Gungahlin vs Forde

Gungahlin is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 35 in Forde. In Gungahlin, about half of households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Forde, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Forde: a median of $1.13 million, against $985,000 in Gungahlin, and rent is higher there too. Gungahlin is closer to the city centre: 13.5 km, against 15.4 km. On these figures, Gungahlin tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Forde 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Gungahlin has more childcare (11 vs 3)
  • Forde has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

Gungahlin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($985,000 vs $1,130,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Gungahlin

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $590/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Gungahlin

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (8% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 54/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (20 min vs 26 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Gungahlin

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 15%)
  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 54/100)

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

Investors

Gungahlin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (40.0% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Gungahlin Forde
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.

Gungahlin Forde
Walkability 86 / 54
Gungahlin — Walkability: 86/100 Forde — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 16 / 9
Gungahlin — Safety: 16/100 Forde — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 10 / 6
Gungahlin — Low fire risk: 10/100 Forde — Low fire risk: 6/100
Low flood risk 58 / 100
Gungahlin — Low flood risk: 58/100 Forde — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Gungahlin has more residents (8,586 vs 4,435); Forde has higher household incomes ($184,756 vs $114,816).

Gungahlin Forde
Population 8,586
+48% vs other
 4,435
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +40.0% +2.9%
Median age 31 35
Median household income $114,816/yr $184,756/yr
+61% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $590/wk
+31% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gungahlin Forde
0-4 6.5% / 7.1%
Gungahlin — 0-4: 6.5% Forde — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 9.4% / 19.5%
Gungahlin — 5-14: 9.4% Forde — 5-14: 19.5%
15-19 5.1% / 7.5%
Gungahlin — 15-19: 5.1% Forde — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 9.5% / 5.0%
Gungahlin — 20-24: 9.5% Forde — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 27.8% / 10.6%
Gungahlin — 25-34: 27.8% Forde — 25-34: 10.6%
35-44 16.5% / 20.3%
Gungahlin — 35-44: 16.5% Forde — 35-44: 20.3%
45-54 11.6% / 17.1%
Gungahlin — 45-54: 11.6% Forde — 45-54: 17.1%
55-64 7.3% / 7.1%
Gungahlin — 55-64: 7.3% Forde — 55-64: 7.1%
65-74 4.2% / 4.1%
Gungahlin — 65-74: 4.2% Forde — 65-74: 4.1%
75-84 1.7% / 1.3%
Gungahlin — 75-84: 1.7% Forde — 75-84: 1.3%
85+ 0.4% / 0.2%
Gungahlin — 85+: 0.4% Forde — 85+: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gungahlin 41.3% couple families
Gungahlin — Couple Families: 41.3% Gungahlin — Lone Person: 34.8% Gungahlin — One Parent Families: 12.0% Gungahlin — Group Household: 9.5% Gungahlin — Other Families: 2.3%
Forde 71.0% couple families
Forde — Couple Families: 71.0% Forde — Lone Person: 14.1% Forde — One Parent Families: 11.6% Forde — Group Household: 2.4% Forde — 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.

Gungahlin 53.6% renting
Gungahlin — Owned Outright: 13.5% Gungahlin — Mortgage: 32.9% Gungahlin — Renting: 53.6%
Forde 23.0% renting
Forde — Owned Outright: 16.6% Forde — Mortgage: 60.3% Forde — Renting: 23.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Gungahlin Forde
Bachelor Degree 20.4% / 19.1%
Gungahlin — Bachelor Degree: 20.4% Forde — Bachelor Degree: 19.1%
Postgraduate Degree 14.2% / 12.3%
Gungahlin — Postgraduate Degree: 14.2% Forde — Postgraduate Degree: 12.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 7.3%
Gungahlin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Forde — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 7.9% / 6.5%
Gungahlin — Certificate III & IV: 7.9% Forde — Certificate III & IV: 6.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 3.5%
Gungahlin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Forde — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

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.

