Garran vs O'malley

Garran is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 51 in O'Malley. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Garran, about half of households are couple families. In O'Malley, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in O'Malley: a median of $2.4 million, against $1.43 million in Garran, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Garran tends to suit people living alone, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while O'Malley suits 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

O'Malley

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 62/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 61%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 64%)
  • But Garran has more childcare (6 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Garran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($740,000 vs $1,510,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,425,000 vs $2,400,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Garran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($550/wk vs $975/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Garran

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (73/100 vs 38/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Garran

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (73/100 vs 38/100)
  • But O'Malley carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 62/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Garran is growing faster (6.0% vs -6.4%)
  • O'malley returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.7% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Garran O'malley
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.

Garran O'malley
Walkability 73 / 38
Garran — Walkability: 73/100 O'malley — Walkability: 38/100
Safety 38 / 88
Garran — Safety: 38/100 O'malley — Safety: 88/100
Low fire risk 11 / 11
Garran — Low fire risk: 11/100 O'malley — Low fire risk: 11/100
Low flood risk 100 / 84
Garran — Low flood risk: 100/100 O'malley — Low flood risk: 84/100

Demographics

Garran has more residents (3,706 vs 928); O'Malley rents higher ($975/wk vs $550/wk).

Garran O'malley
Population 3,706
+75% vs other
 928
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.0% -6.4%
Median age 41 51
Median household income $155,220/yr $232,752/yr
+50% vs other
Median weekly rent $550/wk $975/wk
+77% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Garran O'malley
0-4 5.2% / 1.9%
Garran — 0-4: 5.2% O'malley — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 15.5% / 11.4%
Garran — 5-14: 15.5% O'malley — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 4.9% / 6.6%
Garran — 15-19: 4.9% O'malley — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 4.5% / 6.5%
Garran — 20-24: 4.5% O'malley — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 9.4% / 6.7%
Garran — 25-34: 9.4% O'malley — 25-34: 6.7%
35-44 15.7% / 7.5%
Garran — 35-44: 15.7% O'malley — 35-44: 7.5%
45-54 13.1% / 16.2%
Garran — 45-54: 13.1% O'malley — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 10.5% / 15.2%
Garran — 55-64: 10.5% O'malley — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 9.2% / 16.2%
Garran — 65-74: 9.2% O'malley — 65-74: 16.2%
75-84 8.1% / 10.1%
Garran — 75-84: 8.1% O'malley — 75-84: 10.1%
85+ 3.8% / 2.2%
Garran — 85+: 3.8% O'malley — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Garran 52.9% couple families
Garran — Couple Families: 52.9% Garran — Lone Person: 32.0% Garran — One Parent Families: 10.9% Garran — Group Household: 3.1% Garran — Other Families: 1.1%
O'malley 65.3% couple families
O'malley — Couple Families: 65.3% O'malley — Lone Person: 22.1% O'malley — One Parent Families: 9.0% O'malley — Group Household: 2.0% O'malley — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Garran 30.6% renting
Garran — Owned Outright: 36.7% Garran — Mortgage: 32.7% Garran — Renting: 30.6%
O'malley 10.6% renting
O'malley — Owned Outright: 58.7% O'malley — Mortgage: 30.6% O'malley — Renting: 10.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Garran O'malley
Bachelor Degree 22.3% / 24.8%
Garran — Bachelor Degree: 22.3% O'malley — Bachelor Degree: 24.8%
Postgraduate Degree 15.6% / 16.4%
Garran — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6% O'malley — Postgraduate Degree: 16.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 6.4%
Garran — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% O'malley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 4.8% / 5.5%
Garran — Certificate III & IV: 4.8% O'malley — Certificate III & IV: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 3.2%
Garran — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% O'malley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.8%).

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.

