Castlereagh vs Emu Plains

Castlereagh is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Emu Plains. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Castlereagh, most households are couple families. In Emu Plains, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Castlereagh: a median of $3.33 million, against $1.19 million in Emu Plains. On these figures, Castlereagh tends to suit couples, while Emu Plains suits people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Emu Plains

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 3)
  • But Castlereagh has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Emu Plains

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,190,000 vs $3,330,000)

Weighs house 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

Emu Plains

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 35/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (49 min vs 59 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (59.2 km vs 65.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Emu Plains

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 3%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 35/100)

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

Investors

Castlereagh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.6% vs -3.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Castlereagh Emu Plains
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.

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Walkability 35 / 91
Castlereagh — Walkability: 35/100 Emu Plains — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 20 / 30
Castlereagh — Safety: 20/100 Emu Plains — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 24 / 55
Castlereagh — Low fire risk: 24/100 Emu Plains — Low fire risk: 55/100

Demographics

Emu Plains has more residents (8,126 vs 1,248); Castlereagh has higher household incomes ($123,240 vs $97,604).

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Population 1,248 8,126
+551% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% -3.5%
Median age 38 41
Median household income $123,240/yr
+21% vs other
 $97,604/yr
Median weekly rent $428/wk
+2% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh Emu Plains
0-4 6.6% / 5.4%
Castlereagh — 0-4: 6.6% Emu Plains — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 15.3% / 13.3%
Castlereagh — 5-14: 15.3% Emu Plains — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.2% / 5.8%
Castlereagh — 15-19: 6.2% Emu Plains — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 4.8% / 6.0%
Castlereagh — 20-24: 4.8% Emu Plains — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 12.5% / 10.8%
Castlereagh — 25-34: 12.5% Emu Plains — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 13.7% / 13.2%
Castlereagh — 35-44: 13.7% Emu Plains — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 10.5% / 12.9%
Castlereagh — 45-54: 10.5% Emu Plains — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 12.3% / 11.1%
Castlereagh — 55-64: 12.3% Emu Plains — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 11.5% / 12.3%
Castlereagh — 65-74: 11.5% Emu Plains — 65-74: 12.3%
75-84 5.0% / 6.7%
Castlereagh — 75-84: 5.0% Emu Plains — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 1.8% / 2.7%
Castlereagh — 85+: 1.8% Emu Plains — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh 63.7% couple families
Castlereagh — Couple Families: 63.7% Castlereagh — Lone Person: 16.5% Castlereagh — One Parent Families: 14.7% Castlereagh — Group Household: 4.0% Castlereagh — Other Families: 1.1%
Emu Plains 46.5% couple families
Emu Plains — Couple Families: 46.5% Emu Plains — Lone Person: 33.1% Emu Plains — One Parent Families: 17.0% Emu Plains — Group Household: 2.2% Emu Plains — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh 17.8% renting
Castlereagh — Owned Outright: 46.7% Castlereagh — Mortgage: 35.5% Castlereagh — Renting: 17.8%
Emu Plains 22.9% renting
Emu Plains — Owned Outright: 40.0% Emu Plains — Mortgage: 37.0% Emu Plains — Renting: 22.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Certificate III & IV 20.8% / 16.9%
Castlereagh — Certificate III & IV: 20.8% Emu Plains — Certificate III & IV: 16.9%
Bachelor Degree 8.9% / 9.9%
Castlereagh — Bachelor Degree: 8.9% Emu Plains — Bachelor Degree: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 7.6%
Castlereagh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Emu Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 3.4%
Castlereagh — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Emu Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / 1.5%
Castlereagh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Emu Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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.

