Bruce
ACT 2617 · Unincorporated ACT
7,520 (2021) → 8,094 est. (2025) · Moderate Growth
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Bruce is a moderate growth suburb in Unincorporated ACT, ACT 2617, about 5km from Canberra CBD. Recent property sales in Bruce are too limited to report a reliable median price. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 49/100, and is about 111km inland. Bruce has an overall score of 71/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 70/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2617 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: China (6.25%), India (4.85%), Nepal (3.5%), England (2.07%), Vietnam (1.56%)
Top languages: Mandarin (6.66%), Nepali (3.48%), Cantonese (2.02%), Vietnamese (1.76%), Hindi (1.32%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: ACT Policing (suburb-level) · Updated 2024
Schools
Outstanding school access
Top 20% nationally — strong, high-ICSEA schools nearby with genuine choice. An excellent suburb for families prioritising education.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1096 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Radford CollegeCombined · IndependentICSEA 1203
Nearby (within 10km)
- Maribyrnong Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1100
- Aranda Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.6kmICSEA 1159
- Canberra High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 1100
- University of Canberra Senior Secondary College Lake GinninderraSecondary · Government · 1.7kmICSEA 1066
- St Vincent's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.7kmICSEA 1117
- University of Canberra High School KaleenSecondary · Government · 2.4kmICSEA 1056
- Black Mountain SchoolSecondary · Government · 2.9kmICSEA 1030
- St Michael's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 2.9kmICSEA 1094
- Macquarie Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 3kmICSEA 1070
- O'Connor Cooperative SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.1kmICSEA 1141
- Kaleen Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.1kmICSEA 1075
- Lyneham Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 3.1kmICSEA 1135
Source: ACARA MySchool · Updated 2025
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Employment & Economy
Top local industries
Source: DEWR SALM / ABS Census 2021 · Updated SALM Mar 2026 / 2021 Census
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
In this suburb
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap · Healthdirect NHSD (via Geoscience Australia)
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Great outdoor access
Well above average — plenty of parkland and outdoor recreation within easy reach.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Rich cultural scene
Well above average — a strong mix of cultural venues nearby.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Not much nightlife
Very few licensed venues nearby — you'll be heading to a neighbouring suburb for a night out.
Government liquor register data is not yet available for ACT. Venue counts are estimated from OpenStreetMap within 2km of the suburb centre.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: OpenStreetMap
Childcare
Strong options nearby
Well above average for childcare services — good choice and quality, with most families finding a place without a long drive.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register · Updated July 2026
Aged Care
Government-subsidised aged care services located in this suburb. Star Ratings are the official ratings for residential aged care homes.
Source: Dept of Health, Disability and Ageing · Updated May 2026 Star Ratings
Places of Worship
Mapped places of worship within 3km of the suburb centre, grouped by religion where recorded. Community mapping may not capture every congregation.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Population & Growth
Moderate GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Unincorporated ACT
Compare Bruce with another suburb
Compare two suburbs
Frequently asked questions about Bruce
Is Bruce safe?
Bruce has a residential safety score of 70/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 2,819 per 100,000 across all categories.
How far is Bruce from Canberra CBD?
Bruce is about 5.3 km from Canberra CBD, an estimated 28 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Bruce?
Bruce has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1203 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Bruce?
Bruce has a transport score of 49/100 and 36 bus stops.