Deakin vs Hughes

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Hughes, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Deakin: a median of $2 million, against $1.26 million in Hughes, and rent is higher there too. Deakin is closer to the city centre: 8.5 km, against 10.7 km. On these figures, Hughes tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Deakin

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 3)
  • But Hughes carries lower crime risk (19/100 vs 68/100)

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

First-home buyers

Hughes

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($350,000 vs $955,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,260,000 vs $2,000,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hughes

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $560/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Deakin

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (8.5 km vs 10.7 km)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 69/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Deakin

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Hughes carries lower crime risk (19/100 vs 68/100)

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 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Deakin 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.

Deakin 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.

Deakin Hughes
Walkability 79 / 69
Deakin — Walkability: 79/100 Hughes — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 32 / 81
Deakin — Safety: 32/100 Hughes — Safety: 81/100
Low fire risk 12 / 9
Deakin — Low fire risk: 12/100 Hughes — Low fire risk: 9/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Deakin — Low flood risk: 100/100 Hughes — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Deakin rents higher ($560/wk vs $400/wk); Deakin has higher household incomes ($162,084 vs $145,444).

Deakin Hughes
Population 3,124 3,210
+3% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.5% +7.4%
Median age 45 43
Median household income $162,084/yr
+10% vs other
 $145,444/yr
Median weekly rent $560/wk
+29% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Deakin Hughes
0-4 4.3% / 4.6%
Deakin — 0-4: 4.3% Hughes — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 12.4% / 14.0%
Deakin — 5-14: 12.4% Hughes — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 7.0% / 5.9%
Deakin — 15-19: 7.0% Hughes — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.2% / 5.1%
Deakin — 20-24: 5.2% Hughes — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 8.1% / 10.0%
Deakin — 25-34: 8.1% Hughes — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 12.1% / 13.0%
Deakin — 35-44: 12.1% Hughes — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 14.2% / 13.3%
Deakin — 45-54: 14.2% Hughes — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 11.9% / 12.0%
Deakin — 55-64: 11.9% Hughes — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 11.6% / 9.0%
Deakin — 65-74: 11.6% Hughes — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 8.3% / 6.7%
Deakin — 75-84: 8.3% Hughes — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 4.5% / 6.4%
Deakin — 85+: 4.5% Hughes — 85+: 6.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Deakin 44.4% couple families
Deakin — Couple Families: 44.4% Deakin — Lone Person: 39.6% Deakin — One Parent Families: 10.8% Deakin — Group Household: 4.6% Deakin — Other Families: 0.6%
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.

Deakin 22.1% renting
Deakin — Owned Outright: 47.2% Deakin — Mortgage: 30.7% Deakin — Renting: 22.1%
Hughes 24.9% renting
Hughes — Owned Outright: 37.8% Hughes — Mortgage: 37.3% Hughes — Renting: 24.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Deakin Hughes
Bachelor Degree 25.8% / 23.5%
Deakin — Bachelor Degree: 25.8% Hughes — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 17.3% / 15.6%
Deakin — Postgraduate Degree: 17.3% Hughes — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 6.3%
Deakin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Hughes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.3% / 5.0%
Deakin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.3% Hughes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 4.9%
Deakin — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Hughes — Certificate III & IV: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.8%).

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.

Deakin Hughes
England 5.1% / 3.8%
Deakin — England: 5.1% Hughes — England: 3.8%
India 2.3% / 2.6%
Deakin — India: 2.3% Hughes — India: 2.6%
New Zealand 1.1% / 2.0%
Deakin — New Zealand: 1.1% Hughes — New Zealand: 2.0%
China 1.4% / 1.1%
Deakin — China: 1.4% Hughes — China: 1.1%
Nepal — / 1.2%
Deakin — Nepal: not among its largest Hughes — Nepal: 1.2%
Malaysia 1.1% / —
Deakin — Malaysia: 1.1% Hughes — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Deakin 67.9% houses
Deakin — Houses: 67.9% Deakin — Townhouses: 18.0% Deakin — Flats / Apartments: 14.1%
Hughes 73.5% houses
Hughes — Houses: 73.5% Hughes — Townhouses: 13.2% Hughes — Flats / Apartments: 13.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Deakin Hughes
Median house price $2,000,000 $1,260,000
Median unit price $955,000 $350,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 30 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.

