Moving to Garran ACT 2605
What the official numbers say about living in Garran — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $550 a week, against a median household income of $2,985 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Garran grew 16% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (3,198 → 3,706 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: India, England, China; most spoken languages besides English: Mandarin, Malayalam, Tamil.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Garran sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (68% of workers), while 16% work from home.
Nearest train station: Canberra, 4.7 km north-east.
Nearest bus interchange: Canberra Civic Coach Stop, 7.3 km north.
Nearest airport: Canberra Airport, 9 km north-east.
The Canberra CBD is roughly 7 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 33 schools · 78 cafes & restaurants · 11 supermarkets · 10 parks — see them all on the Garran profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Sts Peter & Paul Primary School 1.2 km · Malkara School 1.2 km · The Canberra College 1.6 km · Hughes Primary School 1.6 km · Canberra Christian School 1.8 km · Mawson Primary School 1.9 km · St Bede's Primary School 2 km · Canberra Grammar School 2.1 km
Groceries: Garran Friendly Grocers 200 m · IGA 1.5 km · Friendly Grocer 1.6 km · Coles 2 km · Woolworths 2 km · Spice World 2.1 km · Sun Gift House 2.1 km · Supa Express 2.3 km
Parks and reserves: Tyagarah Park 1.3 km · Eddison Park 1.3 km · Arabanoo Park 1.6 km · Woden Town Park 1.6 km · Clarrie Hermes Park 2 km · Rosemary Dobson Park 2.6 km · Voyager Park 2.6 km · Latrobe Park 2.7 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Garran, most often seen first: Australian Magpie · Pied Currawong · Magpie-lark · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Galah · Red Wattlebird.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Garran, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garran here | 3,706 | — | 10/10 | 60% |
| O'malley | 928 | — | 10/10 | 69% |
| Hughes | 3,210 | — | 10/10 | 61% |
| Phillip | 5,197 | — | 10/10 | 18% |
| Mawson | 3,440 | — | 10/10 | 43% |
| Red Hill | 3,146 | — | 10/10 | 69% |
| Deakin | 3,124 | — | 10/10 | 57% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Unincorporated ACT — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Canberra — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2605 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Garran profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $550 a week.
The population grew 16% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 3,198 people to 3,706. It sits about 7 km from the Canberra CBD in a straight line, and Canberra station is roughly 4.7 km away. Local government is Unincorporated ACT council, and the federal seat is Canberra.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Garran vs Hughes · Garran vs Mawson.
Nearby guides: O'malley · Hughes · Phillip · Mawson · Red Hill · Deakin.
Keep an eye on Garran
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