Dickson vs Braddon

In Dickson, about half of households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Braddon, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Braddon is closer to the city centre: 2.2 km, against 4.4 km. On these figures, Braddon tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Dickson

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (30% vs 5%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (34% vs 14%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Braddon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (61% vs 47%)

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

Commuting to the city

Braddon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (2.2 km vs 4.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Braddon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (95% vs 70%)

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

Investors

Dickson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (53.2% vs 16.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.0% vs 3.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Dickson 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.

Dickson 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.

Dickson Braddon
Walkability 89 / 85
Dickson — Walkability: 89/100 Braddon — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 8 / 13
Dickson — Safety: 8/100 Braddon — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Dickson — Low fire risk: 100/100 Braddon — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 62 / 100
Dickson — Low flood risk: 62/100 Braddon — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Braddon has more residents (6,383 vs 3,292).

Dickson Braddon
Population 3,292 6,383
+94% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +53.2% +16.1%
Median age 30
same for both
Median household income $118,404/yr $117,468/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+1% vs other
 $495/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dickson Braddon
0-4 4.4% / 2.6%
Dickson — 0-4: 4.4% Braddon — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 8.4% / 2.6%
Dickson — 5-14: 8.4% Braddon — 5-14: 2.6%
15-19 3.1% / 1.6%
Dickson — 15-19: 3.1% Braddon — 15-19: 1.6%
20-24 15.3% / 16.6%
Dickson — 20-24: 15.3% Braddon — 20-24: 16.6%
25-34 28.4% / 40.3%
Dickson — 25-34: 28.4% Braddon — 25-34: 40.3%
35-44 14.7% / 16.1%
Dickson — 35-44: 14.7% Braddon — 35-44: 16.1%
45-54 10.4% / 7.4%
Dickson — 45-54: 10.4% Braddon — 45-54: 7.4%
55-64 7.6% / 6.1%
Dickson — 55-64: 7.6% Braddon — 55-64: 6.1%
65-74 3.9% / 4.1%
Dickson — 65-74: 3.9% Braddon — 65-74: 4.1%
75-84 2.4% / 2.0%
Dickson — 75-84: 2.4% Braddon — 75-84: 2.0%
85+ 1.1% / 0.7%
Dickson — 85+: 1.1% Braddon — 85+: 0.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dickson 45.7% lone person
Dickson — Lone Person: 45.7% Dickson — Group Household: 18.8% Dickson — Couple Families: 24.3% Dickson — One Parent Families: 9.4% Dickson — Other Families: 1.8%
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.

Dickson 46.6% renting
Dickson — Owned Outright: 19.8% Dickson — Mortgage: 33.7% Dickson — Renting: 46.6%
Braddon 61.3% renting
Braddon — Owned Outright: 11.4% Braddon — Mortgage: 27.3% Braddon — Renting: 61.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dickson Braddon
Bachelor Degree 28.4% / 33.7%
Dickson — Bachelor Degree: 28.4% Braddon — Bachelor Degree: 33.7%
Postgraduate Degree 18.2% / 22.0%
Dickson — Postgraduate Degree: 18.2% Braddon — Postgraduate Degree: 22.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 5.3%
Dickson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% Braddon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.6% / 5.8%
Dickson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6% Braddon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.8%
Certificate III & IV 5.3% / 4.8%
Dickson — Certificate III & IV: 5.3% Braddon — Certificate III & IV: 4.8%

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

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.

