O'malley vs Mawson

Mawson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 51 in O'Malley. In both, most households own their home. In O'Malley, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in O'Malley: a median of $2.4 million, against $1.2 million in Mawson, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, O'Malley tends to suit couples and older residents, while Mawson suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

O'Malley and Mawson are quite different suburbs suited to different priorities. O'Malley is much smaller with 928 residents compared to Mawson's 3440, has a notably older population (median age 51 versus 38), and commands significantly higher rents at $975 per week against $400. Mawson is far more walkable with a score of 86 compared to O'Malley's 38, and has substantially lower crime risk at 73 versus 12 on the risk scale. However, O'Malley offers much higher median household income at $232,752 annually and carries a bushfire risk of 88 compared to Mawson's zero. Both suburbs rank in the top socio-economic decile and are similarly close to the CBD.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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'Malley

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 74/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (96% vs 54%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (74% vs 52%)
  • But Mawson has more childcare (6 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Mawson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($394,000 vs $1,510,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,200,000 vs $2,400,000)
  • But O'Malley leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 23%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mawson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $975/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mawson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 38/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mawson

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (46% vs 4%)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 38/100)
  • But O'Malley carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • O'malley returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.7% vs 4.4%)
  • Mawson is growing faster (5.8% vs -6.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

O'malley and Mawson 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'malley Mawson
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'malley Mawson
Walkability 38 / 86
O'malley — Walkability: 38/100 Mawson — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 88 / 26
O'malley — Safety: 88/100 Mawson — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 11 / 10
O'malley — Low fire risk: 11/100 Mawson — Low fire risk: 10/100
Low flood risk 84 / 62
O'malley — Low flood risk: 84/100 Mawson — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Mawson has more residents (3,440 vs 928); O'Malley rents higher ($975/wk vs $400/wk).

O'malley Mawson
Population 928 3,440
+271% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.4% +5.8%
Median age 51 38
Median household income $232,752/yr
+51% vs other
 $114,608/yr
Median weekly rent $975/wk
+59% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

O'malley Mawson
0-4 1.9% / 5.2%
O'malley — 0-4: 1.9% Mawson — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 11.4% / 12.6%
O'malley — 5-14: 11.4% Mawson — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 6.6% / 4.7%
O'malley — 15-19: 6.6% Mawson — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 6.5% / 5.2%
O'malley — 20-24: 6.5% Mawson — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 6.7% / 16.6%
O'malley — 25-34: 6.7% Mawson — 25-34: 16.6%
35-44 7.5% / 15.0%
O'malley — 35-44: 7.5% Mawson — 35-44: 15.0%
45-54 16.2% / 11.5%
O'malley — 45-54: 16.2% Mawson — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 15.2% / 11.5%
O'malley — 55-64: 15.2% Mawson — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 16.2% / 8.5%
O'malley — 65-74: 16.2% Mawson — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 10.1% / 7.1%
O'malley — 75-84: 10.1% Mawson — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 2.2% / 2.2%
O'malley — 85+: 2.2% Mawson — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

O'malley 65.3% couple families
O'malley — Couple Families: 65.3% O'malley — Lone Person: 22.1% O'malley — One Parent Families: 9.0% O'malley — Group Household: 2.0% O'malley — Other Families: 1.5%
Mawson 38.6% couple families
Mawson — Couple Families: 38.6% Mawson — Lone Person: 41.1% Mawson — One Parent Families: 13.1% Mawson — Group Household: 5.1% Mawson — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

O'malley 10.6% renting
O'malley — Owned Outright: 58.7% O'malley — Mortgage: 30.6% O'malley — Renting: 10.6%
Mawson 36.3% renting
Mawson — Owned Outright: 33.0% Mawson — Mortgage: 30.7% Mawson — Renting: 36.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

O'malley Mawson
Bachelor Degree 24.8% / 23.7%
O'malley — Bachelor Degree: 24.8% Mawson — Bachelor Degree: 23.7%
Postgraduate Degree 16.4% / 12.2%
O'malley — Postgraduate Degree: 16.4% Mawson — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 8.7%
O'malley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Mawson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 5.5% / 7.4%
O'malley — Certificate III & IV: 5.5% Mawson — Certificate III & IV: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 4.4%
O'malley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Mawson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.8%).

