Pearce vs Torrens

Torrens is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 43 in Pearce. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Torrens, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Pearce: a median of $1.29 million, against $1.1 million in Torrens, though rent is higher in Torrens. Pearce is closer to the city centre: 13.9 km, against 15.6 km. On these figures, Pearce tends to suit people living alone, while Torrens suits families with children 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

Torrens

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 42/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 63%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 55%)
  • But Pearce has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Torrens

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($586,000 vs $812,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,100,000 vs $1,295,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Pearce

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $478/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Pearce

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (37% vs 15%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 16%)
  • But Torrens carries lower crime risk (17/100 vs 42/100)

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

Investors

Torrens

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (9.9% vs 4.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.7% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Pearce Torrens
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.

Pearce Torrens
Walkability 72 / 79
Pearce — Walkability: 72/100 Torrens — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 58 / 83
Pearce — Safety: 58/100 Torrens — Safety: 83/100
Low fire risk 1 / 0
Pearce — Low fire risk: 1/100 Torrens — Low fire risk: 0/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Pearce — Low flood risk: 100/100 Torrens — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Torrens rents higher ($478/wk vs $430/wk); Torrens has higher household incomes ($135,824 vs $122,824).

Pearce Torrens
Population 2,687
+10% vs other
 2,424
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.2% +9.9%
Median age 43 39
Median household income $122,824/yr $135,824/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $430/wk $478/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pearce Torrens
0-4 4.4% / 6.4%
Pearce — 0-4: 4.4% Torrens — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 12.8% / 15.1%
Pearce — 5-14: 12.8% Torrens — 5-14: 15.1%
15-19 6.3% / 5.9%
Pearce — 15-19: 6.3% Torrens — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.1% / 6.2%
Pearce — 20-24: 6.1% Torrens — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 10.0% / 10.5%
Pearce — 25-34: 10.0% Torrens — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 11.9% / 13.9%
Pearce — 35-44: 11.9% Torrens — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 14.6% / 15.1%
Pearce — 45-54: 14.6% Torrens — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 12.8% / 11.1%
Pearce — 55-64: 12.8% Torrens — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 9.9% / 7.6%
Pearce — 65-74: 9.9% Torrens — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 8.3% / 6.2%
Pearce — 75-84: 8.3% Torrens — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 2.5% / 1.8%
Pearce — 85+: 2.5% Torrens — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pearce 42.9% couple families
Pearce — Couple Families: 42.9% Pearce — Lone Person: 40.5% Pearce — One Parent Families: 12.1% Pearce — Group Household: 3.3% Pearce — Other Families: 1.3%
Torrens 51.8% couple families
Torrens — Couple Families: 51.8% Torrens — Lone Person: 29.2% Torrens — One Parent Families: 12.8% Torrens — Group Household: 4.7% Torrens — 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.

Pearce 25.7% renting
Pearce — Owned Outright: 38.4% Pearce — Mortgage: 35.9% Pearce — Renting: 25.7%
Torrens 25.4% renting
Torrens — Owned Outright: 35.9% Torrens — Mortgage: 38.7% Torrens — Renting: 25.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Pearce Torrens
Bachelor Degree 21.7% / 21.2%
Pearce — Bachelor Degree: 21.7% Torrens — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.7% / 10.1%
Pearce — Postgraduate Degree: 11.7% Torrens — Postgraduate Degree: 10.1%
Certificate III & IV 7.7% / 8.0%
Pearce — Certificate III & IV: 7.7% Torrens — Certificate III & IV: 8.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 6.7%
Pearce — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Torrens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.8% / 4.0%
Pearce — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.8% Torrens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

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.

