Emu Heights vs Emu Plains

Emu Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Emu Plains. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Emu Heights, most households are couple families. In Emu Plains, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Emu Heights tends to suit couples, while Emu Plains 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Emu Heights carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 70/100)
  • Emu Plains has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Emu Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 27%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Emu Plains

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 52/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Emu Plains

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 3%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 52/100)
  • But Emu Heights carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 70/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Emu Heights and Emu Plains 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 Heights Emu Plains
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 Heights Emu Plains
Walkability 52 / 91
Emu Heights — Walkability: 52/100 Emu Plains — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 66 / 30
Emu Heights — Safety: 66/100 Emu Plains — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 19 / 55
Emu Heights — Low fire risk: 19/100 Emu Plains — Low fire risk: 55/100

Demographics

Emu Plains has more residents (8,126 vs 3,205); Emu Heights has higher household incomes ($124,696 vs $97,604).

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Population 3,205 8,126
+154% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.6% -3.5%
Median age 38 41
Median household income $124,696/yr
+22% vs other
 $97,604/yr
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+5% vs other
 $420/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Emu Heights Emu Plains
0-4 6.1% / 5.4%
Emu Heights — 0-4: 6.1% Emu Plains — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 13.8% / 13.3%
Emu Heights — 5-14: 13.8% Emu Plains — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.7% / 5.8%
Emu Heights — 15-19: 6.7% Emu Plains — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 6.6% / 6.0%
Emu Heights — 20-24: 6.6% Emu Plains — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 12.6% / 10.8%
Emu Heights — 25-34: 12.6% Emu Plains — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 13.9% / 13.2%
Emu Heights — 35-44: 13.9% Emu Plains — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 13.9% / 12.9%
Emu Heights — 45-54: 13.9% Emu Plains — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 12.5% / 11.1%
Emu Heights — 55-64: 12.5% Emu Plains — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 8.5% / 12.3%
Emu Heights — 65-74: 8.5% Emu Plains — 65-74: 12.3%
75-84 4.5% / 6.7%
Emu Heights — 75-84: 4.5% Emu Plains — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 1.0% / 2.7%
Emu Heights — 85+: 1.0% Emu Plains — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Emu Heights 59.1% couple families
Emu Heights — Couple Families: 59.1% Emu Heights — Lone Person: 21.5% Emu Heights — One Parent Families: 16.9% Emu Heights — Group Household: 1.2% Emu Heights — Other Families: 1.2%
Emu Plains 46.5% couple families
Emu Plains — Couple Families: 46.5% Emu Plains — Lone Person: 33.1% Emu Plains — One Parent Families: 17.0% Emu Plains — Group Household: 2.2% Emu Plains — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Emu Heights 16.5% renting
Emu Heights — Owned Outright: 32.4% Emu Heights — Mortgage: 51.1% Emu Heights — Renting: 16.5%
Emu Plains 22.9% renting
Emu Plains — Owned Outright: 40.0% Emu Plains — Mortgage: 37.0% Emu Plains — Renting: 22.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Certificate III & IV 19.7% / 16.9%
Emu Heights — Certificate III & IV: 19.7% Emu Plains — Certificate III & IV: 16.9%
Bachelor Degree 9.7% / 9.9%
Emu Heights — Bachelor Degree: 9.7% Emu Plains — Bachelor Degree: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 7.6%
Emu Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Emu Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 3.4%
Emu Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Emu Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 1.5%
Emu Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Emu Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

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.

Emu Heights Emu Plains
England 4.0% / 4.5%
Emu Heights — England: 4.0% Emu Plains — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 0.7% / 1.6%
Emu Heights — New Zealand: 0.7% Emu Plains — New Zealand: 1.6%
Philippines 0.7% / 0.6%
Emu Heights — Philippines: 0.7% Emu Plains — Philippines: 0.6%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.4%
Emu Heights — South Africa: 0.6% Emu Plains — South Africa: 0.4%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.5%
Emu Heights — Scotland: 0.5% Emu Plains — Scotland: 0.5%
Ireland 0.4% / 0.6%
Emu Heights — Ireland: 0.4% Emu Plains — Ireland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Emu Heights 97.3% houses
Emu Heights — Houses: 97.3% Emu Heights — Townhouses: 1.8% Emu Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Emu Plains 82.1% houses
Emu Plains — Houses: 82.1% Emu Plains — Townhouses: 12.4% Emu Plains — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Median house price $1,140,000 $1,190,000
Median unit price — $806,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 13 sales
 22 days
from 44 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.

