Belconnen vs Mckellar

Belconnen is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 43 in McKellar. In Belconnen, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In McKellar, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in McKellar: a median of $1.1 million, against $602,000 in Belconnen. McKellar is closer to the city centre: 11.8 km, against 19.5 km. On these figures, Belconnen tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while McKellar suits 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

McKellar

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 0%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 25%)
  • carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Belconnen has more parks and reserves (12 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Belconnen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($602,500 vs $1,100,000)

Weighs house 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 19%)
  • Mckellar leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

McKellar

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (19 min vs 42 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (11.8 km vs 19.5 km)
  • But Belconnen is more walkable (82/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Belconnen

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 6%)
  • has more GPs (9 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 60/100)
  • But McKellar carries lower crime risk (37/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Belconnen

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (27.7% vs -0.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.0% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Belconnen and Mckellar 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 Mckellar
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 Mckellar
Walkability 82 / 60
Belconnen — Walkability: 82/100 Mckellar — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 10 / 63
Belconnen — Safety: 10/100 Mckellar — Safety: 63/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Belconnen — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mckellar — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 24 / 56
Belconnen — Low flood risk: 24/100 Mckellar — Low flood risk: 56/100

Demographics

Belconnen has more residents (8,502 vs 2,740); McKellar has higher household incomes ($139,724 vs $92,352).

Belconnen Mckellar
Population 8,502
+68% vs other
 2,740
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +27.7% -0.2%
Median age 30 43
Median household income $92,352/yr $139,724/yr
+51% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $438/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Belconnen Mckellar
0-4 4.5% / 4.7%
Belconnen — 0-4: 4.5% Mckellar — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 4.2% / 11.7%
Belconnen — 5-14: 4.2% Mckellar — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 2.7% / 5.8%
Belconnen — 15-19: 2.7% Mckellar — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 15.6% / 6.1%
Belconnen — 20-24: 15.6% Mckellar — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 37.8% / 11.9%
Belconnen — 25-34: 37.8% Mckellar — 25-34: 11.9%
35-44 14.2% / 11.8%
Belconnen — 35-44: 14.2% Mckellar — 35-44: 11.8%
45-54 7.0% / 12.8%
Belconnen — 45-54: 7.0% Mckellar — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 4.8% / 15.1%
Belconnen — 55-64: 4.8% Mckellar — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 3.8% / 13.5%
Belconnen — 65-74: 3.8% Mckellar — 65-74: 13.5%
75-84 3.2% / 4.8%
Belconnen — 75-84: 3.2% Mckellar — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.2% / 1.6%
Belconnen — 85+: 2.2% Mckellar — 85+: 1.6%

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%
Mckellar 26.2% lone person
Mckellar — Lone Person: 26.2% Mckellar — Couple Families: 54.3% Mckellar — One Parent Families: 15.2% Mckellar — Group Household: 4.3% Mckellar — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Mckellar 19.1% renting
Mckellar — Owned Outright: 42.9% Mckellar — Mortgage: 38.0% Mckellar — Renting: 19.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Belconnen Mckellar
Bachelor Degree 27.5% / 19.6%
Belconnen — Bachelor Degree: 27.5% Mckellar — Bachelor Degree: 19.6%
Postgraduate Degree 18.7% / 9.0%
Belconnen — Postgraduate Degree: 18.7% Mckellar — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 10.2%
Belconnen — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Mckellar — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 7.2%
Belconnen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Mckellar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 4.2%
Belconnen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Mckellar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

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 Mckellar
China 11.1% / 2.6%
Belconnen — China: 11.1% Mckellar — China: 2.6%
India 6.2% / 2.1%
Belconnen — India: 6.2% Mckellar — India: 2.1%
Nepal 5.7% / —
Belconnen — Nepal: 5.7% Mckellar — Nepal: not among its largest
England 2.0% / 2.4%
Belconnen — England: 2.0% Mckellar — England: 2.4%
Philippines 2.4% / 1.0%
Belconnen — Philippines: 2.4% Mckellar — Philippines: 1.0%
Vietnam 1.4% / 1.5%
Belconnen — Vietnam: 1.4% Mckellar — Vietnam: 1.5%
Italy — / 1.5%
Belconnen — Italy: not among its largest Mckellar — Italy: 1.5%

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%
Mckellar 94.0% houses
Mckellar — Houses: 94.0% Mckellar — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Mckellar — Townhouses: 6.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Belconnen Mckellar
Median house price $602,500 $1,100,000
Median unit price $472,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 20 sales
 20 days
from 17 sales

Development activity

Belconnen Mckellar
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 Mckellar
Houses 5.0%
$590/wk on $619K
 3.9%
$680/wk on $899K
Units 6.1%
$550/wk on $470K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Belconnen Mckellar
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 7% of ACT Higher than 78% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of ACT Higher than 47% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 31% of ACT Higher than 34% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 66% of ACT Higher than 44% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of ACT Higher than 28% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 51% of ACT —

Liveability

McKellar scores higher overall (58 vs 35); Belconnen is more walkable (82 vs 60).

Belconnen Mckellar
Grade C B
Score 35/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Belconnen carries more crime risk (90 vs 37); Belconnen carries more flood risk (76 vs 44).

Belconnen Mckellar
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 Low
37/100
Flood High
76/100
 Moderate
44/100
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 Mckellar
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 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 2.4 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 3.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.6% 2.5%

Schools in Belconnen

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

Schools in Mckellar

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Belconnen sits further from the CBD (19.5 km vs 11.8 km).

Belconnen Mckellar
Walkability score 82/100 60/100
Distance to Canberra 19.5 km
+39% vs other
 11.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 42 min 19 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 455.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 54.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Mckellar
Car (driver) 52.8% / 72.2%
Belconnen — Car (driver): 52.8% Mckellar — Car (driver): 72.2%
Worked from Home 9.7% / 13.7%
Belconnen — Worked from Home: 9.7% Mckellar — Worked from Home: 13.7%
Bus 18.2% / 4.7%
Belconnen — Bus: 18.2% Mckellar — Bus: 4.7%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 7.5%
Belconnen — Car (passenger): 5.8% Mckellar — Car (passenger): 7.5%
Walked Only 11.9% / 0.4%
Belconnen — Walked Only: 11.9% Mckellar — Walked Only: 0.4%
Bicycle 1.2% / 1.4%
Belconnen — Bicycle: 1.2% Mckellar — Bicycle: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.2%).

Setting

Belconnen Mckellar
Elevation 575 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 598 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Belconnen Mckellar
Connectivity score 69/100 52/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
5,370 premises
 12%
1,065 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Belconnen Mckellar
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

Mckellar

Middle-Ring Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Belconnen

Belconnen vs Bruce Belconnen vs Evatt Belconnen vs Florey Belconnen vs Macquarie Belconnen vs Page Belconnen vs Weetangera

Other comparisons with Mckellar

Mckellar vs Belconnen Mckellar vs Evatt Mckellar vs Giralang Mckellar vs Lawson
Full data on Belconnen Full data on Mckellar
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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