Red Hill vs Narrabundah

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Red Hill, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Red Hill: a median of $2.31 million, against $1.42 million in Narrabundah, and rent is higher there too. Red Hill is closer to the city centre: 10.2 km, against 13.3 km. On these figures, Red Hill tends to suit couples, while Narrabundah suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

Red Hill and Narrabundah are affluent ACT suburbs with notably different profiles. Red Hill commands significantly higher property prices—median houses at $2,307,500 versus Narrabundah's $1,415,500—and boasts higher household incomes ($204,776 annually compared to $122,356), though it's smaller with 3,146 residents against Narrabundah's 6,455. Narrabundah offers better walkability (84 versus 56) and is closer to the CBD at 13.3 km, while Red Hill sits 10.2 km away but carries lower flood risk (0 versus 43) and lower crime risk (59 versus 69). Both rank in the top socio-economic decile, so the choice largely depends on whether you prioritise Red Hill's premium positioning and lower environmental risks or Narrabundah's walkability and more affordable entry point.

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 4)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 53%)
  • carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Narrabundah has more parks and reserves (8 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Narrabundah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($570,000 vs $1,042,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,415,500 vs $2,307,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Narrabundah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $500/wk)
  • But Red Hill leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 19%)

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 13.3 km)
  • Narrabundah is more walkable (84/100 vs 56/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Narrabundah

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (32% vs 21%)
  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 56/100)
  • But Red Hill carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 69/100)

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

Investors

Narrabundah

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (8.3% vs -0.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Red Hill and Narrabundah 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 Narrabundah
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 Narrabundah
Walkability 56 / 84
Red Hill — Walkability: 56/100 Narrabundah — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 41 / 31
Red Hill — Safety: 41/100 Narrabundah — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 14 / 13
Red Hill — Low fire risk: 14/100 Narrabundah — Low fire risk: 13/100
Low flood risk 100 / 57
Red Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100 Narrabundah — Low flood risk: 57/100

Demographics

Narrabundah has more residents (6,455 vs 3,146); Red Hill has higher household incomes ($204,776 vs $122,356).

Red Hill Narrabundah
Population 3,146 6,455
+105% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.8% +8.3%
Median age 42 40
Median household income $204,776/yr
+40% vs other
 $122,356/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+12% vs other
 $440/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Red Hill Narrabundah
0-4 3.5% / 5.0%
Red Hill — 0-4: 3.5% Narrabundah — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 15.2% / 12.7%
Red Hill — 5-14: 15.2% Narrabundah — 5-14: 12.7%
15-19 9.8% / 5.8%
Red Hill — 15-19: 9.8% Narrabundah — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 5.7% / 5.3%
Red Hill — 20-24: 5.7% Narrabundah — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 7.6% / 12.5%
Red Hill — 25-34: 7.6% Narrabundah — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 11.4% / 14.5%
Red Hill — 35-44: 11.4% Narrabundah — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 14.9% / 13.7%
Red Hill — 45-54: 14.9% Narrabundah — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 13.2% / 12.2%
Red Hill — 55-64: 13.2% Narrabundah — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 9.9% / 9.2%
Red Hill — 65-74: 9.9% Narrabundah — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 4.8% / 5.5%
Red Hill — 75-84: 4.8% Narrabundah — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 4.2% / 3.6%
Red Hill — 85+: 4.2% Narrabundah — 85+: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

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%
Narrabundah 38.8% couple families
Narrabundah — Couple Families: 38.8% Narrabundah — Lone Person: 39.3% Narrabundah — One Parent Families: 14.2% Narrabundah — Group Household: 6.3% Narrabundah — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
Narrabundah 37.9% renting
Narrabundah — Owned Outright: 27.6% Narrabundah — Mortgage: 34.5% Narrabundah — Renting: 37.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Red Hill Narrabundah
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 20.6%
Red Hill — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Narrabundah — Bachelor Degree: 20.6%
Postgraduate Degree 15.6% / 14.8%
Red Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6% Narrabundah — Postgraduate Degree: 14.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 6.4%
Red Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Narrabundah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.9% / 6.8%
Red Hill — Certificate III & IV: 3.9% Narrabundah — Certificate III & IV: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 4.1%
Red Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Narrabundah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

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 Narrabundah
England 3.6% / 3.4%
Red Hill — England: 3.6% Narrabundah — England: 3.4%
India 2.6% / 2.6%
Red Hill — India: 2.6% Narrabundah — India: 2.6%
China 2.1% / 1.2%
Red Hill — China: 2.1% Narrabundah — China: 1.2%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.3%
Red Hill — New Zealand: 0.9% Narrabundah — New Zealand: 1.3%
Sri Lanka 1.0% / 0.7%
Red Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.0% Narrabundah — Sri Lanka: 0.7%
Nepal — / 1.4%
Red Hill — Nepal: not among its largest Narrabundah — Nepal: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