Emu Heights Emu Plains
3 bed $1.1M / $1.12M
Emu Heights — 3 bed: $1.1M (23 sales) Emu Plains — 3 bed: $1.12M (41 sales)

23 vs 41 sales

4 bed $1.22M / $1.27M
Emu Heights — 4 bed: $1.22M (13 sales) Emu Plains — 4 bed: $1.27M (28 sales)

13 vs 28 sales

5 bed $1.4M / $1.36M
Emu Heights — 5 bed: $1.4M (5 sales) Emu Plains — 5 bed: $1.36M (7 sales)

5 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Emu Heights has more land zoned for conservation (42% vs 20%); Emu Plains has more industrially zoned land (16% vs 5%).

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Environmental 42% 20%
Residential 31% 35%
Parks and recreation 18% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 17%
Industrial 5% 16%
Other and special use 3%
same for both
Commercial 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

Emu Heights Emu Plains
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
same for both
Approvals change year on year -78%
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 Heights Emu Plains
Houses 3.1%
$805/wk on $1.35M
 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.24M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Emu Heights Emu Plains
House price Higher than 56% of NSW Higher than 58% of NSW
Income Higher than 86% of NSW Higher than 66% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 23% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 97% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 73% of NSW Higher than 55% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 70% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of NSW Higher than 24% of NSW

Liveability

Emu Plains is more walkable (91 vs 52).

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Grade C
same for both
Score 48/100 44/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Emu Plains carries more crime risk (70 vs 34); Emu Heights carries more bushfire risk (81 vs 45).

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Bushfire High
81/100
 Moderate
45/100
Crime Low
34/100
 High
70/100
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 6
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Inside the suburb 1 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 7.7 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 5.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.6% 1.7%

Schools in Emu Heights

  • Emu Heights Public School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Emu Plains

  • Emu Plains Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of The Way Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Penola Catholic College Emu Plains Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • CathWest Innovation College McCarthy Campus Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 12
Parks & reserves 14 19
Childcare 2 7
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 1 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 3 14

Mobility

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Walkability score 52/100 91/100
Distance to Sydney 60.1 km
+1% vs other
 59.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 51 min 49 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 92/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 88.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 236.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2750
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2750
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 Heights Emu Plains
Car (driver) 56.9% / 54.1%
Emu Heights — Car (driver): 56.9% Emu Plains — Car (driver): 54.1%
Worked from Home 36.7% / 38.5%
Emu Heights — Worked from Home: 36.7% Emu Plains — Worked from Home: 38.5%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 3.5%
Emu Heights — Car (passenger): 2.7% Emu Plains — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Train 2.5% / 1.9%
Emu Heights — Train: 2.5% Emu Plains — Train: 1.9%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.3%
Emu Heights — Walked Only: 1.0% Emu Plains — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.9%).

Setting

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Elevation 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Connectivity score 91/100 88/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
1,307 premises
 47%
3,671 premises

Climate

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Annual rainfall 822 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Emu Heights Emu Plains
PM2.5 7.2 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.3 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.6 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Average residential rate $1,547/yr
same for both
Council Penrith
same for both

Federal electorate

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Division Macquarie
same for both
Member Susan Templeman
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Emu Heights Emu Plains
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Emu Heights

Large Blocks Parks River

Emu Plains

Easy Commute Parks Regional Centre Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Emu Heights

Emu Heights vs Blaxland Emu Heights vs Glenbrook Emu Heights vs Mount Riverview Emu Heights vs Castlereagh Emu Heights vs Yellow Rock

Other comparisons with Emu Plains

Emu Plains vs Penrith Emu Plains vs Jamisontown Emu Plains vs Glenbrook Emu Plains vs Leonay Emu Plains vs Castlereagh Emu Plains vs Regentville
Full data on Emu Heights Full data on Emu Plains
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