O'connor vs Kaleen

O'Connor is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 39 in Kaleen. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Kaleen, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in O'Connor: a median of $1.51 million, against $1.03 million in Kaleen. O'Connor is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 8.3 km. On these figures, O'Connor tends to suit young adults, people living alone, and share households, while Kaleen suits couples and 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

Kaleen

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 66%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 48%)
  • But O'Connor has more parks and reserves (9 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Kaleen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,030,000 vs $1,510,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

O'Connor

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 25%)

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 8.3 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (10 min vs 15 min)

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 has more units and townhouses to downsize into (34% vs 9%)
  • Kaleen has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 13%)

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

O'connor and Kaleen 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 Kaleen
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 Kaleen
Walkability 80 / 84
O'connor — Walkability: 80/100 Kaleen — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 46 / 43
O'connor — Safety: 46/100 Kaleen — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 44 / 69
O'connor — Low fire risk: 44/100 Kaleen — Low fire risk: 69/100
Low flood risk 65 / 79
O'connor — Low flood risk: 65/100 Kaleen — Low flood risk: 79/100

Demographics

Kaleen has more residents (7,672 vs 5,917); Kaleen skews older (39 vs 35).

O'connor Kaleen
Population 5,917 7,672
+30% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.0% +5.5%
Median age 35 39
Median household income $130,936/yr
+7% vs other
 $121,472/yr
Median weekly rent $451/wk $460/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

O'connor Kaleen
0-4 3.8% / 5.6%
O'connor — 0-4: 3.8% Kaleen — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 11.7% / 12.4%
O'connor — 5-14: 11.7% Kaleen — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 6.0% / 5.4%
O'connor — 15-19: 6.0% Kaleen — 15-19: 5.4%
20-24 12.2% / 5.9%
O'connor — 20-24: 12.2% Kaleen — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 15.8% / 13.3%
O'connor — 25-34: 15.8% Kaleen — 25-34: 13.3%
35-44 11.7% / 14.4%
O'connor — 35-44: 11.7% Kaleen — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 14.6% / 11.7%
O'connor — 45-54: 14.6% Kaleen — 45-54: 11.7%
55-64 11.4% / 11.3%
O'connor — 55-64: 11.4% Kaleen — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 8.2% / 12.9%
O'connor — 65-74: 8.2% Kaleen — 65-74: 12.9%
75-84 3.3% / 5.4%
O'connor — 75-84: 3.3% Kaleen — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 1.5% / 1.7%
O'connor — 85+: 1.5% Kaleen — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

O'connor 36.7% couple families
O'connor — Couple Families: 36.7% O'connor — Lone Person: 34.7% O'connor — One Parent Families: 11.8% O'connor — Group Household: 15.1% O'connor — Other Families: 1.6%
Kaleen 50.2% couple families
Kaleen — Couple Families: 50.2% Kaleen — Lone Person: 26.6% Kaleen — One Parent Families: 14.8% Kaleen — Group Household: 7.0% Kaleen — 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.

O'connor 38.5% renting
O'connor — Owned Outright: 31.9% O'connor — Mortgage: 29.6% O'connor — Renting: 38.5%
Kaleen 25.1% renting
Kaleen — Owned Outright: 40.3% Kaleen — Mortgage: 34.6% Kaleen — Renting: 25.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

O'connor Kaleen
Bachelor Degree 25.1% / 18.5%
O'connor — Bachelor Degree: 25.1% Kaleen — Bachelor Degree: 18.5%
Postgraduate Degree 18.5% / 9.6%
O'connor — Postgraduate Degree: 18.5% Kaleen — Postgraduate Degree: 9.6%
Certificate III & IV 4.7% / 9.4%
O'connor — Certificate III & IV: 4.7% Kaleen — Certificate III & IV: 9.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.0% / 7.5%
O'connor — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0% Kaleen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.0% / 4.1%
O'connor — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0% Kaleen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.1%).

