Emerald vs Monbulk

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Emerald, most households are couple families. In Monbulk, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Emerald: a median of $930,000, against $831,000 in Monbulk, and rent is higher there too.

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

Emerald

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Monbulk

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($831,000 vs $930,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Monbulk

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($369/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Monbulk

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Monbulk

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Emerald and Monbulk 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 Monbulk
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 Monbulk
Walkability 0 / 14
Emerald — Walkability: 0/100 Monbulk — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 60 / 62
Emerald — Safety: 60/100 Monbulk — Safety: 62/100
Low fire risk 37 / 33
Emerald — Low fire risk: 37/100 Monbulk — Low fire risk: 33/100
Low flood risk 84 / 89
Emerald — Low flood risk: 84/100 Monbulk — Low flood risk: 89/100

Demographics

Emerald has more residents (5,890 vs 3,651); Emerald has higher household incomes ($110,188 vs $89,544).

Emerald Monbulk
Population 5,890
+38% vs other
 3,651
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% +2.1%
Median age 43 41
Median household income $110,188/yr
+19% vs other
 $89,544/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+8% vs other
 $369/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Emerald Monbulk
0-4 5.1% / 5.1%
Emerald — 0-4: 5.1% Monbulk — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 13.4% / 14.3%
Emerald — 5-14: 13.4% Monbulk — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 6.4% / 7.1%
Emerald — 15-19: 6.4% Monbulk — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 5.7% / 4.9%
Emerald — 20-24: 5.7% Monbulk — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 8.9% / 10.0%
Emerald — 25-34: 8.9% Monbulk — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 12.7% / 12.7%
Emerald — 35-44: 12.7% Monbulk — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 15.4% / 15.9%
Emerald — 45-54: 15.4% Monbulk — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 13.9% / 12.1%
Emerald — 55-64: 13.9% Monbulk — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 11.7% / 11.4%
Emerald — 65-74: 11.7% Monbulk — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 5.1% / 5.0%
Emerald — 75-84: 5.1% Monbulk — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 1.7% / 1.7%
Emerald — 85+: 1.7% Monbulk — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Emerald 59.0% couple families
Emerald — Couple Families: 59.0% Emerald — Lone Person: 25.2% Emerald — One Parent Families: 12.7% Emerald — Group Household: 2.3% Emerald — Other Families: 0.9%
Monbulk 50.3% couple families
Monbulk — Couple Families: 50.3% Monbulk — Lone Person: 28.4% Monbulk — One Parent Families: 16.7% Monbulk — Group Household: 3.1% Monbulk — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Emerald 8.5% renting
Emerald — Owned Outright: 39.5% Emerald — Mortgage: 52.0% Emerald — Renting: 8.5%
Monbulk 14.8% renting
Monbulk — Owned Outright: 38.9% Monbulk — Mortgage: 46.3% Monbulk — Renting: 14.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Emerald Monbulk
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 18.1%
Emerald — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Monbulk — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Bachelor Degree 13.0% / 11.1%
Emerald — Bachelor Degree: 13.0% Monbulk — Bachelor Degree: 11.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 9.2%
Emerald — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Monbulk — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 3.3%
Emerald — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Monbulk — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.1%
Emerald — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Monbulk — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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 Monbulk
England 6.8% / 5.8%
Emerald — England: 6.8% Monbulk — England: 5.8%
Netherlands 1.0% / 2.3%
Emerald — Netherlands: 1.0% Monbulk — Netherlands: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.2%
Emerald — New Zealand: 1.2% Monbulk — New Zealand: 1.2%
Germany 0.6% / 0.7%
Emerald — Germany: 0.6% Monbulk — Germany: 0.7%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.5%
Emerald — Scotland: 0.7% Monbulk — Scotland: 0.5%
Italy 0.3% / 0.5%
Emerald — Italy: 0.3% Monbulk — Italy: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Emerald 98.2% houses
Emerald — Houses: 98.2% Emerald — Townhouses: 1.1% Emerald — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Monbulk 95.9% houses
Monbulk — Houses: 95.9% Monbulk — Townhouses: 3.0% Monbulk — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Emerald Monbulk
Median house price $930,000 $831,000
Median unit price $920,000 —
Median land price $522,500 $600,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 39 sales
 18 days
from 23 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.

