Emerald vs Narre Warren East

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Narre Warren East: a median of $1.75 million, against $930,000 in Emerald, and rent is higher there too. Narre Warren East is closer to the city centre: 43.5 km, against 54.7 km. On these figures, Emerald tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Narre Warren East 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

Emerald

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Narre Warren East is already more of a family suburb (84% vs 72%)

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

First-home buyers

Emerald

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($930,000 vs $1,750,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Emerald

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $565/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Narre Warren East

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (20/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (46 min vs 60 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (43.5 km vs 54.7 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Emerald

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 59/100)
  • But Narre Warren East is more walkable (20/100 vs 0/100)

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 Narre Warren East 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 Narre Warren East
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 Narre Warren East
Walkability 0 / 20
Emerald — Walkability: 0/100 Narre Warren East — Walkability: 20/100
Safety 60 / 41
Emerald — Safety: 60/100 Narre Warren East — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 37 / 21
Emerald — Low fire risk: 37/100 Narre Warren East — Low fire risk: 21/100
Low flood risk 84 / 51
Emerald — Low flood risk: 84/100 Narre Warren East — Low flood risk: 51/100

Demographics

Emerald has more residents (5,890 vs 434); Narre Warren East rents higher ($565/wk vs $400/wk).

Emerald Narre Warren East
Population 5,890
+93% vs other
 434
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.9% +3.6%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $110,188/yr $132,600/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $565/wk
+41% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Emerald Narre Warren East
0-4 5.1% / 2.3%
Emerald — 0-4: 5.1% Narre Warren East — 0-4: 2.3%
5-14 13.4% / 13.1%
Emerald — 5-14: 13.4% Narre Warren East — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 6.4% / 6.7%
Emerald — 15-19: 6.4% Narre Warren East — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 5.7% / 8.5%
Emerald — 20-24: 5.7% Narre Warren East — 20-24: 8.5%
25-34 8.9% / 11.5%
Emerald — 25-34: 8.9% Narre Warren East — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 12.7% / 12.4%
Emerald — 35-44: 12.7% Narre Warren East — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 15.4% / 14.7%
Emerald — 45-54: 15.4% Narre Warren East — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 13.9% / 16.1%
Emerald — 55-64: 13.9% Narre Warren East — 55-64: 16.1%
65-74 11.7% / 9.0%
Emerald — 65-74: 11.7% Narre Warren East — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 5.1% / 3.9%
Emerald — 75-84: 5.1% Narre Warren East — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 1.7% / 1.6%
Emerald — 85+: 1.7% Narre Warren East — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.1%).

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%
Narre Warren East 71.9% couple families
Narre Warren East — Couple Families: 71.9% Narre Warren East — Lone Person: 15.6% Narre Warren East — One Parent Families: 12.5% Narre Warren East — Group Household: 0.0% Narre Warren East — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Emerald 8.5% renting
Emerald — Owned Outright: 39.5% Emerald — Mortgage: 52.0% Emerald — Renting: 8.5%
Narre Warren East 8.1% renting
Narre Warren East — Owned Outright: 50.8% Narre Warren East — Mortgage: 41.1% Narre Warren East — Renting: 8.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Emerald Narre Warren East
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 17.7%
Emerald — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Narre Warren East — Certificate III & IV: 17.7%
Bachelor Degree 13.0% / 15.2%
Emerald — Bachelor Degree: 13.0% Narre Warren East — Bachelor Degree: 15.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 8.3%
Emerald — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Narre Warren East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.5%
Emerald — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Narre Warren East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 1.2%
Emerald — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Narre Warren East — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