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%
Narrabundah 68.2% houses
Narrabundah — Houses: 68.2% Narrabundah — Flats / Apartments: 19.1% Narrabundah — Townhouses: 12.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Red Hill Narrabundah
Median house price $2,307,500 $1,415,500
Median unit price $1,042,000 $570,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 14 sales
 26 days
from 74 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 Narrabundah
3 bed $2M / $1.3M
Red Hill — 3 bed: $2M (5 sales) Narrabundah — 3 bed: $1.3M (46 sales)

5 vs 46 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.68M
Red Hill — 4 bed: $1.75M (13 sales) Narrabundah — 4 bed: $1.68M (32 sales)

13 vs 32 sales

5 bed $3.23M / $2M
Red Hill — 5 bed: $3.23M (6 sales) Narrabundah — 5 bed: $2M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 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 Narrabundah
1 bed $398K / $290K
Red Hill — 1 bed: $398K (6 sales) Narrabundah — 1 bed: $290K (11 sales)

6 vs 11 sales

2 bed $1.11M / $575K
Red Hill — 2 bed: $1.11M (10 sales) Narrabundah — 2 bed: $575K (33 sales)

10 vs 33 sales

3 bed $1.43M / $830K
Red Hill — 3 bed: $1.43M (7 sales) Narrabundah — 3 bed: $830K (10 sales)

7 vs 10 sales

Development activity

Red Hill Narrabundah
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 Narrabundah
Houses 3.4%
$1,300/wk on $2M
 3.8%
$778/wk on $1.06M
Units 3.1%
$755/wk on $1.25M
 5.1%
$585/wk on $594K

Ranking within ACT

Red Hill Narrabundah
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 99% of ACT Higher than 48% of ACT
Schools Higher than 9% of ACT Higher than 68% of ACT
Walkability Higher than 39% of ACT Higher than 89% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of ACT Higher than 52% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 49% of ACT Higher than 48% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of ACT Higher than 25% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 5% of ACT Higher than 22% of ACT

Liveability

Narrabundah is more walkable (84 vs 56).

Red Hill Narrabundah
Grade B
same for both
Score 50/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Narrabundah carries more flood risk (43 vs 0); Narrabundah carries more crime risk (69 vs 59).

Red Hill Narrabundah
Bushfire High
86/100
 High
87/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood None
0/100
 Moderate
43/100
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
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Red Hill Narrabundah
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 3.4 km
 2
UNSW Canberra, 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.4% 2.5%

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 Narrabundah

  • St Benedict's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Narrabundah College Government · Secondary
  • Narrabundah Early Childhood School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Red Hill Narrabundah
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 6
Parks & reserves 2 8
Childcare 9 4
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Narrabundah sits further from the CBD (13.3 km vs 10.2 km).

Red Hill Narrabundah
Walkability score 56/100 84/100
Distance to Canberra 10.2 km 13.3 km
+30% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min
same for both
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 41.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 142.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 4.6%
postcode 2603
 3.6%
postcode 2604
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2603
 16
postcode 2604

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 Narrabundah
Car (driver) 67.0% / 66.3%
Red Hill — Car (driver): 67.0% Narrabundah — Car (driver): 66.3%
Worked from Home 16.9% / 13.8%
Red Hill — Worked from Home: 16.9% Narrabundah — Worked from Home: 13.8%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 7.0%
Red Hill — Car (passenger): 6.6% Narrabundah — Car (passenger): 7.0%
Bus 3.2% / 5.6%
Red Hill — Bus: 3.2% Narrabundah — Bus: 5.6%
Bicycle 2.6% / 4.6%
Red Hill — Bicycle: 2.6% Narrabundah — Bicycle: 4.6%
Walked Only 3.6% / 2.6%
Red Hill — Walked Only: 3.6% Narrabundah — Walked Only: 2.6%

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

Setting

Red Hill Narrabundah
Elevation 631 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 581 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Red Hill Narrabundah
Connectivity score 55/100 54/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
1,535 premises
 10%
3,273 premises

Climate

Red Hill Narrabundah
Annual rainfall 622 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 0.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Red Hill Narrabundah
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

Narrabundah

Inner Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Narrabundah

Narrabundah vs Griffith Narrabundah vs Symonston Narrabundah vs Fyshwick
Full data on Red Hill Full data on Narrabundah
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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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