Deakin Hughes
1 bed $655K / $301K
Deakin — 1 bed: $655K (5 sales) Hughes — 1 bed: $301K (8 sales)

5 vs 8 sales

2 bed $1.1M / $376K
Deakin — 2 bed: $1.1M (10 sales) Hughes — 2 bed: $376K (5 sales)

10 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.

Deakin Hughes
3 bed $1.62M / $1.19M
Deakin — 3 bed: $1.62M (24 sales) Hughes — 3 bed: $1.19M (32 sales)

24 vs 32 sales

4 bed $2.07M / $1.48M
Deakin — 4 bed: $2.07M (22 sales) Hughes — 4 bed: $1.48M (25 sales)

22 vs 25 sales

5 bed $2.52M / $1.75M
Deakin — 5 bed: $2.52M (9 sales) Hughes — 5 bed: $1.75M (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Deakin 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.

Deakin Hughes
Houses 3.2%
$1,100/wk on $1.79M
 4.0%
$850/wk on $1.09M
Units 2.6%
$570/wk on $1.12M
 —

Ranking within ACT

Deakin Hughes
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 88% of ACT Higher than 81% of ACT
Schools Higher than 23% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 82% of ACT Higher than 64% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 79% of ACT Higher than 94% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 55% of ACT Higher than 16% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 9% of ACT Higher than 35% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 2% of ACT —

Liveability

Hughes scores higher overall (69 vs 57); Deakin is more walkable (79 vs 69).

Deakin Hughes
Grade B A
Score 57/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Deakin carries more crime risk (68 vs 19).

Deakin Hughes
Bushfire High
88/100
 High
91/100
Crime Moderate
68/100
 Low
19/100
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
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Deakin Hughes
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
UNSW Canberra, 3.5 km
 3
UNSW Canberra, 4.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 2.4%

Schools in Deakin

  • Alfred Deakin High School Government · Secondary
  • Canberra Girls Grammar School Independent · Secondary
  • Canberra Girls Grammar School - Junior School Independent · Primary
  • The Woden School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Hughes

  • Hughes Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Deakin Hughes
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 10 1
Parks & reserves 4 1
Childcare 6 3
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 2 1
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 4 0

Mobility

Hughes sits further from the CBD (10.7 km vs 8.5 km).

Deakin Hughes
Walkability score 79/100 69/100
Distance to Canberra 8.5 km 10.7 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 16 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 104.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 17.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 4.2%
postcode 2600
 4.6%
postcode 2605
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 2600
 37
postcode 2605

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.

Deakin Hughes
Car (driver) 65.0% / 64.3%
Deakin — Car (driver): 65.0% Hughes — Car (driver): 64.3%
Worked from Home 17.1% / 15.1%
Deakin — Worked from Home: 17.1% Hughes — Worked from Home: 15.1%
Car (passenger) 7.2% / 7.0%
Deakin — Car (passenger): 7.2% Hughes — Car (passenger): 7.0%
Walked Only 3.9% / 6.5%
Deakin — Walked Only: 3.9% Hughes — Walked Only: 6.5%
Bus 3.7% / 3.5%
Deakin — Bus: 3.7% Hughes — Bus: 3.5%
Bicycle 3.0% / 3.7%
Deakin — Bicycle: 3.0% Hughes — Bicycle: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.0%).

Setting

Deakin Hughes
Elevation 592 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 594 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Deakin Hughes
Connectivity score 58/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 11%
2,125 premises
 0%
1,285 premises

Climate

Deakin Hughes
Annual rainfall 622 mm 686 mm
Summer max (Jan) 28.5°C 28.2°C
Winter min (Jul) 0.8°C 0.9°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Deakin

Inner Premium Professionals

Hughes

Inner Premium Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Deakin

Deakin vs Curtin Deakin vs Red Hill Deakin vs Yarralumla Deakin vs Forrest

Other comparisons with Hughes

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