Charnwood vs Fraser

Charnwood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 41 in Fraser. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Fraser, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Fraser: a median of $1 million, against $742,000 in Charnwood, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Charnwood tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Fraser suits couples.

Charnwood and Fraser offer quite different profiles. Charnwood is more walkable (73 vs 47) and slightly closer to the CBD, making it appealing if you value pedestrian access. Fraser has notably higher median household income at $136,136 compared to $94,536, sits in the top socio-economic decile, and has a much lower crime risk score of 16 versus Charnwood's 74. However, Fraser's median house price of $1,024,000 is substantially higher than Charnwood's $750,000, and weekly rent is also steeper at $450. Charnwood suits buyers prioritising walkability and affordability; Fraser better fits those seeking a more affluent, lower-crime neighbourhood and willing to pay accordingly.

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

Charnwood

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • But Fraser carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 76/100)

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

First-home buyers

Charnwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($742,000 vs $1,000,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Charnwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Charnwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (73/100 vs 47/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Fraser

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (16/100 vs 76/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 12%)
  • But Charnwood is more walkable (73/100 vs 47/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Charnwood Fraser
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.

Charnwood Fraser
Walkability 73 / 47
Charnwood — Walkability: 73/100 Fraser — Walkability: 47/100
Safety 24 / 84
Charnwood — Safety: 24/100 Fraser — Safety: 84/100
Low fire risk 69 / 55
Charnwood — Low fire risk: 69/100 Fraser — Low fire risk: 55/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Charnwood — Low flood risk: 100/100 Fraser — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Fraser has higher household incomes ($136,136 vs $94,536); Charnwood has more residents (3,055 vs 2,126).

Charnwood Fraser
Population 3,055
+30% vs other
 2,126
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% +4.9%
Median age 35 41
Median household income $94,536/yr $136,136/yr
+44% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $450/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Charnwood Fraser
0-4 7.2% / 4.6%
Charnwood — 0-4: 7.2% Fraser — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 13.9% / 15.4%
Charnwood — 5-14: 13.9% Fraser — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 5.6% / 6.3%
Charnwood — 15-19: 5.6% Fraser — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 5.2% / 5.5%
Charnwood — 20-24: 5.2% Fraser — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 16.2% / 9.3%
Charnwood — 25-34: 16.2% Fraser — 25-34: 9.3%
35-44 16.5% / 14.6%
Charnwood — 35-44: 16.5% Fraser — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 12.8% / 13.6%
Charnwood — 45-54: 12.8% Fraser — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 9.6% / 11.4%
Charnwood — 55-64: 9.6% Fraser — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 7.9% / 14.3%
Charnwood — 65-74: 7.9% Fraser — 65-74: 14.3%
75-84 3.6% / 4.7%
Charnwood — 75-84: 3.6% Fraser — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 1.0% / 0.8%
Charnwood — 85+: 1.0% Fraser — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Charnwood 37.1% couple families
Charnwood — Couple Families: 37.1% Charnwood — Lone Person: 34.3% Charnwood — One Parent Families: 22.9% Charnwood — Group Household: 4.1% Charnwood — Other Families: 1.7%
Fraser 58.5% couple families
Fraser — Couple Families: 58.5% Fraser — Lone Person: 21.1% Fraser — One Parent Families: 17.6% Fraser — Group Household: 2.2% Fraser — Other Families: 0.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Charnwood 31.7% renting
Charnwood — Owned Outright: 22.6% Charnwood — Mortgage: 45.7% Charnwood — Renting: 31.7%
Fraser 10.5% renting
Fraser — Owned Outright: 41.0% Fraser — Mortgage: 48.6% Fraser — Renting: 10.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Charnwood Fraser
Bachelor Degree 11.0% / 17.1%
Charnwood — Bachelor Degree: 11.0% Fraser — Bachelor Degree: 17.1%
Certificate III & IV 15.5% / 11.1%
Charnwood — Certificate III & IV: 15.5% Fraser — Certificate III & IV: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 9.3%
Charnwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Fraser — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 5.7%
Charnwood — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Fraser — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 3.7%
Charnwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Fraser — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

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.

