Belconnen vs Bruce

In Belconnen, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Bruce, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Bruce: a median of $1.17 million, against $602,000 in Belconnen. Bruce is closer to the city centre: 7.3 km, against 19.5 km. On these figures, Belconnen tends to suit 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

Bruce

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (21% vs 0%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (38% vs 25%)
  • carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Belconnen has more parks and reserves (12 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Belconnen has cheaper houses ($602,500 vs $1,165,000)
  • Bruce has cheaper units ($417,500 vs $472,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Belconnen has a bigger rental market to choose from (66% vs 52%)
  • Bruce leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bruce

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (12 min vs 42 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (7.3 km vs 19.5 km)
  • But Belconnen is more walkable (82/100 vs 65/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Belconnen

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 5)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 65/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 79%)
  • But Bruce carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Belconnen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (27.7% vs 7.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Belconnen 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.

Belconnen 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.

Belconnen Bruce
Walkability 82 / 65
Belconnen — Walkability: 82/100 Bruce — Walkability: 65/100
Safety 10 / 30
Belconnen — Safety: 10/100 Bruce — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 53
Belconnen — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bruce — Low fire risk: 53/100
Low flood risk 24 / 100
Belconnen — Low flood risk: 24/100 Bruce — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bruce has higher household incomes ($117,832 vs $92,352).

Belconnen Bruce
Population 8,502
+12% vs other
 7,520
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +27.7% +7.5%
Median age 30 29
Median household income $92,352/yr $117,832/yr
+28% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belconnen Bruce
0-4 4.5% / 3.9%
Belconnen — 0-4: 4.5% Bruce — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 4.2% / 6.6%
Belconnen — 5-14: 4.2% Bruce — 5-14: 6.6%
15-19 2.7% / 7.5%
Belconnen — 15-19: 2.7% Bruce — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 15.6% / 17.8%
Belconnen — 20-24: 15.6% Bruce — 20-24: 17.8%
25-34 37.8% / 26.2%
Belconnen — 25-34: 37.8% Bruce — 25-34: 26.2%
35-44 14.2% / 12.9%
Belconnen — 35-44: 14.2% Bruce — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 7.0% / 7.6%
Belconnen — 45-54: 7.0% Bruce — 45-54: 7.6%
55-64 4.8% / 6.3%
Belconnen — 55-64: 4.8% Bruce — 55-64: 6.3%
65-74 3.8% / 5.8%
Belconnen — 65-74: 3.8% Bruce — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 3.2% / 3.5%
Belconnen — 75-84: 3.2% Bruce — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 2.2% / 1.8%
Belconnen — 85+: 2.2% Bruce — 85+: 1.8%

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 — Group Household: 14.4% Belconnen — One Parent Families: 9.1% Belconnen — Other Families: 2.5%
Bruce 44.1% lone person
Bruce — Lone Person: 44.1% Bruce — Couple Families: 28.6% Bruce — Group Household: 15.2% Bruce — One Parent Families: 9.2% Bruce — Other Families: 2.9%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families 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%
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.

Belconnen Bruce
Bachelor Degree 27.5% / 25.5%
Belconnen — Bachelor Degree: 27.5% Bruce — Bachelor Degree: 25.5%
Postgraduate Degree 18.7% / 16.7%
Belconnen — Postgraduate Degree: 18.7% Bruce — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.5%
Belconnen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Bruce — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 6.6%
Belconnen — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Bruce — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 4.0%
Belconnen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Bruce — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

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 Bruce
China 11.1% / 6.2%
Belconnen — China: 11.1% Bruce — China: 6.2%
India 6.2% / 4.9%
Belconnen — India: 6.2% Bruce — India: 4.9%
Nepal 5.7% / 3.5%
Belconnen — Nepal: 5.7% Bruce — Nepal: 3.5%
England 2.0% / 2.1%
Belconnen — England: 2.0% Bruce — England: 2.1%
Philippines 2.4% / 1.1%
Belconnen — Philippines: 2.4% Bruce — Philippines: 1.1%
Vietnam 1.4% / 1.6%
Belconnen — Vietnam: 1.4% Bruce — Vietnam: 1.6%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Belconnen 74.8% flats / apartments
Belconnen — Flats / Apartments: 74.8% Belconnen — Townhouses: 24.7% Belconnen — Houses: 0.5%
Bruce 33.6% flats / apartments
Bruce — Flats / Apartments: 33.6% Bruce — Townhouses: 45.8% Bruce — Houses: 20.7%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Belconnen Bruce
Median house price $602,500 $1,165,000
Median unit price $472,000 $417,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 20 sales
 44 days
from 28 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.

