Curtin vs Hughes

In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Curtin: a median of $1.41 million, against $1.26 million in Hughes, and rent is higher there too.

Curtin is the larger suburb with 5569 residents compared to Hughes's 3210, and offers notably better walkability at 79 versus 69. House prices are higher in Curtin at $1,400,000 against $1,282,000, though unit prices are nearly identical. Hughes edges ahead on liveability (69 versus 62) and has lower crime and flood risk scores, while Curtin faces higher bushfire risk at 98. Both suburbs are equally affluent by socio-economic decile and sit close to the CBD, so your choice may hinge on whether you prioritise walkable, denser living (Curtin) or a quieter, lower-risk environment (Hughes).

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

Curtin

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 3)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 74%)
  • But Hughes carries lower crime risk (19/100 vs 30/100)

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

First-home buyers

Hughes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,260,000 vs $1,412,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hughes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Curtin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 69/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Curtin has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • Hughes has more units and townhouses to downsize into (27% vs 16%)

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

Investors

Hughes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Curtin Hughes
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.

Curtin Hughes
Walkability 79 / 69
Curtin — Walkability: 79/100 Hughes — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 70 / 81
Curtin — Safety: 70/100 Hughes — Safety: 81/100
Low fire risk 2 / 9
Curtin — Low fire risk: 2/100 Hughes — Low fire risk: 9/100
Low flood risk 70 / 100
Curtin — Low flood risk: 70/100 Hughes — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Curtin has more residents (5,569 vs 3,210); Curtin rents higher ($450/wk vs $400/wk).

Curtin Hughes
Population 5,569
+42% vs other
 3,210
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.3% +7.4%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $150,072/yr
+3% vs other
 $145,444/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+11% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Curtin Hughes
0-4 4.9% / 4.6%
Curtin — 0-4: 4.9% Hughes — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 14.5% / 14.0%
Curtin — 5-14: 14.5% Hughes — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 5.6% / 5.9%
Curtin — 15-19: 5.6% Hughes — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.4% / 5.1%
Curtin — 20-24: 5.4% Hughes — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 10.6% / 10.0%
Curtin — 25-34: 10.6% Hughes — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 14.1% / 13.0%
Curtin — 35-44: 14.1% Hughes — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 14.0% / 13.3%
Curtin — 45-54: 14.0% Hughes — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 12.2% / 12.0%
Curtin — 55-64: 12.2% Hughes — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 8.3% / 9.0%
Curtin — 65-74: 8.3% Hughes — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 6.6% / 6.7%
Curtin — 75-84: 6.6% Hughes — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 3.5% / 6.4%
Curtin — 85+: 3.5% Hughes — 85+: 6.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Curtin 50.8% couple families
Curtin — Couple Families: 50.8% Curtin — Lone Person: 32.2% Curtin — One Parent Families: 12.7% Curtin — Group Household: 3.4% Curtin — Other Families: 0.9%
Hughes 48.8% couple families
Hughes — Couple Families: 48.8% Hughes — Lone Person: 34.0% Hughes — One Parent Families: 12.5% Hughes — Group Household: 3.7% Hughes — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Curtin 24.7% renting
Curtin — Owned Outright: 41.2% Curtin — Mortgage: 34.1% Curtin — Renting: 24.7%
Hughes 24.9% renting
Hughes — Owned Outright: 37.8% Hughes — Mortgage: 37.3% Hughes — Renting: 24.9%
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.

Curtin Hughes
England 3.8% / 3.8%
Curtin — England: 3.8% Hughes — England: 3.8%
India 1.8% / 2.6%
Curtin — India: 1.8% Hughes — India: 2.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / 2.0%
Curtin — New Zealand: 1.3% Hughes — New Zealand: 2.0%
Nepal 1.5% / 1.2%
Curtin — Nepal: 1.5% Hughes — Nepal: 1.2%
China 1.2% / 1.1%
Curtin — China: 1.2% Hughes — China: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

Qualifications

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

Curtin Hughes
Bachelor Degree 23.6% / 23.5%
Curtin — Bachelor Degree: 23.6% Hughes — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 15.2% / 15.6%
Curtin — Postgraduate Degree: 15.2% Hughes — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 6.3%
Curtin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Hughes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Certificate III & IV 5.7% / 4.9%
Curtin — Certificate III & IV: 5.7% Hughes — Certificate III & IV: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.5% / 5.0%
Curtin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.5% Hughes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Curtin 83.8% houses
Curtin — Houses: 83.8% Curtin — Flats / Apartments: 11.3% Curtin — Townhouses: 4.9%
Hughes 73.5% houses
Hughes — Houses: 73.5% Hughes — Flats / Apartments: 13.4% Hughes — Townhouses: 13.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Curtin Hughes
Median house price $1,412,500 $1,260,000
Median unit price $352,500 $350,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 56 sales
 21 days
from 32 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.

