Mawson vs Torrens

In both, most households own their home. In Torrens, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mawson: a median of $1.2 million, against $1.1 million in Torrens, though rent is higher in Torrens. On these figures, Mawson tends to suit people living alone, while Torrens 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

Torrens

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 74/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 54%)
  • But Mawson has more childcare (6 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Mawson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($394,000 vs $586,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mawson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $478/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mawson

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (46% vs 15%)
  • But Torrens carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mawson Torrens
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.

Mawson Torrens
Walkability 86 / 79
Mawson — Walkability: 86/100 Torrens — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 26 / 83
Mawson — Safety: 26/100 Torrens — Safety: 83/100
Low fire risk 10 / 0
Mawson — Low fire risk: 10/100 Torrens — Low fire risk: 0/100
Low flood risk 62 / 100
Mawson — Low flood risk: 62/100 Torrens — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mawson has more residents (3,440 vs 2,424); Torrens rents higher ($478/wk vs $400/wk).

Mawson Torrens
Population 3,440
+30% vs other
 2,424
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.8% +9.9%
Median age 38 39
Median household income $114,608/yr $135,824/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $478/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mawson Torrens
0-4 5.2% / 6.4%
Mawson — 0-4: 5.2% Torrens — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 12.6% / 15.1%
Mawson — 5-14: 12.6% Torrens — 5-14: 15.1%
15-19 4.7% / 5.9%
Mawson — 15-19: 4.7% Torrens — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.2% / 6.2%
Mawson — 20-24: 5.2% Torrens — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 16.6% / 10.5%
Mawson — 25-34: 16.6% Torrens — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 15.0% / 13.9%
Mawson — 35-44: 15.0% Torrens — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 11.5% / 15.1%
Mawson — 45-54: 11.5% Torrens — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 11.5% / 11.1%
Mawson — 55-64: 11.5% Torrens — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 8.5% / 7.6%
Mawson — 65-74: 8.5% Torrens — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 7.1% / 6.2%
Mawson — 75-84: 7.1% Torrens — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 2.2% / 1.8%
Mawson — 85+: 2.2% Torrens — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mawson 38.6% couple families
Mawson — Couple Families: 38.6% Mawson — Lone Person: 41.1% Mawson — One Parent Families: 13.1% Mawson — Group Household: 5.1% Mawson — Other Families: 2.0%
Torrens 51.8% couple families
Torrens — Couple Families: 51.8% Torrens — Lone Person: 29.2% Torrens — One Parent Families: 12.8% Torrens — Group Household: 4.7% Torrens — 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.

Mawson 36.3% renting
Mawson — Owned Outright: 33.0% Mawson — Mortgage: 30.7% Mawson — Renting: 36.3%
Torrens 25.4% renting
Torrens — Owned Outright: 35.9% Torrens — Mortgage: 38.7% Torrens — Renting: 25.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mawson Torrens
Bachelor Degree 23.7% / 21.2%
Mawson — Bachelor Degree: 23.7% Torrens — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Postgraduate Degree 12.2% / 10.1%
Mawson — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2% Torrens — Postgraduate Degree: 10.1%
Certificate III & IV 7.4% / 8.0%
Mawson — Certificate III & IV: 7.4% Torrens — Certificate III & IV: 8.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 6.7%
Mawson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Torrens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 4.0%
Mawson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Torrens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.7%).

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.

Mawson Torrens
India 4.7% / 3.8%
Mawson — India: 4.7% Torrens — India: 3.8%
England 2.7% / 3.3%
Mawson — England: 2.7% Torrens — England: 3.3%
Nepal 4.2% / —
Mawson — Nepal: 4.2% Torrens — Nepal: not among its largest
Philippines 2.2% / 1.2%
Mawson — Philippines: 2.2% Torrens — Philippines: 1.2%
China 1.7% / 1.5%
Mawson — China: 1.7% Torrens — China: 1.5%
Sri Lanka — / 1.1%
Mawson — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Torrens — Sri Lanka: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mawson 54.2% houses
Mawson — Houses: 54.2% Mawson — Townhouses: 26.3% Mawson — Flats / Apartments: 19.6%
Torrens 84.6% houses
Torrens — Houses: 84.6% Torrens — Townhouses: 12.7% Torrens — Flats / Apartments: 2.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mawson Torrens
Median house price $1,200,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price $394,000 $586,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 34 sales
 23 days
from 37 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.

Mawson Torrens
3 bed $1.1M / $980K
Mawson — 3 bed: $1.1M (23 sales) Torrens — 3 bed: $980K (28 sales)

23 vs 28 sales

4 bed $1.35M / $1.22M
Mawson — 4 bed: $1.35M (15 sales) Torrens — 4 bed: $1.22M (21 sales)

15 vs 21 sales

5 bed $1.5M / $1.38M
Mawson — 5 bed: $1.5M (6 sales) Torrens — 5 bed: $1.38M (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Mawson Torrens
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.

Mawson Torrens
Houses 4.4%
$875/wk on $1.03M
 4.7%
$900/wk on $988K
Units 6.4%
$470/wk on $379K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Mawson Torrens
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 22% of ACT Higher than 69% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 95% of ACT Higher than 81% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 40% of ACT
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 25% of ACT Higher than 22% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 61% of ACT Higher than 83% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of ACT —

Liveability

Torrens scores higher overall (63 vs 41).

Mawson Torrens
Grade C B
Score 41/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mawson carries more flood risk (38 vs 0); Mawson carries more crime risk (74 vs 17).

Mawson Torrens
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
100/100
Crime High
74/100
 Low
17/100
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 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Mawson Torrens
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UNSW Canberra, 7.3 km
 1
UNSW Canberra, 8.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.9% 2.4%

Schools in Mawson

  • Canberra Christian School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Mawson Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Torrens

  • Torrens Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mawson Torrens
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 18 5
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 6 3
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Mawson Torrens
Walkability score 86/100 79/100
Distance to Canberra 15.2 km 15.6 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 23 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 35.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 41.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.7%
postcode 2607
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2607
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.

Mawson Torrens
Car (driver) 71.4% / 69.0%
Mawson — Car (driver): 71.4% Torrens — Car (driver): 69.0%
Worked from Home 10.4% / 14.0%
Mawson — Worked from Home: 10.4% Torrens — Worked from Home: 14.0%
Bus 7.6% / 7.1%
Mawson — Bus: 7.6% Torrens — Bus: 7.1%
Car (passenger) 6.7% / 6.8%
Mawson — Car (passenger): 6.7% Torrens — Car (passenger): 6.8%
Walked Only 2.3% / 1.5%
Mawson — Walked Only: 2.3% Torrens — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bicycle 1.7% / 1.6%
Mawson — Bicycle: 1.7% Torrens — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.4%).

Setting

Mawson Torrens
Elevation 641 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both

NBN connectivity

Mawson Torrens
Connectivity score 46/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
1,718 premises
 2%
991 premises

Climate

Mawson Torrens
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)

Mawson Torrens
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.32 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Mawson Torrens
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Mawson Torrens
Division Bean
same for both
Member David Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mawson Torrens
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Mawson

Middle-Ring Townhouses Village Feel

Torrens

Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mawson

Mawson vs Phillip Mawson vs Farrer Mawson vs Pearce Mawson vs Isaacs Mawson vs O'Malley

Other comparisons with Torrens

Torrens vs Farrer Torrens vs Pearce
Full data on Mawson Full data on Torrens
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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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