Red Hill
Top-decile household wealth sits alongside a surprisingly high 10.3% vacancy rate in Red Hill, where 3,146 residents live across 4.86 square kilometres. Household income ranks at the 99.5th percentile, while 68.0% of adults hold university qualifications, 37.9 percentage points above the national comparison. For buyers comparing nearby Griffith and Narrabundah, Red Hill presents a detached, established inner-south option: 79.3% of homes are separate houses and 60.9% have four or more bedrooms. That combination supports family demand, but the 42 median age and 2.1-point rise in the senior share indicate a gradually older population.
Population
3,146
Median Age
42.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$3,938/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Buyers need to approach Red Hill through current comparable sales because no median house price is available. The built form is clear: 79.3% of dwellings are separate houses, 60.9% contain four or more bedrooms and only 13.4% are apartments. Compared with a denser inner-Canberra option, that mix favours households wanting space, privacy and a long-term family base. Monthly mortgage cost is $3,500, while mortgage repayments equal 20.5% of household income and rent equals 12.7%, with neither flagged as stress. The trade-off is that detached stock can produce wide price variation, so land, renovation condition and school catchment should be tested property by property rather than inferred from a suburb-wide figure.
For Buyers
Buyers need to approach Red Hill through current comparable sales because no median house price is available. The built form is clear: 79.3% of dwellings are separate houses, 60.9% contain four or more bedrooms and only 13.4% are apartments. Compared with a denser inner-Canberra option, that mix favours households wanting space, privacy and a long-term family base. Monthly mortgage cost is $3,500, while mortgage repayments equal 20.5% of household income and rent equals 12.7%, with neither flagged as stress. The trade-off is that detached stock can produce wide price variation, so land, renovation condition and school catchment should be tested property by property rather than inferred from a suburb-wide figure.
For Investors
Red Hill's rental case is supported by 21.8% of households renting and a weekly rent of $500, but the 10.3% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly occupied market and can weaken bargaining power. Rent growth of 19.4% provides a recent demand signal, yet investors should stress-test periods of vacancy because 39.3% of homes are owned outright and 35.9% carry a mortgage. Eighteen development applications in 12 months suggest some small-scale change, including a two-dwelling proposal, rather than a broad construction pipeline. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while the annual trend is 0.98%, modest compared with rapid-growth areas. With no median house price, gross yield should be tested using actual purchase prices and holding costs.
Development Activity
Total DAs
94
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+70.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Red Hill
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Canberra Grammar Primary School
Canberra Grammar School
St Bede's Primary School
Red Hill Primary School
Demographics
Red Hill's median age is 42, 2.0 years above the national comparison, while university attainment is 68.0%, or 37.9 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 29.6%, 8.0 points above national, and average household size is 2.8, 0.3 above national. English, Other, Irish and Scottish are the largest ancestry categories at 1,058, 502, 380 and 354 people. Mandarin is the most common listed language with 46 speakers. The profile helps explain demand for professional services, larger homes and established social networks, while 72.1% stayed at the same address five years earlier, higher than a high-turnover setting.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
79.3%
Houses
7.3%
Townhouse
13.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Red Hill is detached-dominant: 79.3% separate houses compared with 13.4% apartments and 7.3% semi-detached dwellings. Bedroom stock is similarly weighted to larger homes, with 60.9% containing four or more bedrooms, versus 24.3% with three and 10.5% with two. Tenure is split between 39.3% owned outright, 35.9% with a mortgage and 21.8% rented, so ownership is much higher than renting and turnover may be lower than in a tenant-led market. Monthly mortgage cost is $3,500, while repayments equal 20.5% of household income and rent 12.7%, with neither stress flag active. For buyers comparing nearby Griffith and Narrabundah, dwelling condition and block-specific redevelopment potential are important differentiators because a suburb-wide price median is unavailable.
