Phillip vs Mawson

Phillip is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 38 in Mawson. In Phillip, about half of households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Mawson, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Mawson: a median of $1.2 million, against $750,000 in Phillip, though rent is higher in Phillip. Phillip is closer to the city centre: 12.1 km, against 15.2 km. On these figures, Phillip tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

Phillip and Mawson are both affluent ACT suburbs with notably different property markets. Phillip is closer to the CBD at 12.1 km versus Mawson's 15.2 km, and offers significantly lower house prices at $745,000 compared to $1,200,000, though unit prices favour Phillip too at $535,000 versus $403,000. Mawson has a slightly older demographic (median age 38 versus 32) and higher household income at $114,608 annually. Phillip scores higher on walkability (92 versus 86) and has a younger population, making it better suited to those prioritising accessibility and affordability, while Mawson appeals to buyers seeking a more established, quieter neighbourhood.

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

Mawson

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (54% vs 0%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 29%)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 91/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Phillip has cheaper houses ($750,000 vs $1,200,000)
  • Mawson has cheaper units ($394,000 vs $535,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Phillip has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 36%)
  • Mawson has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $440/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Phillip

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (12.1 km vs 15.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mawson

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 8%)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 91/100)
  • But Phillip has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 46%)

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

Investors

Phillip

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (77.0% vs 5.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Phillip 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.

Phillip 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.

Phillip Mawson
Walkability 92 / 86
Phillip — Walkability: 92/100 Mawson — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 9 / 26
Phillip — Safety: 9/100 Mawson — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 11 / 10
Phillip — Low fire risk: 11/100 Mawson — Low fire risk: 10/100
Low flood risk 60 / 62
Phillip — Low flood risk: 60/100 Mawson — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Phillip has more residents (5,197 vs 3,440); Mawson skews older (38 vs 32).

Phillip Mawson
Population 5,197
+34% vs other
 3,440
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +77.0% +5.8%
Median age 32 38
Median household income $107,900/yr $114,608/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+9% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Phillip Mawson
0-4 5.8% / 5.2%
Phillip — 0-4: 5.8% Mawson — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 5.4% / 12.6%
Phillip — 5-14: 5.4% Mawson — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 2.2% / 4.7%
Phillip — 15-19: 2.2% Mawson — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 8.9% / 5.2%
Phillip — 20-24: 8.9% Mawson — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 36.1% / 16.6%
Phillip — 25-34: 36.1% Mawson — 25-34: 16.6%
35-44 17.3% / 15.0%
Phillip — 35-44: 17.3% Mawson — 35-44: 15.0%
45-54 9.4% / 11.5%
Phillip — 45-54: 9.4% Mawson — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 7.3% / 11.5%
Phillip — 55-64: 7.3% Mawson — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 4.6% / 8.5%
Phillip — 65-74: 4.6% Mawson — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 2.2% / 7.1%
Phillip — 75-84: 2.2% Mawson — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 0.8% / 2.2%
Phillip — 85+: 0.8% Mawson — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (36.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Phillip 61.1% lone person
Phillip — Lone Person: 61.1% Phillip — Couple Families: 20.4% Phillip — One Parent Families: 8.5% Phillip — Group Household: 8.2% Phillip — Other Families: 1.8%
Mawson 41.1% lone person
Mawson — Lone Person: 41.1% Mawson — Couple Families: 38.6% Mawson — One Parent Families: 13.1% Mawson — Group Household: 5.1% Mawson — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Phillip 50.3% renting
Phillip — Owned Outright: 14.2% Phillip — Mortgage: 35.5% Phillip — Renting: 50.3%
Mawson 36.3% renting
Mawson — Owned Outright: 33.0% Mawson — Mortgage: 30.7% Mawson — Renting: 36.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Phillip Mawson
India 8.0% / 4.7%
Phillip — India: 8.0% Mawson — India: 4.7%
Nepal 6.3% / 4.2%
Phillip — Nepal: 6.3% Mawson — Nepal: 4.2%
Philippines 5.1% / 2.2%
Phillip — Philippines: 5.1% Mawson — Philippines: 2.2%
England 2.1% / 2.7%
Phillip — England: 2.1% Mawson — England: 2.7%
China 2.6% / 1.7%
Phillip — China: 2.6% Mawson — China: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.0%).

