Hughes vs Phillip

Phillip is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 43 in Hughes. In Hughes, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Phillip, about half of households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Hughes: a median of $1.26 million, against $750,000 in Phillip, though rent is higher in Phillip. Hughes is closer to the city centre: 10.7 km, against 12.1 km. On these figures, Hughes tends to suit families with children, couples, and older residents, while Phillip suits 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

Hughes

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (74% vs 0%)
  • carries lower crime risk (19/100 vs 91/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 29%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Hughes has cheaper units ($350,000 vs $535,000)
  • Phillip has cheaper houses ($750,000 vs $1,260,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hughes

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $440/wk)
  • But Phillip has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 25%)

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

Commuting to the city

Phillip

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 69/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Phillip

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 27%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Hughes carries lower crime risk (19/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

Phillip

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (77.0% vs 7.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 4.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Hughes Phillip
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.

Hughes Phillip
Walkability 69 / 92
Hughes — Walkability: 69/100 Phillip — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 81 / 9
Hughes — Safety: 81/100 Phillip — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 9 / 11
Hughes — Low fire risk: 9/100 Phillip — Low fire risk: 11/100
Low flood risk 100 / 60
Hughes — Low flood risk: 100/100 Phillip — Low flood risk: 60/100

Demographics

Phillip has more residents (5,197 vs 3,210); Hughes has higher household incomes ($145,444 vs $107,900).

Hughes Phillip
Population 3,210 5,197
+62% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.4% +77.0%
Median age 43 32
Median household income $145,444/yr
+26% vs other
 $107,900/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk $440/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hughes Phillip
0-4 4.6% / 5.8%
Hughes — 0-4: 4.6% Phillip — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 14.0% / 5.4%
Hughes — 5-14: 14.0% Phillip — 5-14: 5.4%
15-19 5.9% / 2.2%
Hughes — 15-19: 5.9% Phillip — 15-19: 2.2%
20-24 5.1% / 8.9%
Hughes — 20-24: 5.1% Phillip — 20-24: 8.9%
25-34 10.0% / 36.1%
Hughes — 25-34: 10.0% Phillip — 25-34: 36.1%
35-44 13.0% / 17.3%
Hughes — 35-44: 13.0% Phillip — 35-44: 17.3%
45-54 13.3% / 9.4%
Hughes — 45-54: 13.3% Phillip — 45-54: 9.4%
55-64 12.0% / 7.3%
Hughes — 55-64: 12.0% Phillip — 55-64: 7.3%
65-74 9.0% / 4.6%
Hughes — 65-74: 9.0% Phillip — 65-74: 4.6%
75-84 6.7% / 2.2%
Hughes — 75-84: 6.7% Phillip — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ 6.4% / 0.8%
Hughes — 85+: 6.4% Phillip — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (36.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hughes 34.0% lone person
Hughes — Lone Person: 34.0% Hughes — Couple Families: 48.8% Hughes — One Parent Families: 12.5% Hughes — Group Household: 3.7% Hughes — Other Families: 0.9%
Phillip 61.1% lone person
Phillip — Lone Person: 61.1% Phillip — Couple Families: 20.4% Phillip — One Parent Families: 8.5% Phillip — Group Household: 8.2% Phillip — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hughes 24.9% renting
Hughes — Owned Outright: 37.8% Hughes — Mortgage: 37.3% Hughes — Renting: 24.9%
Phillip 50.3% renting
Phillip — Owned Outright: 14.2% Phillip — Mortgage: 35.5% Phillip — Renting: 50.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hughes Phillip
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 28.7%
Hughes — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Phillip — Bachelor Degree: 28.7%
Postgraduate Degree 15.6% / 16.0%
Hughes — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6% Phillip — Postgraduate Degree: 16.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 7.8%
Hughes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Phillip — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 4.9% / 7.3%
Hughes — Certificate III & IV: 4.9% Phillip — Certificate III & IV: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.0% / 4.7%
Hughes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0% Phillip — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.7%).

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.