Mortgage / mo
$3,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$500
Census 2021
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$1,469
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.3%
Unoccupied
116
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
55.9%
Couples with children
33.5%
Couples, no children
10.6%
Single parent
792
Total families
Economy & Employment
Red Hill has a highly credentialed, public-sector-facing economy. Public administration accounts for 31.7% of workers, followed by professional and technical services at 19.2%, healthcare at 15.9%, education at 9.2% and construction at 3.9%. Occupations reinforce that pattern: 645 professionals and 381 managers, compared with 169 clerical and administrative workers and 111 in sales. Unemployment is 3.4% with 66.0% participation, while household income of $3,938 a week sits at the 99.5th percentile. These figures point to stronger income resilience than a lower-paid labour market, because professional and government-linked work dominates, although employment concentration can make some households more exposed to public-sector cycles.
Unemployment
3.4%
Labour Force
1,691
Unemployed
57
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.5%
Part-time
32.0%
Participation
66.0%
Employed
1,634
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
68.0%
Postgraduate
26.2%
Born Overseas
29.6%
Dwellings
1,009
Transport to Work
Red Hill suits households that value established surroundings and access to inner Canberra destinations, but daily travel is car-led. 67.2% of commuters drive, compared with 3.0% using public transport and 6.2% walking or cycling; 17.0% work from home, which may soften commuting pressure. Four schools span one government primary option and three non-government schools across primary and other categories, so families should check exact enrolment zones and transport routes. Red Hill sits in decile 10 on IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD, placing it above lower-access and lower-resource areas on socioeconomic measures. Volunteering is 25.9%, while 5.1% need assistance. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, Red Hill is more convenient for drivers than car-free households.
Drive
67.2%
Public Transport
3.0%
Walk / Cycle
6.2%
Work from Home
17.0%
Population Forecast
+0.98%/yr
(+66 people/yr)
EstablishedRed Hill's established trajectory points to measured expansion rather than a rapid-growth cycle. The annual trend is 0.98%, lower than a high-growth corridor, and overseas migration is the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 7.7% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed. Age signals lean older: the senior share is up 2.1 points, the working share is down 4.5 points and the young share is down 0.3 points. Gentrification signals are mixed too: the gentrification score is 20 at Early signs, while the shift assessment records 15 and Not gentrifying. Stable affordability moved from 39.5% in 2011 to 38.3% in 2021, so demand is more likely to come from overseas migration and selective reinvestment than wholesale change.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+136
Net Internal / yr
-9
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +14% since 2011, Accelerating: 2% → 12%
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Red Hill compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Red Hill a good suburb to live in?
Yes, it suits households seeking larger homes, established surroundings and high socioeconomic conditions. Red Hill has a median age of 42, 79.3% separate houses and 60.9% four-plus-bedroom dwellings. Car dependence is material, with 67.2% driving to work and only 3.0% using public transport, so lifestyle fit depends on transport needs.
What is the median house price in Red Hill?
No current median house price is available to quote for Red Hill. The housing mix still gives useful context: 79.3% of dwellings are separate houses, 13.4% are apartments and 60.9% have four or more bedrooms. Compare recent like-for-like sales, land size and renovation condition rather than applying a single figure to every property.
What schools are in Red Hill?
Red Hill has access to 4 schools: Red Hill Primary School, Canberra Grammar Primary School, Canberra Grammar School and St Bede's Primary School. The mix includes 1 government primary school and 3 non-government schools. Check the exact enrolment zone and year-level availability before committing, because school access can vary by address.
Is Red Hill safe?
There is no current crime-rate figure to quote for Red Hill, so safety decisions should use recent ACT Police incident information and the exact street context. The suburb has 3,146 residents across 4.86 square kilometres, but population size and density do not by themselves measure safety. Visit prospective streets at different times and check lighting, traffic and walking routes.
Is Red Hill good for property investment?
Red Hill can suit investors seeking established housing and professional tenant demand, but vacancy risk needs attention. Rent is $500 a week and 21.8% of households rent, while the 10.3% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly occupied market. Rent growth of 19.4% is supportive, but no median house price is available for a reliable yield calculation. Test purchase price, insurance, maintenance and several weeks of vacancy.
How is Red Hill's population changing?
Red Hill has 3,146 residents today and an established demographic profile. The annual growth trend is 0.98%, with overseas migration the primary driver, while population change across the wider area is 7.7% over 10 years. The trajectory is Mixed: the senior share rose 2.1 points and the working share fell 4.5 points, suggesting gradual ageing rather than a uniformly younger population.
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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