Chifley vs Pearce

Chifley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 43 in Pearce. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Pearce: a median of $1.29 million, against $1.09 million in Chifley. On these figures, Chifley tends to suit young adults and buyers on a tighter budget.

Chifley and Pearce are similar in population and income, but differ notably in property costs and amenity. Pearce has significantly higher median house prices ($1,295,000 versus $1,085,000) and unit prices ($815,000 versus $432,500), though it offers better walkability (72 versus 60) and a higher liveability score (67 versus 60). Chifley appeals to those prioritising affordability and lower crime risk (34 versus 41), while Pearce suits buyers drawn to a more established, walkable neighbourhood—though both are equally safe from bushfire and flood risk.

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

Pearce

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Chifley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($432,500 vs $812,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,092,500 vs $1,295,000)

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

Pearce

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Pearce

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 60/100)

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

Investors

Chifley

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (11.3% vs 4.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Chifley Pearce
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.

Chifley Pearce
Walkability 60 / 72
Chifley — Walkability: 60/100 Pearce — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 66 / 58
Chifley — Safety: 66/100 Pearce — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 1 / 1
Chifley — Low fire risk: 1/100 Pearce — Low fire risk: 1/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Chifley — Low flood risk: 100/100 Pearce — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Pearce skews older (43 vs 37).

Chifley Pearce
Population 2,680 2,687
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.3% +4.2%
Median age 37 43
Median household income $122,044/yr $122,824/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+4% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chifley Pearce
0-4 5.4% / 4.4%
Chifley — 0-4: 5.4% Pearce — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 10.6% / 12.8%
Chifley — 5-14: 10.6% Pearce — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 4.9% / 6.3%
Chifley — 15-19: 4.9% Pearce — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.4% / 6.1%
Chifley — 20-24: 6.4% Pearce — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 18.8% / 10.0%
Chifley — 25-34: 18.8% Pearce — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 15.1% / 11.9%
Chifley — 35-44: 15.1% Pearce — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 12.3% / 14.6%
Chifley — 45-54: 12.3% Pearce — 45-54: 14.6%
55-64 10.0% / 12.8%
Chifley — 55-64: 10.0% Pearce — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 7.5% / 9.9%
Chifley — 65-74: 7.5% Pearce — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 6.5% / 8.3%
Chifley — 75-84: 6.5% Pearce — 75-84: 8.3%
85+ 2.0% / 2.5%
Chifley — 85+: 2.0% Pearce — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chifley 41.2% lone person
Chifley — Lone Person: 41.2% Chifley — Couple Families: 37.9% Chifley — One Parent Families: 11.8% Chifley — Group Household: 6.3% Chifley — Other Families: 2.8%
Pearce 40.5% lone person
Pearce — Lone Person: 40.5% Pearce — Couple Families: 42.9% Pearce — One Parent Families: 12.1% Pearce — Group Household: 3.3% Pearce — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chifley 32.8% renting
Chifley — Owned Outright: 32.4% Chifley — Mortgage: 34.8% Chifley — Renting: 32.8%
Pearce 25.7% renting
Pearce — Owned Outright: 38.4% Pearce — Mortgage: 35.9% Pearce — Renting: 25.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Chifley Pearce
Bachelor Degree 23.0% / 21.7%
Chifley — Bachelor Degree: 23.0% Pearce — Bachelor Degree: 21.7%
Postgraduate Degree 12.9% / 11.7%
Chifley — Postgraduate Degree: 12.9% Pearce — Postgraduate Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.7%
Chifley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Pearce — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 7.4% / 7.7%
Chifley — Certificate III & IV: 7.4% Pearce — Certificate III & IV: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.9% / 4.8%
Chifley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.9% Pearce — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

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.

