Calwell vs Isabella Plains

Isabella Plains scores notably higher on liveability (41 versus 24) and presents a significantly safer profile, with bushfire risk at 0 compared to Calwell's 80, and crime risk at 26 versus 62. Both suburbs are equidistant from the CBD, though Isabella Plains edges slightly closer at 25.5 km. For investors, Isabella Plains also offers a higher rental yield at 4.3 percent against Calwell's 3.6 percent. Isabella Plains appears better suited to buyers prioritising safety and community amenity, while Calwell may appeal only to those with specific reasons to accept its higher risk profile.

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

They split

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

  • Calwell has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 75%)
  • Isabella Plains carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 63/100)

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

First-home buyers

Calwell

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($610,000 vs $690,500)

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

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Isabella Plains

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 63/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (25% vs 13%)

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

Investors

Isabella Plains

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.3% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Calwell Isabella Plains
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.

Calwell Isabella Plains
Walkability 68 / 61
Calwell — Walkability: 68/100 Isabella Plains — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 37 / 74
Calwell — Safety: 37/100 Isabella Plains — Safety: 74/100
Low fire risk 18 / 10
Calwell — Low fire risk: 18/100 Isabella Plains — Low fire risk: 10/100
Low flood risk 75 / 43
Calwell — Low flood risk: 75/100 Isabella Plains — Low flood risk: 43/100

Demographics

Calwell has more residents (5,730 vs 4,329); Calwell has higher household incomes ($127,920 vs $110,812).

Calwell Isabella Plains
Population 5,730
+24% vs other
 4,329
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.5% -1.7%
Median age 37 36
Median household income $127,920/yr
+13% vs other
 $110,812/yr
Median weekly rent $448/wk $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Calwell Isabella Plains
0-4 6.6% / 7.1%
Calwell — 0-4: 6.6% Isabella Plains — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 13.0% / 13.8%
Calwell — 5-14: 13.0% Isabella Plains — 5-14: 13.8%
15-19 5.8% / 5.3%
Calwell — 15-19: 5.8% Isabella Plains — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.5% / 5.7%
Calwell — 20-24: 6.5% Isabella Plains — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 14.1% / 15.9%
Calwell — 25-34: 14.1% Isabella Plains — 25-34: 15.9%
35-44 12.8% / 13.9%
Calwell — 35-44: 12.8% Isabella Plains — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 13.2% / 11.6%
Calwell — 45-54: 13.2% Isabella Plains — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 14.6% / 13.0%
Calwell — 55-64: 14.6% Isabella Plains — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 8.1% / 7.5%
Calwell — 65-74: 8.1% Isabella Plains — 65-74: 7.5%
75-84 3.4% / 4.3%
Calwell — 75-84: 3.4% Isabella Plains — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.8% / 1.9%
Calwell — 85+: 1.8% Isabella Plains — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Calwell 52.5% couple families
Calwell — Couple Families: 52.5% Calwell — Lone Person: 25.8% Calwell — One Parent Families: 16.9% Calwell — Group Household: 3.3% Calwell — Other Families: 1.5%
Isabella Plains 47.3% couple families
Isabella Plains — Couple Families: 47.3% Isabella Plains — Lone Person: 30.6% Isabella Plains — One Parent Families: 17.7% Isabella Plains — Group Household: 3.0% Isabella Plains — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Calwell 15.2% renting
Calwell — Owned Outright: 30.2% Calwell — Mortgage: 54.6% Calwell — Renting: 15.2%
Isabella Plains 20.2% renting
Isabella Plains — Owned Outright: 29.4% Isabella Plains — Mortgage: 50.4% Isabella Plains — Renting: 20.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Calwell Isabella Plains
Certificate III & IV 14.3% / 14.2%
Calwell — Certificate III & IV: 14.3% Isabella Plains — Certificate III & IV: 14.2%
Bachelor Degree 14.2% / 12.8%
Calwell — Bachelor Degree: 14.2% Isabella Plains — Bachelor Degree: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 8.7%
Calwell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Isabella Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.6% / 4.1%
Calwell — Postgraduate Degree: 4.6% Isabella Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 2.1%
Calwell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Isabella Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

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.

