Hughes
ACT 2605 · Unincorporated ACT
3,210 (2021) → 3,164 est. (2025)
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Hughes is a suburb in Unincorporated ACT, ACT 2605, about 7km from Canberra CBD. Recent property sales in Hughes are too limited to report a reliable median price. The suburb has 1 school, a transport score of 46/100, and is about 107km inland. Hughes has an overall score of 73/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 72/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
ATO 2023-24, postcode 2605 area — postcode-level, not suburb-specific.
Top countries of birth: England (3.77%), India (2.55%), New Zealand (1.99%), Nepal (1.25%), USA (1.12%)
Top languages: Nepali (1.46%), French (1.37%), Mandarin (0.93%), Cantonese (0.84%), Spanish (0.75%)
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 1122 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Hughes Primary SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1157
Nearby (within 10km)
- Malkara SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.5kmICSEA 1021
- The Woden SchoolSecondary · Government · 0.7kmICSEA 1046
- Sts Peter and Paul Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 0.7kmICSEA 1130
- Alfred Deakin High SchoolSecondary · Government · 0.9kmICSEA 1132
- The Canberra CollegeSecondary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1087
- Holy Trinity Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 1.3kmICSEA 1145
- Curtin Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1146
- Garran Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1159
- Lyons Early Childhood SchoolPrimary · Government · 2kmICSEA 1116
- Canberra Girls Grammar SchoolSecondary · Independent · 2.5kmICSEA 1177
- Canberra Christian SchoolPrimary · Independent · 2.7kmICSEA 1087
- Canberra Girls Grammar School - Junior SchoolPrimary · Independent · 2.7km
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
Fitness paradise
Top 20% nationally — gyms, leisure centres, pools and sports fields all close by. Easy to stay active without travelling far.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Outdoor paradise
Top 20% nationally — abundant parks and green space, plus trails, bike paths and places to enjoy the outdoors.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Cultural hotspot
Top 20% nationally — theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and landmarks all within reach. A genuinely vibrant cultural scene.
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
A few good options
A handful of local venues to choose from — nothing epic, but you're not driving far either.
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
Some choices available
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of childcare options, though popular services may have waiting lists.
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
Nearby suburbs in Unincorporated ACT
Compare Hughes with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Hughes
Is Hughes safe?
Hughes has a residential safety score of 72/100, 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 1,340 per 100,000 across all categories.
How far is Hughes from Canberra CBD?
Hughes is about 6.6 km from Canberra CBD, an estimated 32 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Hughes?
Hughes has 1 school, with an average ICSEA of 1157 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Hughes?
Hughes has a transport score of 46/100 and 9 bus stops.