Emerald Monbulk
2 bed $745K / $868K
Emerald — 2 bed: $745K (9 sales) Monbulk — 2 bed: $868K (10 sales)

9 vs 10 sales

3 bed $875K / $775K
Emerald — 3 bed: $875K (42 sales) Monbulk — 3 bed: $775K (59 sales)

42 vs 59 sales

4 bed $1.08M / $1.03M
Emerald — 4 bed: $1.08M (44 sales) Monbulk — 4 bed: $1.03M (18 sales)

44 vs 18 sales

5 bed $1.22M / $1.32M
Emerald — 5 bed: $1.22M (10 sales) Monbulk — 5 bed: $1.32M (7 sales)

10 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Monbulk has more rural and farming land (79% vs 13%); Emerald has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 0%).

Emerald Monbulk
Rural and farming 13% 79%
Infrastructure and transport 56% 3%
Environmental 19% 0%
Residential 9% 8%
Parks and recreation 3% 8%
Industrial 0% 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

Emerald Monbulk
New dwellings approved 1,323
across Cardinia
 416
across Yarra Ranges
Approvals change year on year +13% -57%

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 Monbulk
Houses — 4.3%
$670/wk on $802K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Emerald Monbulk
House price Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
Schools Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 86% of VIC

Liveability

Monbulk is more walkable (14 vs 0).

Emerald Monbulk
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 54/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Emerald Monbulk
Bushfire Moderate
63/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 Low
38/100
Flood Low
16/100
 Low
11/100
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

Emerald Monbulk
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 1

Schools in Emerald

  • Dandenong Ranges Steiner School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Emerald Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Emerald Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Monbulk

  • St Paul's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Monbulk College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Monbulk Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Cire Community School - Monbulk Campus Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Emerald Monbulk
Supermarkets 2
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 7 2
Parks & reserves 14 5
Childcare 5 3
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 3 2
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 11 7

Mobility

Emerald Monbulk
Walkability score 0/100 14/100
Distance to Melbourne 54.7 km 55.8 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 60 min 63 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 31.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 31.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 3782
 0.9%
postcode 3793
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 3782
 39
postcode 3793

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 Monbulk
Car (driver) 65.4% / 66.4%
Emerald — Car (driver): 65.4% Monbulk — Car (driver): 66.4%
Worked from Home 27.7% / 25.0%
Emerald — Worked from Home: 27.7% Monbulk — Worked from Home: 25.0%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.2%
Emerald — Car (passenger): 4.4% Monbulk — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 1.5% / 3.9%
Emerald — Walked Only: 1.5% Monbulk — Walked Only: 3.9%
Train 0.7% / 0.9%
Emerald — Train: 0.7% Monbulk — Train: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.4%).

Setting

Emerald Monbulk
Elevation 231 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 263 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 30.1 km 33.4 km

NBN connectivity

Emerald Monbulk
Connectivity score 57/100 62/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
2,364 premises
 34%
1,599 premises

Climate

Emerald Monbulk
Annual rainfall 777 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Emerald Monbulk
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Emerald Monbulk
Average residential rate $1,880/yr $2,161/yr
Council Cardinia Yarra Ranges

Federal electorate

Emerald Monbulk
Division La Trobe Casey
Member Jason Wood Aaron Violi
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Emerald Monbulk
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Emerald

Acreage Outer

Monbulk

Acreage Outer River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Emerald

Emerald vs Cockatoo Emerald vs Beaconsfield Upper Emerald vs Belgrave South Emerald vs Kallista Emerald vs Menzies Creek Emerald vs Macclesfield

Other comparisons with Monbulk

Monbulk vs Olinda Monbulk vs Kallista Monbulk vs Silvan Monbulk vs The Patch Monbulk vs Macclesfield
Full data on Emerald Full data on Monbulk
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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