Garran O'malley
India 6.8% / 4.4%
Garran — India: 6.8% O'malley — India: 4.4%
England 3.9% / 3.1%
Garran — England: 3.9% O'malley — England: 3.1%
China 2.1% / 4.4%
Garran — China: 2.1% O'malley — China: 4.4%
Sri Lanka 0.9% / 3.1%
Garran — Sri Lanka: 0.9% O'malley — Sri Lanka: 3.1%
Greece — / 2.2%
Garran — Greece: not among its largest O'malley — Greece: 2.2%
New Zealand 1.3% / —
Garran — New Zealand: 1.3% O'malley — New Zealand: not among its largest
Philippines 1.3% / —
Garran — Philippines: 1.3% O'malley — Philippines: 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.

Garran 61.0% houses
Garran — Houses: 61.0% Garran — Townhouses: 22.5% Garran — Flats / Apartments: 16.5%
O'malley 96.5% houses
O'malley — Houses: 96.5% O'malley — Townhouses: 1.6% O'malley — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Garran O'malley
Median house price $1,425,000 $2,400,000
Median unit price $740,000 $1,510,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 18 sales
 34 days
from 8 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.

Garran O'malley
4 bed $1.51M / $2.25M
Garran — 4 bed: $1.51M (20 sales) O'malley — 4 bed: $2.25M (6 sales)

20 vs 6 sales

5 bed $2.02M / $2.2M
Garran — 5 bed: $2.02M (7 sales) O'malley — 5 bed: $2.2M (6 sales)

7 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Garran O'malley
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.

Garran O'malley
Houses 2.9%
$800/wk on $1.45M
 5.7%
$1,775/wk on $1.62M
Units 4.2%
$620/wk on $760K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Garran O'malley
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 85% of ACT Higher than 100% of ACT
Schools Higher than 95% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 73% of ACT Higher than 24% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 92% of ACT Higher than 51% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 20% of ACT Higher than 62% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of ACT Higher than 99% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 10% of ACT —

Liveability

Garran is more walkable (73 vs 38); Garran scores higher overall (69 vs 61).

Garran O'malley
Grade A B
Score 69/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

O'Malley carries more flood risk (16 vs 0); Garran carries more crime risk (62 vs 12).

Garran O'malley
Bushfire High
89/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Low
12/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
16/100
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
same for both

Schools

Garran O'malley
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 4.8 km
 2
UNSW Canberra, 5.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 4.6%

Schools in Garran

  • Garran Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Sts Peter and Paul Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Malkara School Government · Primary · Special school

Schools in O'malley

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Garran O'malley
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 6 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 4 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0

Mobility

Garran O'malley
Walkability score 73/100 38/100
Distance to Canberra 13.2 km 14.2 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 21 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 92.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 16.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 4.6%
postcode 2605
 3.4%
postcode 2606
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 2605
 20
postcode 2606

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.

Garran O'malley
Car (driver) 62.2% / 71.5%
Garran — Car (driver): 62.2% O'malley — Car (driver): 71.5%
Worked from Home 16.4% / 17.3%
Garran — Worked from Home: 16.4% O'malley — Worked from Home: 17.3%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 7.0%
Garran — Car (passenger): 5.9% O'malley — Car (passenger): 7.0%
Walked Only 9.4% / 1.6%
Garran — Walked Only: 9.4% O'malley — Walked Only: 1.6%
Bus 3.9% / 1.9%
Garran — Bus: 3.9% O'malley — Bus: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.5%).

Setting

Garran O'malley
Elevation 624 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 679 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Garran O'malley
Connectivity score 46/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
1,644 premises
 36%
465 premises

Climate

Garran O'malley
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)

Garran O'malley
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 14.1 µg/m³ 11.9 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.32 pphm

Council rates

Garran O'malley
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Garran O'malley
Division Canberra Bean
Member Alicia Payne David Smith
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Garran O'malley
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Garran

Inner Premium Professionals Quiet Townhouses

O'malley

Acreage Luxury Middle-Ring Multicultural Professionals Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Garran

Garran vs Phillip Garran vs Hughes Garran vs Red Hill Garran vs Symonston

Other comparisons with O'malley

O'malley vs Phillip O'malley vs Mawson O'malley vs Red Hill O'malley vs Isaacs O'malley vs Symonston
Full data on Garran Full data on O'malley
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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