Dickson vs Watson

Dickson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 34 in Watson. 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 Watson, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Dickson is closer to the city centre: 4.4 km, against 7.9 km. On these figures, Dickson tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Watson suits families with children.

Dickson and Watson are both affluent inner-Canberra suburbs, but they suit different priorities. Dickson is closer to the CBD at 4.4 km, significantly more walkable with a score of 89, and has lower bushfire risk at 0. Watson has a larger population at 6,727 compared to Dickson's 3,292, higher median household income at $125,528, and a better liveability score of 63. Unit prices favour Dickson at $580,000 versus Watson's $472,000, though house prices are nearly identical. If walkability and proximity to the city matter most, Dickson is the stronger fit; Watson appeals to those seeking a larger, more established community with higher incomes.

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

Watson

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (58% vs 30%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (53% vs 34%)
  • But Dickson has more childcare (7 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Watson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($472,000 vs $580,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Dickson has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 34%)
  • Watson has cheaper rent ($437/wk vs $500/wk)

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

  • sits closer to the CBD (4.4 km vs 7.9 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (10 min vs 15 min)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 68/100)

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 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 42%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 68/100)
  • But Watson carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 92/100)

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

Investors

Dickson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (53.2% vs 14.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Dickson and Watson 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 Watson
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 Watson
Walkability 89 / 68
Dickson — Walkability: 89/100 Watson — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 8 / 36
Dickson — Safety: 8/100 Watson — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 100 / 64
Dickson — Low fire risk: 100/100 Watson — Low fire risk: 64/100
Low flood risk 62 / 81
Dickson — Low flood risk: 62/100 Watson — Low flood risk: 81/100

Demographics

Watson has more residents (6,727 vs 3,292); Dickson rents higher ($500/wk vs $437/wk).

Dickson Watson
Population 3,292 6,727
+104% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +53.2% +14.8%
Median age 30 34
Median household income $118,404/yr $125,528/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+13% vs other
 $437/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dickson Watson
0-4 4.4% / 6.5%
Dickson — 0-4: 4.4% Watson — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 8.4% / 13.4%
Dickson — 5-14: 8.4% Watson — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 3.1% / 4.7%
Dickson — 15-19: 3.1% Watson — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 15.3% / 6.6%
Dickson — 20-24: 15.3% Watson — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 28.4% / 18.9%
Dickson — 25-34: 28.4% Watson — 25-34: 18.9%
35-44 14.7% / 18.5%
Dickson — 35-44: 14.7% Watson — 35-44: 18.5%
45-54 10.4% / 12.8%
Dickson — 45-54: 10.4% Watson — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 7.6% / 9.1%
Dickson — 55-64: 7.6% Watson — 55-64: 9.1%
65-74 3.9% / 5.4%
Dickson — 65-74: 3.9% Watson — 65-74: 5.4%
75-84 2.4% / 3.1%
Dickson — 75-84: 2.4% Watson — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 1.1% / 1.1%
Dickson — 85+: 1.1% Watson — 85+: 1.1%

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%
Watson 36.7% lone person
Watson — Lone Person: 36.7% Watson — Couple Families: 39.6% Watson — Group Household: 8.3% Watson — One Parent Families: 13.8% Watson — Other Families: 1.7%
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%
Watson 33.9% renting
Watson — Owned Outright: 23.0% Watson — Mortgage: 43.1% Watson — Renting: 33.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dickson Watson
Bachelor Degree 28.4% / 22.7%
Dickson — Bachelor Degree: 28.4% Watson — Bachelor Degree: 22.7%
Postgraduate Degree 18.2% / 16.8%
Dickson — Postgraduate Degree: 18.2% Watson — Postgraduate Degree: 16.8%
Certificate III & IV 5.3% / 6.4%
Dickson — Certificate III & IV: 5.3% Watson — Certificate III & IV: 6.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.1% / 6.2%
Dickson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.1% Watson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.6% / 5.0%
Dickson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6% Watson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0%

