Dickson vs Hackett

Dickson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 40 in Hackett. 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 Hackett, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Hackett: a median of $1.27 million, against $1.17 million in Dickson, though rent is higher in Dickson. Dickson is closer to the city centre: 4.4 km, against 6.5 km. On these figures, Dickson tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Hackett suits families with children and couples.

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

Hackett

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (76% vs 30%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 34%)
  • carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 92/100)
  • But Dickson has more childcare (7 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Hackett

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($368,000 vs $580,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hackett

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($374/wk vs $500/wk)
  • But Dickson has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Dickson

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (8% vs 0%)
  • sits closer to the CBD (4.4 km vs 6.5 km)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 64/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Dickson

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 24%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 64/100)
  • But Hackett has more residents already 65 and over (15% vs 7%)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Dickson is growing faster (53.2% vs 7.9%)
  • Hackett returns a higher gross yield on units (6.9% vs 6.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Dickson and Hackett 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 Hackett
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 Hackett
Walkability 89 / 64
Dickson — Walkability: 89/100 Hackett — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 8 / 44
Dickson — Safety: 8/100 Hackett — Safety: 44/100
Low fire risk 100 / 32
Dickson — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hackett — Low fire risk: 32/100
Low flood risk 62 / 100
Dickson — Low flood risk: 62/100 Hackett — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Dickson rents higher ($500/wk vs $374/wk); Hackett skews older (40 vs 30).

Dickson Hackett
Population 3,292
+2% vs other
 3,227
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +53.2% +7.9%
Median age 30 40
Median household income $118,404/yr $136,396/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+25% vs other
 $374/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dickson Hackett
0-4 4.4% / 5.5%
Dickson — 0-4: 4.4% Hackett — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 8.4% / 15.3%
Dickson — 5-14: 8.4% Hackett — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 3.1% / 6.4%
Dickson — 15-19: 3.1% Hackett — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 15.3% / 4.7%
Dickson — 20-24: 15.3% Hackett — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 28.4% / 10.4%
Dickson — 25-34: 28.4% Hackett — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 14.7% / 14.8%
Dickson — 35-44: 14.7% Hackett — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 10.4% / 16.1%
Dickson — 45-54: 10.4% Hackett — 45-54: 16.1%
55-64 7.6% / 11.7%
Dickson — 55-64: 7.6% Hackett — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 3.9% / 7.5%
Dickson — 65-74: 3.9% Hackett — 65-74: 7.5%
75-84 2.4% / 5.2%
Dickson — 75-84: 2.4% Hackett — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 1.1% / 2.7%
Dickson — 85+: 1.1% Hackett — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dickson 45.7% lone person
Dickson — Lone Person: 45.7% Dickson — Couple Families: 24.3% Dickson — Group Household: 18.8% Dickson — One Parent Families: 9.4% Dickson — Other Families: 1.8%
Hackett 33.0% lone person
Hackett — Lone Person: 33.0% Hackett — Couple Families: 48.2% Hackett — Group Household: 5.0% Hackett — One Parent Families: 12.4% Hackett — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household 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%
Hackett 23.7% renting
Hackett — Owned Outright: 37.8% Hackett — Mortgage: 38.5% Hackett — Renting: 23.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dickson Hackett
Bachelor Degree 28.4% / 22.2%
Dickson — Bachelor Degree: 28.4% Hackett — Bachelor Degree: 22.2%
Postgraduate Degree 18.2% / 16.7%
Dickson — Postgraduate Degree: 18.2% Hackett — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7%
Certificate III & IV 5.3% / 5.3%
Dickson — Certificate III & IV: 5.3% Hackett — Certificate III & IV: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.6% / 5.6%
Dickson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6% Hackett — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 4.9%
Dickson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% Hackett — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.4%).

