California Gully vs Jackass Flat

Jackass Flat is the younger of the two, with a median age of 28 against 39 in California Gully. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Jackass Flat, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Jackass Flat: a median of $605,000, against $549,000 in California Gully, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, California Gully tends to suit people living alone, while Jackass Flat suits young adults, families with children, and couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Jackass Flat

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 80/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (75% vs 50%)
  • But California Gully has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Jackass Flat

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper units ($270,000 vs $331,000)
  • has cheaper land ($265,000 vs $305,000)
  • But California Gully has cheaper houses ($549,000 vs $605,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • California Gully has cheaper rent ($251/wk vs $340/wk)
  • Jackass Flat leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 24%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

California Gully

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 24/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (154.7 km vs 156.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

California Gully

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 7%)
  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 24/100)
  • But Jackass Flat carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 80/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • California Gully returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.1% vs 4.2%)
  • Jackass Flat is growing faster (67.1% vs 2.6%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

California Gully and Jackass Flat drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

California Gully Jackass Flat
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

California Gully Jackass Flat
Walkability 61 / 24
California Gully — Walkability: 61/100 Jackass Flat — Walkability: 24/100
Safety 20 / 66
California Gully — Safety: 20/100 Jackass Flat — Safety: 66/100
Low fire risk 44 / 100
California Gully — Low fire risk: 44/100 Jackass Flat — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 64 / 39
California Gully — Low flood risk: 64/100 Jackass Flat — Low flood risk: 39/100

Demographics

California Gully has more residents (4,476 vs 1,907); Jackass Flat has higher household incomes ($93,860 vs $54,808).

California Gully Jackass Flat
Population 4,476
+57% vs other
 1,907
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% +67.1%
Median age 39 28
Median household income $54,808/yr $93,860/yr
+71% vs other
Median weekly rent $251/wk $340/wk
+35% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

California Gully Jackass Flat
0-4 5.2% / 11.5%
California Gully — 0-4: 5.2% Jackass Flat — 0-4: 11.5%
5-14 13.5% / 15.4%
California Gully — 5-14: 13.5% Jackass Flat — 5-14: 15.4%
15-19 6.7% / 5.1%
California Gully — 15-19: 6.7% Jackass Flat — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 6.6% / 8.9%
California Gully — 20-24: 6.6% Jackass Flat — 20-24: 8.9%
25-34 13.0% / 25.3%
California Gully — 25-34: 13.0% Jackass Flat — 25-34: 25.3%
35-44 11.4% / 12.1%
California Gully — 35-44: 11.4% Jackass Flat — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 11.4% / 7.7%
California Gully — 45-54: 11.4% Jackass Flat — 45-54: 7.7%
55-64 12.6% / 6.6%
California Gully — 55-64: 12.6% Jackass Flat — 55-64: 6.6%
65-74 10.9% / 5.2%
California Gully — 65-74: 10.9% Jackass Flat — 65-74: 5.2%
75-84 6.0% / 1.4%
California Gully — 75-84: 6.0% Jackass Flat — 75-84: 1.4%
85+ 2.9% / 0.7%
California Gully — 85+: 2.9% Jackass Flat — 85+: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

California Gully 25.1% couple families
California Gully — Couple Families: 25.1% California Gully — Lone Person: 43.9% California Gully — One Parent Families: 24.6% California Gully — Group Household: 3.6% California Gully — Other Families: 2.8%
Jackass Flat 52.2% couple families
Jackass Flat — Couple Families: 52.2% Jackass Flat — Lone Person: 19.5% Jackass Flat — One Parent Families: 23.0% Jackass Flat — Group Household: 3.8% Jackass Flat — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

California Gully 35.0% renting
California Gully — Owned Outright: 31.6% California Gully — Mortgage: 33.4% California Gully — Renting: 35.0%
Jackass Flat 34.1% renting
Jackass Flat — Owned Outright: 17.2% Jackass Flat — Mortgage: 48.7% Jackass Flat — Renting: 34.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

California Gully Jackass Flat
Certificate III & IV 17.3% / 18.3%
California Gully — Certificate III & IV: 17.3% Jackass Flat — Certificate III & IV: 18.3%
Bachelor Degree 5.5% / 8.7%
California Gully — Bachelor Degree: 5.5% Jackass Flat — Bachelor Degree: 8.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.2% / 7.0%
California Gully — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2% Jackass Flat — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 1.9%
California Gully — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Jackass Flat — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.5%
California Gully — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Jackass Flat — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

