Castlemaine vs Barkers Creek

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Castlemaine, about half of households are people living alone. In Barkers Creek, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Barkers Creek: a median of $995,000, against $735,000 in Castlemaine, though rent is higher in Castlemaine. On these figures, Castlemaine tends to suit people living alone, older residents, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Barkers Creek suits 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

Castlemaine

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 4)
  • But Barkers Creek carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 76/100)

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

First-home buyers

Castlemaine

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($735,000 vs $995,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Barkers Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 27%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $300/wk)
  • But Castlemaine has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 8%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Castlemaine is more walkable (90/100 vs 4/100)
  • Barkers Creek sits closer to the CBD (124.2 km vs 127.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Castlemaine

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 4/100)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 24%)
  • But Barkers Creek carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Castlemaine and Barkers Creek drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
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.

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Walkability 90 / 4
Castlemaine — Walkability: 90/100 Barkers Creek — Walkability: 4/100
Safety 24 / 87
Castlemaine — Safety: 24/100 Barkers Creek — Safety: 87/100
Low fire risk 52 / 27
Castlemaine — Low fire risk: 52/100 Barkers Creek — Low fire risk: 27/100
Low flood risk 42 / 87
Castlemaine — Low flood risk: 42/100 Barkers Creek — Low flood risk: 87/100

Demographics

Castlemaine has more residents (7,506 vs 487); Barkers Creek has higher household incomes ($80,860 vs $57,512).

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Population 7,506
+94% vs other
 487
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.1% +6.6%
Median age 52 50
Median household income $57,512/yr $80,860/yr
+41% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+17% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
0-4 3.7% / 6.0%
Castlemaine — 0-4: 3.7% Barkers Creek — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 9.0% / 13.3%
Castlemaine — 5-14: 9.0% Barkers Creek — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 4.2% / 2.5%
Castlemaine — 15-19: 4.2% Barkers Creek — 15-19: 2.5%
20-24 2.6% / 3.3%
Castlemaine — 20-24: 2.6% Barkers Creek — 20-24: 3.3%
25-34 9.2% / 8.6%
Castlemaine — 25-34: 9.2% Barkers Creek — 25-34: 8.6%
35-44 12.3% / 10.1%
Castlemaine — 35-44: 12.3% Barkers Creek — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 12.8% / 12.7%
Castlemaine — 45-54: 12.8% Barkers Creek — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 14.1% / 20.3%
Castlemaine — 55-64: 14.1% Barkers Creek — 55-64: 20.3%
65-74 16.1% / 15.4%
Castlemaine — 65-74: 16.1% Barkers Creek — 65-74: 15.4%
75-84 10.7% / 6.0%
Castlemaine — 75-84: 10.7% Barkers Creek — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 5.5% / 2.1%
Castlemaine — 85+: 5.5% Barkers Creek — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Castlemaine 54.6% lone person
Castlemaine — Lone Person: 54.6% Castlemaine — Couple Families: 23.8% Castlemaine — One Parent Families: 16.1% Castlemaine — Group Household: 4.4% Castlemaine — Other Families: 1.1%
Barkers Creek 37.5% lone person
Barkers Creek — Lone Person: 37.5% Barkers Creek — Couple Families: 51.8% Barkers Creek — One Parent Families: 8.0% Barkers Creek — Group Household: 2.7% Barkers Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Castlemaine 24.1% renting
Castlemaine — Owned Outright: 50.4% Castlemaine — Mortgage: 25.4% Castlemaine — Renting: 24.1%
Barkers Creek 7.5% renting
Barkers Creek — Owned Outright: 50.6% Barkers Creek — Mortgage: 42.0% Barkers Creek — Renting: 7.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 16.6%
Castlemaine — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Barkers Creek — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Certificate III & IV 8.7% / 11.7%
Castlemaine — Certificate III & IV: 8.7% Barkers Creek — Certificate III & IV: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 10.5%
Castlemaine — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Barkers Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.5%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 6.8%
Castlemaine — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Barkers Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 6.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 4.3%
Castlemaine — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Barkers Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
England 3.9% / 3.5%
Castlemaine — England: 3.9% Barkers Creek — England: 3.5%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.6%
Castlemaine — New Zealand: 1.6% Barkers Creek — New Zealand: 1.6%
Japan — / 0.8%
Castlemaine — Japan: not among its largest Barkers Creek — Japan: 0.8%
Vietnam 0.7% / —
Castlemaine — Vietnam: 0.7% Barkers Creek — Vietnam: not among its largest
Germany 0.6% / —
Castlemaine — Germany: 0.6% Barkers Creek — Germany: not among its largest
France — / 0.6%
Castlemaine — France: not among its largest Barkers Creek — France: 0.6%
India 0.5% / —
Castlemaine — India: 0.5% Barkers Creek — India: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castlemaine 92.4% houses
Castlemaine — Houses: 92.4% Castlemaine — Townhouses: 6.7% Castlemaine — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Barkers Creek 100.0% houses
Barkers Creek — Houses: 100.0% Barkers Creek — Townhouses: 0.0% Barkers Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Median house price $735,000 $995,000
Median unit price $540,000 —
Median land price $347,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 52 days
from 126 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Barkers Creek has more rural and farming land (70% vs 31%).

