East Bairnsdale vs Nicholson

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Nicholson, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Nicholson: a median of $710,000, against $385,000 in East Bairnsdale, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, East Bairnsdale tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Nicholson 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

Nicholson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 91/100)

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

First-home buyers

East Bairnsdale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($168,000 vs $380,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($385,000 vs $710,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

East Bairnsdale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 8%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

East Bairnsdale

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (213 min vs 221 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (285.7 km vs 294.8 km)
  • But Nicholson is more walkable (22/100 vs 10/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nicholson

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 10/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • East Bairnsdale returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.1% vs 3.9%)
  • Nicholson is growing faster (20.7% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
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.

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Walkability 10 / 22
East Bairnsdale — Walkability: 10/100 Nicholson — Walkability: 22/100
Safety 9 / 40
East Bairnsdale — Safety: 9/100 Nicholson — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 70 / 6
East Bairnsdale — Low fire risk: 70/100 Nicholson — Low fire risk: 6/100
Low flood risk 4 / 33
East Bairnsdale — Low flood risk: 4/100 Nicholson — Low flood risk: 33/100

Demographics

Nicholson has higher household incomes ($72,280 vs $50,284); Nicholson rents higher ($300/wk vs $250/wk).

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Population 1,352
+2% vs other
 1,322
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.2% +20.7%
Median age 45 47
Median household income $50,284/yr $72,280/yr
+44% vs other
Median weekly rent $250/wk $300/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
0-4 6.0% / 5.2%
East Bairnsdale — 0-4: 6.0% Nicholson — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 10.9% / 12.6%
East Bairnsdale — 5-14: 10.9% Nicholson — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 5.9% / 5.5%
East Bairnsdale — 15-19: 5.9% Nicholson — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 7.2% / 4.2%
East Bairnsdale — 20-24: 7.2% Nicholson — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 11.0% / 10.2%
East Bairnsdale — 25-34: 11.0% Nicholson — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 8.4% / 9.1%
East Bairnsdale — 35-44: 8.4% Nicholson — 35-44: 9.1%
45-54 13.0% / 11.8%
East Bairnsdale — 45-54: 13.0% Nicholson — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 13.5% / 16.0%
East Bairnsdale — 55-64: 13.5% Nicholson — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 15.2% / 15.8%
East Bairnsdale — 65-74: 15.2% Nicholson — 65-74: 15.8%
75-84 7.2% / 7.8%
East Bairnsdale — 75-84: 7.2% Nicholson — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 1.6% / 1.8%
East Bairnsdale — 85+: 1.6% Nicholson — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Bairnsdale 42.3% lone person
East Bairnsdale — Lone Person: 42.3% East Bairnsdale — Couple Families: 26.4% East Bairnsdale — One Parent Families: 26.2% East Bairnsdale — Group Household: 5.1% East Bairnsdale — Other Families: 0.0%
Nicholson 35.7% lone person
Nicholson — Lone Person: 35.7% Nicholson — Couple Families: 45.8% Nicholson — One Parent Families: 14.4% Nicholson — Group Household: 3.1% Nicholson — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

East Bairnsdale 37.6% renting
East Bairnsdale — Owned Outright: 36.2% East Bairnsdale — Mortgage: 26.2% East Bairnsdale — Renting: 37.6%
Nicholson 7.7% renting
Nicholson — Owned Outright: 51.8% Nicholson — Mortgage: 40.5% Nicholson — Renting: 7.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Certificate III & IV 13.1% / 21.6%
East Bairnsdale — Certificate III & IV: 13.1% Nicholson — Certificate III & IV: 21.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.5% / 8.4%
East Bairnsdale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5% Nicholson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Bachelor Degree 5.3% / 7.7%
East Bairnsdale — Bachelor Degree: 5.3% Nicholson — Bachelor Degree: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.6% / 1.4%
East Bairnsdale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6% Nicholson — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.5%
East Bairnsdale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Nicholson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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.

