Ngunnawal vs Nicholls

Ngunnawal is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 44 in Nicholls. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Ngunnawal, about half of households are couple families. In Nicholls, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nicholls: a median of $1.23 million, against $801,000 in Ngunnawal, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ngunnawal tends to suit people living alone, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Nicholls 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

Nicholls

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 4)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 67%)
  • But Ngunnawal has more parks and reserves (6 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Ngunnawal

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($801,000 vs $1,227,500)
  • has cheaper units ($663,000 vs $800,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ngunnawal

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $502/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Ngunnawal

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 50/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (22 min vs 30 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ngunnawal

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (33% vs 11%)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 43/100)
  • But Nicholls has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 11%)

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

Investors

Ngunnawal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (4.5% vs -2.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ngunnawal Nicholls
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.

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Walkability 79 / 50
Ngunnawal — Walkability: 79/100 Nicholls — Walkability: 50/100
Safety 73 / 57
Ngunnawal — Safety: 73/100 Nicholls — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 10 / 12
Ngunnawal — Low fire risk: 10/100 Nicholls — Low fire risk: 12/100
Low flood risk 59 / 45
Ngunnawal — Low flood risk: 59/100 Nicholls — Low flood risk: 45/100

Demographics

Ngunnawal has more residents (10,957 vs 6,680); Nicholls has higher household incomes ($162,968 vs $115,388).

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Population 10,957
+39% vs other
 6,680
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.5% -2.7%
Median age 34 44
Median household income $115,388/yr $162,968/yr
+41% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $502/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ngunnawal Nicholls
0-4 8.2% / 4.0%
Ngunnawal — 0-4: 8.2% Nicholls — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 13.5% / 13.1%
Ngunnawal — 5-14: 13.5% Nicholls — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 5.5% / 7.1%
Ngunnawal — 15-19: 5.5% Nicholls — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 6.0% / 7.1%
Ngunnawal — 20-24: 6.0% Nicholls — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 17.9% / 8.7%
Ngunnawal — 25-34: 17.9% Nicholls — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 17.0% / 10.8%
Ngunnawal — 35-44: 17.0% Nicholls — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 12.3% / 17.2%
Ngunnawal — 45-54: 12.3% Nicholls — 45-54: 17.2%
55-64 8.6% / 15.4%
Ngunnawal — 55-64: 8.6% Nicholls — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 6.3% / 10.6%
Ngunnawal — 65-74: 6.3% Nicholls — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 3.7% / 5.1%
Ngunnawal — 75-84: 3.7% Nicholls — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 0.8% / 0.9%
Ngunnawal — 85+: 0.8% Nicholls — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ngunnawal 46.9% couple families
Ngunnawal — Couple Families: 46.9% Ngunnawal — Lone Person: 31.8% Ngunnawal — One Parent Families: 16.3% Ngunnawal — Group Household: 4.0% Ngunnawal — Other Families: 1.1%
Nicholls 65.0% couple families
Nicholls — Couple Families: 65.0% Nicholls — Lone Person: 19.8% Nicholls — One Parent Families: 11.5% Nicholls — Group Household: 2.6% Nicholls — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ngunnawal 27.1% renting
Ngunnawal — Owned Outright: 21.8% Ngunnawal — Mortgage: 51.1% Ngunnawal — Renting: 27.1%
Nicholls 14.8% renting
Nicholls — Owned Outright: 41.5% Nicholls — Mortgage: 43.7% Nicholls — Renting: 14.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Ngunnawal Nicholls
India 4.4% / 2.3%
Ngunnawal — India: 4.4% Nicholls — India: 2.3%
China 1.9% / 3.8%
Ngunnawal — China: 1.9% Nicholls — China: 3.8%
England 1.9% / 3.6%
Ngunnawal — England: 1.9% Nicholls — England: 3.6%
Vietnam 1.3% / 1.4%
Ngunnawal — Vietnam: 1.3% Nicholls — Vietnam: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.3%
Ngunnawal — New Zealand: 1.2% Nicholls — New Zealand: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