Calwell Isabella Plains
India 2.1% / 4.3%
Calwell — India: 2.1% Isabella Plains — India: 4.3%
England 3.1% / 2.7%
Calwell — England: 3.1% Isabella Plains — England: 2.7%
Philippines 1.0% / 1.8%
Calwell — Philippines: 1.0% Isabella Plains — Philippines: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.0%
Calwell — New Zealand: 1.0% Isabella Plains — New Zealand: 1.0%
Vietnam 0.5% / 1.3%
Calwell — Vietnam: 0.5% Isabella Plains — Vietnam: 1.3%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Calwell — Scotland: 0.5% Isabella Plains — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Calwell 86.8% houses
Calwell — Houses: 86.8% Calwell — Townhouses: 10.6% Calwell — Flats / Apartments: 2.7%
Isabella Plains 75.1% houses
Isabella Plains — Houses: 75.1% Isabella Plains — Townhouses: 24.4% Isabella Plains — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Calwell Isabella Plains
Median house price $900,000 $856,000
Median unit price $610,000 $690,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 42 sales
 20 days
from 36 sales

House price by bedroom count

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

Calwell Isabella Plains
3 bed $805K / $810K
Calwell — 3 bed: $805K (53 sales) Isabella Plains — 3 bed: $810K (58 sales)

53 vs 58 sales

4 bed $980K / $945K
Calwell — 4 bed: $980K (37 sales) Isabella Plains — 4 bed: $945K (24 sales)

37 vs 24 sales

5 bed $1.24M / $1.02M
Calwell — 5 bed: $1.24M (15 sales) Isabella Plains — 5 bed: $1.02M (7 sales)

15 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Calwell Isabella Plains
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.

Calwell Isabella Plains
Houses 3.6%
$580/wk on $835K
 5.3%
$800/wk on $779K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Calwell Isabella Plains
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 58% of ACT Higher than 19% of ACT
Schools Higher than 41% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 61% of ACT Higher than 49% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 6% of ACT Higher than 3% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 47% of ACT Higher than 30% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 18% of ACT Higher than 95% of ACT

Liveability

Calwell scores higher overall (25 vs 16).

Calwell Isabella Plains
Grade D
same for both
Score 25/100 16/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Calwell carries more crime risk (63 vs 26); Isabella Plains carries more flood risk (57 vs 25).

Calwell Isabella Plains
Bushfire High
82/100
 High
90/100
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Low
26/100
Flood Low
25/100
 Moderate
57/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Calwell Isabella Plains
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Calwell

  • St Francis of Assisi Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Calwell Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Calwell High School Government · Secondary

Schools in Isabella Plains

  • St Mary MacKillop College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Isabella Plains Early Childhood School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Calwell Isabella Plains
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 5 3
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Calwell Isabella Plains
Walkability score 68/100 61/100
Distance to Canberra 26.8 km
+5% vs other
 25.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 28 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 117.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 2905
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2905
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.

Calwell Isabella Plains
Car (driver) 79.8% / 79.7%
Calwell — Car (driver): 79.8% Isabella Plains — Car (driver): 79.7%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 9.8%
Calwell — Worked from Home: 9.9% Isabella Plains — Worked from Home: 9.8%
Car (passenger) 5.3% / 5.9%
Calwell — Car (passenger): 5.3% Isabella Plains — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Bus 4.0% / 3.9%
Calwell — Bus: 4.0% Isabella Plains — Bus: 3.9%
Walked Only 0.6% / 0.5%
Calwell — Walked Only: 0.6% Isabella Plains — Walked Only: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.8%).

Setting

Calwell Isabella Plains
Elevation 687 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 596 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Calwell Isabella Plains
Connectivity score 53/100 47/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
2,264 premises
 4%
1,619 premises

Climate

Calwell Isabella Plains
Annual rainfall 686 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Calwell Isabella Plains
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.32 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Calwell Isabella Plains
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Calwell Isabella Plains
Division Bean
same for both
Member David Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Calwell Isabella Plains
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Calwell

Affordable Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

Isabella Plains

Affordable Middle-Ring Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Calwell

Calwell vs Gordon Calwell vs Conder Calwell vs Bonython Calwell vs Theodore Calwell vs Richardson

Other comparisons with Isabella Plains

Isabella Plains vs Gordon Isabella Plains vs Monash Isabella Plains vs Greenway Isabella Plains vs Bonython Isabella Plains vs Gowrie Isabella Plains vs Richardson
Full data on Calwell Full data on Isabella Plains
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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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