Red Hill vs Garran

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Red Hill, most households are couple families. In Garran, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Red Hill: a median of $2.31 million, against $1.43 million in Garran, though rent is higher in Garran. Red Hill is closer to the city centre: 10.2 km, against 13.2 km. On these figures, Garran tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Red Hill and Garran are affluent, demographically similar suburbs in ACT, but they differ in lifestyle feel and income. Red Hill has a notably higher median household income of $204,776 compared to Garran's $155,220, though Garran offers better walkability (73 versus 56) and a stronger liveability score (63 versus 44), suggesting more local amenities and pedestrian-friendly streets. Red Hill sits closer to the CBD at 10.2 km and has slightly lower bushfire and crime risk ratings. Both suburbs share the same socio-economic ranking and rental yields, making them equally appealing to investors, though Red Hill suits those prioritising income and proximity to the city, while Garran appeals to those valuing walkable, community-oriented living.

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

Red Hill

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 6)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (79% vs 61%)
  • But Garran has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Garran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,425,000 vs $2,307,500)
  • has cheaper units ($740,000 vs $1,042,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Red Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Red Hill sits closer to the CBD (10.2 km vs 13.2 km)
  • Garran is more walkable (73/100 vs 56/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Garran

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 21%)
  • is more walkable (73/100 vs 56/100)

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

Investors

Garran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (6.0% vs -0.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.2% vs 3.1%)
  • But Red Hill returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Red Hill Garran
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.

Red Hill Garran
Walkability 56 / 73
Red Hill — Walkability: 56/100 Garran — Walkability: 73/100
Safety 41 / 38
Red Hill — Safety: 41/100 Garran — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 14 / 11
Red Hill — Low fire risk: 14/100 Garran — Low fire risk: 11/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Red Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100 Garran — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Red Hill has higher household incomes ($204,776 vs $155,220); Garran rents higher ($550/wk vs $500/wk).

Red Hill Garran
Population 3,146 3,706
+18% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.8% +6.0%
Median age 42 41
Median household income $204,776/yr
+24% vs other
 $155,220/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk $550/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Red Hill Garran
0-4 3.5% / 5.2%
Red Hill — 0-4: 3.5% Garran — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 15.2% / 15.5%
Red Hill — 5-14: 15.2% Garran — 5-14: 15.5%
15-19 9.8% / 4.9%
Red Hill — 15-19: 9.8% Garran — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 5.7% / 4.5%
Red Hill — 20-24: 5.7% Garran — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 7.6% / 9.4%
Red Hill — 25-34: 7.6% Garran — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 11.4% / 15.7%
Red Hill — 35-44: 11.4% Garran — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 14.9% / 13.1%
Red Hill — 45-54: 14.9% Garran — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 13.2% / 10.5%
Red Hill — 55-64: 13.2% Garran — 55-64: 10.5%
65-74 9.9% / 9.2%
Red Hill — 65-74: 9.9% Garran — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 4.8% / 8.1%
Red Hill — 75-84: 4.8% Garran — 75-84: 8.1%
85+ 4.2% / 3.8%
Red Hill — 85+: 4.2% Garran — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Red Hill 57.2% couple families
Red Hill — Couple Families: 57.2% Red Hill — Lone Person: 25.2% Red Hill — One Parent Families: 10.8% Red Hill — Group Household: 5.2% Red Hill — Other Families: 1.7%
Garran 52.9% couple families
Garran — Couple Families: 52.9% Garran — Lone Person: 32.0% Garran — One Parent Families: 10.9% Garran — Group Household: 3.1% Garran — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Red Hill 22.5% renting
Red Hill — Owned Outright: 40.5% Red Hill — Mortgage: 37.0% Red Hill — Renting: 22.5%
Garran 30.6% renting
Garran — Owned Outright: 36.7% Garran — Mortgage: 32.7% Garran — Renting: 30.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Red Hill Garran
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 22.3%
Red Hill — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Garran — Bachelor Degree: 22.3%
Postgraduate Degree 15.6% / 15.6%
Red Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6% Garran — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 6.4%
Red Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Garran — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.9% / 4.8%
Red Hill — Certificate III & IV: 3.9% Garran — Certificate III & IV: 4.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 4.0%
Red Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Garran — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.9%).

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.

