Ngunnawal vs Palmerston

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Palmerston: a median of $916,000, against $801,000 in Ngunnawal. Palmerston is closer to the city centre: 13 km, against 14.8 km.

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

Ngunnawal

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 47/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Ngunnawal has cheaper houses ($801,000 vs $916,000)
  • Palmerston has cheaper land ($786,000 vs $938,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Ngunnawal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 61/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Ngunnawal

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 47/100)
  • is more walkable (79/100 vs 61/100)

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

Ngunnawal and Palmerston 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 Palmerston
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 Palmerston
Walkability 79 / 61
Ngunnawal — Walkability: 79/100 Palmerston — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 73 / 53
Ngunnawal — Safety: 73/100 Palmerston — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 10 / 6
Ngunnawal — Low fire risk: 10/100 Palmerston — Low fire risk: 6/100
Low flood risk 59 / 100
Ngunnawal — Low flood risk: 59/100 Palmerston — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ngunnawal has more residents (10,957 vs 5,579); Palmerston skews older (36 vs 34).

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Population 10,957
+49% vs other
 5,579
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.5% +1.0%
Median age 34 36
Median household income $115,388/yr $120,432/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ngunnawal Palmerston
0-4 8.2% / 6.8%
Ngunnawal — 0-4: 8.2% Palmerston — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 13.5% / 13.5%
Ngunnawal — 5-14: 13.5% Palmerston — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 5.5% / 5.1%
Ngunnawal — 15-19: 5.5% Palmerston — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 6.0% / 6.4%
Ngunnawal — 20-24: 6.0% Palmerston — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 17.9% / 15.3%
Ngunnawal — 25-34: 17.9% Palmerston — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 17.0% / 15.7%
Ngunnawal — 35-44: 17.0% Palmerston — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 12.3% / 13.5%
Ngunnawal — 45-54: 12.3% Palmerston — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 8.6% / 11.6%
Ngunnawal — 55-64: 8.6% Palmerston — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 6.3% / 8.3%
Ngunnawal — 65-74: 6.3% Palmerston — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 3.7% / 3.0%
Ngunnawal — 75-84: 3.7% Palmerston — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 0.8% / 0.9%
Ngunnawal — 85+: 0.8% Palmerston — 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%
Palmerston 47.2% couple families
Palmerston — Couple Families: 47.2% Palmerston — Lone Person: 29.2% Palmerston — One Parent Families: 17.6% Palmerston — Group Household: 4.3% Palmerston — Other Families: 1.6%
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%
Palmerston 28.7% renting
Palmerston — Owned Outright: 28.7% Palmerston — Mortgage: 42.6% Palmerston — Renting: 28.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Bachelor Degree 16.1% / 17.5%
Ngunnawal — Bachelor Degree: 16.1% Palmerston — Bachelor Degree: 17.5%
Certificate III & IV 11.5% / 10.2%
Ngunnawal — Certificate III & IV: 11.5% Palmerston — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 9.6%
Ngunnawal — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Palmerston — Postgraduate Degree: 9.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.8%
Ngunnawal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Palmerston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 3.4%
Ngunnawal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Palmerston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

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 Palmerston
India 4.4% / 3.6%
Ngunnawal — India: 4.4% Palmerston — India: 3.6%
China 1.9% / 3.8%
Ngunnawal — China: 1.9% Palmerston — China: 3.8%
England 1.9% / 2.0%
Ngunnawal — England: 1.9% Palmerston — England: 2.0%
Vietnam 1.3% / 2.4%
Ngunnawal — Vietnam: 1.3% Palmerston — Vietnam: 2.4%
Philippines 1.1% / 1.2%
Ngunnawal — Philippines: 1.1% Palmerston — Philippines: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.9%
Ngunnawal — New Zealand: 1.2% Palmerston — New Zealand: 0.9%

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

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%
Palmerston 60.2% houses
Palmerston — Houses: 60.2% Palmerston — Townhouses: 39.6% Palmerston — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Median house price $801,000 $916,000
Median unit price $663,000 $643,500
Median land price $938,500 $786,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 126 sales
 21 days
from 58 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 Palmerston
3 bed $775K / $843K
Ngunnawal — 3 bed: $775K (157 sales) Palmerston — 3 bed: $843K (46 sales)

157 vs 46 sales

4 bed $1M / $1.09M
Ngunnawal — 4 bed: $1M (37 sales) Palmerston — 4 bed: $1.09M (38 sales)

37 vs 38 sales

5 bed $1.25M / $1.32M
Ngunnawal — 5 bed: $1.25M (10 sales) Palmerston — 5 bed: $1.32M (9 sales)

10 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Ngunnawal Palmerston
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 Palmerston
Houses 4.5%
$650/wk on $759K
 4.3%
$630/wk on $769K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Ngunnawal Palmerston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 28% of ACT Higher than 41% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of ACT Higher than 48% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 39% of ACT Higher than 35% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of ACT Higher than 84% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of ACT Higher than 45% of ACT

Liveability

Ngunnawal is more walkable (79 vs 61).

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Grade C
same for both
Score 37/100 40/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Ngunnawal carries more flood risk (41 vs 0); Palmerston carries more crime risk (47 vs 27).

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Bushfire High
90/100
 High
94/100
Crime Low
27/100
 Moderate
47/100
Flood Moderate
41/100
 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 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 8.3 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.4%

Schools in Ngunnawal

  • Ngunnawal Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Palmerston

  • Palmerston District Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 6 0
Childcare 4 2
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Walkability score 79/100 61/100
Distance to Canberra 14.8 km
+12% vs other
 13 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 20 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 152.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 58.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Palmerston
Car (driver) 78.0% / 73.5%
Ngunnawal — Car (driver): 78.0% Palmerston — Car (driver): 73.5%
Worked from Home 11.7% / 12.1%
Ngunnawal — Worked from Home: 11.7% Palmerston — Worked from Home: 12.1%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 6.8%
Ngunnawal — Car (passenger): 5.0% Palmerston — Car (passenger): 6.8%
Bus 3.0% / 4.1%
Ngunnawal — Bus: 3.0% Palmerston — Bus: 4.1%
Tram / Light Rail 1.0% / 1.4%
Ngunnawal — Tram / Light Rail: 1.0% Palmerston — Tram / Light Rail: 1.4%

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

Setting

Ngunnawal Palmerston
Elevation 637 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 617 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Ngunnawal Palmerston
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%
2,192 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Ngunnawal Palmerston
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

Palmerston

Middle-Ring Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ngunnawal

Ngunnawal vs Gungahlin Ngunnawal vs Nicholls Ngunnawal vs Casey Ngunnawal vs Amaroo Ngunnawal vs Moncrieff

Other comparisons with Palmerston

Palmerston vs Gungahlin Palmerston vs Nicholls Palmerston vs Crace
Full data on Ngunnawal Full data on Palmerston
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or