O'connor vs Bruce

Bruce is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 35 in O'Connor. In O'Connor, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Bruce, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in O'Connor: a median of $1.51 million, against $1.17 million in Bruce. O'Connor is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 7.3 km. On these figures, Bruce tends to suit 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

O'Connor

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (66% vs 21%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Bruce

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($417,500 vs $570,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,165,000 vs $1,510,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bruce

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (52% vs 38%)

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

Commuting to the city

O'Connor

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (4.6 km vs 7.3 km)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 65/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • O'connor carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 70/100)
  • Bruce has more GPs (5 vs 1)

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

Investors

Bruce

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.3% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

O'connor Bruce
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.

O'connor Bruce
Walkability 80 / 65
O'connor — Walkability: 80/100 Bruce — Walkability: 65/100
Safety 46 / 30
O'connor — Safety: 46/100 Bruce — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 44 / 53
O'connor — Low fire risk: 44/100 Bruce — Low fire risk: 53/100
Low flood risk 65 / 100
O'connor — Low flood risk: 65/100 Bruce — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Bruce has more residents (7,520 vs 5,917); O'Connor skews older (35 vs 29).

O'connor Bruce
Population 5,917 7,520
+27% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.0% +7.5%
Median age 35 29
Median household income $130,936/yr
+10% vs other
 $117,832/yr
Median weekly rent $451/wk
+5% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

O'connor Bruce
0-4 3.8% / 3.9%
O'connor — 0-4: 3.8% Bruce — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 11.7% / 6.6%
O'connor — 5-14: 11.7% Bruce — 5-14: 6.6%
15-19 6.0% / 7.5%
O'connor — 15-19: 6.0% Bruce — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 12.2% / 17.8%
O'connor — 20-24: 12.2% Bruce — 20-24: 17.8%
25-34 15.8% / 26.2%
O'connor — 25-34: 15.8% Bruce — 25-34: 26.2%
35-44 11.7% / 12.9%
O'connor — 35-44: 11.7% Bruce — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 14.6% / 7.6%
O'connor — 45-54: 14.6% Bruce — 45-54: 7.6%
55-64 11.4% / 6.3%
O'connor — 55-64: 11.4% Bruce — 55-64: 6.3%
65-74 8.2% / 5.8%
O'connor — 65-74: 8.2% Bruce — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 3.3% / 3.5%
O'connor — 75-84: 3.3% Bruce — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 1.5% / 1.8%
O'connor — 85+: 1.5% Bruce — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

O'connor 34.7% lone person
O'connor — Lone Person: 34.7% O'connor — Couple Families: 36.7% O'connor — Group Household: 15.1% O'connor — One Parent Families: 11.8% O'connor — Other Families: 1.6%
Bruce 44.1% lone person
Bruce — Lone Person: 44.1% Bruce — Couple Families: 28.6% Bruce — Group Household: 15.2% Bruce — One Parent Families: 9.2% Bruce — Other Families: 2.9%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

O'connor 38.5% renting
O'connor — Owned Outright: 31.9% O'connor — Mortgage: 29.6% O'connor — Renting: 38.5%
Bruce 51.6% renting
Bruce — Owned Outright: 20.1% Bruce — Mortgage: 28.3% Bruce — Renting: 51.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

O'connor Bruce
Bachelor Degree 25.1% / 25.5%
O'connor — Bachelor Degree: 25.1% Bruce — Bachelor Degree: 25.5%
Postgraduate Degree 18.5% / 16.7%
O'connor — Postgraduate Degree: 18.5% Bruce — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.0% / 6.5%
O'connor — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0% Bruce — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.7% / 6.6%
O'connor — Certificate III & IV: 4.7% Bruce — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.0% / 4.0%
O'connor — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0% Bruce — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.5%).

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.

O'connor Bruce
China 1.6% / 6.2%
O'connor — China: 1.6% Bruce — China: 6.2%
India 1.9% / 4.9%
O'connor — India: 1.9% Bruce — India: 4.9%
England 4.0% / 2.1%
O'connor — England: 4.0% Bruce — England: 2.1%
Nepal 0.6% / 3.5%
O'connor — Nepal: 0.6% Bruce — Nepal: 3.5%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.1%
O'connor — New Zealand: 1.5% Bruce — New Zealand: 1.1%
Vietnam 0.7% / 1.6%
O'connor — Vietnam: 0.7% Bruce — Vietnam: 1.6%
Germany 0.9% / —
O'connor — Germany: 0.9% Bruce — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

O'connor 66.0% houses
O'connor — Houses: 66.0% O'connor — Townhouses: 15.7% O'connor — Flats / Apartments: 18.4%
Bruce 20.7% houses
Bruce — Houses: 20.7% Bruce — Townhouses: 45.8% Bruce — Flats / Apartments: 33.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

O'connor Bruce
Median house price $1,510,000 $1,165,000
Median unit price $570,000 $417,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 49 sales
 44 days
from 28 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.