Curtin Hughes
1 bed $295K / $301K
Curtin — 1 bed: $295K (7 sales) Hughes — 1 bed: $301K (8 sales)

7 vs 8 sales

2 bed $385K / $376K
Curtin — 2 bed: $385K (17 sales) Hughes — 2 bed: $376K (5 sales)

17 vs 5 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.

Curtin Hughes
3 bed $1.25M / $1.19M
Curtin — 3 bed: $1.25M (41 sales) Hughes — 3 bed: $1.19M (32 sales)

41 vs 32 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.48M
Curtin — 4 bed: $1.5M (35 sales) Hughes — 4 bed: $1.48M (25 sales)

35 vs 25 sales

5 bed $1.7M / $1.75M
Curtin — 5 bed: $1.7M (10 sales) Hughes — 5 bed: $1.75M (7 sales)

10 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Curtin Hughes
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.

Curtin Hughes
Houses 3.3%
$925/wk on $1.45M
 4.0%
$850/wk on $1.09M
Units 7.6%
$510/wk on $349K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Curtin Hughes
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 84% of ACT Higher than 81% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 81% of ACT Higher than 64% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 93% of ACT Higher than 94% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 23% of ACT Higher than 16% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 12% of ACT Higher than 35% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 93% of ACT —

Liveability

Curtin is more walkable (79 vs 69); Hughes scores higher overall (69 vs 62).

Curtin Hughes
Grade B A
Score 62/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Curtin carries more flood risk (30 vs 0); Curtin carries more crime risk (30 vs 19).

Curtin Hughes
Bushfire High
98/100
 High
91/100
Crime Low
30/100
 Low
19/100
Flood Low
30/100
 None
0/100
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
same for both

Schools

Curtin Hughes
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
UNSW Canberra, 5.9 km
 3
UNSW Canberra, 4.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 2.4%

Schools in Curtin

  • Holy Trinity Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Curtin Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Hughes

  • Hughes Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Curtin Hughes
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 6 3
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Curtin Hughes
Walkability score 79/100 69/100
Distance to Canberra 10.3 km 10.7 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min
same for both
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 58.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.6%
postcode 2605
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 2605
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.

Curtin Hughes
Car (driver) 67.7% / 64.3%
Curtin — Car (driver): 67.7% Hughes — Car (driver): 64.3%
Worked from Home 13.6% / 15.1%
Curtin — Worked from Home: 13.6% Hughes — Worked from Home: 15.1%
Car (passenger) 6.8% / 7.0%
Curtin — Car (passenger): 6.8% Hughes — Car (passenger): 7.0%
Bus 6.1% / 3.5%
Curtin — Bus: 6.1% Hughes — Bus: 3.5%
Walked Only 2.9% / 6.5%
Curtin — Walked Only: 2.9% Hughes — Walked Only: 6.5%
Bicycle 2.9% / 3.7%
Curtin — Bicycle: 2.9% Hughes — Bicycle: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.7%).

Setting

Curtin Hughes
Elevation 576 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 594 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Curtin Hughes
Connectivity score 46/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
2,460 premises
 0%
1,285 premises

Climate

Curtin Hughes
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)

Curtin Hughes
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Curtin Hughes
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Curtin Hughes
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Curtin Hughes
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Curtin

Inner Premium Professionals

Hughes

Inner Premium Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Curtin

Curtin vs Phillip Curtin vs Weston Curtin vs Lyons Curtin vs Deakin Curtin vs Yarralumla

Other comparisons with Hughes

Hughes vs Phillip Hughes vs Garran Hughes vs Red Hill Hughes vs Deakin
Full data on Curtin Full data on Hughes
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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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