Emerald Hill vs Gunnedah

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Emerald Hill, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Emerald Hill: a median of $850,000, against $570,000 in Gunnedah, though rent is higher in Gunnedah. On these figures, Emerald Hill tends to suit couples, while Gunnedah 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

Gunnedah

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (26 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 0)
  • But Emerald Hill is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 54%)

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

First-home buyers

Gunnedah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($570,000 vs $850,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Emerald Hill has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $300/wk)
  • Gunnedah has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 12%)

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

Commuting to the city

Gunnedah

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (23/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (312 min vs 328 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (436.1 km vs 457.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Gunnedah

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (23/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • But Emerald Hill carries lower crime risk (79/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Gunnedah

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.5% vs -3.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
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.

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Walkability 0 / 23
Emerald Hill — Walkability: 0/100 Gunnedah — Walkability: 23/100
Safety 21 / 10
Emerald Hill — Safety: 21/100 Gunnedah — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 71 / 66
Emerald Hill — Low fire risk: 71/100 Gunnedah — Low fire risk: 66/100

Demographics

Gunnedah has more residents (10,359 vs 137); Gunnedah rents higher ($300/wk vs $250/wk).

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Population 137 10,359
+7461% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.5% +6.5%
Median age 39 37
Median household income $88,816/yr
+8% vs other
 $81,328/yr
Median weekly rent $250/wk $300/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
0-4 5.8% / 7.4%
Emerald Hill — 0-4: 5.8% Gunnedah — 0-4: 7.4%
5-14 16.1% / 15.3%
Emerald Hill — 5-14: 16.1% Gunnedah — 5-14: 15.3%
15-19 4.4% / 5.2%
Emerald Hill — 15-19: 4.4% Gunnedah — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 — / 5.5%
Emerald Hill — 20-24: not among its largest Gunnedah — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 13.9% / 13.9%
Emerald Hill — 25-34: 13.9% Gunnedah — 25-34: 13.9%
35-44 15.3% / 11.7%
Emerald Hill — 35-44: 15.3% Gunnedah — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 5.8% / 10.3%
Emerald Hill — 45-54: 5.8% Gunnedah — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 16.8% / 11.4%
Emerald Hill — 55-64: 16.8% Gunnedah — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 11.7% / 9.6%
Emerald Hill — 65-74: 11.7% Gunnedah — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 4.4% / 6.9%
Emerald Hill — 75-84: 4.4% Gunnedah — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ — / 2.9%
Emerald Hill — 85+: not among its largest Gunnedah — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Emerald Hill 52.2% couple families
Emerald Hill — Couple Families: 52.2% Emerald Hill — Lone Person: 34.8% Emerald Hill — One Parent Families: 13.0% Emerald Hill — Group Household: 0.0% Emerald Hill — Other Families: 0.0%
Gunnedah 38.0% couple families
Gunnedah — Couple Families: 38.0% Gunnedah — Lone Person: 39.2% Gunnedah — One Parent Families: 16.5% Gunnedah — Group Household: 4.3% Gunnedah — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Emerald Hill 12.0% renting
Emerald Hill — Owned Outright: 46.0% Emerald Hill — Mortgage: 42.0% Emerald Hill — Renting: 12.0%
Gunnedah 32.0% renting
Gunnedah — Owned Outright: 33.3% Gunnedah — Mortgage: 34.7% Gunnedah — Renting: 32.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
India 2.9% / 0.3%
Emerald Hill — India: 2.9% Gunnedah — India: 0.3%
England 2.2% / 0.9%
Emerald Hill — England: 2.2% Gunnedah — England: 0.9%
New Zealand 2.2% / 0.6%
Emerald Hill — New Zealand: 2.2% Gunnedah — New Zealand: 0.6%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Emerald Hill — Philippines: not among its largest Gunnedah — Philippines: 0.8%
South Africa — / 0.4%
Emerald Hill — South Africa: not among its largest Gunnedah — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.9%).

Qualifications

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

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Certificate III & IV 23.4% / 17.5%
Emerald Hill — Certificate III & IV: 23.4% Gunnedah — Certificate III & IV: 17.5%
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 6.8%
Emerald Hill — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Gunnedah — Bachelor Degree: 6.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 5.0%
Emerald Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Gunnedah — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 1.0%
Emerald Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Gunnedah — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%
Postgraduate Degree — / 1.4%
Emerald Hill — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Gunnedah — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Emerald Hill 96.0% houses
Emerald Hill — Houses: 96.0% Emerald Hill — Townhouses: 0.0% Emerald Hill — Flats / Apartments: 4.0%
Gunnedah 88.1% houses
Gunnedah — Houses: 88.1% Gunnedah — Townhouses: 9.3% Gunnedah — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Median house price $850,000 $570,000
Median unit price — $391,000
Median land price — $1,037,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 30 days
from 79 sales

Zoning mix

Emerald Hill has more rural and farming land (100% vs 89%).

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Rural and farming 100% 89%
Environmental 0% 5%
Residential 0% 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

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
New dwellings approved 25
across Gunnedah
same for both
Approvals change year on year -17%
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.

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Houses — 4.5%
$560/wk on $640K
Units — 4.3%
$425/wk on $518K

Ranking within NSW

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
House price Higher than 38% of NSW Higher than 17% of NSW
Income Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 60% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 71% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 68% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 1% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 91% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 35% of NSW

Liveability

Gunnedah is more walkable (23 vs 0).

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Grade — C
Score — 32/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Gunnedah carries more crime risk (90 vs 79).

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Bushfire Low
29/100
 Low
34/100
Crime High
79/100
 High
90/100
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
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Inside the suburb 0 7
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 4
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Emerald Hill

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

Schools in Gunnedah

  • St Mary's College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • St Xavier's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Carinya Christian School Gunnedah Independent · Combined at peers
  • Gunnedah High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Gunnedah Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Gunnedah South Public School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 0 26
Childcare 0 10
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 7
Fuel stations 0 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 18

Mobility

Emerald Hill sits further from the CBD (457.6 km vs 436.1 km).

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Walkability score 0/100 23/100
Distance to Sydney 457.6 km
+5% vs other
 436.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 328 min 312 min
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 2380
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 2380
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.

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Car (driver) 57.4% / 76.8%
Emerald Hill — Car (driver): 57.4% Gunnedah — Car (driver): 76.8%
Worked from Home 29.5% / 8.7%
Emerald Hill — Worked from Home: 29.5% Gunnedah — Worked from Home: 8.7%
Walked Only 13.1% / 3.2%
Emerald Hill — Walked Only: 13.1% Gunnedah — Walked Only: 3.2%
Car (passenger) — / 7.7%
Emerald Hill — Car (passenger): not among its largest Gunnedah — Car (passenger): 7.7%
Bus — / 3.3%
Emerald Hill — Bus: not among its largest Gunnedah — Bus: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.8%).

Setting

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Elevation 259 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 320 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Connectivity score 15/100 65/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
20 premises
 31%
5,398 premises

Climate

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Annual rainfall 626 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 32.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
PM2.5 6.8 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 11.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.2 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Average residential rate $1,093/yr
same for both
Council Gunnedah
same for both

Federal electorate

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Division Parkes
same for both
Member Jamie Chaffey
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Emerald Hill Gunnedah
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Emerald Hill

Rural

Gunnedah

Affordable Family Rural

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Gunnedah

Gunnedah vs Curlewis Gunnedah vs Carroll Gunnedah vs Kelvin Gunnedah vs Marys Mount Gunnedah vs Blue Vale Gunnedah vs Milroy
Full data on Emerald Hill Full data on Gunnedah
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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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