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 Kaleen
England 4.0% / 2.8%
O'connor — England: 4.0% Kaleen — England: 2.8%
China 1.6% / 3.8%
O'connor — China: 1.6% Kaleen — China: 3.8%
India 1.9% / 2.5%
O'connor — India: 1.9% Kaleen — India: 2.5%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.1%
O'connor — New Zealand: 1.5% Kaleen — New Zealand: 1.1%
Vietnam 0.7% / 1.5%
O'connor — Vietnam: 0.7% Kaleen — Vietnam: 1.5%
Philippines — / 1.1%
O'connor — Philippines: not among its largest Kaleen — Philippines: 1.1%
Germany 0.9% / —
O'connor — Germany: 0.9% Kaleen — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

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%
Kaleen 91.2% houses
Kaleen — Houses: 91.2% Kaleen — Townhouses: 5.8% Kaleen — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

O'connor Kaleen
Median house price $1,510,000 $1,030,000
Median unit price $570,000 $555,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 49 sales
 22 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.

O'connor Kaleen
3 bed $1.3M / $900K
O'connor — 3 bed: $1.3M (31 sales) Kaleen — 3 bed: $900K (41 sales)

31 vs 41 sales

4 bed $1.7M / $1.15M
O'connor — 4 bed: $1.7M (31 sales) Kaleen — 4 bed: $1.15M (31 sales)

31 vs 31 sales

5 bed $1.7M / $1.4M
O'connor — 5 bed: $1.7M (6 sales) Kaleen — 5 bed: $1.4M (7 sales)

6 vs 7 sales

Development activity

O'connor Kaleen
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 Kaleen
Houses 3.6%
$820/wk on $1.18M
 3.7%
$715/wk on $995K
Units 6.0%
$540/wk on $470K
 —

Ranking within ACT

O'connor Kaleen
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 62% of ACT Higher than 45% of ACT
Schools Higher than 32% of ACT Higher than 55% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 84% of ACT Higher than 90% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 86% of ACT Higher than 33% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 50% of ACT Higher than 35% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of ACT Higher than 23% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 41% of ACT —

Liveability

Kaleen scores higher overall (61 vs 55).

O'connor Kaleen
Grade B
same for both
Score 55/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

O'Connor carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 31); O'Connor carries more flood risk (35 vs 21).

O'connor Kaleen
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 Low
31/100
Crime Moderate
54/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood Low
35/100
 Low
21/100
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 Kaleen
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian National University, 1.6 km
 3
UC - Canberra, Bruce, 2.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.5% 2.4%

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 Kaleen

  • St Michael's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Kaleen Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Maribyrnong Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • University of Canberra High School Kaleen Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

O'connor Kaleen
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 3
same for both
Parks & reserves 9 6
Childcare 5 7
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Kaleen sits further from the CBD (8.3 km vs 4.6 km).

O'connor Kaleen
Walkability score 80/100 84/100
Distance to Canberra 4.6 km 8.3 km
+80% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 15 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 58.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 88.0
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 Kaleen
Car (driver) 51.4% / 70.1%
O'connor — Car (driver): 51.4% Kaleen — Car (driver): 70.1%
Worked from Home 16.4% / 12.7%
O'connor — Worked from Home: 16.4% Kaleen — Worked from Home: 12.7%
Bicycle 13.4% / 3.4%
O'connor — Bicycle: 13.4% Kaleen — Bicycle: 3.4%
Bus 6.3% / 5.3%
O'connor — Bus: 6.3% Kaleen — Bus: 5.3%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 6.4%
O'connor — Car (passenger): 5.0% Kaleen — Car (passenger): 6.4%
Walked Only 6.0% / 1.2%
O'connor — Walked Only: 6.0% Kaleen — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.1%).

Setting

O'connor Kaleen
Elevation 585 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 594 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

O'connor Kaleen
Connectivity score 55/100 49/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
2,700 premises
 6%
3,290 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

O'connor Kaleen
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

Kaleen

Inner Large Blocks Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with O'connor

O'connor vs Bruce O'connor vs Lyneham O'connor vs Turner O'connor vs Acton

Other comparisons with Kaleen

Kaleen vs Bruce Kaleen vs Lyneham Kaleen vs Crace Kaleen vs Giralang Kaleen vs Lawson
Full data on O'connor Full data on Kaleen
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.

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