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
England 1.2% / 4.0%
East Bairnsdale — England: 1.2% Nicholson — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.9%
East Bairnsdale — New Zealand: 1.1% Nicholson — New Zealand: 0.9%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.5%
East Bairnsdale — Philippines: 0.7% Nicholson — Philippines: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.5%
East Bairnsdale — Netherlands: 0.5% Nicholson — Netherlands: 0.5%
Italy 0.6% / 0.3%
East Bairnsdale — Italy: 0.6% Nicholson — Italy: 0.3%
Scotland — / 0.5%
East Bairnsdale — Scotland: not among its largest Nicholson — Scotland: 0.5%
Germany — / 0.5%
East Bairnsdale — Germany: not among its largest Nicholson — Germany: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

East Bairnsdale 93.0% houses
East Bairnsdale — Houses: 93.0% East Bairnsdale — Flats / Apartments: 2.3% East Bairnsdale — Townhouses: 4.6%
Nicholson 93.1% houses
Nicholson — Houses: 93.1% Nicholson — Flats / Apartments: 6.9% Nicholson — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Median house price $385,000 $710,000
Median unit price $421,500 —
Median land price $168,000 $380,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 41 days
from 33 sales
 104 days
from 16 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.

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
3 bed $388K / $745K
East Bairnsdale — 3 bed: $388K (40 sales) Nicholson — 3 bed: $745K (13 sales)

40 vs 13 sales

4 bed $458K / $730K
East Bairnsdale — 4 bed: $458K (22 sales) Nicholson — 4 bed: $730K (15 sales)

22 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Nicholson has more rural and farming land (86% vs 44%).

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Rural and farming 44% 86%
Parks and recreation 52% 10%
Residential 3% 4%
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

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
New dwellings approved 386
across East Gippsland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
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.

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Houses 5.1%
$520/wk on $535K
 3.9%
$600/wk on $799K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
House price Higher than 13% of VIC —
Income Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 46% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 48% of VIC —
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 61% of VIC

Liveability

Nicholson scores higher overall (18 vs 8); Nicholson is more walkable (22 vs 10).

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Grade D
same for both
Score 8/100 18/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Nicholson carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 30); East Bairnsdale carries more crime risk (91 vs 60).

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Bushfire Low
30/100
 High
94/100
Crime High
91/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood High
96/100
 Moderate
67/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in East Bairnsdale

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

Schools in Nicholson

  • Nicholson Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Parks & reserves 5 3
Childcare 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 1 7

Mobility

Nicholson sits further from the CBD (294.8 km vs 285.7 km).

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Walkability score 10/100 22/100
Distance to Melbourne 285.7 km 294.8 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 213 min 221 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3875
 0.0%
postcode 3882
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3875
 62
postcode 3882

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.

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Car (driver) 77.9% / 79.4%
East Bairnsdale — Car (driver): 77.9% Nicholson — Car (driver): 79.4%
Worked from Home 10.3% / 13.2%
East Bairnsdale — Worked from Home: 10.3% Nicholson — Worked from Home: 13.2%
Car (passenger) 6.9% / 4.6%
East Bairnsdale — Car (passenger): 6.9% Nicholson — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only 3.1% / 2.0%
East Bairnsdale — Walked Only: 3.1% Nicholson — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bicycle 1.8% / —
East Bairnsdale — Bicycle: 1.8% Nicholson — Bicycle: not among its largest
Bus — / 0.7%
East Bairnsdale — Bus: not among its largest Nicholson — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.4%).

Setting

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.3 km 15.6 km

NBN connectivity

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Connectivity score 70/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
712 premises
 0%
613 premises

Climate

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Annual rainfall 620 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.5°C
same for both

Council rates

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Average residential rate $1,807/yr
same for both
Council East Gippsland
same for both

Federal electorate

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Division Gippsland
same for both
Member Darren Chester
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

East Bairnsdale Nicholson
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

East Bairnsdale

Acreage Affordable

Nicholson

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Bairnsdale

East Bairnsdale vs Bairnsdale East Bairnsdale vs Lucknow East Bairnsdale vs Eagle Point

Other comparisons with Nicholson

Nicholson vs Metung Nicholson vs Lucknow Nicholson vs Eagle Point Nicholson vs Sarsfield Nicholson vs Johnsonville Nicholson vs Tambo Upper
Full data on East Bairnsdale Full data on Nicholson
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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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