Castlemaine vs Muckleford

Muckleford is the younger of the two, with a median age of 46 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. In Muckleford, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Castlemaine tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Muckleford suits 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 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 1)
  • But Muckleford carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 76/100)

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

First-home buyers

Muckleford

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($247,000 vs $347,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)

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 $330/wk)
  • But Muckleford leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

Castlemaine

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (90 min vs 97 min)

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 10/100)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 20%)
  • But Muckleford carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Castlemaine

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.1% vs 5.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Castlemaine and Muckleford 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 Muckleford
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 Muckleford
Walkability 90 / 10
Castlemaine — Walkability: 90/100 Muckleford — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 24 / 54
Castlemaine — Safety: 24/100 Muckleford — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 52 / 62
Castlemaine — Low fire risk: 52/100 Muckleford — Low fire risk: 62/100
Low flood risk 42 / 53
Castlemaine — Low flood risk: 42/100 Muckleford — Low flood risk: 53/100

Demographics

Castlemaine has more residents (7,506 vs 426); Muckleford has higher household incomes ($96,096 vs $57,512).

Castlemaine Muckleford
Population 7,506
+94% vs other
 426
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.1% +5.2%
Median age 52 46
Median household income $57,512/yr $96,096/yr
+67% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $330/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlemaine Muckleford
0-4 3.7% / 2.6%
Castlemaine — 0-4: 3.7% Muckleford — 0-4: 2.6%
5-14 9.0% / 12.9%
Castlemaine — 5-14: 9.0% Muckleford — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 4.2% / 8.2%
Castlemaine — 15-19: 4.2% Muckleford — 15-19: 8.2%
20-24 2.6% / 4.9%
Castlemaine — 20-24: 2.6% Muckleford — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 9.2% / 7.0%
Castlemaine — 25-34: 9.2% Muckleford — 25-34: 7.0%
35-44 12.3% / 9.6%
Castlemaine — 35-44: 12.3% Muckleford — 35-44: 9.6%
45-54 12.8% / 17.4%
Castlemaine — 45-54: 12.8% Muckleford — 45-54: 17.4%
55-64 14.1% / 16.4%
Castlemaine — 55-64: 14.1% Muckleford — 55-64: 16.4%
65-74 16.1% / 13.4%
Castlemaine — 65-74: 16.1% Muckleford — 65-74: 13.4%
75-84 10.7% / 5.9%
Castlemaine — 75-84: 10.7% Muckleford — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 5.5% / 0.9%
Castlemaine — 85+: 5.5% Muckleford — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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%
Muckleford 27.4% lone person
Muckleford — Lone Person: 27.4% Muckleford — Couple Families: 49.1% Muckleford — One Parent Families: 16.0% Muckleford — Group Household: 4.7% Muckleford — Other Families: 2.8%
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%
Muckleford 11.2% renting
Muckleford — Owned Outright: 44.7% Muckleford — Mortgage: 44.1% Muckleford — Renting: 11.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castlemaine Muckleford
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 9.9%
Castlemaine — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Muckleford — Bachelor Degree: 9.9%
Certificate III & IV 8.7% / 15.3%
Castlemaine — Certificate III & IV: 8.7% Muckleford — Certificate III & IV: 15.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.2%
Castlemaine — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Muckleford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 7.7% / 5.4%
Castlemaine — Postgraduate Degree: 7.7% Muckleford — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 4.5%
Castlemaine — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Muckleford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

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 Muckleford
England 3.9% / 2.8%
Castlemaine — England: 3.9% Muckleford — England: 2.8%
New Zealand 1.6% / 0.9%
Castlemaine — New Zealand: 1.6% Muckleford — New Zealand: 0.9%
India 0.5% / 0.7%
Castlemaine — India: 0.5% Muckleford — India: 0.7%
South Africa — / 0.9%
Castlemaine — South Africa: not among its largest Muckleford — South Africa: 0.9%
Vietnam 0.7% / —
Castlemaine — Vietnam: 0.7% Muckleford — Vietnam: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.7%
Castlemaine — Ireland: not among its largest Muckleford — Ireland: 0.7%
Germany 0.6% / —
Castlemaine — Germany: 0.6% Muckleford — Germany: 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%
Muckleford 100.0% houses
Muckleford — Houses: 100.0% Muckleford — Townhouses: 0.0% Muckleford — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castlemaine Muckleford
Median house price $735,000 $695,000
Median unit price $540,000 —
Median land price $347,500 $247,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 52 days
from 126 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Muckleford has more rural and farming land (80% vs 31%).

Castlemaine Muckleford
Rural and farming 31% 80%
Residential 27% 0%
Parks and recreation 22% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 1%
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 Muckleford
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 Muckleford
Houses 3.5%
$548/wk on $806K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Castlemaine Muckleford
House price Higher than 47% of VIC —
Income Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Schools Higher than 5% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 72% 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 73% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 38% of VIC —

Liveability

Castlemaine is more walkable (90 vs 10).

Castlemaine Muckleford
Grade C —
Score 33/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Castlemaine carries more crime risk (76 vs 46); Castlemaine carries more bushfire risk (48 vs 38).

Castlemaine Muckleford
Bushfire Moderate
48/100
 Low
38/100
Crime High
76/100
 Moderate
46/100
Flood Moderate
58/100
 Moderate
47/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Castlemaine Muckleford
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 Muckleford

  • Castlemaine Steiner School & Kindergarten Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Castlemaine Muckleford
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 34 0
Parks & reserves 19 3
Childcare 8 1
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 12

Mobility

Castlemaine Muckleford
Walkability score 90/100 10/100
Distance to Melbourne 127.9 km 128.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 97 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 Muckleford
Car (driver) 50.7% / 61.7%
Castlemaine — Car (driver): 50.7% Muckleford — Car (driver): 61.7%
Worked from Home 33.4% / 30.6%
Castlemaine — Worked from Home: 33.4% Muckleford — Worked from Home: 30.6%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 5.6%
Castlemaine — Car (passenger): 3.8% Muckleford — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Walked Only 6.5% / 2.2%
Castlemaine — Walked Only: 6.5% Muckleford — Walked Only: 2.2%
Bicycle 3.0% / —
Castlemaine — Bicycle: 3.0% Muckleford — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (61.7%).

Setting

Castlemaine Muckleford
Elevation 300 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 286 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Castlemaine Muckleford
Connectivity score 69/100 43/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
4,557 premises
 20%
224 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Castlemaine Muckleford
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

Muckleford

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlemaine

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

Other comparisons with Muckleford

Muckleford vs Campbells Creek Muckleford vs Newstead Muckleford vs McKenzie Hill Muckleford vs Barkers Creek Muckleford vs Yapeen Muckleford vs Walmer
Full data on Castlemaine Full data on Muckleford
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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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