City vs Braddon

City is the younger of the two, with a median age of 27 against 30 in Braddon. In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. City is the city centre itself; Braddon is 2.2 km out.

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

Braddon

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But City has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

City

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($520,000 vs $1,200,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Braddon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($495/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

City

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)

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

Investors

Braddon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.3% vs 5.7%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

City Braddon
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.

City Braddon
Walkability 88 / 85
City — Walkability: 88/100 Braddon — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 5 / 13
City — Safety: 5/100 Braddon — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
City — Low fire risk: 100/100 Braddon — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
City — Low flood risk: 100/100 Braddon — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Braddon has more residents (6,383 vs 4,835); Braddon skews older (30 vs 27).

City Braddon
Population 4,835 6,383
+32% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.1% +16.1%
Median age 27 30
Median household income $116,064/yr $117,468/yr
+1% vs other
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+10% vs other
 $495/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

City Braddon
0-4 1.4% / 2.6%
City — 0-4: 1.4% Braddon — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 1.6% / 2.6%
City — 5-14: 1.6% Braddon — 5-14: 2.6%
15-19 12.7% / 1.6%
City — 15-19: 12.7% Braddon — 15-19: 1.6%
20-24 24.7% / 16.6%
City — 20-24: 24.7% Braddon — 20-24: 16.6%
25-34 30.0% / 40.3%
City — 25-34: 30.0% Braddon — 25-34: 40.3%
35-44 10.9% / 16.1%
City — 35-44: 10.9% Braddon — 35-44: 16.1%
45-54 7.3% / 7.4%
City — 45-54: 7.3% Braddon — 45-54: 7.4%
55-64 5.7% / 6.1%
City — 55-64: 5.7% Braddon — 55-64: 6.1%
65-74 3.8% / 4.1%
City — 65-74: 3.8% Braddon — 65-74: 4.1%
75-84 1.5% / 2.0%
City — 75-84: 1.5% Braddon — 75-84: 2.0%
85+ 0.5% / 0.7%
City — 85+: 0.5% Braddon — 85+: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (40.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

City 68.7% lone person
City — Lone Person: 68.7% City — Group Household: 15.8% City — Couple Families: 8.8% City — One Parent Families: 5.0% City — Other Families: 1.6%
Braddon 63.3% lone person
Braddon — Lone Person: 63.3% Braddon — Group Household: 21.1% Braddon — Couple Families: 9.9% Braddon — One Parent Families: 4.5% Braddon — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

City 62.9% renting
City — Owned Outright: 15.7% City — Mortgage: 21.3% City — Renting: 62.9%
Braddon 61.3% renting
Braddon — Owned Outright: 11.4% Braddon — Mortgage: 27.3% Braddon — Renting: 61.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

City Braddon
China 16.2% / 6.8%
City — China: 16.2% Braddon — China: 6.8%
India 3.5% / 3.0%
City — India: 3.5% Braddon — India: 3.0%
England 2.3% / 3.5%
City — England: 2.3% Braddon — England: 3.5%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.4%
City — New Zealand: 1.4% Braddon — New Zealand: 1.4%
Malaysia 1.7% / 0.9%
City — Malaysia: 1.7% Braddon — Malaysia: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Qualifications

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

City Braddon
Bachelor Degree 26.6% / 33.7%
City — Bachelor Degree: 26.6% Braddon — Bachelor Degree: 33.7%
Postgraduate Degree 19.1% / 22.0%
City — Postgraduate Degree: 19.1% Braddon — Postgraduate Degree: 22.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.4% / 5.3%
City — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.4% Braddon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 5.8%
City — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Braddon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.8%
Certificate III & IV 3.9% / 4.8%
City — Certificate III & IV: 3.9% Braddon — Certificate III & IV: 4.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

City 100.0% flats / apartments
City — Flats / Apartments: 100.0% City — Townhouses: 0.0% City — Houses: 0.0%
Braddon 81.0% flats / apartments
Braddon — Flats / Apartments: 81.0% Braddon — Townhouses: 14.1% Braddon — Houses: 4.9%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

City Braddon
Median house price $520,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price $570,000 $562,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 32 days
from 14 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.

City Braddon
1 bed $462K / $461K
City — 1 bed: $462K (70 sales) Braddon — 1 bed: $461K (96 sales)

70 vs 96 sales

2 bed $665K / $620K
City — 2 bed: $665K (75 sales) Braddon — 2 bed: $620K (113 sales)

75 vs 113 sales

3 bed $1M / $803K
City — 3 bed: $1M (9 sales) Braddon — 3 bed: $803K (24 sales)

9 vs 24 sales

Development activity

City Braddon
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.

City Braddon
Houses — 3.5%
$850/wk on $1.25M
Units 5.7%
$650/wk on $589K
 6.3%
$640/wk on $529K

Ranking within ACT

City Braddon
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 29% of ACT Higher than 33% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of ACT Higher than 92% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of ACT Higher than 60% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of ACT Higher than 72% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 16% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 34% of ACT Higher than 66% of ACT

Liveability

City Braddon
Grade A+
same for both
Score 91/100 90/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

City Braddon
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 High
87/100
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 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

City Braddon
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian National University, 2.4 km
 3
Australian National University, 2.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 24.5% 7.0%

Schools in City

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

Schools in Braddon

  • Ainslie School Government · Primary below peers
  • Merici College Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

City Braddon
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 131 23
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 1 5
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 3 0
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 12 1
Fuel stations 0 4
EV chargers 4 1

Mobility

City Braddon
Walkability score 88/100 85/100
Distance to Canberra 0.5 km 2.2 km
+340% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 2 min 6 min
Public transport score 93/100
Tram · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 449.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 47.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 7.1%
postcode 2601
 3.7%
postcode 2612
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 3
postcode 2601
 10
postcode 2612

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.

City Braddon
Car (driver) 31.6% / 39.7%
City — Car (driver): 31.6% Braddon — Car (driver): 39.7%
Walked Only 34.4% / 24.9%
City — Walked Only: 34.4% Braddon — Walked Only: 24.9%
Worked from Home 14.2% / 12.8%
City — Worked from Home: 14.2% Braddon — Worked from Home: 12.8%
Bus 12.4% / 9.7%
City — Bus: 12.4% Braddon — Bus: 9.7%
Bicycle 3.1% / 6.0%
City — Bicycle: 3.1% Braddon — Bicycle: 6.0%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 4.0%
City — Car (passenger): 3.2% Braddon — Car (passenger): 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (39.7%).

Setting

City Braddon
Elevation 571 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 579 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

City Braddon
Connectivity score 80/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 46%
4,885 premises
 51%
4,355 premises

Climate

City Braddon
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)

City Braddon
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

City Braddon
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

City Braddon
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

City Braddon
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

City

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

Braddon

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with City

City vs Turner City vs Acton City vs Reid

Other comparisons with Braddon

Braddon vs Campbell Braddon vs Lyneham Braddon vs Ainslie Braddon vs Turner Braddon vs Dickson Braddon vs Reid
Full data on City Full data on Braddon
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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