Casey vs Nicholls

Casey is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 44 in Nicholls. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nicholls: a median of $1.23 million, against $915,000 in Casey. On these figures, Casey tends to suit families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

Casey and Nicholls are both outer Canberra suburbs roughly equidistant from the CBD, but they differ significantly on safety and liveability. Casey scores 66 on the liveability index compared to Nicholls' 55, and has a much lower crime risk rating of 22 versus 42. Most notably, Nicholls carries a bushfire risk of 86 while Casey has none, making it a key consideration if natural hazard exposure matters to you. Casey also offers a slightly higher rental yield at 4.6% for houses. Nicholls may appeal to those prioritising affordability, but Casey presents a stronger overall safety and liveability 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

Nicholls

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 76%)
  • But Casey carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 43/100)

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

First-home buyers

Casey

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($472,500 vs $800,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($915,000 vs $1,227,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Casey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 15%)

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

Commuting to the city

Casey

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (23 min vs 30 min)
  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 50/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Casey

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (24% vs 11%)
  • carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 43/100)
  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 50/100)
  • But Nicholls has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 5%)

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

Investors

Casey

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (12.4% vs -2.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Casey 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.

Casey 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.

Casey Nicholls
Walkability 64 / 50
Casey — Walkability: 64/100 Nicholls — Walkability: 50/100
Safety 77 / 57
Casey — Safety: 77/100 Nicholls — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 7 / 12
Casey — Low fire risk: 7/100 Nicholls — Low fire risk: 12/100
Low flood risk 100 / 45
Casey — Low flood risk: 100/100 Nicholls — Low flood risk: 45/100

Demographics

Nicholls skews older (44 vs 32); Nicholls has higher household incomes ($162,968 vs $139,360).

Casey Nicholls
Population 6,471 6,680
+3% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +12.4% -2.7%
Median age 32 44
Median household income $139,360/yr $162,968/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $502/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Casey Nicholls
0-4 10.1% / 4.0%
Casey — 0-4: 10.1% Nicholls — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 15.8% / 13.1%
Casey — 5-14: 15.8% Nicholls — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 5.2% / 7.1%
Casey — 15-19: 5.2% Nicholls — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 5.4% / 7.1%
Casey — 20-24: 5.4% Nicholls — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 18.7% / 8.7%
Casey — 25-34: 18.7% Nicholls — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 22.7% / 10.8%
Casey — 35-44: 22.7% Nicholls — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 11.1% / 17.2%
Casey — 45-54: 11.1% Nicholls — 45-54: 17.2%
55-64 6.5% / 15.4%
Casey — 55-64: 6.5% Nicholls — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 3.5% / 10.6%
Casey — 65-74: 3.5% Nicholls — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 0.9% / 5.1%
Casey — 75-84: 0.9% Nicholls — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 0.2% / 0.9%
Casey — 85+: 0.2% Nicholls — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Casey 59.7% couple families
Casey — Couple Families: 59.7% Casey — Lone Person: 22.6% Casey — One Parent Families: 13.3% Casey — Group Household: 3.7% Casey — Other Families: 0.7%
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.

Casey 29.8% renting
Casey — Owned Outright: 11.7% Casey — Mortgage: 58.5% Casey — Renting: 29.8%
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.

Casey Nicholls
Bachelor Degree 17.0% / 18.9%
Casey — Bachelor Degree: 17.0% Nicholls — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Postgraduate Degree 9.7% / 10.7%
Casey — Postgraduate Degree: 9.7% Nicholls — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7%
Certificate III & IV 10.2% / 8.4%
Casey — Certificate III & IV: 10.2% Nicholls — Certificate III & IV: 8.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.9%
Casey — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Nicholls — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.9%
Casey — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Nicholls — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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.

Casey Nicholls
India 6.9% / 2.3%
Casey — India: 6.9% Nicholls — India: 2.3%
China 2.9% / 3.8%
Casey — China: 2.9% Nicholls — China: 3.8%
England 1.7% / 3.6%
Casey — England: 1.7% Nicholls — England: 3.6%
Pakistan 1.8% / —
Casey — Pakistan: 1.8% Nicholls — Pakistan: not among its largest
Philippines 1.6% / —
Casey — Philippines: 1.6% Nicholls — Philippines: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.4%
Casey — Vietnam: not among its largest Nicholls — Vietnam: 1.4%
New Zealand — / 1.3%
Casey — New Zealand: not among its largest Nicholls — New Zealand: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Casey 75.6% houses
Casey — Houses: 75.6% Casey — Townhouses: 22.5% Casey — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Nicholls 89.3% houses
Nicholls — Houses: 89.3% Nicholls — Townhouses: 10.4% Nicholls — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Casey Nicholls
Median house price $915,000 $1,227,500
Median unit price $472,500 $800,000
Median land price $1,152,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 53 sales
 22 days
from 86 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.

Casey Nicholls
3 bed $820K / $930K
Casey — 3 bed: $820K (53 sales) Nicholls — 3 bed: $930K (24 sales)

53 vs 24 sales

4 bed $1.09M / $1.22M
Casey — 4 bed: $1.09M (40 sales) Nicholls — 4 bed: $1.22M (62 sales)

40 vs 62 sales

5 bed $1.47M / $1.52M
Casey — 5 bed: $1.47M (7 sales) Nicholls — 5 bed: $1.52M (27 sales)

7 vs 27 sales

Development activity

Casey 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.

Casey Nicholls
Houses 4.5%
$680/wk on $785K
 4.5%
$750/wk on $875K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Casey Nicholls
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 76% of ACT Higher than 89% of ACT
Schools — Higher than 100% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 53% of ACT Higher than 34% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 37% of ACT
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of ACT Higher than 90% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 70% of ACT Higher than 66% of ACT

Liveability

Casey is more walkable (64 vs 50).

Casey Nicholls
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 52/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Nicholls carries more flood risk (55 vs 0); Nicholls carries more crime risk (43 vs 23).

Casey Nicholls
Bushfire High
93/100
 High
88/100
Crime Low
23/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood None
0/100
 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 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Casey Nicholls
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 8.7 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 6.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 3.5%

Schools in Casey

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

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

Casey Nicholls
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 1 5
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 2 8
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 1 2
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Casey Nicholls
Walkability score 64/100 50/100
Distance to Canberra 16 km
+4% vs other
 15.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 30 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 43.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 99.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.7%
postcode 2913
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2913
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.

Casey Nicholls
Car (driver) 79.7% / 75.5%
Casey — Car (driver): 79.7% Nicholls — Car (driver): 75.5%
Worked from Home 10.5% / 14.6%
Casey — Worked from Home: 10.5% Nicholls — Worked from Home: 14.6%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 6.3%
Casey — Car (passenger): 5.4% Nicholls — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Bus 2.4% / 1.7%
Casey — Bus: 2.4% Nicholls — Bus: 1.7%
Walked Only 0.8% / 0.6%
Casey — Walked Only: 0.8% Nicholls — Walked Only: 0.6%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.8%
Casey — Bicycle: 0.4% Nicholls — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.7%).

Setting

Casey Nicholls
Elevation 657 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 627 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Casey Nicholls
Connectivity score 93/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 87%
2,533 premises
 100%
2,517 premises

Climate

Casey 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)

Casey 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Casey

Family Middle-Ring Parks Townhouses Young Families

Nicholls

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Casey

Casey vs Ngunnawal Casey vs Moncrieff Casey vs Taylor

Other comparisons with Nicholls

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