Nicholls vs Palmerston

Palmerston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 44 in Nicholls. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Nicholls, most households are couple families. In Palmerston, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nicholls: a median of $1.23 million, against $916,000 in Palmerston, and rent is higher there too. Palmerston is closer to the city centre: 13 km, against 15.4 km. On these figures, Nicholls tends to suit couples, while Palmerston suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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 childcare (8 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (89% vs 60%)

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

First-home buyers

Palmerston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($916,000 vs $1,227,500)
  • has cheaper units ($643,500 vs $800,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Palmerston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $502/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Palmerston

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (20 min vs 30 min)
  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 50/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (13 km vs 15.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Palmerston

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (40% vs 11%)
  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 50/100)

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

Nicholls 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.

Nicholls 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.

Nicholls Palmerston
Walkability 50 / 61
Nicholls — Walkability: 50/100 Palmerston — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 57 / 53
Nicholls — Safety: 57/100 Palmerston — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 12 / 6
Nicholls — Low fire risk: 12/100 Palmerston — Low fire risk: 6/100
Low flood risk 45 / 100
Nicholls — Low flood risk: 45/100 Palmerston — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Nicholls has higher household incomes ($162,968 vs $120,432); Nicholls skews older (44 vs 36).

Nicholls Palmerston
Population 6,680
+16% vs other
 5,579
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.7% +1.0%
Median age 44 36
Median household income $162,968/yr
+26% vs other
 $120,432/yr
Median weekly rent $502/wk
+10% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nicholls Palmerston
0-4 4.0% / 6.8%
Nicholls — 0-4: 4.0% Palmerston — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 13.1% / 13.5%
Nicholls — 5-14: 13.1% Palmerston — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 7.1% / 5.1%
Nicholls — 15-19: 7.1% Palmerston — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 7.1% / 6.4%
Nicholls — 20-24: 7.1% Palmerston — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 8.7% / 15.3%
Nicholls — 25-34: 8.7% Palmerston — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 10.8% / 15.7%
Nicholls — 35-44: 10.8% Palmerston — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 17.2% / 13.5%
Nicholls — 45-54: 17.2% Palmerston — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 15.4% / 11.6%
Nicholls — 55-64: 15.4% Palmerston — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 10.6% / 8.3%
Nicholls — 65-74: 10.6% Palmerston — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 5.1% / 3.0%
Nicholls — 75-84: 5.1% Palmerston — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 0.9% / 0.9%
Nicholls — 85+: 0.9% Palmerston — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
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.

Nicholls 14.8% renting
Nicholls — Owned Outright: 41.5% Nicholls — Mortgage: 43.7% Nicholls — Renting: 14.8%
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.

Nicholls Palmerston
Bachelor Degree 18.9% / 17.5%
Nicholls — Bachelor Degree: 18.9% Palmerston — Bachelor Degree: 17.5%
Postgraduate Degree 10.7% / 9.6%
Nicholls — Postgraduate Degree: 10.7% Palmerston — Postgraduate Degree: 9.6%
Certificate III & IV 8.4% / 10.2%
Nicholls — Certificate III & IV: 8.4% Palmerston — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 7.8%
Nicholls — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Palmerston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 3.4%
Nicholls — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Palmerston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

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

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.

Nicholls Palmerston
China 3.8% / 3.8%
Nicholls — China: 3.8% Palmerston — China: 3.8%
India 2.3% / 3.6%
Nicholls — India: 2.3% Palmerston — India: 3.6%
England 3.6% / 2.0%
Nicholls — England: 3.6% Palmerston — England: 2.0%
Vietnam 1.4% / 2.4%
Nicholls — Vietnam: 1.4% Palmerston — Vietnam: 2.4%
New Zealand 1.3% / 0.9%
Nicholls — New Zealand: 1.3% Palmerston — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines — / 1.2%
Nicholls — Philippines: not among its largest Palmerston — Philippines: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nicholls 89.3% houses
Nicholls — Houses: 89.3% Nicholls — Townhouses: 10.4% Nicholls — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Palmerston 60.2% houses
Palmerston — Houses: 60.2% Palmerston — Townhouses: 39.6% Palmerston — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Nicholls Palmerston
Median house price $1,227,500 $916,000
Median unit price $800,000 $643,500
Median land price — $786,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 86 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.

Nicholls Palmerston
3 bed $930K / $843K
Nicholls — 3 bed: $930K (24 sales) Palmerston — 3 bed: $843K (46 sales)

24 vs 46 sales

4 bed $1.22M / $1.09M
Nicholls — 4 bed: $1.22M (62 sales) Palmerston — 4 bed: $1.09M (38 sales)

62 vs 38 sales

5 bed $1.52M / $1.32M
Nicholls — 5 bed: $1.52M (27 sales) Palmerston — 5 bed: $1.32M (9 sales)

27 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Nicholls 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.

Nicholls Palmerston
Houses 4.5%
$750/wk on $875K
 4.3%
$630/wk on $769K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Nicholls Palmerston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 89% of ACT Higher than 41% of ACT
Schools Higher than 100% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 34% of ACT Higher than 48% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 37% of ACT Higher than 35% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of ACT Higher than 84% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of ACT Higher than 45% of ACT

Liveability

Nicholls scores higher overall (52 vs 40); Palmerston is more walkable (61 vs 50).

Nicholls Palmerston
Grade B C
Score 52/100 40/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Nicholls carries more flood risk (55 vs 0).

Nicholls Palmerston
Bushfire High
88/100
 High
94/100
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
47/100
Flood Moderate
55/100
 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

Nicholls Palmerston
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 6.5 km
 2
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 2.4%

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

Schools in Palmerston

  • Palmerston District Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Nicholls sits further from the CBD (15.4 km vs 13 km).

Nicholls Palmerston
Walkability score 50/100 61/100
Distance to Canberra 15.4 km
+16% vs other
 13 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 20 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 99.8
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.

Nicholls Palmerston
Car (driver) 75.5% / 73.5%
Nicholls — Car (driver): 75.5% Palmerston — Car (driver): 73.5%
Worked from Home 14.6% / 12.1%
Nicholls — Worked from Home: 14.6% Palmerston — Worked from Home: 12.1%
Car (passenger) 6.3% / 6.8%
Nicholls — Car (passenger): 6.3% Palmerston — Car (passenger): 6.8%
Bus 1.7% / 4.1%
Nicholls — Bus: 1.7% Palmerston — Bus: 4.1%
Bicycle 0.8% / 1.4%
Nicholls — Bicycle: 0.8% Palmerston — Bicycle: 1.4%
Tram / Light Rail 0.5% / 1.4%
Nicholls — Tram / Light Rail: 0.5% Palmerston — Tram / Light Rail: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.5%).

Setting

Nicholls Palmerston
Elevation 627 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 617 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Nicholls Palmerston
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
2,517 premises
 100%
2,192 premises

Climate

Nicholls 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)

Nicholls 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Nicholls

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Quiet

Palmerston

Middle-Ring Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nicholls

Nicholls vs Ngunnawal Nicholls vs Gungahlin Nicholls vs Belconnen Nicholls vs Casey Nicholls vs Crace Nicholls vs Giralang

Other comparisons with Palmerston

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