Chifley Pearce
England 2.8% / 3.8%
Chifley — England: 2.8% Pearce — England: 3.8%
India 3.7% / 2.6%
Chifley — India: 3.7% Pearce — India: 2.6%
Nepal 4.1% / 1.2%
Chifley — Nepal: 4.1% Pearce — Nepal: 1.2%
China 1.8% / 0.9%
Chifley — China: 1.8% Pearce — China: 0.9%
Philippines 1.4% / 0.9%
Chifley — Philippines: 1.4% Pearce — Philippines: 0.9%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.4%
Chifley — New Zealand: 0.9% Pearce — New Zealand: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chifley 67.9% houses
Chifley — Houses: 67.9% Chifley — Townhouses: 26.6% Chifley — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Pearce 63.2% houses
Pearce — Houses: 63.2% Pearce — Townhouses: 32.5% Pearce — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Chifley Pearce
Median house price $1,092,500 $1,295,000
Median unit price $432,500 $812,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 24 sales
 38 days
from 18 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.

Chifley Pearce
3 bed $1M / $1.17M
Chifley — 3 bed: $1M (35 sales) Pearce — 3 bed: $1.17M (22 sales)

35 vs 22 sales

4 bed $1.22M / $1.34M
Chifley — 4 bed: $1.22M (18 sales) Pearce — 4 bed: $1.34M (25 sales)

18 vs 25 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.

Chifley Pearce
2 bed $425K / $656K
Chifley — 2 bed: $425K (21 sales) Pearce — 2 bed: $656K (9 sales)

21 vs 9 sales

3 bed $960K / $896K
Chifley — 3 bed: $960K (5 sales) Pearce — 3 bed: $896K (9 sales)

5 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Chifley Pearce
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.

Chifley Pearce
Houses 4.7%
$1,075/wk on $1.18M
 3.6%
$750/wk on $1.09M
Units 8.1%
$550/wk on $354K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Chifley Pearce
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 47% of ACT Higher than 50% of ACT
Schools — Higher than 82% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 46% of ACT Higher than 71% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 50% of ACT Higher than 43% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 28% of ACT Higher than 16% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 82% of ACT Higher than 17% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 98% of ACT —

Liveability

Pearce scores higher overall (58 vs 48); Pearce is more walkable (72 vs 60).

Chifley Pearce
Grade C B
Score 48/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Chifley Pearce
Bushfire High
99/100
same for both
Crime Low
34/100
 Moderate
42/100
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
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Chifley Pearce
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 7.7 km
 1
UNSW Canberra, 8.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5%
same for both

Schools in Chifley

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

Schools in Pearce

  • Sacred Heart Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Melrose High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Marist College Canberra Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Chifley Pearce
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 3
Parks & reserves 0 2
Childcare 2 3
GPs 1 0

Mobility

Chifley Pearce
Walkability score 60/100 72/100
Distance to Canberra 13.1 km 13.9 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 21 min
Public transport score 59/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 16.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 26.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.4%
postcode 2606
 2.7%
postcode 2607
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 2606
 38
postcode 2607

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.

Chifley Pearce
Car (driver) 65.9% / 69.6%
Chifley — Car (driver): 65.9% Pearce — Car (driver): 69.6%
Worked from Home 13.4% / 14.3%
Chifley — Worked from Home: 13.4% Pearce — Worked from Home: 14.3%
Car (passenger) 7.9% / 6.2%
Chifley — Car (passenger): 7.9% Pearce — Car (passenger): 6.2%
Bus 6.6% / 5.7%
Chifley — Bus: 6.6% Pearce — Bus: 5.7%
Walked Only 4.5% / 2.7%
Chifley — Walked Only: 4.5% Pearce — Walked Only: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.6%).

Setting

Chifley Pearce
Elevation 621 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 630 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Chifley Pearce
Connectivity score 47/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
1,267 premises
 1%
1,246 premises

Climate

Chifley Pearce
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)

Chifley Pearce
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

Chifley Pearce
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Chifley Pearce
Division Bean
same for both
Member David Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Chifley Pearce
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Chifley

Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet Townhouses

Pearce

Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chifley

Chifley vs Phillip Chifley vs Weston Chifley vs Lyons Chifley vs Fisher Chifley vs Waramanga

Other comparisons with Pearce

Pearce vs Phillip Pearce vs Mawson Pearce vs Torrens
Full data on Chifley Full data on Pearce
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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