Median house price
—
No data available
ACT · Unincorporated ACT Council
Bruce, 2617
Est. population · Jun 2025
8,818
Growth (1 yr)
+0.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.8%
Median age
29
Median income
$2,266/wk
Employment rate
69.7%
Languages at home
34.9%non-English
Most common: Mandarin, Nepali, Cantonese
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Heritage area
- Education hub
- National parks
- Green suburb
Suburb profile
At the heart of the metro area, Bruce is a mid-sized suburb where cafés, culture and everyday convenience overlap. The community skews younger, with schools and childcare nearby. Most local households sit in a multicultural mix, with overseas-born residents and languages other than English common at home.
Education outcomes and school provision stand out relative to comparable suburbs. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Everyday errands are walkable, and buses keep the wider city within easy reach.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Reported crime has been falling recently.
Among similar metro suburbs, the suburb earns a excellent desirability read, with community and employment, plus growth momentum the standout strengths.
At a glance
Bruce snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (ERP)
8,818
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
7.5%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#5
among Metro Canberra · Established
Safety
55th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
52nd
percentile in ACT
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
86th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 70.0/100 — Excellent
- State standing
- Top 5% of Australian Capital Territory's suburbs
- National rank
- 229th in Australia
- State rank
- 5th in ACT
- Peer rank
- #5 among Metro Canberra · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #5 among Metro Canberra suburbs
- Data confidence
- 82%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Estimated resident population
8,818(June 2025)
+0.4% annual · +4.8% over 5 years · 52th percentile in ACT
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.4%
- 5-year growth
- +4.8%
- Change in 1 year
- +39
- Change in 5 years
- +406
- Growth rank in ACT
- 52th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~9,400), extrapolated at +1.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 7,520
- Median age
- 29
- Median household income / week
- $2,266
- Dwelling vacancy
- 7.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 217 of 2,898
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 69.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 554 / 1,226 / 895
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 166
- Against the person
- 15
- Against property
- 90
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 18.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 501 residents
- State safety percentile
- 54.9th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -39.3%
Most common offence types
- Burglary Dwellings9
- Motor Vehicle Theft11
- Other Offences61
- Property Damage30
- Theft (Excluding Motor Vehicles)28
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- ACT crime statistics by suburb (quarterly) — ACT Policing / dataACT · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Quarterly XLSX release
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 6
- Median school ICSEA (6 schools)
- 1,108.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 86th
School list
- Radford CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1203 · 99th percentile · LBOTE 42% · 2,091 students · Top SEA quarter 81% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
- Maribyrnong Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 49% · 483 students · Top SEA quarter 43% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Aranda Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1159 · 96th percentile · LBOTE 31% · 517 students · Top SEA quarter 65% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
- Canberra High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 37% · 898 students · Top SEA quarter 45% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- St Vincent's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1117 · 88th percentile · LBOTE 37% · 195 students · Top SEA quarter 47% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
- University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake GinninderraSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1066 · 74th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 781 students · Top SEA quarter 31% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
4 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- AIS Child Care Centrekindergarten
- Bruce Early Childhood Centrechildcare
- Bruce Ridge Early Childhood Centre and Preschoolkindergarten
- Kirinari Early Childhood Centrekindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Amenities
420 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 restaurants · 5 cafes · 1 bars · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 2 fast food · 1 bakeries · 1 libraries
