Bruce, ACT: suburb profile

The population of Bruce ACT is 7,520 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Bruce is $1,027 per week ($53,404 per year). Median rent in Bruce is $430 per week ($1,863 per month). Bruce has a median age of 29 years, younger than the national median of 38. Bruce has a population density of 1,138 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Bruce is China. The most common religion is No religion (44.1% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Mandarin. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bruce is $1,733.

Population
7,520
Census 2021
Median income
$1,027/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$430/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
29years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021.

Bruce vs the typical ACT suburb

The median personal income in Bruce is $1,027 a week, 14% below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192). That ranks 98th of 109 ACT suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $430 a week, $20 less than the typical ACT suburb. Rent takes 19.0% of the median household income here, against 18.2% in the typical ACT suburb. The median resident is 29, 9 years younger than in the typical ACT suburb (38).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureBruceTypical ACTDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$1,027/wk$1,192/wk −14%$766/wk
Household income$2,266/wk$2,414/wk −6%$1,637/wk
Rent$430/wk$450/wk −4%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,733/mo$2,154/mo −20%$1,733/mo
Median age2938 −9 yrs42
Rent share of household income19.0%18.2% +0.8 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Bruce, the typical ACT suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Bruce Population

7,520 residents at the 2021 Census.

Bruce Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$1,027/wk
$53,404 per year
Ranked 1,053 of 14,663
Median Rent
$430/wk
$1,863 per month
Ranked 1,360 of 14,663
Median Age
29years
9 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,733/mo
Avg household size: 2.3 · 0.9 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Bruce Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $2,266/wk
Median rent $430/wk
Rent to income 19.0%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Bruce against your income

About $9,819 a month
Median rent $430/wk
Left after rent $1,836/wk
Rent share 19.0%

Bruce Schools

11
schools nearby
8
government
1104
avg ICSEA score
6,275
total students
Radford College Independent
Combined · K-12 · 2,091 students
1203
ICSEA
Aranda Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 517 students
1159
ICSEA
O'Connor Cooperative School Government
Primary · K-2 · 60 students
1141
ICSEA
St Vincent's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 195 students
1117
ICSEA
Maribyrnong Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 483 students
1100
ICSEA
Canberra High School Government
Secondary · 7-10 · 898 students
1100
ICSEA
St Michael's Primary School Catholic
Primary · K-6 · 171 students
1094
ICSEA
Kaleen Primary School Government
Primary · K-6 · 400 students
1075
ICSEA
University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake Ginninderra Government
Secondary · 11-12 · 781 students
1066
ICSEA
University of Canberra High School Kaleen Government
Secondary · 7-10 · 571 students
1056
ICSEA
Black Mountain School Government
Secondary · 7-12 · 108 students
1030
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Bruce, with a map

Bruce Map

Bruce, Australian Capital Territory Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Bruce, Australian Capital Territory: 35.2457°S, 149.0937°E

Bruce Schools (11)

People in Bruce

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.9% (3,600) Female 52.1% (3,914)

Population Density

1,138
people per km²
7,520 people · 6.6 km²

Households

2.3
Avg household size
0.9
Persons per bedroom
$2,693
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

China
6.3%
India
4.9%
Nepal
3.5%
England
2.1%
Vietnam
1.6%
Sri Lanka
1.2%
Philippines
1.1%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

Mandarin
6.7%
Nepali
3.5%
Cantonese
2.0%
Vietnamese
1.8%
Hindi
1.3%
Punjabi
0.9%
Spanish
0.9%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

English
28.6%
Australian
27.0%
Chinese
11.0%
Irish
9.7%
Scottish
9.2%
Indian
5.7%
German
3.9%
Italian
2.9%
Vietnamese
2.0%
Dutch
1.6%
Filipino
1.5%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
44.1%
Catholic
15.3%
Hinduism
7.4%
Anglican
7.0%
Not stated
5.5%
Buddhism
4.3%
Islam
3.4%
Christian (other)
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.3%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
35.0% 2,363
Separated
1.8% 119
Divorced
5.2% 348
Widowed
2.9% 198
Never married
55.1% 3,714

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
43.8%
Couple: children under 15
36.7%
Couple: no children under 15
10.0%
One parent: children under 15
5.1%
One parent: no children under 15
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
30.3%
2 persons
36.7%
3 persons
16.1%
4 persons
11.4%
5 persons
3.8%
6+ persons
1.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Bruce

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,679 occupied private dwellings in Bruce at the 2021 Census, 49.6% were rented, 19.3% owned outright and 27.3% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.5% 66 dwellings
Owned outright
19.3% 518 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
27.3% 731 dwellings
Rented
49.6% 1,330 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.2% 33 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Semi-detached (2+ storey)
54.1%
Separate house
31.2%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
14.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
21.1%
2 bedrooms
22.0%
3 bedrooms
33.8%
4 bedrooms
18.8%
5 bedrooms
3.3%
6+ bedrooms
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
5.0%
$300-$449/mo
1.5%
$450-$599/mo
0.6%
$600-$799/mo
1.7%
$800-$999/mo
3.8%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.2%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
23.8%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
23.0%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
11.3%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
10.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
4.7%
1 vehicle
47.8%
2 vehicles
36.3%
3 vehicles
7.6%
4+ vehicles
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Bruce