Red Hill Garran
India 2.6% / 6.8%
Red Hill — India: 2.6% Garran — India: 6.8%
England 3.6% / 3.9%
Red Hill — England: 3.6% Garran — England: 3.9%
China 2.1% / 2.1%
Red Hill — China: 2.1% Garran — China: 2.1%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.3%
Red Hill — New Zealand: 0.9% Garran — New Zealand: 1.3%
Sri Lanka 1.0% / 0.9%
Red Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.0% Garran — Sri Lanka: 0.9%
Philippines — / 1.3%
Red Hill — Philippines: not among its largest Garran — Philippines: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Red Hill 79.1% houses
Red Hill — Houses: 79.1% Red Hill — Flats / Apartments: 13.6% Red Hill — Townhouses: 7.3%
Garran 61.0% houses
Garran — Houses: 61.0% Garran — Flats / Apartments: 16.5% Garran — Townhouses: 22.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Red Hill Garran
Median house price $2,307,500 $1,425,000
Median unit price $1,042,000 $740,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 14 sales
 22 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.

Red Hill Garran
2 bed $1.11M / $652K
Red Hill — 2 bed: $1.11M (10 sales) Garran — 2 bed: $652K (13 sales)

10 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.43M / $758K
Red Hill — 3 bed: $1.43M (7 sales) Garran — 3 bed: $758K (18 sales)

7 vs 18 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.

Red Hill Garran
3 bed $2M / $1.12M
Red Hill — 3 bed: $2M (5 sales) Garran — 3 bed: $1.12M (18 sales)

5 vs 18 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.51M
Red Hill — 4 bed: $1.75M (13 sales) Garran — 4 bed: $1.51M (20 sales)

13 vs 20 sales

5 bed $3.23M / $2.02M
Red Hill — 5 bed: $3.23M (6 sales) Garran — 5 bed: $2.02M (7 sales)

6 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Red Hill Garran
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.

Red Hill Garran
Houses 3.4%
$1,300/wk on $2M
 2.9%
$800/wk on $1.45M
Units 3.1%
$755/wk on $1.25M
 4.2%
$620/wk on $760K

Ranking within ACT

Red Hill Garran
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 99% of ACT Higher than 85% of ACT
Schools Higher than 9% of ACT Higher than 95% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 39% of ACT Higher than 73% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of ACT Higher than 92% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 49% of ACT Higher than 20% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of ACT Higher than 7% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 5% of ACT Higher than 10% of ACT

Liveability

Garran scores higher overall (69 vs 50); Garran is more walkable (73 vs 56).

Red Hill Garran
Grade B A
Score 50/100 69/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Red Hill Garran
Bushfire High
86/100
 High
89/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
62/100
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 6
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Red Hill Garran
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 3.4 km
 2
UNSW Canberra, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.4% 2.4%

Schools in Red Hill

  • Red Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Bede's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Canberra Grammar School Independent · Secondary
  • Canberra Grammar School - Primary School Independent · Primary

Schools in Garran

  • Garran Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Sts Peter and Paul Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Malkara School Government · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Red Hill Garran
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 9 6
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1

Mobility

Garran sits further from the CBD (13.2 km vs 10.2 km).

Red Hill Garran
Walkability score 56/100 73/100
Distance to Canberra 10.2 km 13.2 km
+29% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min
same for both
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 92.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 4.6%
postcode 2603
 4.6%
postcode 2605
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2603
 37
postcode 2605

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.

Red Hill Garran
Car (driver) 67.0% / 62.2%
Red Hill — Car (driver): 67.0% Garran — Car (driver): 62.2%
Worked from Home 16.9% / 16.4%
Red Hill — Worked from Home: 16.9% Garran — Worked from Home: 16.4%
Walked Only 3.6% / 9.4%
Red Hill — Walked Only: 3.6% Garran — Walked Only: 9.4%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 5.9%
Red Hill — Car (passenger): 6.6% Garran — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Bus 3.2% / 3.9%
Red Hill — Bus: 3.2% Garran — Bus: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.0%).

Setting

Red Hill Garran
Elevation 631 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 624 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Red Hill Garran
Connectivity score 55/100 46/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
1,535 premises
 0%
1,644 premises

Climate

Red Hill Garran
Annual rainfall 622 mm 686 mm
Summer max (Jan) 28.5°C 28.2°C
Winter min (Jul) 0.8°C 0.9°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Red Hill Garran
PM2.5 5.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 14.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Red Hill Garran
Average residential rate $3,105/yr
same for both
Council Unincorporated ACT
same for both

Federal electorate

Red Hill Garran
Division Canberra
same for both
Member Alicia Payne
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Red Hill Garran
Grant amount Not offered
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility None
same for both

Tags

Red Hill

Inner Luxury Professionals Quiet

Garran

Inner Premium Professionals Quiet Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Red Hill

Red Hill vs Narrabundah Red Hill vs Griffith Red Hill vs Hughes Red Hill vs Deakin Red Hill vs Forrest Red Hill vs O'Malley

Other comparisons with Garran

Garran vs Phillip Garran vs Hughes Garran vs O'Malley Garran vs Symonston
Full data on Red Hill Full data on Garran
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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