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Highly walkable for everyday errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 18 parks mapped in suburb, 5 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 37 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 27 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 94/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.66
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.6
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.39
Food & drink(12)
- Oscar's BakeryBakery
- ucbarBar
- Bean Origin BruceCafe
- Cafe
- Cafe MizzunaCafe
- Cafe MOMOCafe
14 Thynne Street
- Zouki CafeCafe
- Domino'sFast food
- melt deliFast food
- Bruce Take AwayRestaurant
Unit 123 10 Thynne Street
- QureRestaurant
Unit 2 21 Battye Street
- Yin & Yum Asian FusionRestaurant
Shopping(3)
- Bruce Super Convenience StoreConvenience store
Unit 121 10 Thynne Street
- UC SupermarketSupermarket
Community(6)
- Bruce Early Childhood CentreChildcare
- AIS Child Care CentreKindergarten
- Bruce Ridge Early Childhood Centre and PreschoolKindergarten
- Kirinari Early Childhood CentreKindergarten
- National Centre for Australian Children's LiteratureLibrary
- Radford CollegeSchool
1 College Street
Health & services(11)
- Canberra Specialist Medical CentreClinic
- GP Super ClinicClinic
28 Allawoona Street
- ICON Cancer Centre CanberraClinic
- Nephrocare Northside Dialysis ClinicClinic
- QSCAN BruceClinic
- Calvary Bruce Private HospitalHospital
- North Canberra HospitalHospital
Mary Potter Circuit
- Dr Ann & Ian CrawshawMedical clinic
- ICON Cancer CentreMedical clinic
Allawoona Street
- Ochre Health Medical Centre BruceMedical clinic
- Capital Chemist BrucePharmacy
Sport & outdoors(45)
- Fern Hill ParkPark
- Park (17)
- Cobbett Place Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
- Lampard Circuit Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
- Linke Crescent Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
- Mugglestone Place Neighbourhood PlaygroundPlayground
- South Bruce PlaygroundPlayground
- AIS Aquatic CentreSports centre
- Basketball and Netball CentreSports centre
- Gymnastics CentreSports centre
- Multi-Sport FacilitySports centre
- Recovery and Swimming CentreSports centre
- Sports centre
- UCU Sports & Fitness CentreSports centre
- AIS Grass FieldsSports field
- Cricket NetsSports field
- GIO Stadium CanberraSports field
- Half CourtSports field
- J.A. Mackinnon OvalSports field
- NSWRL Bruce OvalSports field
- Outdoor Synthetic FieldSports field
- Oval 1Sports field
- Oval 4Sports field
- Oval 5Sports field
- Oval 6Sports field
- Oval 7Sports field
- Parents & Friends OvalSports field
- Sports field
- Swimming pool
Entertainment(1)
- Viewpoint
Transport(37)
37 bus stops
Other(37)
- Artwork (7)
- Indigenous Land ArtArtwork
- MaryArtwork
- Soccer PlayersArtwork
- Sports Visitor CentreAttraction
- Commonwealth BankBank
- Le Beaute LoungeBeauty salon
- Bench (35)
- Bicycle Parking (14)
- Arthritis Foundation of the ACTCentre
Unit Building 18 170 Haydon Drive
- Building RaCollege
- College
- Drinking water (7)
- Fitness Station
- Garden (35)
- Hair NileshHairdresser
- Meki Modern HairHairdresser
- Information (2)
- Gossan Hill Nature ReserveNature Reserve
- AIS Special Event Overflow CarparkParking
- P22Parking
- Parking (75)
- University of CanberraParking
- Parking Entrance (5)
- Parking Space (77)
- Laverty PathologyPathology Collection
- Picnic Table (7)
- Post Box (4)
- Public toilets
- Shelter (5)
- Grind to GroundSocial Facility
- AIS ArenaStadium
- Table Tennis Table
- Track (9)
- ANU Medical SchoolUniversity
- Canberra Institute of Technology, Bruce LocationUniversity
35 Vowels Crescent
- Waste Basket
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
2 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Fern Hill ParkPark
- Gossan Hill Nature ReserveNature reserve
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 54
- Parks (OSM)
- 18
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 14
- Nearest hospital
- North Canberra Hospital (0.8 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Arthritis Foundation of the ACTHaydon DriveCentre
- Calvary Bruce Private HospitalHospital
- Canberra Specialist Medical CentreClinic
- GP Super ClinicAllawoona StreetClinic
- North Canberra HospitalMary Potter CircuitHospital
- University of Canberra HospitalHospital
- Capital Chemist BrucePharmacy
- Dr Ann & Ian CrawshawDoctor
- ICON Cancer CentreAllawoona StreetDoctor
- ICON Cancer Centre CanberraClinic
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 149
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 16.9
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 171 mm · ~21 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 21° / 7°
- Rainfall
- 169 mm · ~21 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 12° / 1°
- Rainfall
- 183 mm · ~23 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 212 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from ACT planning register.
