Castlemaine vs Mckenzie Hill

McKenzie Hill is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 52 in Castlemaine. 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. On these figures, Castlemaine tends to suit people living alone.

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 parks and reserves (19 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 0)
  • But McKenzie Hill 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

Castlemaine

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (24% vs 11%)
  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $409/wk)

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 11/100)
  • Mckenzie Hill sits closer to the CBD (124.6 km vs 127.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Castlemaine

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 11/100)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 26%)
  • But McKenzie Hill carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

McKenzie Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (54.4% vs 11.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Castlemaine and Mckenzie Hill 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 Mckenzie Hill
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 Mckenzie Hill
Walkability 90 / 11
Castlemaine — Walkability: 90/100 Mckenzie Hill — Walkability: 11/100
Safety 24 / 74
Castlemaine — Safety: 24/100 Mckenzie Hill — Safety: 74/100
Low fire risk 52 / 100
Castlemaine — Low fire risk: 52/100 Mckenzie Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 42 / 88
Castlemaine — Low flood risk: 42/100 Mckenzie Hill — Low flood risk: 88/100

Demographics

Castlemaine has more residents (7,506 vs 775); McKenzie Hill rents higher ($409/wk vs $300/wk).

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Population 7,506
+90% vs other
 775
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.1% +54.4%
Median age 52 47
Median household income $57,512/yr $76,804/yr
+34% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $409/wk
+36% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
0-4 3.7% / 5.7%
Castlemaine — 0-4: 3.7% Mckenzie Hill — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 9.0% / 8.9%
Castlemaine — 5-14: 9.0% Mckenzie Hill — 5-14: 8.9%
15-19 4.2% / 5.2%
Castlemaine — 15-19: 4.2% Mckenzie Hill — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 2.6% / 3.4%
Castlemaine — 20-24: 2.6% Mckenzie Hill — 20-24: 3.4%
25-34 9.2% / 13.2%
Castlemaine — 25-34: 9.2% Mckenzie Hill — 25-34: 13.2%
35-44 12.3% / 11.5%
Castlemaine — 35-44: 12.3% Mckenzie Hill — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 12.8% / 11.6%
Castlemaine — 45-54: 12.8% Mckenzie Hill — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 14.1% / 14.5%
Castlemaine — 55-64: 14.1% Mckenzie Hill — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 16.1% / 14.7%
Castlemaine — 65-74: 16.1% Mckenzie Hill — 65-74: 14.7%
75-84 10.7% / 8.8%
Castlemaine — 75-84: 10.7% Mckenzie Hill — 75-84: 8.8%
85+ 5.5% / 3.0%
Castlemaine — 85+: 5.5% Mckenzie Hill — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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%
Mckenzie Hill 40.6% lone person
Mckenzie Hill — Lone Person: 40.6% Mckenzie Hill — Couple Families: 41.6% Mckenzie Hill — One Parent Families: 12.2% Mckenzie Hill — Group Household: 5.6% Mckenzie Hill — 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%
Mckenzie Hill 11.3% renting
Mckenzie Hill — Owned Outright: 46.5% Mckenzie Hill — Mortgage: 42.3% Mckenzie Hill — Renting: 11.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 14.6%
Castlemaine — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Mckenzie Hill — Bachelor Degree: 14.6%
Certificate III & IV 8.7% / 18.1%
Castlemaine — Certificate III & IV: 8.7% Mckenzie Hill — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.3%
Castlemaine — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Mckenzie Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 4.0%
Castlemaine — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Mckenzie Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 3.0%
Castlemaine — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Mckenzie Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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 Mckenzie Hill
England 3.9% / 2.3%
Castlemaine — England: 3.9% Mckenzie Hill — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.6% / 0.6%
Castlemaine — New Zealand: 1.6% Mckenzie Hill — New Zealand: 0.6%
Germany 0.6% / 0.9%
Castlemaine — Germany: 0.6% Mckenzie Hill — Germany: 0.9%
India 0.5% / 0.8%
Castlemaine — India: 0.5% Mckenzie Hill — India: 0.8%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Castlemaine — Philippines: not among its largest Mckenzie Hill — Philippines: 0.8%
Vietnam 0.7% / —
Castlemaine — Vietnam: 0.7% Mckenzie Hill — Vietnam: 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%
Mckenzie Hill 100.0% houses
Mckenzie Hill — Houses: 100.0% Mckenzie Hill — Townhouses: 0.0% Mckenzie Hill — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Median house price $735,000 $750,000
Median unit price $540,000 —
Median land price $347,500 $325,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 52 days
from 126 sales
 112 days
from 27 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.

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
3 bed $719K / $720K
Castlemaine — 3 bed: $719K (102 sales) Mckenzie Hill — 3 bed: $720K (12 sales)

102 vs 12 sales

4 bed $865K / $775K
Castlemaine — 4 bed: $865K (40 sales) Mckenzie Hill — 4 bed: $775K (30 sales)

40 vs 30 sales

Zoning mix

McKenzie Hill has more rural and farming land (56% vs 31%).

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Rural and farming 31% 56%
Residential 27% 32%
Parks and recreation 22% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 8%
Industrial 4%
same for both
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 Mckenzie Hill
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 Mckenzie Hill
Houses 3.5%
$548/wk on $806K
 3.5%
$570/wk on $845K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
House price Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Schools Higher than 5% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC

Liveability

Castlemaine is more walkable (90 vs 11); McKenzie Hill scores higher overall (61 vs 33).

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Grade C B
Score 33/100 61/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Castlemaine carries more bushfire risk (48 vs 0); Castlemaine carries more flood risk (58 vs 12).

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Bushfire Moderate
48/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
76/100
 Low
26/100
Flood Moderate
58/100
 Low
12/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
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 Mckenzie Hill

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

Amenities in the suburb

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 34 0
Parks & reserves 19 1
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 0

Mobility

Castlemaine sits further from the CBD (127.9 km vs 124.6 km).

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Walkability score 90/100 11/100
Distance to Melbourne 127.9 km
+3% vs other
 124.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 94 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 Mckenzie Hill
Car (driver) 50.7% / 70.9%
Castlemaine — Car (driver): 50.7% Mckenzie Hill — Car (driver): 70.9%
Worked from Home 33.4% / 19.2%
Castlemaine — Worked from Home: 33.4% Mckenzie Hill — Worked from Home: 19.2%
Walked Only 6.5% / 1.6%
Castlemaine — Walked Only: 6.5% Mckenzie Hill — Walked Only: 1.6%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 4.2%
Castlemaine — Car (passenger): 3.8% Mckenzie Hill — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Train 2.6% / 2.9%
Castlemaine — Train: 2.6% Mckenzie Hill — Train: 2.9%
Bicycle 3.0% / 1.3%
Castlemaine — Bicycle: 3.0% Mckenzie Hill — Bicycle: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.9%).

Setting

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Elevation 300 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 329 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
Connectivity score 69/100 68/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
4,557 premises
 50%
470 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Castlemaine Mckenzie Hill
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

Mckenzie Hill

Acreage Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlemaine

Castlemaine vs Campbells Creek Castlemaine vs Chewton Castlemaine vs Barkers Creek Castlemaine vs Muckleford Castlemaine vs Moonlight Flat

Other comparisons with Mckenzie Hill

Mckenzie Hill vs Campbells Creek Mckenzie Hill vs Muckleford
Full data on Castlemaine Full data on Mckenzie Hill
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or