Red Hill vs Symonston

Red Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 55 in Symonston. In both, most households own their home. In Red Hill, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. In Symonston, most homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Red Hill: a median of $2.31 million, against $380,000 in Symonston, and rent is higher there too. Red Hill is closer to the city centre: 10.2 km, against 13.1 km. On these figures, Red Hill tends to suit families with children and couples, while Symonston suits people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget.

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 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 2)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 17%)

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

First-home buyers

Symonston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($380,000 vs $2,307,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Red Hill leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 33%)
  • Symonston has cheaper rent ($275/wk vs $500/wk)

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 11/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (10.2 km vs 13.1 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 is more walkable (56/100 vs 11/100)
  • Symonston has more units and townhouses to downsize into (66% vs 21%)

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

Investors

Symonston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (17.2% vs -0.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Red Hill and Symonston 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 Symonston
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 Symonston
Walkability 56 / 11
Red Hill — Walkability: 56/100 Symonston — Walkability: 11/100
Safety 41 / 13
Red Hill — Safety: 41/100 Symonston — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 14 / 19
Red Hill — Low fire risk: 14/100 Symonston — Low fire risk: 19/100
Low flood risk 100 / 41
Red Hill — Low flood risk: 100/100 Symonston — Low flood risk: 41/100

Demographics

Red Hill has more residents (3,146 vs 655); Red Hill has higher household incomes ($204,776 vs $43,732).

Red Hill Symonston
Population 3,146
+79% vs other
 655
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.8% +17.2%
Median age 42 55
Median household income $204,776/yr
+79% vs other
 $43,732/yr
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+45% vs other
 $275/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Red Hill Symonston
0-4 3.5% / 2.0%
Red Hill — 0-4: 3.5% Symonston — 0-4: 2.0%
5-14 15.2% / 4.4%
Red Hill — 5-14: 15.2% Symonston — 5-14: 4.4%
15-19 9.8% / 2.9%
Red Hill — 15-19: 9.8% Symonston — 15-19: 2.9%
20-24 5.7% / 4.9%
Red Hill — 20-24: 5.7% Symonston — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 7.6% / 8.9%
Red Hill — 25-34: 7.6% Symonston — 25-34: 8.9%
35-44 11.4% / 11.9%
Red Hill — 35-44: 11.4% Symonston — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 14.9% / 14.2%
Red Hill — 45-54: 14.9% Symonston — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 13.2% / 22.1%
Red Hill — 55-64: 13.2% Symonston — 55-64: 22.1%
65-74 9.9% / 17.9%
Red Hill — 65-74: 9.9% Symonston — 65-74: 17.9%
75-84 4.8% / 9.3%
Red Hill — 75-84: 4.8% Symonston — 75-84: 9.3%
85+ 4.2% / 1.1%
Red Hill — 85+: 4.2% Symonston — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Red Hill 25.2% lone person
Red Hill — Lone Person: 25.2% Red Hill — Couple Families: 57.2% Red Hill — One Parent Families: 10.8% Red Hill — Group Household: 5.2% Red Hill — Other Families: 1.7%
Symonston 73.1% lone person
Symonston — Lone Person: 73.1% Symonston — Couple Families: 8.8% Symonston — One Parent Families: 8.3% Symonston — Group Household: 6.9% Symonston — Other Families: 2.8%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Symonston 31.7% renting
Symonston — Owned Outright: 66.7% Symonston — Mortgage: 1.6% Symonston — Renting: 31.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Red Hill Symonston
Bachelor Degree 24.9% / 5.5%
Red Hill — Bachelor Degree: 24.9% Symonston — Bachelor Degree: 5.5%
Postgraduate Degree 15.6% / 2.1%
Red Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6% Symonston — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1%
Certificate III & IV 3.9% / 12.4%
Red Hill — Certificate III & IV: 3.9% Symonston — Certificate III & IV: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.4% / 4.1%
Red Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.4% Symonston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 1.7%
Red Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Symonston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

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 Symonston
England 3.6% / 3.1%
Red Hill — England: 3.6% Symonston — England: 3.1%
Philippines — / 3.5%
Red Hill — Philippines: not among its largest Symonston — Philippines: 3.5%
New Zealand 0.9% / 2.3%
Red Hill — New Zealand: 0.9% Symonston — New Zealand: 2.3%
India 2.6% / 0.5%
Red Hill — India: 2.6% Symonston — India: 0.5%
China 2.1% / —
Red Hill — China: 2.1% Symonston — China: not among its largest
Sri Lanka 1.0% / —
Red Hill — Sri Lanka: 1.0% Symonston — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Thailand — / 0.8%
Red Hill — Thailand: not among its largest Symonston — Thailand: 0.8%
Zimbabwe — / 0.8%
Red Hill — Zimbabwe: not among its largest Symonston — Zimbabwe: 0.8%

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%
Symonston 33.6% houses
Symonston — Houses: 33.6% Symonston — Flats / Apartments: 58.4% Symonston — Townhouses: 8.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Red Hill Symonston
Median house price $2,307,500 $380,000
Median unit price $1,042,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 14 sales
 22 days
from 4 sales

Development activity

Red Hill Symonston
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 Symonston
Houses 3.4%
$1,300/wk on $2M
 —
Units 3.1%
$755/wk on $1.25M
 —

Ranking within ACT

Red Hill Symonston
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 99% of ACT Higher than 1% of ACT
Schools Higher than 9% of ACT —
Walkability Higher than 39% of ACT Higher than 10% of ACT
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 90% of ACT Higher than 95% of ACT
NBN connectivity Higher than 49% of ACT Higher than 46% of ACT
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of ACT —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 5% of ACT —

Liveability

Red Hill scores higher overall (50 vs 8); Red Hill is more walkable (56 vs 11).

Red Hill Symonston
Grade B D
Score 50/100 8/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Symonston carries more flood risk (59 vs 0); Symonston carries more crime risk (87 vs 59).

Red Hill Symonston
Bushfire High
86/100
 High
81/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 High
87/100
Flood None
0/100
 Moderate
59/100
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
same for both

Schools

Red Hill Symonston
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
 1
UNSW Canberra, 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.4% 0.0%

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 Symonston

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

Amenities in the suburb

Red Hill Symonston
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 2 0
Childcare 9 2
Pharmacies 1 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Symonston sits further from the CBD (13.1 km vs 10.2 km).

Red Hill Symonston
Walkability score 56/100 11/100
Distance to Canberra 10.2 km 13.1 km
+28% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 18 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 43/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 41.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 9.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 4.6%
postcode 2603
 5.0%
postcode 2609
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 2603
 88
postcode 2609

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 Symonston
Car (driver) 67.0% / 79.9%
Red Hill — Car (driver): 67.0% Symonston — Car (driver): 79.9%
Worked from Home 16.9% / 5.0%
Red Hill — Worked from Home: 16.9% Symonston — Worked from Home: 5.0%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 10.1%
Red Hill — Car (passenger): 6.6% Symonston — Car (passenger): 10.1%
Walked Only 3.6% / 5.0%
Red Hill — Walked Only: 3.6% Symonston — Walked Only: 5.0%
Bus 3.2% / —
Red Hill — Bus: 3.2% Symonston — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.9%).

Setting

Red Hill Symonston
Elevation 631 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 579 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Red Hill Symonston
Connectivity score 55/100 53/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
1,535 premises
 11%
270 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Red Hill Symonston
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

Symonston

Affordable Middle-Ring Multicultural Quiet 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 Symonston

Symonston vs Narrabundah Symonston vs Garran Symonston vs O'Malley Symonston vs Fyshwick
Full data on Red Hill Full data on Symonston
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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