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 Narre Warren East
England 6.8% / 2.1%
Emerald — England: 6.8% Narre Warren East — England: 2.1%
China — / 3.0%
Emerald — China: not among its largest Narre Warren East — China: 3.0%
Italy 0.3% / 1.4%
Emerald — Italy: 0.3% Narre Warren East — Italy: 1.4%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.9%
Emerald — Scotland: 0.7% Narre Warren East — Scotland: 0.9%
Germany 0.6% / 0.9%
Emerald — Germany: 0.6% Narre Warren East — Germany: 0.9%
Canada — / 1.4%
Emerald — Canada: not among its largest Narre Warren East — Canada: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.2% / —
Emerald — New Zealand: 1.2% Narre Warren East — New Zealand: not among its largest
Netherlands 1.0% / —
Emerald — Netherlands: 1.0% Narre Warren East — Netherlands: not among its largest
India — / 0.9%
Emerald — India: not among its largest Narre Warren East — India: 0.9%

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 — Flats / Apartments: 0.7% Emerald — Townhouses: 1.1%
Narre Warren East 98.5% houses
Narre Warren East — Houses: 98.5% Narre Warren East — Flats / Apartments: 1.5% Narre Warren East — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Emerald Narre Warren East
Median house price $930,000 $1,750,000
Median unit price $920,000 —
Median land price $522,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 39 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Narre Warren East has more rural and farming land (86% vs 13%); Emerald has more land zoned for conservation (19% vs 5%).

Emerald Narre Warren East
Rural and farming 13% 86%
Infrastructure and transport 56% 7%
Environmental 19% 5%
Residential 9% 0%
Parks and recreation 3%
same for both
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 Narre Warren East
New dwellings approved 1,323
across Cardinia
 416
across Yarra Ranges
Approvals change year on year +13% -57%

Ranking within VIC

Emerald Narre Warren East
House price Higher than 61% of VIC —
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools Higher than 65% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 69% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC

Liveability

Narre Warren East is more walkable (20 vs 0).

Emerald Narre Warren East
Grade B —
Score 56/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Narre Warren East carries more flood risk (49 vs 16); Narre Warren East carries more crime risk (59 vs 40).

Emerald Narre Warren East
Bushfire Moderate
63/100
 High
79/100
Crime Moderate
40/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood Low
16/100
 Moderate
49/100
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 Narre Warren East
Inside the suburb 3 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
Federation University Berwick, 8.6 km

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 Narre Warren East

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

Amenities in the suburb

Emerald Narre Warren East
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 0
Parks & reserves 14 1
Childcare 5 1
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 11 4

Mobility

Emerald sits further from the CBD (54.7 km vs 43.5 km).

Emerald Narre Warren East
Walkability score 0/100 20/100
Distance to Melbourne 54.7 km
+20% vs other
 43.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 60 min 46 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 3/100
Peak arrivals per hour 31.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 0.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 —
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 3782
 1.4%
postcode 3804
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 3782
 61
postcode 3804

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 Narre Warren East
Car (driver) 65.4% / 65.4%
Emerald — Car (driver): 65.4% Narre Warren East — Car (driver): 65.4%
Worked from Home 27.7% / 29.3%
Emerald — Worked from Home: 27.7% Narre Warren East — Worked from Home: 29.3%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 3.8%
Emerald — Car (passenger): 4.4% Narre Warren East — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 1.5% / 1.4%
Emerald — Walked Only: 1.5% Narre Warren East — Walked Only: 1.4%
Train 0.7% / —
Emerald — Train: 0.7% Narre Warren East — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.4%).

Setting

Emerald Narre Warren East
Elevation 231 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 128 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 30.1 km 23.7 km

NBN connectivity

Emerald Narre Warren East
Connectivity score 57/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
2,364 premises
 0%
153 premises

Climate

Emerald Narre Warren East
Annual rainfall 777 mm 781 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C —
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Emerald Narre Warren East
PM2.5 — 6.3 µg/m³
PM10 15.5 µg/m³ 20.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.98 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Emerald Narre Warren East
Division La Trobe Casey
Member Jason Wood Aaron Violi
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Emerald

Acreage Outer

Narre Warren East

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Emerald

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

Other comparisons with Narre Warren East

Narre Warren East vs Narre Warren North Narre Warren East vs Lysterfield Narre Warren East vs Beaconsfield Upper Narre Warren East vs Belgrave South Narre Warren East vs Harkaway
Full data on Emerald Full data on Narre Warren East
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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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