Phillip vs Pearce

Phillip is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 43 in Pearce. In Phillip, about half of households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Pearce, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Pearce: a median of $1.29 million, against $750,000 in Phillip. Phillip is closer to the city centre: 12.1 km, against 13.9 km. On these figures, Phillip tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Pearce suits older residents.

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

Pearce

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (63% vs 0%)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 91/100)

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

First-home buyers

Phillip

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($750,000 vs $1,295,000)
  • has cheaper units ($535,000 vs $812,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 23%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Phillip

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Phillip

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 72/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Phillip

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 37%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Pearce has more residents already 65 and over (21% vs 8%)

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

Investors

Phillip

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (77.0% vs 4.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 3.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Phillip and Pearce 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 Pearce
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 Pearce
Walkability 92 / 72
Phillip — Walkability: 92/100 Pearce — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 9 / 58
Phillip — Safety: 9/100 Pearce — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 11 / 1
Phillip — Low fire risk: 11/100 Pearce — Low fire risk: 1/100
Low flood risk 60 / 100
Phillip — Low flood risk: 60/100 Pearce — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Phillip has more residents (5,197 vs 2,687); Pearce skews older (43 vs 32).

Phillip Pearce
Population 5,197
+48% vs other
 2,687
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +77.0% +4.2%
Median age 32 43
Median household income $107,900/yr $122,824/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+2% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Phillip Pearce
0-4 5.8% / 4.4%
Phillip — 0-4: 5.8% Pearce — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 5.4% / 12.8%
Phillip — 5-14: 5.4% Pearce — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 2.2% / 6.3%
Phillip — 15-19: 2.2% Pearce — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 8.9% / 6.1%
Phillip — 20-24: 8.9% Pearce — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 36.1% / 10.0%
Phillip — 25-34: 36.1% Pearce — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 17.3% / 11.9%
Phillip — 35-44: 17.3% Pearce — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 9.4% / 14.6%
Phillip — 45-54: 9.4% Pearce — 45-54: 14.6%
55-64 7.3% / 12.8%
Phillip — 55-64: 7.3% Pearce — 55-64: 12.8%
65-74 4.6% / 9.9%
Phillip — 65-74: 4.6% Pearce — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 2.2% / 8.3%
Phillip — 75-84: 2.2% Pearce — 75-84: 8.3%
85+ 0.8% / 2.5%
Phillip — 85+: 0.8% Pearce — 85+: 2.5%

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%
Pearce 40.5% lone person
Pearce — Lone Person: 40.5% Pearce — Couple Families: 42.9% Pearce — One Parent Families: 12.1% Pearce — Group Household: 3.3% Pearce — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
Pearce 25.7% renting
Pearce — Owned Outright: 38.4% Pearce — Mortgage: 35.9% Pearce — Renting: 25.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Phillip Pearce
Bachelor Degree 28.7% / 21.7%
Phillip — Bachelor Degree: 28.7% Pearce — Bachelor Degree: 21.7%
Postgraduate Degree 16.0% / 11.7%
Phillip — Postgraduate Degree: 16.0% Pearce — Postgraduate Degree: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 8.7%
Phillip — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Pearce — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 7.3% / 7.7%
Phillip — Certificate III & IV: 7.3% Pearce — Certificate III & IV: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.7% / 4.8%
Phillip — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7% Pearce — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.8%

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

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.

Phillip Pearce
India 8.0% / 2.6%
Phillip — India: 8.0% Pearce — India: 2.6%
Nepal 6.3% / 1.2%
Phillip — Nepal: 6.3% Pearce — Nepal: 1.2%
Philippines 5.1% / 0.9%
Phillip — Philippines: 5.1% Pearce — Philippines: 0.9%
England 2.1% / 3.8%
Phillip — England: 2.1% Pearce — England: 3.8%
China 2.6% / 0.9%
Phillip — China: 2.6% Pearce — China: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.4%
Phillip — New Zealand: 1.3% Pearce — New Zealand: 1.4%

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

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%
Pearce 4.3% flats / apartments
Pearce — Flats / Apartments: 4.3% Pearce — Townhouses: 32.5% Pearce — Houses: 63.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Phillip Pearce
Median house price $750,000 $1,295,000
Median unit price $535,000 $812,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 8 sales
 38 days
from 18 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 Pearce
2 bed $585K / $656K
Phillip — 2 bed: $585K (273 sales) Pearce — 2 bed: $656K (9 sales)

273 vs 9 sales

3 bed $750K / $896K
Phillip — 3 bed: $750K (47 sales) Pearce — 3 bed: $896K (9 sales)

47 vs 9 sales

Development activity

Phillip Pearce
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 Pearce
Houses 4.8%
$628/wk on $678K
 3.6%
$750/wk on $1.09M
Units 6.2%
$600/wk on $500K
 —

Ranking within ACT

Phillip Pearce
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 15% of ACT Higher than 50% of ACT
Schools — Higher than 82% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 100% of ACT Higher than 71% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 49% of ACT Higher than 43% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 70% of ACT Higher than 16% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 85% of ACT Higher than 17% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 61% of ACT —

Liveability

Pearce scores higher overall (58 vs 45); Phillip is more walkable (92 vs 72).

Phillip Pearce
Grade C B
Score 45/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Phillip carries more flood risk (40 vs 0); Phillip carries more crime risk (91 vs 42).

Phillip Pearce
Bushfire High
89/100
 High
99/100
Crime High
91/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood Moderate
40/100
 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 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Phillip Pearce
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 6.3 km
 1
UNSW Canberra, 8.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 2.5%

Schools in Phillip

  • The Canberra College Government · Secondary

Schools in Pearce

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

Amenities in the suburb

Phillip Pearce
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 52 3
Parks & reserves 3 2
Childcare 5 3
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 8 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 2 0

Mobility

Phillip Pearce
Walkability score 92/100 72/100
Distance to Canberra 12.1 km 13.9 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 21 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 74/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 319.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 26.0
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 Pearce
Car (driver) 55.3% / 69.6%
Phillip — Car (driver): 55.3% Pearce — Car (driver): 69.6%
Worked from Home 9.9% / 14.3%
Phillip — Worked from Home: 9.9% Pearce — Worked from Home: 14.3%
Bus 12.8% / 5.7%
Phillip — Bus: 12.8% Pearce — Bus: 5.7%
Walked Only 14.7% / 2.7%
Phillip — Walked Only: 14.7% Pearce — Walked Only: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 6.2%
Phillip — Car (passenger): 6.1% Pearce — Car (passenger): 6.2%

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

Setting

Phillip Pearce
Elevation 589 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 630 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Phillip Pearce
Connectivity score 73/100 45/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
3,650 premises
 1%
1,246 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Phillip Pearce
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

Pearce

Middle-Ring Professionals Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Phillip

Phillip vs Curtin Phillip vs Garran Phillip vs Mawson Phillip vs Lyons Phillip vs Hughes Phillip vs Chifley

Other comparisons with Pearce

Pearce vs Mawson Pearce vs Chifley Pearce vs Torrens
Full data on Phillip Full data on Pearce
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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