Charnwood Fraser
England 2.1% / 4.0%
Charnwood — England: 2.1% Fraser — England: 4.0%
India 1.8% / 0.5%
Charnwood — India: 1.8% Fraser — India: 0.5%
Philippines 2.2% / —
Charnwood — Philippines: 2.2% Fraser — Philippines: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.0% / 0.9%
Charnwood — New Zealand: 1.0% Fraser — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 0.5% / 1.0%
Charnwood — Scotland: 0.5% Fraser — Scotland: 1.0%
China 0.7% / 0.7%
Charnwood — China: 0.7% Fraser — China: 0.7%
Vietnam 0.9% / —
Charnwood — Vietnam: 0.9% Fraser — Vietnam: not among its largest
Germany — / 0.8%
Charnwood — Germany: not among its largest Fraser — Germany: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Charnwood 87.5% houses
Charnwood — Houses: 87.5% Charnwood — Townhouses: 12.7% Charnwood — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Fraser 95.9% houses
Fraser — Houses: 95.9% Fraser — Townhouses: 3.7% Fraser — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Charnwood Fraser
Median house price $742,000 $1,000,000
Median unit price — $768,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 30 sales
 25 days
from 41 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.

Charnwood Fraser
3 bed $725K / $938K
Charnwood — 3 bed: $725K (44 sales) Fraser — 3 bed: $938K (14 sales)

44 vs 14 sales

4 bed $885K / $1M
Charnwood — 4 bed: $885K (13 sales) Fraser — 4 bed: $1M (33 sales)

13 vs 33 sales

Development activity

Charnwood Fraser
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.

Charnwood Fraser
Houses 4.4%
$580/wk on $690K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Charnwood Fraser
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 9% of ACT Higher than 70% of ACT
Schools Higher than 59% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 72% of ACT Higher than 30% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 13% of ACT Higher than 11% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of ACT Higher than 19% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 58% of ACT —

Liveability

Charnwood is more walkable (73 vs 47).

Charnwood Fraser
Grade C
same for both
Score 48/100
same for both
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Charnwood carries more crime risk (76 vs 16); Fraser carries more bushfire risk (45 vs 31).

Charnwood Fraser
Bushfire Low
31/100
 Moderate
45/100
Crime High
76/100
 Low
16/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Charnwood Fraser
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 7.2 km
 1
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 7.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.2%
same for both

Schools in Charnwood

  • St Thomas Aquinas Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Charnwood-Dunlop School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brindabella Christian College - Charnwood campus Independent · Primary

Schools in Fraser

  • Fraser Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Charnwood Fraser
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 6 2
Parks & reserves 7 0
Childcare 6 2
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 0

Mobility

Charnwood Fraser
Walkability score 73/100 47/100
Distance to Canberra 16.8 km 17.9 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 24 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 35.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 77.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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.

Charnwood Fraser
Car (driver) 79.8% / 76.2%
Charnwood — Car (driver): 79.8% Fraser — Car (driver): 76.2%
Worked from Home 9.2% / 14.7%
Charnwood — Worked from Home: 9.2% Fraser — Worked from Home: 14.7%
Car (passenger) 5.5% / 5.4%
Charnwood — Car (passenger): 5.5% Fraser — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bus 4.4% / 2.1%
Charnwood — Bus: 4.4% Fraser — Bus: 2.1%
Bicycle 0.4% / 0.9%
Charnwood — Bicycle: 0.4% Fraser — Bicycle: 0.9%
Walked Only 0.8% / 0.3%
Charnwood — Walked Only: 0.8% Fraser — Walked Only: 0.3%

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

Setting

Charnwood Fraser
Elevation 581 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 612 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Charnwood Fraser
Connectivity score 74/100 46/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 53%
1,343 premises
 1%
813 premises

Climate

Charnwood Fraser
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)

Charnwood Fraser
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

Charnwood Fraser
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Charnwood Fraser
Division Fenner
same for both
Member Andrew Leigh
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Charnwood Fraser
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Charnwood

Affordable Large Blocks Middle-Ring Parks

Fraser

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Charnwood

Charnwood vs Dunlop Charnwood vs Macgregor Charnwood vs Latham Charnwood vs Flynn

Other comparisons with Fraser

Fraser vs Belconnen Fraser vs Dunlop Fraser vs Flynn Fraser vs Melba Fraser vs Spence
Full data on Charnwood Full data on Fraser
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or