Employment

Employed full-time
44.0% 2,742 people
Employed part-time
26.9% 1,676 people
Unemployed
4.4% 272 people
Not in labour force
24.7% 1,542 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Professionals
40.7%
Managers
15.9%
Clerical & Administrative
12.2%
Community & Personal Service
12.1%
Technicians & Trade Workers
7.3%
Sales Workers
5.9%
Labourers
4.3%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
1.2%
$1-$149/wk
0.4%
$150-$299/wk
0.7%
$300-$399/wk
0.9%
$400-$499/wk
1.5%
$500-$649/wk
1.6%
$650-$799/wk
2.7%
$800-$999/wk
3.3%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
6.6%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
7.8%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
15.9%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
7.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
9.4%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
6.5%
$4,000+/wk
18.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
7.9%
$1-$149/wk
3.5%
$150-$299/wk
5.8%
$300-$399/wk
2.7%
$400-$499/wk
2.6%
$500-$649/wk
3.5%
$650-$799/wk
8.0%
$800-$999/wk
8.6%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
11.2%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.6%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.9%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
12.9%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
2.6%
$3,500+/wk
4.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
62.1%
Did not go to work
12.6%
Bus
10.8%
Car (passenger)
5.4%
Walked only
4.8%
Bicycle
2.5%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.8%
Other
0.4%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.3%
Truck
0.1%
Ferry
0.1%
Tram/Light Rail
0.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
92.4%
Year 10 or equivalent
4.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
2.4%
Year 9 or equivalent
0.7%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Bachelor Degree
42.6%
Postgraduate Degree
28.0%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
11.0%
Certificate III/IV
10.9%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
6.7%
Certificate I/II
0.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
22.7%
Society & Culture
21.6%
Information Technology
11.5%
Health
11.4%
Engineering
7.7%
Natural & Physical Sciences
7.3%
Education
5.8%
Creative Arts
5.2%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
3.2%
Architecture & Building
2.2%
Agriculture & Environment
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Vocational Education
26.9%
Primary: Government
20.4%
Secondary: Government
12.8%
Pre-school
11.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
8.9%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
8.7%
Primary: Catholic
6.7%
Secondary: Catholic
4.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
92.4%
Has need for assistance
4.1%
Need for assistance not stated
3.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
847
Asthma
258
Arthritis
142
Heart disease
113
Diabetes
89
Cancer
78
Lung condition
64
Kidney disease
60
Stroke
60
Dementia
30

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
9.2% 593
Did not provide
90.8% 5,867

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
20.7% 1,343
Not a volunteer
79.3% 5,131

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
1.9% 126
Current ADF: Reserves
0.4% 26
Previously served
2.7% 177
Never served
94.9% 6,157

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
65.4%
1 child
11.1%
2 children
14.9%
3 children
6.2%
4 children
2.2%
5+ children
0.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
18
1951: 1960
33
1961: 1970
95
1971: 1980
117
1981: 1990
194
1991: 2000
243
2001: 2010
542
2011: 2015
541
2016
186
2017
279
2018
261
2019
246
2020
107
2021
9

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

31.3%
moved in the last year
71.2%
moved in the last 5 years
5.5%
unemployment rate (Census)
73.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,961
Moved from ACT
944
Moved from NSW
602
Moved: same area (SA2)
260
Moved from VIC
126
Moved from overseas
98
Moved from QLD
91
Moved from SA
35
Moved from WA
29
Moved from NT
14
Moved from TAS
8

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
27.8%
5: 14 hours
31.8%
15: 29 hours
9.4%
30+ hours
4.9%
Did not do domestic work
26.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
89.5%
Step family: no other children
8.0%
Blended family: no other children
1.7%
Intact family: other children present
0.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Taylor
Income: $1,113/wk Rent: $282/wk $148/wk less rent
Charnwood
Income: $948/wk Rent: $380/wk $50/wk less rent
Scullin
Income: $1,041/wk Rent: $390/wk $40/wk less rent
Downer
Income: $1,125/wk Rent: $420/wk $10/wk less rent
Banks
Income: $1,168/wk Rent: $424/wk $6/wk less rent
Lyneham
Income: $1,200/wk Rent: $425/wk $5/wk less rent
Lyons (ACT)
Income: $1,097/wk Rent: $360/wk $70/wk less rent
Richardson
Income: $1,012/wk Rent: $391/wk $39/wk less rent

Suburbs near Bruce

The closest suburb to Bruce is Aranda, 1.7 km away.

Aranda
1.7 km away · income $1,372/wk · rent $530/wk
O'Connor (ACT)
2.2 km away · income $1,261/wk · rent $451/wk
Lawson (ACT)
2.3 km away · income $1,190/wk · rent $548/wk
Kaleen
2.5 km away · income $1,050/wk · rent $460/wk
Belconnen
2.5 km away · income $1,009/wk · rent $430/wk
Macquarie
2.7 km away · income $1,078/wk · rent $400/wk

Compare Bruce (ACT)

Frequently Asked Questions About Bruce

What is the population of Bruce ACT?

The population of Bruce ACT is 7,520 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 1,138 people per km². Bruce is ranked #958 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Bruce?

The median personal income in Bruce ACT is $1,027 per week, or $53,404 per year. The median household income is $2,266 per week. Family income is $2,693 per week. Bruce is ranked #1,053 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Bruce?

Median rent in Bruce ACT is $430 per week ($1,863 per month). Rent represents 19.0% of household income, which is considered affordable. Bruce ranks #1,360 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Bruce?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Bruce ACT is $1,733. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Bruce?

The median age in Bruce ACT is 29 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Bruce a good suburb to live in?

Bruce is a suburb in Australian Capital Territory with a population of 7,520. The median income is $1,027/wk, which is below the typical ACT suburb ($1,192/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (19.0% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

Explore More

Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Canberra Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 80028. All dollar figures in AUD.