Pearce Torrens
England 3.8% / 3.3%
Pearce — England: 3.8% Torrens — England: 3.3%
India 2.6% / 3.8%
Pearce — India: 2.6% Torrens — India: 3.8%
China 0.9% / 1.5%
Pearce — China: 0.9% Torrens — China: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.9%
Pearce — New Zealand: 1.4% Torrens — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines 0.9% / 1.2%
Pearce — Philippines: 0.9% Torrens — Philippines: 1.2%
Sri Lanka 0.5% / 1.1%
Pearce — Sri Lanka: 0.5% Torrens — Sri Lanka: 1.1%
Nepal 1.2% / —
Pearce — Nepal: 1.2% Torrens — Nepal: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pearce 63.2% houses
Pearce — Houses: 63.2% Pearce — Townhouses: 32.5% Pearce — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Torrens 84.6% houses
Torrens — Houses: 84.6% Torrens — Townhouses: 12.7% Torrens — Flats / Apartments: 2.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Pearce Torrens
Median house price $1,295,000 $1,100,000
Median unit price $812,500 $586,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 38 days
from 18 sales
 23 days
from 37 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.

Pearce Torrens
3 bed $1.17M / $980K
Pearce — 3 bed: $1.17M (22 sales) Torrens — 3 bed: $980K (28 sales)

22 vs 28 sales

4 bed $1.34M / $1.22M
Pearce — 4 bed: $1.34M (25 sales) Torrens — 4 bed: $1.22M (21 sales)

25 vs 21 sales

5 bed $1.65M / $1.38M
Pearce — 5 bed: $1.65M (6 sales) Torrens — 5 bed: $1.38M (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

Development activity

Pearce Torrens
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.

Pearce Torrens
Houses 3.6%
$750/wk on $1.09M
 4.7%
$900/wk on $988K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within ACT

Pearce Torrens
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 50% of ACT Higher than 69% of ACT
Schools Higher than 82% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 71% of ACT Higher than 81% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 43% of ACT Higher than 40% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 16% of ACT Higher than 22% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of ACT Higher than 83% of ACT

Liveability

Torrens scores higher overall (63 vs 58).

Pearce Torrens
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Pearce carries more crime risk (42 vs 17).

Pearce Torrens
Bushfire High
99/100
 High
100/100
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Low
17/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Pearce Torrens
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
UNSW Canberra, 8.0 km
 1
UNSW Canberra, 8.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 2.4%

Schools in Pearce

  • Sacred Heart Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Melrose High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Marist College Canberra Independent · Combined

Schools in Torrens

  • Torrens Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Pearce Torrens
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 5
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 3
same for both

Mobility

Pearce Torrens
Walkability score 72/100 79/100
Distance to Canberra 13.9 km 15.6 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 23 min
Public transport score 74/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 26.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 41.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.7%
postcode 2607
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 2607
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.

Pearce Torrens
Car (driver) 69.6% / 69.0%
Pearce — Car (driver): 69.6% Torrens — Car (driver): 69.0%
Worked from Home 14.3% / 14.0%
Pearce — Worked from Home: 14.3% Torrens — Worked from Home: 14.0%
Car (passenger) 6.2% / 6.8%
Pearce — Car (passenger): 6.2% Torrens — Car (passenger): 6.8%
Bus 5.7% / 7.1%
Pearce — Bus: 5.7% Torrens — Bus: 7.1%
Walked Only 2.7% / 1.5%
Pearce — Walked Only: 2.7% Torrens — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bicycle 1.6% / 1.6%
Pearce — Bicycle: 1.6% Torrens — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.6%).

Setting

Pearce Torrens
Elevation 630 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 641 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Pearce Torrens
Connectivity score 45/100 46/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,246 premises
 2%
991 premises

Climate

Pearce Torrens
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)

Pearce Torrens
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

Pearce Torrens
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Pearce Torrens
Division Bean
same for both
Member David Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Pearce Torrens
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Pearce

Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet Townhouses

Torrens

Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pearce

Pearce vs Phillip Pearce vs Mawson Pearce vs Chifley

Other comparisons with Torrens

Torrens vs Farrer Torrens vs Mawson
Full data on Pearce Full data on Torrens
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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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