Belconnen Bruce
1 bed $372K / $369K
Belconnen — 1 bed: $372K (102 sales) Bruce — 1 bed: $369K (83 sales)

102 vs 83 sales

2 bed $502K / $482K
Belconnen — 2 bed: $502K (158 sales) Bruce — 2 bed: $482K (47 sales)

158 vs 47 sales

3 bed $650K / $610K
Belconnen — 3 bed: $650K (31 sales) Bruce — 3 bed: $610K (27 sales)

31 vs 27 sales

Development activity

Belconnen 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.

Belconnen Bruce
Houses 5.0%
$590/wk on $619K
 5.3%
$780/wk on $760K
Units 6.1%
$550/wk on $470K
 6.3%
$500/wk on $412K

Ranking within ACT

Belconnen Bruce
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 7% of ACT Higher than 34% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of ACT Higher than 55% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 31% of ACT Higher than 29% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of ACT Higher than 64% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of ACT Higher than 93% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of ACT Higher than 68% of ACT

Liveability

Bruce scores higher overall (64 vs 35); Belconnen is more walkable (82 vs 65).

Belconnen Bruce
Grade C B
Score 35/100 64/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Belconnen carries more flood risk (76 vs 0); Bruce carries more bushfire risk (47 vs 0).

Belconnen Bruce
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
47/100
Crime High
90/100
 High
70/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Belconnen Bruce
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, 2.4 km
 3
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.6% 14.6%

Schools in Belconnen

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

Schools in Bruce

  • Radford College Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Belconnen Bruce
Supermarkets 18 1
Cafes & restaurants 87 7
Parks & reserves 12 3
Childcare 8 7
GPs 9 5
Pharmacies 5 1
Hospitals 0 3
Police stations 4 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 1
Fuel stations 3 0
Beaches 6 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Belconnen sits further from the CBD (19.5 km vs 7.3 km).

Belconnen Bruce
Walkability score 82/100 65/100
Distance to Canberra 19.5 km
+63% vs other
 7.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 42 min 12 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 455.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 356.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.7%
postcode 2617
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 2617
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 Bruce
Car (driver) 52.8% / 63.4%
Belconnen — Car (driver): 52.8% Bruce — Car (driver): 63.4%
Bus 18.2% / 12.9%
Belconnen — Bus: 18.2% Bruce — Bus: 12.9%
Worked from Home 9.7% / 10.4%
Belconnen — Worked from Home: 9.7% Bruce — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Walked Only 11.9% / 4.9%
Belconnen — Walked Only: 11.9% Bruce — Walked Only: 4.9%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 5.5%
Belconnen — Car (passenger): 5.8% Bruce — Car (passenger): 5.5%

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

Setting

Belconnen Bruce
Elevation 575 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 620 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Belconnen Bruce
Connectivity score 69/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
5,370 premises
 24%
3,868 premises

Climate

Belconnen 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)

Belconnen 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

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

Federal electorate

Belconnen Bruce
Division Fenner Canberra
Member Andrew Leigh Alicia Payne
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Belconnen

Affordable Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses

Bruce

Affordable Apartments Inner Professionals Students Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belconnen

Belconnen vs Evatt Belconnen vs Florey Belconnen vs Macquarie Belconnen vs Page Belconnen vs Weetangera Belconnen vs McKellar

Other comparisons with Bruce

Bruce vs Kaleen Bruce vs O'Connor Bruce vs Lyneham Bruce vs Macquarie Bruce vs Lawson Bruce vs Aranda
Full data on Belconnen Full data on Bruce
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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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