Hughes Phillip
India 2.6% / 8.0%
Hughes — India: 2.6% Phillip — India: 8.0%
Nepal 1.2% / 6.3%
Hughes — Nepal: 1.2% Phillip — Nepal: 6.3%
England 3.8% / 2.1%
Hughes — England: 3.8% Phillip — England: 2.1%
Philippines — / 5.1%
Hughes — Philippines: not among its largest Phillip — Philippines: 5.1%
China 1.1% / 2.6%
Hughes — China: 1.1% Phillip — China: 2.6%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.3%
Hughes — New Zealand: 2.0% Phillip — New Zealand: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hughes 13.4% flats / apartments
Hughes — Flats / Apartments: 13.4% Hughes — Houses: 73.5% Hughes — Townhouses: 13.2%
Phillip 67.1% flats / apartments
Phillip — Flats / Apartments: 67.1% Phillip — Houses: 0.1% Phillip — Townhouses: 32.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Hughes Phillip
Median house price $1,260,000 $750,000
Median unit price $350,000 $535,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 21 days
from 32 sales
 26 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.

Hughes Phillip
2 bed $980K / $659K
Hughes — 2 bed: $980K (7 sales) Phillip — 2 bed: $659K (6 sales)

7 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.19M / $810K
Hughes — 3 bed: $1.19M (32 sales) Phillip — 3 bed: $810K (9 sales)

32 vs 9 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.

Hughes Phillip
1 bed $301K / $412K
Hughes — 1 bed: $301K (8 sales) Phillip — 1 bed: $412K (175 sales)

8 vs 175 sales

2 bed $376K / $585K
Hughes — 2 bed: $376K (5 sales) Phillip — 2 bed: $585K (273 sales)

5 vs 273 sales

Development activity

Hughes Phillip
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.

Hughes Phillip
Houses 4.0%
$850/wk on $1.09M
 4.8%
$628/wk on $678K
Units — 6.2%
$600/wk on $500K

Ranking within ACT

Hughes Phillip
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 81% of ACT Higher than 15% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 64% of ACT Higher than 100% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 94% of ACT Higher than 49% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 16% of ACT Higher than 70% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 35% of ACT Higher than 85% of ACT
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 61% of ACT

Liveability

Hughes scores higher overall (69 vs 45); Phillip is more walkable (92 vs 69).

Hughes Phillip
Grade A C
Score 69/100 45/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Phillip carries more flood risk (40 vs 0); Phillip carries more crime risk (91 vs 19).

Hughes Phillip
Bushfire High
91/100
 High
89/100
Crime Low
19/100
 High
91/100
Flood None
0/100
 Moderate
40/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Hughes Phillip
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
UNSW Canberra, 4.9 km
 2
UNSW Canberra, 6.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.3%

Schools in Hughes

  • Hughes Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Phillip

  • The Canberra College Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Hughes Phillip
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 52
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 3 5
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 1 4
Police stations 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 8
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 2

Mobility

Hughes Phillip
Walkability score 69/100 92/100
Distance to Canberra 10.7 km 12.1 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 16 min 18 min
Public transport score 63/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 17.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 319.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 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.

Hughes Phillip
Car (driver) 64.3% / 55.3%
Hughes — Car (driver): 64.3% Phillip — Car (driver): 55.3%
Worked from Home 15.1% / 9.9%
Hughes — Worked from Home: 15.1% Phillip — Worked from Home: 9.9%
Walked Only 6.5% / 14.7%
Hughes — Walked Only: 6.5% Phillip — Walked Only: 14.7%
Bus 3.5% / 12.8%
Hughes — Bus: 3.5% Phillip — Bus: 12.8%
Car (passenger) 7.0% / 6.1%
Hughes — Car (passenger): 7.0% Phillip — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Bicycle 3.7% / 0.9%
Hughes — Bicycle: 3.7% Phillip — Bicycle: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.3%).

Setting

Hughes Phillip
Elevation 594 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 589 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Hughes Phillip
Connectivity score 45/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
1,285 premises
 35%
3,650 premises

Climate

Hughes Phillip
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)

Hughes Phillip
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Hughes Phillip
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Hughes Phillip
Division Canberra Bean
Member Alicia Payne David Smith
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hughes Phillip
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Hughes

Inner Premium Professionals Quiet

Phillip

Apartments Cafe Culture Middle-Ring Multicultural Professionals Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hughes

Hughes vs Curtin Hughes vs Garran Hughes vs Red Hill Hughes vs Deakin

Other comparisons with Phillip

Phillip vs Curtin Phillip vs Garran Phillip vs Mawson Phillip vs Lyons Phillip vs Pearce Phillip vs Chifley
Full data on Hughes Full data on Phillip
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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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