Red Hill vs O'malley

Red Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 51 in O'Malley. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Red Hill is closer to the city centre: 10.2 km, against 14.2 km. On these figures, Red Hill tends to suit families with children, while O'Malley suits older residents.

Red Hill is a larger, more walkable suburb closer to the CBD, while O'Malley is quieter and more affluent. Red Hill has a younger population (median age 42 versus 51) and better walkability at 56 versus 38, sitting just 10.2 km from the city. However, O'Malley offers significantly higher household incomes at $232,752 annually and a stronger liveability score of 61 compared to Red Hill's 50. Rental costs differ sharply—O'Malley's median weekly rent of $975 far exceeds Red Hill's $500—and O'Malley units command higher prices at $1,510,000 versus $1,042,000. Red Hill suits buyers prioritising walkability and proximity to the CBD, while O'Malley appeals to those seeking a more established, affluent community.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Red Hill has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • O'malley carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 59/100)

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

First-home buyers

Red Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($1,042,000 vs $1,510,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Red Hill

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($500/wk vs $975/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Red Hill

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (56/100 vs 38/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (10.2 km vs 14.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Red Hill has more units and townhouses to downsize into (21% vs 4%)
  • O'malley carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 59/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Red Hill is growing faster (-0.8% vs -6.4%)
  • O'malley returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.7% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Red Hill and O'malley 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 O'malley
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 O'malley
Walkability 56 / 38
Red Hill — Walkability: 56/100 O'malley — Walkability: 38/100
Safety 41 / 88
Red Hill — Safety: 41/100 O'malley — Safety: 88/100
Low fire risk 14 / 11
Red Hill — Low fire risk: 14/100 O'malley — Low fire risk: 11/100
Low flood risk 100 / 84
Red Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100 O'malley — Low flood risk: 84/100

Demographics

Red Hill has more residents (3,146 vs 928); O'Malley rents higher ($975/wk vs $500/wk).

Red Hill O'malley
Population 3,146
+71% vs other
 928
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.8% -6.4%
Median age 42 51
Median household income $204,776/yr $232,752/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk $975/wk
+95% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Red Hill O'malley
0-4 3.5% / 1.9%
Red Hill — 0-4: 3.5% O'malley — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 15.2% / 11.4%
Red Hill — 5-14: 15.2% O'malley — 5-14: 11.4%
15-19 9.8% / 6.6%
Red Hill — 15-19: 9.8% O'malley — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.7% / 6.5%
Red Hill — 20-24: 5.7% O'malley — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 7.6% / 6.7%
Red Hill — 25-34: 7.6% O'malley — 25-34: 6.7%
35-44 11.4% / 7.5%
Red Hill — 35-44: 11.4% O'malley — 35-44: 7.5%
45-54 14.9% / 16.2%
Red Hill — 45-54: 14.9% O'malley — 45-54: 16.2%
55-64 13.2% / 15.2%
Red Hill — 55-64: 13.2% O'malley — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 9.9% / 16.2%
Red Hill — 65-74: 9.9% O'malley — 65-74: 16.2%
75-84 4.8% / 10.1%
Red Hill — 75-84: 4.8% O'malley — 75-84: 10.1%
85+ 4.2% / 2.2%
Red Hill — 85+: 4.2% O'malley — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

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%
O'malley 65.3% couple families
O'malley — Couple Families: 65.3% O'malley — Lone Person: 22.1% O'malley — One Parent Families: 9.0% O'malley — Group Household: 2.0% O'malley — 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.

Red Hill 22.5% renting
Red Hill — Owned Outright: 40.5% Red Hill — Mortgage: 37.0% Red Hill — Renting: 22.5%
O'malley 10.6% renting
O'malley — Owned Outright: 58.7% O'malley — Mortgage: 30.6% O'malley — Renting: 10.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Red Hill O'malley
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 24.8%
Red Hill — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% O'malley — Bachelor Degree: 24.8%
Postgraduate Degree 15.6% / 16.4%
Red Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6% O'malley — Postgraduate Degree: 16.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 6.4%
Red Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% O'malley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.9% / 5.5%
Red Hill — Certificate III & IV: 3.9% O'malley — Certificate III & IV: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 3.2%
Red Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% O'malley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

