Duffy
Duffy's strongest signal is its household earning power: weekly household income of $2,593 sits at the 93.6th percentile, while 52.3% of adults hold university qualifications, 22.2 percentage points above the national comparison. The suburb is strongly detached-house oriented, with 87.9% separate houses, and its median age of 39 is 1 year below the national figure. That combination supports a stable, family-focused market rather than a high-turnover apartment setting. Buyers comparing Duffy with nearby Rivett should focus on land, renovation condition and school catchments because property form matters more than suburb labels. Population is 3,395 across 2.8 square kilometres, creating a density of 1,214.1 people per square kilometre despite the low-rise streetscape.
Population
3,395
Median Age
39.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,593/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Homebuyers are choosing predominantly detached housing in Duffy, with separate houses accounting for 87.9% of dwellings compared with 4.2% apartments and 7.9% semi-detached homes. Larger households are well catered for because 51.9% of homes have four or more bedrooms, compared with 39.8% with three bedrooms. The typical monthly mortgage commitment is $2,476, equal to 22.1% of household income, while weekly rent is $445 and rent takes 17.2% of income. The rental burden is lower than the mortgage burden, which supports owner-occupier appeal. With 37.0% owning outright and 42.9% paying a mortgage, Duffy is more suited to established families and long-term buyers than to apartment-focused purchasers. A current median sale price should be checked against comparable local transactions before setting a budget.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing predominantly detached housing in Duffy, with separate houses accounting for 87.9% of dwellings compared with 4.2% apartments and 7.9% semi-detached homes. Larger households are well catered for because 51.9% of homes have four or more bedrooms, compared with 39.8% with three bedrooms. The typical monthly mortgage commitment is $2,476, equal to 22.1% of household income, while weekly rent is $445 and rent takes 17.2% of income. The rental burden is lower than the mortgage burden, which supports owner-occupier appeal. With 37.0% owning outright and 42.9% paying a mortgage, Duffy is more suited to established families and long-term buyers than to apartment-focused purchasers. A current median sale price should be checked against comparable local transactions before setting a budget.
For Investors
Duffy's investment case is centred on established detached housing rather than high tenant turnover. Weekly rent is $445 and vacancy is 5.1%, while 18.9% of households rent, compared with 37.0% owning outright and 42.9% carrying a mortgage. That owner-heavy structure can support neighbourhood stability, although it may provide a smaller tenant pool than a suburb with a higher rental share. Only 4 development applications were recorded over 12 months, and the examples are mainly garages, carports and alterations, suggesting incremental property improvement rather than a major new dwelling pipeline. Forecast rent growth of 19.0% is higher than the 0.48% annual population trend, but balanced migration limits the case for assuming rapid demand expansion. Current sale prices are needed before estimating gross yield or cash flow.
Development Activity
Total DAs
22
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+400.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Duffy
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Duffy Primary School
Demographics
Duffy has a median age of 39, which is 1 year below the national comparison, but its trajectory is ageing as the senior share has risen by 4.1 percentage points and the young share has fallen by 4.0 points. Educational attainment is a clear differentiator: 52.3% have university qualifications, 22.2 points above the national figure, while the overseas-born share is 21.1%, 0.5 points below national levels. Average household size is 2.7, or 0.2 above the national comparison, with couples with children representing 48.0% of families and one-parent families 14.7%. English ancestry counts 1,297 people, followed by Irish at 459 and Scottish at 416. No religion is recorded for 1,672 people, compared with 1,374 identifying with Christianity. Buyers comparing Duffy with nearby Rivett should assess household mix and future ageing alongside dwelling type.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
87.9%
Houses
7.9%
Townhouse
4.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Duffy's housing stock is substantially more detached than apartment-based: 87.9% of dwellings are separate houses, compared with 4.2% apartments and 7.9% semi-detached homes. The bedroom profile is also large-house weighted, with 51.9% of homes containing four or more bedrooms versus 39.8% with three bedrooms. Tenure is relatively secure, with 37.0% owned outright and 42.9% mortgaged, while only 18.9% are rented. Mortgage commitments average $2,476 per month and equal 22.1% of household income, higher than the 17.2% rent-to-income ratio. That structure helps explain why Duffy functions more as an owner-occupier suburb than a rental-led market. Compared with apartment-heavy suburbs, buyers here need to pay closer attention to land, renovation condition, block size and ongoing maintenance than to internal floor area alone.