California Gully Jackass Flat
Myanmar 1.9% / 3.8%
California Gully — Myanmar: 1.9% Jackass Flat — Myanmar: 3.8%
Thailand 2.0% / 3.5%
California Gully — Thailand: 2.0% Jackass Flat — Thailand: 3.5%
India 0.2% / 2.1%
California Gully — India: 0.2% Jackass Flat — India: 2.1%
England 1.1% / 0.7%
California Gully — England: 1.1% Jackass Flat — England: 0.7%
Philippines 0.5% / 0.9%
California Gully — Philippines: 0.5% Jackass Flat — Philippines: 0.9%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.4%
California Gully — New Zealand: 0.8% Jackass Flat — New Zealand: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

California Gully 95.4% houses
California Gully — Houses: 95.4% California Gully — Townhouses: 3.6% California Gully — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Jackass Flat 99.1% houses
Jackass Flat — Houses: 99.1% Jackass Flat — Townhouses: 0.6% Jackass Flat — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

California Gully Jackass Flat
Median house price $549,000 $605,000
Median unit price $331,000 $270,000
Median land price $305,000 $265,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 32 sales
 21 days
from 21 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

California Gully Jackass Flat
3 bed $550K / $600K
California Gully — 3 bed: $550K (74 sales) Jackass Flat — 3 bed: $600K (24 sales)

74 vs 24 sales

4 bed $606K / $625K
California Gully — 4 bed: $606K (17 sales) Jackass Flat — 4 bed: $625K (95 sales)

17 vs 95 sales

Zoning mix

California Gully Jackass Flat
Residential 71% 62%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 30%
Parks and recreation 11% 7%
Industrial 7% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

California Gully Jackass Flat
New dwellings approved 885
across Greater Bendigo
same for both
Approvals change year on year +28%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

California Gully Jackass Flat
Houses 5.1%
$540/wk on $550K
 4.2%
$585/wk on $728K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

California Gully Jackass Flat
House price Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 31% of VIC
Income Higher than 13% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 17% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC

Liveability

California Gully is more walkable (61 vs 24); Jackass Flat scores higher overall (48 vs 22).

California Gully Jackass Flat
Grade D C
Score 22/100 48/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

California Gully carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0); California Gully carries more crime risk (80 vs 34).

California Gully Jackass Flat
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
80/100
 Low
34/100
Flood Low
36/100
 Moderate
61/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

California Gully Jackass Flat
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Bendigo Campus, 6.6 km
 1
Bendigo Campus, 7.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.5% 1.1%

Schools in California Gully

  • California Gully Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Jackass Flat

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

California Gully Jackass Flat
Parks & reserves 5 0
Childcare 3 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 13 12

Mobility

Jackass Flat sits further from the CBD (156.7 km vs 154.7 km).

California Gully Jackass Flat
Walkability score 61/100 24/100
Distance to Melbourne 154.7 km 156.7 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min 118 min
Public transport score 75/100 38/100
Peak arrivals per hour 44.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 9.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 3556
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 44
postcode 3556
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

California Gully Jackass Flat
Car (driver) 80.6% / 81.3%
California Gully — Car (driver): 80.6% Jackass Flat — Car (driver): 81.3%
Worked from Home 9.0% / 11.2%
California Gully — Worked from Home: 9.0% Jackass Flat — Worked from Home: 11.2%
Car (passenger) 7.1% / 5.6%
California Gully — Car (passenger): 7.1% Jackass Flat — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Walked Only 1.5% / 0.7%
California Gully — Walked Only: 1.5% Jackass Flat — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bus 1.3% / 0.6%
California Gully — Bus: 1.3% Jackass Flat — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.3%).

Setting

California Gully Jackass Flat
Elevation 242 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 221 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

California Gully Jackass Flat
Connectivity score 76/100 95/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
2,273 premises
 75%
511 premises

Climate

California Gully Jackass Flat
Annual rainfall 598 mm 553 mm
Summer max (Jan) 27.9°C 29.6°C
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C 3.1°C

Council rates

California Gully Jackass Flat
Average residential rate $1,949/yr
same for both
Council Greater Bendigo
same for both

Federal electorate

California Gully Jackass Flat
Division Bendigo
same for both
Member Lisa Chesters
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

California Gully Jackass Flat
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

California Gully

Affordable Large Blocks Parks Quiet River

Jackass Flat

Affordable Family Large Blocks River Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with California Gully

California Gully vs Eaglehawk California Gully vs Maiden Gully California Gully vs North Bendigo California Gully vs Long Gully

Other comparisons with Jackass Flat

Jackass Flat vs Eaglehawk Jackass Flat vs Epsom Jackass Flat vs North Bendigo Jackass Flat vs White Hills
Full data on California Gully Full data on Jackass Flat
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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