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 O'malley
India 2.6% / 4.4%
Red Hill — India: 2.6% O'malley — India: 4.4%
England 3.6% / 3.1%
Red Hill — England: 3.6% O'malley — England: 3.1%
China 2.1% / 4.4%
Red Hill — China: 2.1% O'malley — China: 4.4%
Sri Lanka 1.0% / 3.1%
Red Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.0% O'malley — Sri Lanka: 3.1%
Greece — / 2.2%
Red Hill — Greece: not among its largest O'malley — Greece: 2.2%
New Zealand 0.9% / —
Red Hill — New Zealand: 0.9% O'malley — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

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%
O'malley 96.5% houses
O'malley — Houses: 96.5% O'malley — Flats / Apartments: 1.9% O'malley — Townhouses: 1.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Red Hill O'malley
Median house price $2,307,500 $2,400,000
Median unit price $1,042,000 $1,510,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 14 sales
 34 days
from 8 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 O'malley
4 bed $1.75M / $2.25M
Red Hill — 4 bed: $1.75M (13 sales) O'malley — 4 bed: $2.25M (6 sales)

13 vs 6 sales

5 bed $3.23M / $2.2M
Red Hill — 5 bed: $3.23M (6 sales) O'malley — 5 bed: $2.2M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

Development activity

Red Hill O'malley
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 O'malley
Houses 3.4%
$1,300/wk on $2M
 5.7%
$1,775/wk on $1.62M
Units 3.1%
$755/wk on $1.25M
 —

Ranking within ACT

Red Hill O'malley
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 99% of ACT Higher than 100% of ACT
Schools Higher than 9% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 39% of ACT Higher than 24% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of ACT Higher than 51% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 49% of ACT Higher than 62% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of ACT Higher than 99% of ACT
Rental yield (units) Higher than 5% of ACT —

Liveability

Red Hill is more walkable (56 vs 38); O'Malley scores higher overall (61 vs 50).

Red Hill O'malley
Grade B
same for both
Score 50/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

O'Malley carries more flood risk (16 vs 0); Red Hill carries more crime risk (59 vs 12).

Red Hill O'malley
Bushfire High
86/100
 High
89/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Low
12/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
16/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Red Hill O'malley
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
UNSW Canberra, 3.4 km
 2
UNSW Canberra, 5.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.4% 4.6%

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 O'malley

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Red Hill O'malley
Supermarkets 1 0
Parks & reserves 2 3
Childcare 9 0
Pharmacies 1 0

Mobility

O'Malley sits further from the CBD (14.2 km vs 10.2 km).

Red Hill O'malley
Walkability score 56/100 38/100
Distance to Canberra 10.2 km 14.2 km
+39% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 21 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 63/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 16.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.6%
postcode 2603
 3.4%
postcode 2606
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2603
 20
postcode 2606

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 O'malley
Car (driver) 67.0% / 71.5%
Red Hill — Car (driver): 67.0% O'malley — Car (driver): 71.5%
Worked from Home 16.9% / 17.3%
Red Hill — Worked from Home: 16.9% O'malley — Worked from Home: 17.3%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 7.0%
Red Hill — Car (passenger): 6.6% O'malley — Car (passenger): 7.0%
Walked Only 3.6% / 1.6%
Red Hill — Walked Only: 3.6% O'malley — Walked Only: 1.6%
Bus 3.2% / 1.9%
Red Hill — Bus: 3.2% O'malley — Bus: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.5%).

Setting

Red Hill O'malley
Elevation 631 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 679 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Red Hill O'malley
Connectivity score 55/100 65/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
1,535 premises
 36%
465 premises

Climate

Red Hill O'malley
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 O'malley
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

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

Federal electorate

Red Hill O'malley
Division Canberra Bean
Member Alicia Payne David Smith
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Red Hill O'malley
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

O'malley

Acreage Luxury Middle-Ring Multicultural Professionals Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Red Hill

Red Hill vs Narrabundah Red Hill vs Griffith Red Hill vs Garran Red Hill vs Hughes Red Hill vs Deakin Red Hill vs Forrest

Other comparisons with O'malley

O'malley vs Phillip O'malley vs Garran O'malley vs Mawson O'malley vs Isaacs O'malley vs Symonston
Full data on Red Hill Full data on O'malley
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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