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 Watson
China 5.8% / 1.7%
Dickson — China: 5.8% Watson — China: 1.7%
England 2.6% / 2.8%
Dickson — England: 2.6% Watson — England: 2.8%
India 1.2% / 2.0%
Dickson — India: 1.2% Watson — India: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.4%
Dickson — New Zealand: 1.0% Watson — New Zealand: 1.4%
Vietnam 1.3% / 1.0%
Dickson — Vietnam: 1.3% Watson — Vietnam: 1.0%
Nepal 1.2% / 0.8%
Dickson — Nepal: 1.2% Watson — Nepal: 0.8%

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%
Watson 57.9% houses
Watson — Houses: 57.9% Watson — Flats / Apartments: 12.6% Watson — Townhouses: 29.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Dickson Watson
Median house price $1,170,000 $1,172,500
Median unit price $580,000 $472,000
Median land price $1,270,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 23 sales
 23 days
from 74 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 Watson
1 bed $447K / $350K
Dickson — 1 bed: $447K (49 sales) Watson — 1 bed: $350K (15 sales)

49 vs 15 sales

2 bed $614K / $482K
Dickson — 2 bed: $614K (76 sales) Watson — 2 bed: $482K (48 sales)

76 vs 48 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 Watson
2 bed $900K / $680K
Dickson — 2 bed: $900K (5 sales) Watson — 2 bed: $680K (11 sales)

5 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.09M / $1.1M
Dickson — 3 bed: $1.09M (19 sales) Watson — 3 bed: $1.1M (47 sales)

19 vs 47 sales

4 bed $1.37M / $1.27M
Dickson — 4 bed: $1.37M (14 sales) Watson — 4 bed: $1.27M (34 sales)

14 vs 34 sales

Development activity

Dickson Watson
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 Watson
Houses 4.0%
$850/wk on $1.1M
 4.2%
$740/wk on $925K
Units 6.1%
$680/wk on $578K
 6.2%
$550/wk on $462K

Ranking within ACT

Dickson Watson
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 38% of ACT Higher than 53% of ACT
Schools Higher than 5% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 98% of ACT Higher than 61% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 82% of ACT Higher than 84% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of ACT Higher than 73% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 34% of ACT Higher than 42% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 56% of ACT Higher than 59% of ACT

Liveability

Dickson is more walkable (89 vs 68).

Dickson Watson
Grade B
same for both
Score 59/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Watson carries more bushfire risk (36 vs 0); Dickson carries more flood risk (38 vs 19).

Dickson Watson
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
36/100
Crime High
92/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood Low
38/100
 Low
19/100
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 Watson
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian National University, 3.6 km
 3
Australian National University, 6.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.0% 3.0%

Schools in Dickson

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

Schools in Watson

  • Majura Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rosary Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Dickson Watson
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 53 3
Parks & reserves 2 8
Childcare 7 4
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 1

Mobility

Watson sits further from the CBD (7.9 km vs 4.4 km).

Dickson Watson
Walkability score 89/100 68/100
Distance to Canberra 4.4 km 7.9 km
+80% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 15 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 106.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 113.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Watson
Car (driver) 49.9% / 63.6%
Dickson — Car (driver): 49.9% Watson — Car (driver): 63.6%
Worked from Home 13.7% / 15.3%
Dickson — Worked from Home: 13.7% Watson — Worked from Home: 15.3%
Bicycle 9.6% / 6.8%
Dickson — Bicycle: 9.6% Watson — Bicycle: 6.8%
Bus 7.4% / 4.9%
Dickson — Bus: 7.4% Watson — Bus: 4.9%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 5.1%
Dickson — Car (passenger): 5.8% Watson — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Tram / Light Rail 7.5% / 3.2%
Dickson — Tram / Light Rail: 7.5% Watson — Tram / Light Rail: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.6%).

Setting

Dickson Watson
Elevation 578 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 600 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Dickson Watson
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
 55%
3,269 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Dickson Watson
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

Watson

Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dickson

Dickson vs Braddon Dickson vs Lyneham Dickson vs Ainslie Dickson vs Turner Dickson vs Downer Dickson vs Hackett

Other comparisons with Watson

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