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 Hackett
England 2.6% / 4.1%
Dickson — England: 2.6% Hackett — England: 4.1%
China 5.8% / 0.7%
Dickson — China: 5.8% Hackett — China: 0.7%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.3%
Dickson — New Zealand: 1.0% Hackett — New Zealand: 1.3%
India 1.2% / 0.5%
Dickson — India: 1.2% Hackett — India: 0.5%
Vietnam 1.3% / —
Dickson — Vietnam: 1.3% Hackett — Vietnam: not among its largest
Nepal 1.2% / —
Dickson — Nepal: 1.2% Hackett — Nepal: not among its largest
Canada — / 0.7%
Dickson — Canada: not among its largest Hackett — Canada: 0.7%
Greece — / 0.6%
Dickson — Greece: not among its largest Hackett — Greece: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dickson 29.6% houses
Dickson — Houses: 29.6% Dickson — Flats / Apartments: 48.9% Dickson — Townhouses: 21.5%
Hackett 76.2% houses
Hackett — Houses: 76.2% Hackett — Flats / Apartments: 9.4% Hackett — Townhouses: 14.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Dickson Hackett
Median house price $1,170,000 $1,275,000
Median unit price $580,000 $368,000
Median land price $1,270,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 23 sales
 21 days
from 38 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.

Dickson Hackett
3 bed $1.09M / $1.19M
Dickson — 3 bed: $1.09M (19 sales) Hackett — 3 bed: $1.19M (36 sales)

19 vs 36 sales

4 bed $1.37M / $1.43M
Dickson — 4 bed: $1.37M (14 sales) Hackett — 4 bed: $1.43M (25 sales)

14 vs 25 sales

Development activity

Dickson Hackett
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 Hackett
Houses 4.0%
$850/wk on $1.1M
 4.0%
$908/wk on $1.2M
Units 6.1%
$680/wk on $578K
 6.9%
$490/wk on $370K

Ranking within ACT

Dickson Hackett
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of ACT Higher than 71% of ACT
Schools Higher than 5% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 98% of ACT Higher than 54% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 82% of ACT Higher than 85% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of ACT Higher than 14% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 34% of ACT Higher than 29% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 56% of ACT Higher than 83% of ACT

Liveability

Dickson is more walkable (89 vs 64); Hackett scores higher overall (67 vs 59).

Dickson Hackett
Grade B A
Score 59/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hackett carries more bushfire risk (68 vs 0); Dickson carries more flood risk (38 vs 0).

Dickson Hackett
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime High
92/100
 Moderate
56/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Dickson Hackett
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian National University, 3.6 km
 3
Australian National University, 5.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.0% 2.7%

Schools in Dickson

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

Schools in Hackett

  • Blue Gum Community School Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Dickson Hackett
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 53 1
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 7 2
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0

Mobility

Hackett sits further from the CBD (6.5 km vs 4.4 km).

Dickson Hackett
Walkability score 89/100 64/100
Distance to Canberra 4.4 km 6.5 km
+48% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 13 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 72/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 106.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 24.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 4.3%
postcode 2602
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 2602
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.

Dickson Hackett
Car (driver) 49.9% / 60.1%
Dickson — Car (driver): 49.9% Hackett — Car (driver): 60.1%
Worked from Home 13.7% / 16.1%
Dickson — Worked from Home: 13.7% Hackett — Worked from Home: 16.1%
Bicycle 9.6% / 11.6%
Dickson — Bicycle: 9.6% Hackett — Bicycle: 11.6%
Bus 7.4% / 4.2%
Dickson — Bus: 7.4% Hackett — Bus: 4.2%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 5.8%
Dickson — Car (passenger): 5.8% Hackett — Car (passenger): 5.8%
Tram / Light Rail 7.5% / 0.2%
Dickson — Tram / Light Rail: 7.5% Hackett — Tram / Light Rail: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.1%).

Setting

Dickson Hackett
Elevation 578 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 615 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Dickson Hackett
Connectivity score 70/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
2,496 premises
 1%
1,360 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Dickson Hackett
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

Hackett

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dickson

Dickson vs Watson Dickson vs Braddon Dickson vs Lyneham Dickson vs Ainslie Dickson vs Turner Dickson vs Downer

Other comparisons with Hackett

Hackett vs Watson Hackett vs Ainslie Hackett vs Downer
Full data on Dickson Full data on Hackett
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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