Elmore vs Rochester

Comparing Elmore and Rochester, VIC: Rochester carries more bushfire risk (26 vs 0); Rochester is more walkable (11 vs 0); and Rochester has more residents (3,154 vs 847).

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Elmore has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • Rochester has more parks and reserves (8 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Elmore

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (137 min vs 149 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (188 km vs 202.4 km)
  • But Rochester is more walkable (11/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Rochester

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (11/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Elmore

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (9.1% vs 1.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Elmore Rochester
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.

Elmore Rochester
Walkability 0 / 11
Elmore — Walkability: 0/100 Rochester — Walkability: 11/100
Safety 48 / 47
Elmore — Safety: 48/100 Rochester — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 100 / 74
Elmore — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rochester — Low fire risk: 74/100
Low flood risk 88 / 15
Elmore — Low flood risk: 88/100 Rochester — Low flood risk: 15/100

Demographics

Rochester has more residents (3,154 vs 847); Rochester has higher household incomes ($55,796 vs $47,268).

Elmore Rochester
Population 847 3,154
+272% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.1% +1.3%
Median age 52 53
Median household income $47,268/yr $55,796/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $220/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Elmore Rochester
0-4 5.8% / 3.9%
Elmore — 0-4: 5.8% Rochester — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 10.2% / 10.1%
Elmore — 5-14: 10.2% Rochester — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 3.1% / 5.1%
Elmore — 15-19: 3.1% Rochester — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 3.9% / 4.5%
Elmore — 20-24: 3.9% Rochester — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 10.0% / 7.7%
Elmore — 25-34: 10.0% Rochester — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 7.8% / 8.4%
Elmore — 35-44: 7.8% Rochester — 35-44: 8.4%
45-54 12.6% / 12.3%
Elmore — 45-54: 12.6% Rochester — 45-54: 12.3%
55-64 16.4% / 15.7%
Elmore — 55-64: 16.4% Rochester — 55-64: 15.7%
65-74 13.9% / 15.2%
Elmore — 65-74: 13.9% Rochester — 65-74: 15.2%
75-84 12.3% / 11.5%
Elmore — 75-84: 12.3% Rochester — 75-84: 11.5%
85+ 3.5% / 5.3%
Elmore — 85+: 3.5% Rochester — 85+: 5.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Elmore 53.4% lone person
Elmore — Lone Person: 53.4% Elmore — Couple Families: 26.1% Elmore — One Parent Families: 17.7% Elmore — Group Household: 2.8% Elmore — Other Families: 0.0%
Rochester 50.5% lone person
Rochester — Lone Person: 50.5% Rochester — Couple Families: 28.8% Rochester — One Parent Families: 14.4% Rochester — Group Household: 4.2% Rochester — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Elmore 21.6% renting
Elmore — Owned Outright: 48.2% Elmore — Mortgage: 30.2% Elmore — Renting: 21.6%
Rochester 20.0% renting
Rochester — Owned Outright: 51.8% Rochester — Mortgage: 28.2% Rochester — Renting: 20.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Elmore Rochester
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 16.6%
Elmore — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Rochester — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 5.9% / 5.8%
Elmore — Bachelor Degree: 5.9% Rochester — Bachelor Degree: 5.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 3.9% / 5.5%
Elmore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.9% Rochester — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.3%
Elmore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Rochester — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 0.7%
Elmore — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Rochester — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

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.

Elmore Rochester
England 2.0% / 1.6%
Elmore — England: 2.0% Rochester — England: 1.6%
New Zealand 0.8% / 0.8%
Elmore — New Zealand: 0.8% Rochester — New Zealand: 0.8%
Egypt 0.7% / —
Elmore — Egypt: 0.7% Rochester — Egypt: not among its largest
Italy 0.4% / 0.3%
Elmore — Italy: 0.4% Rochester — Italy: 0.3%
Malaysia — / 0.7%
Elmore — Malaysia: not among its largest Rochester — Malaysia: 0.7%
Afghanistan 0.6% / —
Elmore — Afghanistan: 0.6% Rochester — Afghanistan: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.4%
Elmore — Scotland: not among its largest Rochester — Scotland: 0.4%
Philippines — / 0.3%
Elmore — Philippines: not among its largest Rochester — Philippines: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Elmore 99.1% houses
Elmore — Houses: 99.1% Elmore — Townhouses: 0.0% Elmore — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Rochester 92.9% houses
Rochester — Houses: 92.9% Rochester — Townhouses: 5.4% Rochester — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Elmore Rochester
Median house price $455,000
same for both
Median unit price — $365,000
Median land price $545,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 12 sales
 75 days
from 14 sales

Zoning mix

Elmore Rochester
Rural and farming 97% 89%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 5%
Residential 1% 4%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
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

Elmore Rochester
New dwellings approved 885
across Greater Bendigo
 264
across Campaspe
Approvals change year on year +28% +63%

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.

Elmore Rochester
Houses — 4.2%
$445/wk on $549K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Elmore Rochester
House price Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
Income Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 10% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
EV adoption — Higher than 32% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 81% of VIC

Liveability

Rochester is more walkable (11 vs 0); Elmore scores higher overall (38 vs 18).

Elmore Rochester
Grade C D
Score 38/100 18/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Rochester carries more bushfire risk (26 vs 0); Rochester carries more flood risk (85 vs 12).

Elmore Rochester
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
26/100
Crime Moderate
52/100
 Moderate
53/100
Flood Low
12/100
 High
85/100
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

Elmore Rochester
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Elmore

  • Elmore Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Primary Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Rochester

  • Rochester Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rochester Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Elmore Rochester
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 2
same for both
Parks & reserves 1 8
Childcare 2 3
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2
same for both
Fuel stations 2 4
Waterways 2 7

Mobility

Rochester sits further from the CBD (202.4 km vs 188 km).

Elmore Rochester
Walkability score 0/100 11/100
Distance to Melbourne 188 km 202.4 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 137 min 149 min
Public transport score 31/100
Rail
 32/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 1.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
same for both
Median peak wait 41 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 3558
 0.4%
postcode 3561
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 52
postcode 3558
 57
postcode 3561

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.

Elmore Rochester
Car (driver) 73.3% / 79.8%
Elmore — Car (driver): 73.3% Rochester — Car (driver): 79.8%
Worked from Home 15.6% / 9.0%
Elmore — Worked from Home: 15.6% Rochester — Worked from Home: 9.0%
Walked Only 9.5% / 4.4%
Elmore — Walked Only: 9.5% Rochester — Walked Only: 4.4%
Car (passenger) 1.6% / 5.4%
Elmore — Car (passenger): 1.6% Rochester — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bicycle — / 1.1%
Elmore — Bicycle: not among its largest Rochester — Bicycle: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.8%).

Setting

Elmore Rochester
Elevation 127 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 117 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Elmore Rochester
Connectivity score 70/100 64/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
514 premises
 41%
1,679 premises

Climate

Elmore Rochester
Annual rainfall 438 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Elmore Rochester
Average residential rate $1,949/yr $2,035/yr
Council Greater Bendigo Campaspe

Federal electorate

Elmore Rochester
Division Bendigo
same for both
Member Lisa Chesters
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Elmore Rochester
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Elmore

Affordable Retirees Rural Trains

Rochester

Acreage Affordable Retirees Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Elmore

Elmore vs Kamarooka Elmore vs Diggora Elmore vs Runnymede

Other comparisons with Rochester

Rochester vs Bamawm Rochester vs Nanneella Rochester vs Ballendella Rochester vs Fairy Dell Rochester vs Diggora
Full data on Elmore Full data on Rochester
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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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