Castlereagh Emu Plains
England 2.6% / 4.5%
Castlereagh — England: 2.6% Emu Plains — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 0.5% / 1.6%
Castlereagh — New Zealand: 0.5% Emu Plains — New Zealand: 1.6%
Italy 1.3% / —
Castlereagh — Italy: 1.3% Emu Plains — Italy: not among its largest
Germany 0.8% / 0.5%
Castlereagh — Germany: 0.8% Emu Plains — Germany: 0.5%
India 0.6% / —
Castlereagh — India: 0.6% Emu Plains — India: not among its largest
Greece 0.6% / —
Castlereagh — Greece: 0.6% Emu Plains — Greece: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.6%
Castlereagh — Philippines: not among its largest Emu Plains — Philippines: 0.6%
Ireland — / 0.6%
Castlereagh — Ireland: not among its largest Emu Plains — Ireland: 0.6%
Scotland — / 0.5%
Castlereagh — Scotland: not among its largest Emu Plains — Scotland: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Castlereagh 97.1% houses
Castlereagh — Houses: 97.1% Castlereagh — Townhouses: 0.0% Castlereagh — Flats / Apartments: 2.9%
Emu Plains 82.1% houses
Emu Plains — Houses: 82.1% Emu Plains — Townhouses: 12.4% Emu Plains — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Median house price $3,330,000 $1,190,000
Median unit price — $806,500
Median land price $2,580,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 122 days
from 4 sales
 22 days
from 44 sales

Zoning mix

Castlereagh has more rural and farming land (19% vs 0%); Emu Plains has more industrially zoned land (16% vs 0%).

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Other and special use 65% 3%
Residential 0% 35%
Environmental 23% 20%
Rural and farming 19% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 17%
Industrial 0% 16%
Parks and recreation 0% 8%
Commercial 0% 1%
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

Castlereagh Emu Plains
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
same for both
Approvals change year on year -78%
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.

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Houses — 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.24M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Castlereagh Emu Plains
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Schools Higher than 72% of NSW Higher than 23% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 77% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 10% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 67% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 63% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 24% of NSW

Liveability

Emu Plains is more walkable (91 vs 35).

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Grade C
same for both
Score 44/100
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Castlereagh carries more bushfire risk (76 vs 45); Castlereagh carries more crime risk (80 vs 70).

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Bushfire High
76/100
 Moderate
45/100
Crime High
80/100
 High
70/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Inside the suburb 3 5
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 9.5 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 5.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.0% 1.7%

Schools in Castlereagh

  • Castlereagh Public School Government · Primary above peers
  • The Lakes Christian College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Penrith Lakes Environmental Education Centre Government · Combined

Schools in Emu Plains

  • Emu Plains Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of The Way Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Penola Catholic College Emu Plains Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • CathWest Innovation College McCarthy Campus Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 3 12
Parks & reserves 2 19
Childcare 2 7
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 12 14

Mobility

Castlereagh sits further from the CBD (65.4 km vs 59.2 km).

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Walkability score 35/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 65.4 km
+9% vs other
 59.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 59 min 49 min
Public transport score 42/100
Bus
 92/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 236.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2749
 0.7%
postcode 2750
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 49
postcode 2749
 31
postcode 2750

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.

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Car (driver) 54.7% / 54.1%
Castlereagh — Car (driver): 54.7% Emu Plains — Car (driver): 54.1%
Worked from Home 36.1% / 38.5%
Castlereagh — Worked from Home: 36.1% Emu Plains — Worked from Home: 38.5%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 3.5%
Castlereagh — Car (passenger): 4.5% Emu Plains — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 3.9% / 1.3%
Castlereagh — Walked Only: 3.9% Emu Plains — Walked Only: 1.3%
Train 0.9% / 1.9%
Castlereagh — Train: 0.9% Emu Plains — Train: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.7%).

Setting

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Connectivity score 31/100 88/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
388 premises
 47%
3,671 premises

Climate

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Annual rainfall 806 mm 822 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Castlereagh Emu Plains
PM2.5 7.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.6 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Average residential rate $1,547/yr
same for both
Council Penrith
same for both

Federal electorate

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Division Lindsay Macquarie
Member Melissa Mcintosh Susan Templeman
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Castlereagh Emu Plains
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Castlereagh

Acreage Premium River

Emu Plains

Easy Commute Parks Regional Centre Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Castlereagh

Castlereagh vs Penrith Castlereagh vs Cranebrook Castlereagh vs Londonderry Castlereagh vs Emu Heights Castlereagh vs Yellow Rock Castlereagh vs Agnes Banks

Other comparisons with Emu Plains

Emu Plains vs Penrith Emu Plains vs Jamisontown Emu Plains vs Glenbrook Emu Plains vs Emu Heights Emu Plains vs Leonay Emu Plains vs Regentville
Full data on Castlereagh Full data on Emu Plains
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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