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Rural and farming 31% 70%
Parks and recreation 22% 28%
Residential 27% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 2%
Industrial 4% 0%
Environmental 4% 0%
Commercial 1% 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

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
New dwellings approved 102
across Mount Alexander
same for both
Approvals change year on year -7%
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.

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Houses 3.5%
$548/wk on $806K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
House price Higher than 47% of VIC —
Income Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC
Schools Higher than 5% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 19% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of VIC —

Liveability

Castlemaine is more walkable (90 vs 4).

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Grade C —
Score 33/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Castlemaine carries more crime risk (76 vs 13); Castlemaine carries more flood risk (58 vs 13).

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Bushfire Moderate
48/100
 High
73/100
Crime High
76/100
 Low
13/100
Flood Moderate
58/100
 Low
13/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Inside the suburb 6 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 3 0

Schools in Castlemaine

  • Castlemaine Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Winters Flat Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Castlemaine North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Castlemaine Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Castlemaine Secondary College-Junior Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Barkers Creek

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

Amenities in the suburb

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 34 0
Parks & reserves 19 4
Childcare 8 0
GPs 6 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 16 5

Mobility

Castlemaine sits further from the CBD (127.9 km vs 124.2 km).

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Walkability score 90/100 4/100
Distance to Melbourne 127.9 km
+3% vs other
 124.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 87 min
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 3450
 1.2%
postcode 3451
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 3450
 59
postcode 3451

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.

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Car (driver) 50.7% / 67.2%
Castlemaine — Car (driver): 50.7% Barkers Creek — Car (driver): 67.2%
Worked from Home 33.4% / 28.2%
Castlemaine — Worked from Home: 33.4% Barkers Creek — Worked from Home: 28.2%
Walked Only 6.5% / 2.1%
Castlemaine — Walked Only: 6.5% Barkers Creek — Walked Only: 2.1%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 2.6%
Castlemaine — Car (passenger): 3.8% Barkers Creek — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Bicycle 3.0% / —
Castlemaine — Bicycle: 3.0% Barkers Creek — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.2%).

Setting

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Elevation 300 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 323 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Connectivity score 69/100 28/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
4,557 premises
 0%
208 premises

Climate

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Annual rainfall 598 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Average residential rate $1,885/yr
same for both
Council Mount Alexander
same for both

Federal electorate

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Division Bendigo
same for both
Member Lisa Chesters
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Castlemaine Barkers Creek
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Castlemaine

Acreage Arts Cafe Culture Parks Professionals Retirees River Village Feel

Barkers Creek

Professionals River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlemaine

Castlemaine vs Campbells Creek Castlemaine vs McKenzie Hill Castlemaine vs Chewton Castlemaine vs Muckleford Castlemaine vs Moonlight Flat

Other comparisons with Barkers Creek

Barkers Creek vs Harcourt Barkers Creek vs Muckleford Barkers Creek vs Walmer Barkers Creek vs Faraday Barkers Creek vs Golden Point Barkers Creek vs Moonlight Flat
Full data on Castlemaine Full data on Barkers Creek
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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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