2026· 3 proposals
July 2026
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENActive
May 2026
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
March 2026
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENActive
2025· 7 proposals
November 2025
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
October 2025
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
September 2025
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
August 2025
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
January 2025
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
2024· 6 proposals
September 2024
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
August 2024
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
July 2024
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
June 2024
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
2023· 9 proposals
November 2023
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
October 2023
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
September 2023
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
2022· 4 proposals
August 2022
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
May 2022
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
February 2022
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
2021· 10 proposals
November 2021
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
October 2021
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
August 2021
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
July 2021
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
June 2021
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
May 2021
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
April 2021
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
March 2021
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
2020· 2 proposals
October 2020
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
- SUBCBRUCE · BELCONNENCompleted
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Active & completed development applications — ACT Planning · 2026 · Updated
Roadworks & transport
3 active roadworks / incidents
- Downer Group - Arterial North Reseal - 2025/26 ANR002 Aikman Drive (Southbound), Belconnen - PSS25092Aikman Drive centre medians at:Thirriwirri Street and Joy Cummings Place intersection.Townsend Place.9:30 am - 4 pm Monday to Friday.7 am - 8 pm Saturday.8 am - 9 pm Sunday.01 Dec 2025 – 01 Dec 2026
- TTE26-AIS-4056 Australian Sports Commission, AIS Arena DeliveriesBattye Street: All directions: from Leverrier Street to GIO Stadium western side carpark turn-around roundabout05 Apr 2026 – 30 Apr 2027
- TTE26-GIO Stadium Events - Major, Medium & Small 2026Battye Street,Braybrooke Street,Leverrier Crescent,Masterman Street,Agar Street,Ginninderra Drive,Watson Street andThynne Street.31 Mar 2026 – 31 Mar 2027
Data sources & freshness
- Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Heritage
41 heritage places
- Aboriginal Places along the Gungahlin Drive Extension and in Tidbinbilla Nature ReserveBruce Ridge IF33 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places along the Gungahlin Drive Extension and in Tidbinbilla Nature ReserveBruce Ridge IF33 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places along the Gungahlin Drive Extension and in Tidbinbilla Nature ReserveBruce Ridge 53 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places along the Gungahlin Drive Extension and in Tidbinbilla Nature ReserveBruce Ridge 53 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in Belconnen, Coree, Cotter River, Gungahlin, Paddy's River and StromloBruce IF13 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in Belconnen, Coree, Cotter River, Gungahlin, Paddy's River and StromloBruce IF23 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in Canberra Nature Park Fire TrailsORF13 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in Canberra Nature Park Fire TrailsGH Pad 13 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in Canberra Nature Park Fire TrailsGHIF 13 - Registered Places or Objects
- Aboriginal Places in Canberra Nature Park Fire TrailsBMF 33 - Registered Places or Objects
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via ACT Bushfire Prone Area (SBMP) mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Canberra
- Member of Parliament
- Alicia PAYNE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 102,942
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +4.0 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 23.6%Labor 76.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 3.4 km away).
Coalition 18.9%Labor 81.1%
4.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +7.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- BruceLabor 80.5% · Coalition 19.5% TPP (2025)0.7 km away
- Kaleen SouthLabor 78.9% · Coalition 21.1% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- ArandaLabor 85.3% · Coalition 14.7% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Belconnen (Canberra)Labor 82.1% · Coalition 17.9% TPP (2025)1.9 km away
- LynehamLabor 85.7% · Coalition 14.3% TPP (2025)3.0 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
This suburb ranks highly for
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Unincorporated ACT Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile elsewhere in Australian Capital Territory or interstate.