% Strathnairn — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 37.8% / 28.3%
Belconnen — 25-34: 37.8% Strathnairn — 25-34: 28.3%
35-44 14.2% / 21.6%
Belconnen — 35-44: 14.2% Strathnairn — 35-44: 21.6%
45-54 7.0% / 7.8%
Belconnen — 45-54: 7.0% Strathnairn — 45-54: 7.8%
55-64 4.8% / 2.8%
Belconnen — 55-64: 4.8% Strathnairn — 55-64: 2.8%
65-74 3.8% / 2.2%
Belconnen — 65-74: 3.8% Strathnairn — 65-74: 2.2%
75-84 3.2% / —
Belconnen — 75-84: 3.2% Strathnairn — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ 2.2% / —
Belconnen — 85+: 2.2% Strathnairn — 85+: not among its largest

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Belconnen 58.2% lone person
Belconnen — Lone Person: 58.2% Belconnen — Couple Families: 15.8% Belconnen — One Parent Families: 9.1% Belconnen — Group Household: 14.4% Belconnen — Other Families: 2.5%
Strathnairn 24.6% lone person
Strathnairn — Lone Person: 24.6% Strathnairn — Couple Families: 59.2% Strathnairn — One Parent Families: 10.1% Strathnairn — Group Household: 4.5% Strathnairn — Other Families: 1.7%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Strathnairn 5.9% renting
Strathnairn — Owned Outright: 8.0% Strathnairn — Mortgage: 86.1% Strathnairn — Renting: 5.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Belconnen Strathnairn
Bachelor Degree 27.5% / 19.5%
Belconnen — Bachelor Degree: 27.5% Strathnairn — Bachelor Degree: 19.5%
Postgraduate Degree 18.7% / 15.0%
Belconnen — Postgraduate Degree: 18.7% Strathnairn — Postgraduate Degree: 15.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 10.1%
Belconnen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Strathnairn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 9.2%
Belconnen — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Strathnairn — Certificate III & IV: 9.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 2.7%
Belconnen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Strathnairn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

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 Strathnairn
India 6.2% / 13.7%
Belconnen — India: 6.2% Strathnairn — India: 13.7%
China 11.1% / 2.0%
Belconnen — China: 11.1% Strathnairn — China: 2.0%
Nepal 5.7% / 3.6%
Belconnen — Nepal: 5.7% Strathnairn — Nepal: 3.6%
Philippines 2.4% / 4.2%
Belconnen — Philippines: 2.4% Strathnairn — Philippines: 4.2%
Sri Lanka — / 3.8%
Belconnen — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Strathnairn — Sri Lanka: 3.8%
England 2.0% / 1.5%
Belconnen — England: 2.0% Strathnairn — England: 1.5%
Bangladesh — / 3.1%
Belconnen — Bangladesh: not among its largest Strathnairn — Bangladesh: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.7%).

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%
Strathnairn 83.3% houses
Strathnairn — Houses: 83.3% Strathnairn — Flats / Apartments: 0.4% Strathnairn — Townhouses: 16.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Belconnen Strathnairn
Median house price — $990,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Development activity

Belconnen Strathnairn
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 Strathnairn
Houses — 4.6%
$690/wk on $788K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Belconnen Strathnairn
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 8% of ACT —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 17% of ACT Higher than 19% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 17% of ACT Higher than 13% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of ACT Higher than 85% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 73% of ACT

Liveability

Strathnairn is more walkable (34 vs 26).

Belconnen Strathnairn
Grade D
same for both
Score 24/100 28/100
Socio-economic band — very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Strathnairn carries more bushfire risk (98 vs 0); Belconnen carries more flood risk (76 vs 0).

Belconnen Strathnairn
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
98/100
Crime High
90/100
 High
83/100
Flood High
76/100
 None
0/100
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
same for both

Schools

Belconnen Strathnairn
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
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 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 6.4 km
 1
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 9.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.6% 3.6%

Schools in Belconnen

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

Schools in Strathnairn

  • Strathnairn School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Strathnairn sits further from the CBD (16.4 km vs 13.2 km).

Belconnen Strathnairn
Walkability score 26/100 34/100
Distance to Canberra 13.2 km 16.4 km
+24% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 24 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 455.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 26.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 2615
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 40
postcode 2615
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.

Belconnen Strathnairn
Car (driver) 52.8% / 78.7%
Belconnen — Car (driver): 52.8% Strathnairn — Car (driver): 78.7%
Bus 18.2% / 3.6%
Belconnen — Bus: 18.2% Strathnairn — Bus: 3.6%
Worked from Home 9.7% / 10.5%
Belconnen — Worked from Home: 9.7% Strathnairn — Worked from Home: 10.5%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 7.2%
Belconnen — Car (passenger): 5.8% Strathnairn — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Walked Only 11.9% / —
Belconnen — Walked Only: 11.9% Strathnairn — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.7%).

Setting

Belconnen Strathnairn
Elevation 613 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 572 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Belconnen Strathnairn
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%
1,018 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Belconnen Strathnairn
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

Strathnairn

Family Middle-Ring Multicultural Quiet River Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belconnen

Belconnen vs Dunlop Belconnen vs Macgregor Belconnen vs Nicholls Belconnen vs Holt Belconnen vs Evatt Belconnen vs Crace

Other comparisons with Strathnairn

Strathnairn vs Macgregor Strathnairn vs Holt
Full data on Belconnen Full data on Strathnairn
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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