Dickson Braddon
China 5.8% / 6.8%
Dickson — China: 5.8% Braddon — China: 6.8%
England 2.6% / 3.5%
Dickson — England: 2.6% Braddon — England: 3.5%
India 1.2% / 3.0%
Dickson — India: 1.2% Braddon — India: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.4%
Dickson — New Zealand: 1.0% Braddon — New Zealand: 1.4%
Vietnam 1.3% / 0.8%
Dickson — Vietnam: 1.3% Braddon — Vietnam: 0.8%
Malaysia 0.7% / 0.9%
Dickson — Malaysia: 0.7% Braddon — Malaysia: 0.9%
Nepal 1.2% / —
Dickson — Nepal: 1.2% Braddon — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dickson 48.9% flats / apartments
Dickson — Flats / Apartments: 48.9% Dickson — Townhouses: 21.5% Dickson — Houses: 29.6%
Braddon 81.0% flats / apartments
Braddon — Flats / Apartments: 81.0% Braddon — Townhouses: 14.1% Braddon — Houses: 4.9%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Dickson Braddon
Median house price $1,170,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price $580,000 $562,500
Median land price $1,270,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 23 sales
 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.

Dickson Braddon
1 bed $447K / $461K
Dickson — 1 bed: $447K (49 sales) Braddon — 1 bed: $461K (96 sales)

49 vs 96 sales

2 bed $614K / $620K
Dickson — 2 bed: $614K (76 sales) Braddon — 2 bed: $620K (113 sales)

76 vs 113 sales

3 bed $802K / $803K
Dickson — 3 bed: $802K (9 sales) Braddon — 3 bed: $803K (24 sales)

9 vs 24 sales

Development activity

Dickson 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.

Dickson Braddon
Houses 4.0%
$850/wk on $1.1M
 3.5%
$850/wk on $1.25M
Units 6.1%
$680/wk on $578K
 6.3%
$640/wk on $529K

Ranking within ACT

Dickson Braddon
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of ACT Higher than 33% of ACT
Schools Higher than 5% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 98% of ACT Higher than 92% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 82% of ACT Higher than 60% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of ACT Higher than 72% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 34% of ACT Higher than 16% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 56% of ACT Higher than 66% of ACT

Liveability

Braddon scores higher overall (90 vs 59).

Dickson Braddon
Grade B A+
Score 59/100 90/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Dickson carries more flood risk (38 vs 0).

Dickson Braddon
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
87/100
Flood Low
38/100
 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 6
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Dickson Braddon
Inside the suburb 3 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, 3.6 km
 3
Australian National University, 2.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.0%
same for both

Schools in Dickson

  • Daramalan College Independent · Secondary
  • Dickson College Government · Secondary
  • Emmaus Christian School Independent · Combined

Schools in Braddon

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

Amenities in the suburb

Dickson Braddon
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 53 23
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 7 5
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 2 4
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Dickson sits further from the CBD (4.4 km vs 2.2 km).

Dickson Braddon
Walkability score 89/100 85/100
Distance to Canberra 4.4 km
+50% vs other
 2.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 6 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 106.8
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 4.3%
postcode 2602
 3.7%
postcode 2612
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 2602
 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.

Dickson Braddon
Car (driver) 49.9% / 39.7%
Dickson — Car (driver): 49.9% Braddon — Car (driver): 39.7%
Walked Only 6.1% / 24.9%
Dickson — Walked Only: 6.1% Braddon — Walked Only: 24.9%
Worked from Home 13.7% / 12.8%
Dickson — Worked from Home: 13.7% Braddon — Worked from Home: 12.8%
Bus 7.4% / 9.7%
Dickson — Bus: 7.4% Braddon — Bus: 9.7%
Bicycle 9.6% / 6.0%
Dickson — Bicycle: 9.6% Braddon — Bicycle: 6.0%
Tram / Light Rail 7.5% / 2.8%
Dickson — Tram / Light Rail: 7.5% Braddon — Tram / Light Rail: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.9%).

Setting

Dickson Braddon
Elevation 578 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 579 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Dickson Braddon
Connectivity score 70/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
2,496 premises
 51%
4,355 premises

Climate

Dickson 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Dickson

Apartments Cafe Culture Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses

Braddon

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dickson

Dickson vs Watson Dickson vs Lyneham Dickson vs Ainslie Dickson vs Turner Dickson vs Downer Dickson vs Hackett

Other comparisons with Braddon

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