O'connor Bruce
1 bed $480K / $369K
O'connor — 1 bed: $480K (17 sales) Bruce — 1 bed: $369K (83 sales)

17 vs 83 sales

2 bed $625K / $482K
O'connor — 2 bed: $625K (22 sales) Bruce — 2 bed: $482K (47 sales)

22 vs 47 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.

O'connor Bruce
3 bed $1.3M / $797K
O'connor — 3 bed: $1.3M (31 sales) Bruce — 3 bed: $797K (9 sales)

31 vs 9 sales

4 bed $1.7M / $1.28M
O'connor — 4 bed: $1.7M (31 sales) Bruce — 4 bed: $1.28M (14 sales)

31 vs 14 sales

5 bed $1.7M / $1.5M
O'connor — 5 bed: $1.7M (6 sales) Bruce — 5 bed: $1.5M (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

Development activity

O'connor Bruce
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.

O'connor Bruce
Houses 3.6%
$820/wk on $1.18M
 5.3%
$780/wk on $760K
Units 6.0%
$540/wk on $470K
 6.3%
$500/wk on $412K

Ranking within ACT

O'connor Bruce
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of ACT Higher than 34% of ACT
Schools Higher than 32% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 84% of ACT Higher than 55% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 86% of ACT Higher than 29% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 50% of ACT Higher than 64% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of ACT Higher than 93% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 41% of ACT Higher than 68% of ACT

Liveability

O'Connor is more walkable (80 vs 65); Bruce scores higher overall (64 vs 55).

O'connor Bruce
Grade B
same for both
Score 55/100 64/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

O'Connor carries more flood risk (35 vs 0); Bruce carries more crime risk (70 vs 54).

O'connor Bruce
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 Moderate
47/100
Crime Moderate
54/100
 High
70/100
Flood Low
35/100
 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 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

O'connor Bruce
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian National University, 1.6 km
 3
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.5% 14.6%

Schools in O'connor

  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • O'Connor Cooperative School Government · Primary
  • Black Mountain School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Bruce

  • Radford College Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

O'connor Bruce
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 3 7
Parks & reserves 9 3
Childcare 5 7
GPs 1 5
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both

Mobility

Bruce sits further from the CBD (7.3 km vs 4.6 km).

O'connor Bruce
Walkability score 80/100 65/100
Distance to Canberra 4.6 km 7.3 km
+59% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 12 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 58.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 356.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 4.3%
postcode 2602
 2.7%
postcode 2617
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 2602
 29
postcode 2617

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.

O'connor Bruce
Car (driver) 51.4% / 63.4%
O'connor — Car (driver): 51.4% Bruce — Car (driver): 63.4%
Worked from Home 16.4% / 10.4%
O'connor — Worked from Home: 16.4% Bruce — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Bus 6.3% / 12.9%
O'connor — Bus: 6.3% Bruce — Bus: 12.9%
Bicycle 13.4% / 2.5%
O'connor — Bicycle: 13.4% Bruce — Bicycle: 2.5%
Walked Only 6.0% / 4.9%
O'connor — Walked Only: 6.0% Bruce — Walked Only: 4.9%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 5.5%
O'connor — Car (passenger): 5.0% Bruce — Car (passenger): 5.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.4%).

Setting

O'connor Bruce
Elevation 585 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 620 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

O'connor Bruce
Connectivity score 55/100 67/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
2,700 premises
 24%
3,868 premises

Climate

O'connor Bruce
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)

O'connor Bruce
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 6.6 µg/m³
PM10 14.1 µg/m³ 11.0 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.41 pphm

Council rates

O'connor Bruce
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

O'connor Bruce
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

O'connor Bruce
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

O'connor

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

Bruce

Affordable Apartments Inner Professionals Students Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with O'connor

O'connor vs Kaleen O'connor vs Lyneham O'connor vs Turner O'connor vs Acton

Other comparisons with Bruce

Bruce vs Belconnen Bruce vs Kaleen Bruce vs Lyneham Bruce vs Macquarie Bruce vs Lawson Bruce vs Aranda
Full data on O'connor Full data on Bruce
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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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