Overall score
Hughes
63.5/100
O'Malley
46.1/100
Hughes vs O'Malley, ACT suburb comparison
Hughes for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
HughesO'Malley
Crime rate
Hughes
8.0 / 1k
O'Malley
5.5 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Hughes
65
O'Malley
23
Population
Hughes
3,210
O'Malley
928
Metric leadHughes 6O'Malley 22 tiedacross 10 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
Comparison summary
Put side by side, Hughes is an energetic metro mid-sized suburb where cafés and local life overlap, and O'Malley is a practical metro smaller community with solid links to the wider city.
Hughes pulls ahead on housing affordability and schools and education options, whereas O'Malley is the better pick for a quieter safety profile.
On balance, retirees and families are more likely to prefer Hughes, while O'Malley remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.