Question 1

Is Hughes a nice place to live?

Accepted Answer

Hughes is an established inner-south Canberra suburb of about 3,210 people with a median age of 43. It has quiet, leafy streets, mid-century brick cottages that have been sympathetically renovated alongside pockets of newer townhouses, and a settled, family-oriented feel that attracts professionals who value a calm residential setting with easy access to the city. The community is weighted towards families, and roughly 75.1% of homes are owner-occupied, which helps explain its established character.

Local life centres on a modest village strip and nearby shopping and community facilities, while surrounding parks and reserves provide walking tracks and outdoor space. Regular bus services link Hughes with major centres, and a number of local projects are proposed or funded, including a nearby Light Rail Stage 2B stop, upgrades to sportsgrounds and change rooms, repairs and a men’s shed at the community centre, and a small grant to start a community garden. Whether Hughes suits you depends on whether you want a settled, family-oriented suburb with convenient connections to central Canberra.

Question 2

Is it expensive to live in Hughes?

Accepted Answer

A median house price of $1,750,000 in Hughes works out to about 12.0 times a typical local household's annual income at the last Census (median house price divided by weekly household income of $2,797 × 52 = $145,444). Renting looks more manageable: a house at $750 a week would take about 26.8% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census, while a unit at $415 a week would take about 14.8%. On these figures, buying sits considerably higher relative to local incomes than renting does, and whether that feels expensive depends on your own income and circumstances.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Question 3

Is Hughes a good place to invest?

Accepted Answer

Rents have been the stronger story in Hughes over the past year: unit rents rose 6.4%, a solid increase, while house rents increased 2.7%, a modest rise. House values fell 2.9% over the same period, a modest decline, so for houses the suburb showed a small drop in capital value alongside a small rise in rental income. If rental income is your priority, the larger rise in unit rents is the more relevant figure; if capital growth is your focus, the house value change is what matters. Whether that balance suits you depends on your goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$1.75M	N/A
Change in value Past 12 months	-2.9%	N/A
Sold Past 3 months	12	3
Median days on market Past 12 months	76	N/A
Average rent Past 12 months	$750	$415
Change in rent Past 12 months	2.7%	6.4%

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