Gungahlin Forde
India 7.5% / 5.9%
Gungahlin — India: 7.5% Forde — India: 5.9%
China 8.7% / 3.7%
Gungahlin — China: 8.7% Forde — China: 3.7%
Nepal 4.9% / —
Gungahlin — Nepal: 4.9% Forde — Nepal: not among its largest
England 1.8% / 3.0%
Gungahlin — England: 1.8% Forde — England: 3.0%
Vietnam 1.9% / 1.0%
Gungahlin — Vietnam: 1.9% Forde — Vietnam: 1.0%
Philippines 1.7% / 1.1%
Gungahlin — Philippines: 1.7% Forde — Philippines: 1.1%
Sri Lanka — / 1.1%
Gungahlin — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Forde — Sri Lanka: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gungahlin 35.5% houses
Gungahlin — Houses: 35.5% Gungahlin — Flats / Apartments: 47.1% Gungahlin — Townhouses: 17.4%
Forde 84.7% houses
Forde — Houses: 84.7% Forde — Flats / Apartments: 2.0% Forde — Townhouses: 13.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Gungahlin Forde
Median house price $985,000 $1,130,000
Median unit price $426,500 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 56 sales
 21 days
from 45 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.

Gungahlin Forde
3 bed $850K / $926K
Gungahlin — 3 bed: $850K (23 sales) Forde — 3 bed: $926K (24 sales)

23 vs 24 sales

4 bed $1.08M / $1.22M
Gungahlin — 4 bed: $1.08M (31 sales) Forde — 4 bed: $1.22M (46 sales)

31 vs 46 sales

5 bed $1.14M / $1.57M
Gungahlin — 5 bed: $1.14M (9 sales) Forde — 5 bed: $1.57M (9 sales)

9 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Gungahlin Forde
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.

Gungahlin Forde
Houses 4.3%
$720/wk on $875K
 4.5%
$840/wk on $974K
Units 6.7%
$565/wk on $439K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Gungahlin Forde
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 26% of ACT Higher than 97% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of ACT Higher than 37% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 28% of ACT Higher than 55% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of ACT Higher than 88% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 46% of ACT Higher than 68% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of ACT —

Liveability

Gungahlin is more walkable (86 vs 54); Forde scores higher overall (45 vs 39).

Gungahlin Forde
Grade C
same for both
Score 39/100 45/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Gungahlin carries more flood risk (42 vs 0).

Gungahlin Forde
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
94/100
Crime High
84/100
 High
91/100
Flood Moderate
42/100
 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 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Gungahlin Forde
Inside the suburb 2 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 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 7.7 km
 1
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 9.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 2.7%

Schools in Gungahlin

  • Burgmann Anglican School Independent · Combined
  • Gungahlin College Government · Secondary

Schools in Forde

  • Burgmann Anglican School - Forde Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Gungahlin Forde
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 28 2
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 11 3
GPs 9 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 3 0

Mobility

Gungahlin Forde
Walkability score 86/100 54/100
Distance to Canberra 13.5 km 15.4 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 26 min
Public transport score 94/100
Tram · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 200.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 29.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 2912
 3.7%
postcode 2914
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 2912
 47
postcode 2914

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.

Gungahlin Forde
Car (driver) 64.7% / 74.6%
Gungahlin — Car (driver): 64.7% Forde — Car (driver): 74.6%
Worked from Home 10.1% / 14.4%
Gungahlin — Worked from Home: 10.1% Forde — Worked from Home: 14.4%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 5.9%
Gungahlin — Car (passenger): 6.6% Forde — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Tram / Light Rail 7.9% / 1.7%
Gungahlin — Tram / Light Rail: 7.9% Forde — Tram / Light Rail: 1.7%
Bus 5.0% / 2.0%
Gungahlin — Bus: 5.0% Forde — Bus: 2.0%
Walked Only 5.2% / 0.5%
Gungahlin — Walked Only: 5.2% Forde — Walked Only: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.6%).

Setting

Gungahlin Forde
Elevation 627 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 647 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Gungahlin Forde
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
3,690 premises
 100%
1,502 premises

Climate

Gungahlin Forde
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)

Gungahlin Forde
PM2.5 6.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.0 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.41 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Gungahlin Forde
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Gungahlin Forde
Division Fenner
same for both
Member Andrew Leigh
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Gungahlin Forde
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Gungahlin

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Trams Transport Hub

Forde

Family Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gungahlin

Gungahlin vs Ngunnawal Gungahlin vs Harrison Gungahlin vs Franklin Gungahlin vs Nicholls Gungahlin vs Amaroo Gungahlin vs Palmerston

Other comparisons with Forde

Forde vs Bonner Forde vs Amaroo
Full data on Gungahlin Full data on Forde
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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