Mortgage / mo
$2,476
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$445
Census 2021
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$1,251
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.1%
Unoccupied
66
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.0%
Couples with children
36.1%
Couples, no children
14.7%
Single parent
963
Total families
Economy & Employment
Duffy's employment base is strongly connected to government and professional services. Public administration accounts for 36.7% of industry employment, or 497 people, followed by professional and technical services at 13.1% and 178 people, healthcare at 12.5% and 169, education at 10.4% and 141, and construction at 7.5% and 101. The occupation mix reinforces that pattern, with 559 professionals, 376 managers and 261 clerical and administrative workers. Labour-force participation is 66.6%, full-time employment is 65.0%, and unemployment is 4.0%, supporting household purchasing capacity. Weekly household income of $2,593 ranks at the 93.6th percentile, while the IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD measures all sit in decile 9. The absence of a material gap between the four SEIFA deciles indicates that education, economic resources, disadvantage and advantage are consistently above national levels rather than being driven by one isolated measure.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
1,817
Unemployed
72
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
65.0%
Part-time
28.5%
Participation
66.6%
Employed
1,745
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
52.3%
Postgraduate
18.7%
Born Overseas
21.1%
Dwellings
1,224
Transport to Work
Duffy is most practical for households that drive. Car drivers account for 72.1% of commuters, compared with 3.6% using public transport and 3.0% walking or cycling, while 15.2% work from home. That transport pattern is more car-dependent than transit-oriented, so daily convenience will vary with access to a vehicle and the exact home location. One local school is listed, a government primary school, and families should check secondary catchments and enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries are more specific than the suburb name. Duffy's IRSAD, IRSD, IER and IEO results are all in decile 9, placing its socioeconomic conditions above most Australian areas. Safety should be checked through current ACT Policing information because no reliable suburb crime rate is available. A population of 3,395 within 2.8 square kilometres gives the suburb a density of 1,214.1 people per square kilometre.
Drive
72.1%
Public Transport
3.6%
Walk / Cycle
3.0%
Work from Home
15.2%
Population Forecast
+0.48%/yr
(+17 people/yr)
EstablishedDuffy has a measured growth outlook rather than a rapid expansion profile. The annual trend is 0.48%, while population change across the wider area is forecast at 4.7% over 10 years and migration is labelled Balanced. The demographic trajectory is Aging: the young share has declined by 4.0 percentage points, the senior share has increased by 4.1 points, and the working-age share has fallen by 1.4 points. This pattern reflects an established suburb where existing households are ageing faster than new households are replacing them. The gentrification forecast has a score of 0 and a stage of Not gentrifying, so major tenure or pricing-led transformation is not indicated. Rent growth of 19.0% is higher than the 0.48% population trend, which may lift pressure on existing renters without creating a large new development cycle.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+32
Net Internal / yr
-17
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Duffy compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Duffy a good suburb to live in?
Duffy can suit households wanting detached housing and an established, high-income setting. The median age is 39, the population is 3,395, and 87.9% of dwellings are separate houses. Car use is higher than public transport use, at 72.1% versus 3.6%, so Duffy is better suited to drivers than to households seeking a transit-led lifestyle.
What is the median house price in Duffy?
A current median house price is not stated, so a single listing should not be treated as the suburb median. The housing mix is important: 87.9% of dwellings are separate houses, 51.9% have four or more bedrooms, and weekly rent is $445. Compare recent sales with similar land size, bedroom count and condition rather than using an apartment or townhouse as a proxy.
What schools are in Duffy?
Duffy has 1 listed local school, Duffy Primary School, a government primary campus. Secondary options and enrolment zones should be checked for the exact address, because catchment boundaries are more specific than the suburb name. Families comparing school access should also check transport times and before-and-after-school arrangements.
Is Duffy safe?
A definitive safety judgement requires current ACT Policing information because a reliable suburb crime rate is unavailable. Duffy has 3,395 residents and 5.0% of residents need assistance, but neither figure measures crime. Check recent incidents, lighting and the exact street, since address-level context is more useful than a broad suburb label.
Is Duffy good for property investment?
Duffy may suit a long-term investor seeking established detached stock, but the case is less about high rental turnover. Rent is $445 a week, vacancy is 5.1%, and 18.9% of households rent, compared with 37.0% owned outright and 42.9% mortgaged. Four development applications in 12 months are mostly property upgrades, while forecast rent growth of 19.0% is higher than the 0.48% annual population trend. Check current sale prices before estimating yield.
How is Duffy's population changing?
Duffy has 3,395 residents today. The wider-area forecast points to annual growth of 0.48% and population change of 4.7% over 10 years, with migration labelled Balanced. The trajectory is Aging: the young share is down 4.0 percentage points, while the senior share is up 4.1 points. That points to slower household turnover than a high-growth, younger district, with demand more likely to favour established homes and accessible services than a major apartment pipeline.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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