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'malley Mawson
India 4.4% / 4.7%
O'malley — India: 4.4% Mawson — India: 4.7%
China 4.4% / 1.7%
O'malley — China: 4.4% Mawson — China: 1.7%
England 3.1% / 2.7%
O'malley — England: 3.1% Mawson — England: 2.7%
Nepal — / 4.2%
O'malley — Nepal: not among its largest Mawson — Nepal: 4.2%
Sri Lanka 3.1% / —
O'malley — Sri Lanka: 3.1% Mawson — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Greece 2.2% / —
O'malley — Greece: 2.2% Mawson — Greece: not among its largest
Philippines — / 2.2%
O'malley — Philippines: not among its largest Mawson — Philippines: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

O'malley 96.5% houses
O'malley — Houses: 96.5% O'malley — Townhouses: 1.6% O'malley — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Mawson 54.2% houses
Mawson — Houses: 54.2% Mawson — Townhouses: 26.3% Mawson — Flats / Apartments: 19.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

O'malley Mawson
Median house price $2,400,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price $1,510,000 $394,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 8 sales
 23 days
from 34 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'malley Mawson
4 bed $2.25M / $1.35M
O'malley — 4 bed: $2.25M (6 sales) Mawson — 4 bed: $1.35M (15 sales)

6 vs 15 sales

5 bed $2.2M / $1.5M
O'malley — 5 bed: $2.2M (6 sales) Mawson — 5 bed: $1.5M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

Development activity

O'malley Mawson
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'malley Mawson
Houses 5.7%
$1,775/wk on $1.62M
 4.4%
$875/wk on $1.03M
Units — 6.4%
$470/wk on $379K

Ranking within ACT

O'malley Mawson
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 100% of ACT Higher than 22% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 24% of ACT Higher than 95% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 51% of ACT Higher than 40% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 62% of ACT Higher than 25% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 99% of ACT Higher than 61% of ACT
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 73% of ACT

Liveability

Mawson is more walkable (86 vs 38); O'Malley scores higher overall (61 vs 41).

O'malley Mawson
Grade B C
Score 61/100 41/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mawson carries more crime risk (74 vs 12); Mawson carries more flood risk (38 vs 16).

O'malley Mawson
Bushfire High
89/100
 High
90/100
Crime Low
12/100
 High
74/100
Flood Low
16/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

O'malley Mawson
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 5.6 km
 1
UNSW Canberra, 7.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.6% 1.9%

Schools in O'malley

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Mawson

  • Canberra Christian School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Mawson Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

O'malley Mawson
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 18
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 0 6
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

O'malley Mawson
Walkability score 38/100 86/100
Distance to Canberra 14.2 km 15.2 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 22 min
Public transport score 63/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 16.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 35.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.4%
postcode 2606
 2.7%
postcode 2607
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 2606
 38
postcode 2607

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'malley Mawson
Car (driver) 71.5% / 71.4%
O'malley — Car (driver): 71.5% Mawson — Car (driver): 71.4%
Worked from Home 17.3% / 10.4%
O'malley — Worked from Home: 17.3% Mawson — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Car (passenger) 7.0% / 6.7%
O'malley — Car (passenger): 7.0% Mawson — Car (passenger): 6.7%
Bus 1.9% / 7.6%
O'malley — Bus: 1.9% Mawson — Bus: 7.6%
Walked Only 1.6% / 2.3%
O'malley — Walked Only: 1.6% Mawson — Walked Only: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.5%).

Setting

O'malley Mawson
Elevation 679 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 641 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

O'malley Mawson
Connectivity score 65/100 46/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 36%
465 premises
 2%
1,718 premises

Climate

O'malley Mawson
Annual rainfall 686 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.2°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

O'malley Mawson
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.32 pphm
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

O'malley Mawson
Division Bean
same for both
Member David Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

O'malley Mawson
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

O'malley

Acreage Luxury Middle-Ring Multicultural Professionals Retirees

Mawson

Middle-Ring Townhouses Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with O'malley

O'malley vs Phillip O'malley vs Garran O'malley vs Red Hill O'malley vs Isaacs O'malley vs Symonston

Other comparisons with Mawson

Mawson vs Phillip Mawson vs Farrer Mawson vs Pearce Mawson vs Torrens Mawson vs Isaacs
Full data on O'malley Full data on Mawson
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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