Qualifications

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

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Bachelor Degree 16.1% / 18.9%
Ngunnawal — Bachelor Degree: 16.1% Nicholls — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Certificate III & IV 11.5% / 8.4%
Ngunnawal — Certificate III & IV: 11.5% Nicholls — Certificate III & IV: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 10.7%
Ngunnawal — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Nicholls — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.9%
Ngunnawal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Nicholls — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 3.9%
Ngunnawal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Nicholls — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ngunnawal 67.3% houses
Ngunnawal — Houses: 67.3% Ngunnawal — Townhouses: 32.6% Ngunnawal — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Nicholls 89.3% houses
Nicholls — Houses: 89.3% Nicholls — Townhouses: 10.4% Nicholls — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Median house price $801,000 $1,227,500
Median unit price $663,000 $800,000
Median land price $938,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 126 sales
 22 days
from 86 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.

Ngunnawal Nicholls
3 bed $775K / $930K
Ngunnawal — 3 bed: $775K (157 sales) Nicholls — 3 bed: $930K (24 sales)

157 vs 24 sales

4 bed $1M / $1.22M
Ngunnawal — 4 bed: $1M (37 sales) Nicholls — 4 bed: $1.22M (62 sales)

37 vs 62 sales

5 bed $1.25M / $1.52M
Ngunnawal — 5 bed: $1.25M (10 sales) Nicholls — 5 bed: $1.52M (27 sales)

10 vs 27 sales

Development activity

Ngunnawal Nicholls
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.

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Houses 4.5%
$650/wk on $759K
 4.5%
$750/wk on $875K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Ngunnawal Nicholls
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 28% of ACT Higher than 89% of ACT
Schools — Higher than 100% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 83% of ACT Higher than 34% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 39% of ACT Higher than 37% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of ACT Higher than 90% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of ACT Higher than 66% of ACT

Liveability

Ngunnawal is more walkable (79 vs 50); Nicholls scores higher overall (52 vs 37).

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Grade C B
Score 37/100 52/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Nicholls carries more crime risk (43 vs 27); Nicholls carries more flood risk (55 vs 41).

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
88/100
Crime Low
27/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood Moderate
41/100
 Moderate
55/100
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
same for both

Schools

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 8.3 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 6.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 3.5%

Schools in Ngunnawal

  • Ngunnawal Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Nicholls

  • Holy Spirit Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St John Paul II College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Gold Creek School Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 2 5
Parks & reserves 6 2
Childcare 4 8
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Walkability score 79/100 50/100
Distance to Canberra 14.8 km 15.4 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 30 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 152.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 99.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.7%
postcode 2913
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 2913
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.

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Car (driver) 78.0% / 75.5%
Ngunnawal — Car (driver): 78.0% Nicholls — Car (driver): 75.5%
Worked from Home 11.7% / 14.6%
Ngunnawal — Worked from Home: 11.7% Nicholls — Worked from Home: 14.6%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 6.3%
Ngunnawal — Car (passenger): 5.0% Nicholls — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Bus 3.0% / 1.7%
Ngunnawal — Bus: 3.0% Nicholls — Bus: 1.7%
Tram / Light Rail 1.0% / 0.5%
Ngunnawal — Tram / Light Rail: 1.0% Nicholls — Tram / Light Rail: 0.5%
Bicycle 0.6% / 0.8%
Ngunnawal — Bicycle: 0.6% Nicholls — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.0%).

Setting

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Elevation 637 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 627 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
4,209 premises
 100%
2,517 premises

Climate

Ngunnawal Nicholls
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)

Ngunnawal Nicholls
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

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Division Fenner
same for both
Member Andrew Leigh
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ngunnawal Nicholls
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Ngunnawal

Affordable Middle-Ring Parks Quiet Townhouses

Nicholls

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ngunnawal

Ngunnawal vs Gungahlin Ngunnawal vs Casey Ngunnawal vs Amaroo Ngunnawal vs Palmerston Ngunnawal vs Moncrieff

Other comparisons with Nicholls

Nicholls vs Gungahlin Nicholls vs Belconnen Nicholls vs Casey Nicholls vs Palmerston Nicholls vs Crace Nicholls vs Giralang
Full data on Ngunnawal Full data on Nicholls
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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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