Castlemaine vs Chewton

Comparing Castlemaine and Chewton, VIC: Castlemaine is more walkable (90 vs 0); Castlemaine has more residents (7,506 vs 763); and Castlemaine carries more bushfire risk (48 vs 15).

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 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 4)
  • But Chewton carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 76/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Castlemaine is more walkable (90/100 vs 0/100)
  • Chewton sits closer to the CBD (119.2 km vs 127.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Castlemaine

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 26%)
  • But Chewton carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Castlemaine

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.1% vs -41.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Castlemaine and Chewton 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 Chewton
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 Chewton
Walkability 90 / 0
Castlemaine — Walkability: 90/100 Chewton — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 24 / 74
Castlemaine — Safety: 24/100 Chewton — Safety: 74/100
Low fire risk 52 / 85
Castlemaine — Low fire risk: 52/100 Chewton — Low fire risk: 85/100
Low flood risk 42 / 72
Castlemaine — Low flood risk: 42/100 Chewton — Low flood risk: 72/100

Demographics

Castlemaine has more residents (7,506 vs 763); Chewton has higher household incomes ($64,740 vs $57,512).

Castlemaine Chewton
Population 7,506
+90% vs other
 763
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.1% -41.9%
Median age 52 51
Median household income $57,512/yr $64,740/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlemaine Chewton
0-4 3.7% / 2.9%
Castlemaine — 0-4: 3.7% Chewton — 0-4: 2.9%
5-14 9.0% / 11.8%
Castlemaine — 5-14: 9.0% Chewton — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 4.2% / 3.0%
Castlemaine — 15-19: 4.2% Chewton — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 2.6% / 2.6%
Castlemaine — 20-24: 2.6% Chewton — 20-24: 2.6%
25-34 9.2% / 8.4%
Castlemaine — 25-34: 9.2% Chewton — 25-34: 8.4%
35-44 12.3% / 10.6%
Castlemaine — 35-44: 12.3% Chewton — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 12.8% / 16.1%
Castlemaine — 45-54: 12.8% Chewton — 45-54: 16.1%
55-64 14.1% / 18.5%
Castlemaine — 55-64: 14.1% Chewton — 55-64: 18.5%
65-74 16.1% / 17.4%
Castlemaine — 65-74: 16.1% Chewton — 65-74: 17.4%
75-84 10.7% / 7.1%
Castlemaine — 75-84: 10.7% Chewton — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 5.5% / 2.0%
Castlemaine — 85+: 5.5% Chewton — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

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%
Chewton 48.1% lone person
Chewton — Lone Person: 48.1% Chewton — Couple Families: 27.7% Chewton — One Parent Families: 17.9% Chewton — Group Household: 6.4% Chewton — 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%
Chewton 14.7% renting
Chewton — Owned Outright: 51.1% Chewton — Mortgage: 34.2% Chewton — Renting: 14.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castlemaine Chewton
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 16.9%
Castlemaine — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Chewton — Bachelor Degree: 16.9%
Certificate III & IV 8.7% / 12.3%
Castlemaine — Certificate III & IV: 8.7% Chewton — Certificate III & IV: 12.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 9.0%
Castlemaine — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Chewton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 7.9%
Castlemaine — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Chewton — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 4.1%
Castlemaine — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Chewton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

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 Chewton
England 3.9% / 3.4%
Castlemaine — England: 3.9% Chewton — England: 3.4%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.6%
Castlemaine — New Zealand: 1.6% Chewton — New Zealand: 1.6%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.7%
Castlemaine — Scotland: 0.5% Chewton — Scotland: 0.7%
Germany 0.6% / 0.4%
Castlemaine — Germany: 0.6% Chewton — Germany: 0.4%
Netherlands 0.4% / 0.5%
Castlemaine — Netherlands: 0.4% Chewton — Netherlands: 0.5%
Vietnam 0.7% / —
Castlemaine — Vietnam: 0.7% Chewton — Vietnam: not among its largest
India 0.5% / —
Castlemaine — India: 0.5% Chewton — 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%
Chewton 99.1% houses
Chewton — Houses: 99.1% Chewton — Townhouses: 0.0% Chewton — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castlemaine Chewton
Median house price $735,000 $785,000
Median unit price $540,000 —
Median land price $347,500 $314,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 52 days
from 126 sales
 90 days
from 10 sales

Zoning mix

Castlemaine has more rural and farming land (31% vs 21%).

Castlemaine Chewton
Parks and recreation 22% 62%
Rural and farming 31% 21%
Residential 27% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 8%
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 Chewton
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 Chewton
Houses 3.5%
$548/wk on $806K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Castlemaine Chewton
House price Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 29% of VIC
Income Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
Schools Higher than 5% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 35% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of VIC —

Liveability

Castlemaine is more walkable (90 vs 0); Chewton scores higher overall (53 vs 33).

Castlemaine Chewton
Grade C B
Score 33/100 53/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Castlemaine carries more bushfire risk (48 vs 15); Castlemaine carries more crime risk (76 vs 26).

Castlemaine Chewton
Bushfire Moderate
48/100
 Low
15/100
Crime High
76/100
 Low
26/100
Flood Moderate
58/100
 Low
28/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Castlemaine Chewton
Inside the suburb 6 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 3 1

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 Chewton

  • Chewton Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Castlemaine Chewton
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 34 0
Parks & reserves 19 4
Childcare 8 1
GPs 6 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 16 2

Mobility

Castlemaine sits further from the CBD (127.9 km vs 119.2 km).

Castlemaine Chewton
Walkability score 90/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 127.9 km
+7% vs other
 119.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 89 min
Public transport score 62/100
Rail
 23/100
Peak arrivals per hour 14.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Chewton
Car (driver) 50.7% / 58.9%
Castlemaine — Car (driver): 50.7% Chewton — Car (driver): 58.9%
Worked from Home 33.4% / 31.6%
Castlemaine — Worked from Home: 33.4% Chewton — Worked from Home: 31.6%
Walked Only 6.5% / 2.7%
Castlemaine — Walked Only: 6.5% Chewton — Walked Only: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 3.0%
Castlemaine — Car (passenger): 3.8% Chewton — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Bicycle 3.0% / 1.3%
Castlemaine — Bicycle: 3.0% Chewton — Bicycle: 1.3%
Train 2.6% / 1.3%
Castlemaine — Train: 2.6% Chewton — Train: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.9%).

Setting

Castlemaine Chewton
Elevation 300 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 370 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Castlemaine Chewton
Connectivity score 69/100 61/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
4,557 premises
 37%
420 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Castlemaine Chewton
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

Chewton

Acreage Professionals Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlemaine

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

Other comparisons with Chewton

Chewton vs Campbells Creek Chewton vs Elphinstone Chewton vs Fryerstown Chewton vs Faraday Chewton vs Golden Point Chewton vs Moonlight Flat
Full data on Castlemaine Full data on Chewton
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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