Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Bruce
7 km²
A highly educated and young community, Bruce stands out among similar areas for its high proportion of renters and recent arrivals. The typical resident is just 29, making it far younger than the national figure. This youthful character is reflected in the housing, where townhouses and apartments dominate over detached homes. With a strong mix of international residents and a workforce heavily employed in public administration, it is a dynamic hub within the ACT.
Bruce's schools draw a community as advantaged as its high household incomes suggest.
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The area is noticeably younger than the rest of the territory, with the typical resident aged 29. Children under 15 and seniors are both well below national levels, while people in de facto relationships are a little more common than usual.
Overseas birthplaces are very common here, with 38.8% of people born outside Australia, far above the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Chinese, Irish and Scottish.
Language diversity is high, with 33.7% of residents using a language other than English at home, which is far above the national average. Mandarin is the most common second language.
About 45.1% of people report having no religion, a figure that is well above the national average and about the same as the ACT overall.
Bruce is exceptionally well-qualified, with 51.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far above the national figure. Year 12 completion is also among the highest at this level.
Typical weekly household income is $2,266, which is well above the national figure. Around 32.8% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this is well below the ACT average.
Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 11.3% of residents. However, the rate of long-term health conditions is slightly lower than the national average.
Unpaid care for children and housework are much lower here than in most areas, which is consistent with the rest of the population being quite young. About 19.9% of residents volunteer.
First Nations residents in Bruce have high outcomes, with a 0% unemployment rate and Year 12 completion rates far above the national average.
People are more likely to live alone here than in most areas, with 30.2% of households consisting of one person. Typical homes are smaller, with 2.3 people per dwelling.
Renting is very common, with 49.6% of households renting, far above the national figure. Townhouses and flats are the main housing types, while separate houses are far less common than in the rest of the territory.
Public transport use is very high, with 9.6% of people commuting by bus—well above the national average. The area is well-served by 52 stops and 19 routes.
The community is very mobile, with 68.6% of people moving in the last five years. This includes a high number of recent arrivals from overseas, at 30.9%.
More adults are working or looking for work here than in most areas. Many residents are employed in public administration and safety, as well as healthcare and professional roles.
The burglary rate is much lower than in most similar areas, and the overall crime rate has fallen by 49% over the last five years.
The area is very walkable, with 98.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk of local amenities. Almost every home is within 10 minutes of public transport.