Elphinstone vs Metcalfe

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Metcalfe, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Metcalfe: a median of $1.05 million, against $880,000 in Elphinstone, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Elphinstone tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Metcalfe suits people living alone.

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

Metcalfe

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 59/100)
  • But Elphinstone 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

Elphinstone

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($880,000 vs $1,050,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Elphinstone

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($203/wk vs $311/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 21%)

Weighs rent and rental stress.

Commuting to the city

Metcalfe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (109.7 km vs 112.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Metcalfe

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 59/100)

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

Investors

Elphinstone

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.1% vs 2.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Elphinstone Metcalfe
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.

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Walkability 0 / 0
Elphinstone — Walkability: 0/100 Metcalfe — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 41 / 74
Elphinstone — Safety: 41/100 Metcalfe — Safety: 74/100
Low fire risk 88 / 37
Elphinstone — Low fire risk: 88/100 Metcalfe — Low fire risk: 37/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Elphinstone — Low flood risk: 100/100 Metcalfe — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Elphinstone has more residents (633 vs 190); Metcalfe rents higher ($311/wk vs $203/wk).

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Population 633
+70% vs other
 190
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.1% +2.7%
Median age 50 52
Median household income $75,244/yr $77,220/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $203/wk $311/wk
+53% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Elphinstone Metcalfe
0-4 5.4% / 2.1%
Elphinstone — 0-4: 5.4% Metcalfe — 0-4: 2.1%
5-14 10.1% / 13.2%
Elphinstone — 5-14: 10.1% Metcalfe — 5-14: 13.2%
15-19 4.1% / 3.7%
Elphinstone — 15-19: 4.1% Metcalfe — 15-19: 3.7%
20-24 3.5% / —
Elphinstone — 20-24: 3.5% Metcalfe — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 9.3% / 7.9%
Elphinstone — 25-34: 9.3% Metcalfe — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 11.2% / 7.4%
Elphinstone — 35-44: 11.2% Metcalfe — 35-44: 7.4%
45-54 14.4% / 18.4%
Elphinstone — 45-54: 14.4% Metcalfe — 45-54: 18.4%
55-64 16.7% / 12.6%
Elphinstone — 55-64: 16.7% Metcalfe — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 17.7% / 16.8%
Elphinstone — 65-74: 17.7% Metcalfe — 65-74: 16.8%
75-84 7.3% / 12.1%
Elphinstone — 75-84: 7.3% Metcalfe — 75-84: 12.1%
85+ 1.3% / —
Elphinstone — 85+: 1.3% Metcalfe — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Elphinstone 40.2% lone person
Elphinstone — Lone Person: 40.2% Elphinstone — Couple Families: 40.2% Elphinstone — One Parent Families: 15.9% Elphinstone — Group Household: 3.7%
Metcalfe 49.0% lone person
Metcalfe — Lone Person: 49.0% Metcalfe — Couple Families: 41.2% Metcalfe — One Parent Families: 9.8% Metcalfe — Group Household: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Elphinstone 4.7% renting
Elphinstone — Owned Outright: 43.9% Elphinstone — Mortgage: 51.4% Elphinstone — Renting: 4.7%
Metcalfe 0.0% renting
Metcalfe — Owned Outright: 62.5% Metcalfe — Mortgage: 37.5% Metcalfe — Renting: 0.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 12.6%
Elphinstone — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Metcalfe — Certificate III & IV: 12.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.9% / 12.1%
Elphinstone — Bachelor Degree: 10.9% Metcalfe — Bachelor Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 12.1%
Elphinstone — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Metcalfe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 10.0%
Elphinstone — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Metcalfe — Postgraduate Degree: 10.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.1% / 2.1%
Elphinstone — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1% Metcalfe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

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.

Elphinstone Metcalfe
England 3.3% / 2.1%
Elphinstone — England: 3.3% Metcalfe — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.1%
Elphinstone — New Zealand: 2.2% Metcalfe — New Zealand: 2.1%
South Africa — / 2.1%
Elphinstone — South Africa: not among its largest Metcalfe — South Africa: 2.1%
Philippines 0.9% / —
Elphinstone — Philippines: 0.9% Metcalfe — Philippines: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.9% / —
Elphinstone — Netherlands: 0.9% Metcalfe — Netherlands: not among its largest
Greece 0.8% / —
Elphinstone — Greece: 0.8% Metcalfe — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Elphinstone 99.6% houses
Elphinstone — Houses: 99.6% Elphinstone — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Metcalfe 100.0% houses
Metcalfe — Houses: 100.0% Metcalfe — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Median house price $880,000 $1,050,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $260,000 —

Zoning mix

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Rural and farming 88% 92%
Parks and recreation 5% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 0%
Residential 2% 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

Elphinstone Metcalfe
New dwellings approved 102
across Mount Alexander
same for both
Approvals change year on year -7%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Elphinstone Metcalfe
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 71% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC

Liveability

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Grade B —
Score 52/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Metcalfe carries more bushfire risk (63 vs 12); Elphinstone carries more crime risk (59 vs 26).

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Bushfire Low
12/100
 Moderate
63/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Low
26/100
Flood None
0/100
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

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Elphinstone

  • Elphinstone Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Metcalfe

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

Amenities in the suburb

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Parks & reserves 2 5
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 18 3

Mobility

Elphinstone sits further from the CBD (112.1 km vs 109.7 km).

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 112.1 km
+2% vs other
 109.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 79 min 81 min
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3448
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 68
postcode 3448
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.

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Car (driver) 63.4% / 72.5%
Elphinstone — Car (driver): 63.4% Metcalfe — Car (driver): 72.5%
Worked from Home 27.9% / 20.3%
Elphinstone — Worked from Home: 27.9% Metcalfe — Worked from Home: 20.3%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 7.2%
Elphinstone — Car (passenger): 4.2% Metcalfe — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Walked Only 3.1% / —
Elphinstone — Walked Only: 3.1% Metcalfe — Walked Only: not among its largest
Train 1.5% / —
Elphinstone — Train: 1.5% Metcalfe — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.5%).

Setting

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Elevation 409 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 351 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Connectivity score 30/100 26/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
310 premises
 0%
116 premises

Climate

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Annual rainfall 598 mm 553 mm
Summer max (Jan) 27.9°C 29.6°C
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C 3.1°C

Council rates

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Average residential rate $1,885/yr
same for both
Council Mount Alexander
same for both

Federal electorate

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Division Bendigo
same for both
Member Lisa Chesters
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Elphinstone Metcalfe
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Elphinstone

Retirees Rural

Metcalfe

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Elphinstone

Elphinstone vs Chewton Elphinstone vs Taradale Elphinstone vs Redesdale Elphinstone vs Fryerstown Elphinstone vs Faraday Elphinstone vs Sutton Grange

Other comparisons with Metcalfe

Metcalfe vs Malmsbury Metcalfe vs Taradale Metcalfe vs Redesdale Metcalfe vs Barfold
Full data on Elphinstone Full data on Metcalfe
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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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