Qualifications

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

Phillip Mawson
Bachelor Degree 28.7% / 23.7%
Phillip — Bachelor Degree: 28.7% Mawson — Bachelor Degree: 23.7%
Postgraduate Degree 16.0% / 12.2%
Phillip — Postgraduate Degree: 16.0% Mawson — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 8.7%
Phillip — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Mawson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 7.3% / 7.4%
Phillip — Certificate III & IV: 7.3% Mawson — Certificate III & IV: 7.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.7% / 4.4%
Phillip — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7% Mawson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Phillip 67.1% flats / apartments
Phillip — Flats / Apartments: 67.1% Phillip — Townhouses: 32.8% Phillip — Houses: 0.1%
Mawson 19.6% flats / apartments
Mawson — Flats / Apartments: 19.6% Mawson — Townhouses: 26.3% Mawson — Houses: 54.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Phillip Mawson
Median house price $750,000 $1,200,000
Median unit price $535,000 $394,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 8 sales
 23 days
from 34 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.

Phillip Mawson
1 bed $412K / $302K
Phillip — 1 bed: $412K (175 sales) Mawson — 1 bed: $302K (8 sales)

175 vs 8 sales

2 bed $585K / $421K
Phillip — 2 bed: $585K (273 sales) Mawson — 2 bed: $421K (21 sales)

273 vs 21 sales

Development activity

Phillip 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.

Phillip Mawson
Houses 4.8%
$628/wk on $678K
 4.4%
$875/wk on $1.03M
Units 6.2%
$600/wk on $500K
 6.4%
$470/wk on $379K

Ranking within ACT

Phillip Mawson
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 15% of ACT Higher than 22% of ACT
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 100% of ACT Higher than 95% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 49% of ACT Higher than 40% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of ACT Higher than 25% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 85% of ACT Higher than 61% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 61% of ACT Higher than 73% of ACT

Liveability

Phillip Mawson
Grade C
same for both
Score 45/100 41/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Phillip carries more crime risk (91 vs 74).

Phillip Mawson
Bushfire High
89/100
 High
90/100
Crime High
91/100
 High
74/100
Flood Moderate
40/100
 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 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Phillip Mawson
Inside the suburb 1 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, 6.3 km
 1
UNSW Canberra, 7.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 1.9%

Schools in Phillip

  • The Canberra College Government · Secondary

Schools in Mawson

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

Amenities in the suburb

Phillip Mawson
Supermarkets 3
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 52 18
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 5 6
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 4 1
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 8 2
Fuel stations 3 2
EV chargers 2 1

Mobility

Mawson sits further from the CBD (15.2 km vs 12.1 km).

Phillip Mawson
Walkability score 92/100 86/100
Distance to Canberra 12.1 km 15.2 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 22 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 319.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 35.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
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.

Phillip Mawson
Car (driver) 55.3% / 71.4%
Phillip — Car (driver): 55.3% Mawson — Car (driver): 71.4%
Bus 12.8% / 7.6%
Phillip — Bus: 12.8% Mawson — Bus: 7.6%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 10.4%
Phillip — Worked from Home: 9.9% Mawson — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Walked Only 14.7% / 2.3%
Phillip — Walked Only: 14.7% Mawson — Walked Only: 2.3%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 6.7%
Phillip — Car (passenger): 6.1% Mawson — Car (passenger): 6.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.4%).

Setting

Phillip Mawson
Elevation 589 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 641 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Phillip Mawson
Connectivity score 73/100 46/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
3,650 premises
 2%
1,718 premises

Climate

Phillip 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)

Phillip Mawson
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 14.1 µg/m³ 11.9 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.32 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Phillip Mawson
Division Bean
same for both
Member David Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Phillip Mawson
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Phillip

Apartments Cafe Culture Middle-Ring Multicultural Professionals Townhouses

Mawson

Middle-Ring Townhouses Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Phillip

Phillip vs Curtin Phillip vs Garran Phillip vs Lyons Phillip vs Hughes Phillip vs Pearce Phillip vs Chifley

Other comparisons with Mawson

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