Emu Creek vs Strathfieldsaye

Strathfieldsaye is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 45 in Emu Creek. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families.

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

Strathfieldsaye

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Emu Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Emu Creek sits closer to the CBD (141.8 km vs 146 km)
  • Strathfieldsaye is more walkable (72/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Strathfieldsaye

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (72/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)

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

Investors

Strathfieldsaye

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (26.2% vs 4.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
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.

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Walkability 0 / 72
Emu Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Strathfieldsaye — Walkability: 72/100
Safety 84 / 78
Emu Creek — Safety: 84/100 Strathfieldsaye — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 100 / 59
Emu Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100 Strathfieldsaye — Low fire risk: 59/100
Low flood risk 77 / 49
Emu Creek — Low flood risk: 77/100 Strathfieldsaye — Low flood risk: 49/100

Demographics

Strathfieldsaye has more residents (6,850 vs 376); Emu Creek skews older (45 vs 36).

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Population 376 6,850
+1722% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.7% +26.2%
Median age 45 36
Median household income $102,076/yr $116,324/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk $400/wk
+25% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
0-4 2.1% / 7.0%
Emu Creek — 0-4: 2.1% Strathfieldsaye — 0-4: 7.0%
5-14 19.9% / 18.0%
Emu Creek — 5-14: 19.9% Strathfieldsaye — 5-14: 18.0%
15-19 6.6% / 7.3%
Emu Creek — 15-19: 6.6% Strathfieldsaye — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 5.1% / 4.7%
Emu Creek — 20-24: 5.1% Strathfieldsaye — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 5.1% / 11.0%
Emu Creek — 25-34: 5.1% Strathfieldsaye — 25-34: 11.0%
35-44 10.9% / 14.6%
Emu Creek — 35-44: 10.9% Strathfieldsaye — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 16.8% / 13.0%
Emu Creek — 45-54: 16.8% Strathfieldsaye — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 20.7% / 10.3%
Emu Creek — 55-64: 20.7% Strathfieldsaye — 55-64: 10.3%
65-74 11.2% / 9.8%
Emu Creek — 65-74: 11.2% Strathfieldsaye — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 2.9% / 3.5%
Emu Creek — 75-84: 2.9% Strathfieldsaye — 75-84: 3.5%
85+ 0.8% / 0.8%
Emu Creek — 85+: 0.8% Strathfieldsaye — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Emu Creek 65.3% couple families
Emu Creek — Couple Families: 65.3% Emu Creek — Lone Person: 26.3% Emu Creek — One Parent Families: 5.3% Emu Creek — Group Household: 3.2% Emu Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Strathfieldsaye 66.0% couple families
Strathfieldsaye — Couple Families: 66.0% Strathfieldsaye — Lone Person: 17.0% Strathfieldsaye — One Parent Families: 14.3% Strathfieldsaye — Group Household: 2.2% Strathfieldsaye — Other Families: 0.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Emu Creek 6.9% renting
Emu Creek — Owned Outright: 44.3% Emu Creek — Mortgage: 48.9% Emu Creek — Renting: 6.9%
Strathfieldsaye 13.2% renting
Strathfieldsaye — Owned Outright: 35.0% Strathfieldsaye — Mortgage: 51.9% Strathfieldsaye — Renting: 13.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Bachelor Degree 16.8% / 14.6%
Emu Creek — Bachelor Degree: 16.8% Strathfieldsaye — Bachelor Degree: 14.6%
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 14.4%
Emu Creek — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Strathfieldsaye — Certificate III & IV: 14.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.2%
Emu Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Strathfieldsaye — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 3.3%
Emu Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Strathfieldsaye — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 3.2%
Emu Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Strathfieldsaye — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

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

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.

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
England 4.3% / 2.0%
Emu Creek — England: 4.3% Strathfieldsaye — England: 2.0%
India — / 0.9%
Emu Creek — India: not among its largest Strathfieldsaye — India: 0.9%
Zimbabwe 0.8% / —
Emu Creek — Zimbabwe: 0.8% Strathfieldsaye — Zimbabwe: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.6%
Emu Creek — New Zealand: not among its largest Strathfieldsaye — New Zealand: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.5%
Emu Creek — South Africa: not among its largest Strathfieldsaye — South Africa: 0.5%
Philippines — / 0.5%
Emu Creek — Philippines: not among its largest Strathfieldsaye — Philippines: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Emu Creek 100.0% houses
Emu Creek — Houses: 100.0% Emu Creek — Townhouses: 0.0%
Strathfieldsaye 100.0% houses
Strathfieldsaye — Houses: 100.0% Strathfieldsaye — Townhouses: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses

Property market

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Median house price — $780,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $332,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 36 days
from 81 sales

Zoning mix

Emu Creek has more rural and farming land (73% vs 35%).

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Rural and farming 73% 35%
Residential 0% 28%
Parks and recreation 24% 27%
Environmental 2% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
New dwellings approved 885
across Greater Bendigo
same for both
Approvals change year on year +28%
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.

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Houses — 3.6%
$630/wk on $901K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
House price — Higher than 46% of VIC
Income Higher than 75% of VIC —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 56% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 43% of VIC

Liveability

Strathfieldsaye is more walkable (72 vs 0).

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Grade — B
Score — 62/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Strathfieldsaye carries more bushfire risk (41 vs 0); Strathfieldsaye carries more flood risk (51 vs 23).

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
41/100
Crime Low
16/100
 Low
22/100
Flood Low
23/100
 Moderate
51/100
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

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Bendigo Campus, 8.7 km
 1
Bendigo Campus, 5.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.2% 2.0%

Schools in Emu Creek

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

Schools in Strathfieldsaye

  • St Francis of the Fields School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Strathfieldsaye Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 4 12
Childcare 0 7
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 4
Waterways 2 7

Mobility

Strathfieldsaye sits further from the CBD (146 km vs 141.8 km).

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Walkability score 0/100 72/100
Distance to Melbourne 141.8 km 146 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 102 min 105 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3551
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 3551
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.

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Car (driver) 65.7% / 71.8%
Emu Creek — Car (driver): 65.7% Strathfieldsaye — Car (driver): 71.8%
Worked from Home 32.5% / 20.7%
Emu Creek — Worked from Home: 32.5% Strathfieldsaye — Worked from Home: 20.7%
Car (passenger) 1.8% / 5.5%
Emu Creek — Car (passenger): 1.8% Strathfieldsaye — Car (passenger): 5.5%
Walked Only — / 1.0%
Emu Creek — Walked Only: not among its largest Strathfieldsaye — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus — / 0.7%
Emu Creek — Bus: not among its largest Strathfieldsaye — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.8%).

Setting

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Elevation 238 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 206 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Connectivity score 30/100 75/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
125 premises
 58%
2,881 premises

Climate

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Annual rainfall 553 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Average residential rate $1,949/yr
same for both
Council Greater Bendigo
same for both

Federal electorate

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Division Bendigo
same for both
Member Lisa Chesters
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Emu Creek Strathfieldsaye
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Emu Creek

Family Rural

Strathfieldsaye

Acreage Family Parks Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Emu Creek

Emu Creek vs Mandurang Emu Creek vs Sedgwick Emu Creek vs Axe Creek

Other comparisons with Strathfieldsaye

Strathfieldsaye vs Kennington Strathfieldsaye vs Strathdale Strathfieldsaye vs Flora Hill Strathfieldsaye vs Junortoun Strathfieldsaye vs Spring Gully Strathfieldsaye vs Mandurang
Full data on Emu Creek Full data on Strathfieldsaye
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or