Clifton Grove vs Emu Swamp

Clifton Grove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 51 in Emu Swamp. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Clifton Grove: a median of $1.4 million, against $1.06 million in Emu Swamp, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Clifton Grove tends to suit families with children and couples, while Emu Swamp suits 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

Clifton Grove

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (83% vs 72%)
  • But Emu Swamp carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 35/100)

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

First-home buyers

Emu Swamp

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($7,400 vs $430,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,060,000 vs $1,400,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Emu Swamp

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $400/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (9% vs 15%)

Weighs rent and rental stress.

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Clifton Grove is more walkable (14/100 vs 5/100)
  • Emu Swamp sits closer to the CBD (255.1 km vs 268.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Clifton Grove is more walkable (14/100 vs 5/100)
  • Emu Swamp carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 35/100)

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

Investors

Clifton Grove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.6% vs -3.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
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.

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Walkability 14 / 5
Clifton Grove — Walkability: 14/100 Emu Swamp — Walkability: 5/100
Safety 65 / 86
Clifton Grove — Safety: 65/100 Emu Swamp — Safety: 86/100
Low fire risk 67 / 79
Clifton Grove — Low fire risk: 67/100 Emu Swamp — Low fire risk: 79/100

Demographics

Clifton Grove has more residents (950 vs 156); Clifton Grove rents higher ($400/wk vs $250/wk).

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Population 950
+84% vs other
 156
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.6% -3.7%
Median age 43 51
Median household income $140,556/yr $139,724/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+38% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
0-4 4.9% / 5.1%
Clifton Grove — 0-4: 4.9% Emu Swamp — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 17.9% / 12.2%
Clifton Grove — 5-14: 17.9% Emu Swamp — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 5.6% / 7.1%
Clifton Grove — 15-19: 5.6% Emu Swamp — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 5.4% / 1.9%
Clifton Grove — 20-24: 5.4% Emu Swamp — 20-24: 1.9%
25-34 5.6% / 9.6%
Clifton Grove — 25-34: 5.6% Emu Swamp — 25-34: 9.6%
35-44 12.8% / 7.1%
Clifton Grove — 35-44: 12.8% Emu Swamp — 35-44: 7.1%
45-54 15.5% / 16.0%
Clifton Grove — 45-54: 15.5% Emu Swamp — 45-54: 16.0%
55-64 13.1% / 21.8%
Clifton Grove — 55-64: 13.1% Emu Swamp — 55-64: 21.8%
65-74 13.7% / 17.3%
Clifton Grove — 65-74: 13.7% Emu Swamp — 65-74: 17.3%
75-84 4.6% / 3.8%
Clifton Grove — 75-84: 4.6% Emu Swamp — 75-84: 3.8%
85+ 0.8% / —
Clifton Grove — 85+: 0.8% Emu Swamp — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clifton Grove 73.1% couple families
Clifton Grove — Couple Families: 73.1% Clifton Grove — Lone Person: 15.1% Clifton Grove — One Parent Families: 9.7% Clifton Grove — Group Household: 2.2%
Emu Swamp 59.4% couple families
Emu Swamp — Couple Families: 59.4% Emu Swamp — Lone Person: 28.1% Emu Swamp — One Parent Families: 12.5% Emu Swamp — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Grove 4.1% renting
Clifton Grove — Owned Outright: 47.3% Clifton Grove — Mortgage: 48.6% Clifton Grove — Renting: 4.1%
Emu Swamp 0.0% renting
Emu Swamp — Owned Outright: 51.9% Emu Swamp — Mortgage: 48.1% Emu Swamp — Renting: 0.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Bachelor Degree 16.1% / 21.2%
Clifton Grove — Bachelor Degree: 16.1% Emu Swamp — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Certificate III & IV 15.3% / 10.3%
Clifton Grove — Certificate III & IV: 15.3% Emu Swamp — Certificate III & IV: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 9.6%
Clifton Grove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Emu Swamp — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.8% / 7.1%
Clifton Grove — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8% Emu Swamp — Postgraduate Degree: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 3.8%
Clifton Grove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Emu Swamp — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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.

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
England 2.2% / 1.9%
Clifton Grove — England: 2.2% Emu Swamp — England: 1.9%
France — / 1.9%
Clifton Grove — France: not among its largest Emu Swamp — France: 1.9%
South Africa 0.7% / —
Clifton Grove — South Africa: 0.7% Emu Swamp — South Africa: not among its largest
Scotland 0.5% / —
Clifton Grove — Scotland: 0.5% Emu Swamp — Scotland: not among its largest
Taiwan 0.4% / —
Clifton Grove — Taiwan: 0.4% Emu Swamp — Taiwan: not among its largest
New Zealand 0.3% / —
Clifton Grove — New Zealand: 0.3% Emu Swamp — New Zealand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Grove 99.7% houses
Clifton Grove — Houses: 99.7% Clifton Grove — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Emu Swamp 96.1% houses
Emu Swamp — Houses: 96.1% Emu Swamp — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Median house price $1,400,000 $1,060,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $430,000 $7,400

Zoning mix

Emu Swamp has more rural and farming land (81% vs 58%).

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Rural and farming 58% 81%
Residential 23% 0%
Environmental 16% 19%
Parks and recreation 1% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
New dwellings approved 29
across Cabonne
same for both
Approvals change year on year -43%
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
House price Higher than 71% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
Income Higher than 92% of NSW
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 62% of NSW Higher than 47% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 64% of NSW Higher than 81% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 60% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 50% of NSW Higher than 45% of NSW

Liveability

Clifton Grove is more walkable (14 vs 5).

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Grade B —
Score 55/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Clifton Grove carries more crime risk (35 vs 14); Clifton Grove carries more bushfire risk (33 vs 21).

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Bushfire Low
33/100
 Low
21/100
Crime Low
35/100
 Low
14/100
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
same for both

Schools

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Parks & reserves 3 0
Waterways 2 9

Mobility

Clifton Grove sits further from the CBD (268.9 km vs 255.1 km).

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Walkability score 14/100 5/100
Distance to Sydney 268.9 km
+5% vs other
 255.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 224 min
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 2800
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 48
postcode 2800
same for both

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.

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Car (driver) 75.9% / 71.2%
Clifton Grove — Car (driver): 75.9% Emu Swamp — Car (driver): 71.2%
Worked from Home 18.4% / 28.7%
Clifton Grove — Worked from Home: 18.4% Emu Swamp — Worked from Home: 28.7%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / —
Clifton Grove — Car (passenger): 4.7% Emu Swamp — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 0.9% / —
Clifton Grove — Walked Only: 0.9% Emu Swamp — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.9%).

Setting

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Elevation 925 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 831 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Connectivity score 30/100 29/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
314 premises
 0%
74 premises

Climate

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Annual rainfall 894 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.3°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 2.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 10.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.4 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Average residential rate $750/yr
same for both
Council Cabonne
same for both

Federal electorate

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Division Calare
same for both
Member Andrew Gee
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Clifton Grove Emu Swamp
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Clifton Grove

Acreage Family

Emu Swamp

Professionals Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clifton Grove

Clifton Grove vs Orange Clifton Grove vs Summer Hill Creek Clifton Grove vs Lewis Ponds

Other comparisons with Emu Swamp

Emu Swamp vs Orange Emu Swamp vs Lucknow Emu Swamp vs Lewis Ponds Emu Swamp vs Byng
Full data on Clifton Grove Full data on Emu Swamp
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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