Emu Plains vs Glenbrook

Emu Plains is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 44 in Glenbrook. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Emu Plains, about half of households are couple families. In Glenbrook, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Glenbrook: a median of $1.69 million, against $1.19 million in Emu Plains, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Emu Plains tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Glenbrook 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

Glenbrook

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (53/100 vs 70/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 82%)
  • But Emu Plains has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Emu Plains

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,190,000 vs $1,690,000)
  • has cheaper units ($806,500 vs $1,142,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Emu Plains

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($420/wk vs $490/wk)

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 77/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Emu Plains

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 6%)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 77/100)
  • But Glenbrook carries lower crime risk (53/100 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 Plains and Glenbrook 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 Plains Glenbrook
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 Plains Glenbrook
Walkability 91 / 77
Emu Plains — Walkability: 91/100 Glenbrook — Walkability: 77/100
Safety 30 / 47
Emu Plains — Safety: 30/100 Glenbrook — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 55 / 8
Emu Plains — Low fire risk: 55/100 Glenbrook — Low fire risk: 8/100

Demographics

Emu Plains has more residents (8,126 vs 5,078); Glenbrook has higher household incomes ($130,104 vs $97,604).

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Population 8,126
+38% vs other
 5,078
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.5% +0.5%
Median age 41 44
Median household income $97,604/yr $130,104/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk $490/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Emu Plains Glenbrook
0-4 5.4% / 4.9%
Emu Plains — 0-4: 5.4% Glenbrook — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 13.3% / 13.7%
Emu Plains — 5-14: 13.3% Glenbrook — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 5.8% / 7.3%
Emu Plains — 15-19: 5.8% Glenbrook — 15-19: 7.3%
20-24 6.0% / 5.2%
Emu Plains — 20-24: 6.0% Glenbrook — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 10.8% / 7.5%
Emu Plains — 25-34: 10.8% Glenbrook — 25-34: 7.5%
35-44 13.2% / 11.5%
Emu Plains — 35-44: 13.2% Glenbrook — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 12.9% / 15.1%
Emu Plains — 45-54: 12.9% Glenbrook — 45-54: 15.1%
55-64 11.1% / 14.8%
Emu Plains — 55-64: 11.1% Glenbrook — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 12.3% / 12.2%
Emu Plains — 65-74: 12.3% Glenbrook — 65-74: 12.2%
75-84 6.7% / 5.8%
Emu Plains — 75-84: 6.7% Glenbrook — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 2.7% / 1.9%
Emu Plains — 85+: 2.7% Glenbrook — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Glenbrook 59.1% couple families
Glenbrook — Couple Families: 59.1% Glenbrook — Lone Person: 25.7% Glenbrook — One Parent Families: 12.2% Glenbrook — Group Household: 2.3% Glenbrook — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Emu Plains 22.9% renting
Emu Plains — Owned Outright: 40.0% Emu Plains — Mortgage: 37.0% Emu Plains — Renting: 22.9%
Glenbrook 12.9% renting
Glenbrook — Owned Outright: 47.4% Glenbrook — Mortgage: 39.8% Glenbrook — Renting: 12.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Bachelor Degree 9.9% / 20.1%
Emu Plains — Bachelor Degree: 9.9% Glenbrook — Bachelor Degree: 20.1%
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 11.7%
Emu Plains — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Glenbrook — Certificate III & IV: 11.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 8.6%
Emu Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Glenbrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 8.2%
Emu Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Glenbrook — Postgraduate Degree: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 3.9%
Emu Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Glenbrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

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.

Emu Plains Glenbrook
England 4.5% / 5.2%
Emu Plains — England: 4.5% Glenbrook — England: 5.2%
New Zealand 1.6% / 0.9%
Emu Plains — New Zealand: 1.6% Glenbrook — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.6%
Emu Plains — Scotland: 0.5% Glenbrook — Scotland: 0.6%
Ireland 0.6% / 0.4%
Emu Plains — Ireland: 0.6% Glenbrook — Ireland: 0.4%
Germany 0.5% / 0.5%
Emu Plains — Germany: 0.5% Glenbrook — Germany: 0.5%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.5%
Emu Plains — South Africa: 0.4% Glenbrook — South Africa: 0.5%
Philippines 0.6% / —
Emu Plains — Philippines: 0.6% Glenbrook — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Emu Plains 82.1% houses
Emu Plains — Houses: 82.1% Emu Plains — Townhouses: 12.4% Emu Plains — Flats / Apartments: 5.5%
Glenbrook 94.4% houses
Glenbrook — Houses: 94.4% Glenbrook — Townhouses: 4.5% Glenbrook — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Median house price $1,190,000 $1,690,000
Median unit price $806,500 $1,142,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 44 sales
 29 days
from 47 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 Plains Glenbrook
3 bed $1.12M / $1.4M
Emu Plains — 3 bed: $1.12M (41 sales) Glenbrook — 3 bed: $1.4M (37 sales)

41 vs 37 sales

4 bed $1.27M / $1.8M
Emu Plains — 4 bed: $1.27M (28 sales) Glenbrook — 4 bed: $1.8M (45 sales)

28 vs 45 sales

5 bed $1.36M / $2.08M
Emu Plains — 5 bed: $1.36M (7 sales) Glenbrook — 5 bed: $2.08M (21 sales)

7 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Glenbrook has more land zoned for conservation (60% vs 20%); Emu Plains has more industrially zoned land (16% vs 0%).

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Environmental 20% 60%
Residential 35% 6%
Other and special use 3% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 17% 11%
Industrial 16% 0%
Parks and recreation 8% 4%
Commercial 1% 0%
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 Plains Glenbrook
New dwellings approved 1,063
across Penrith
 123
across Blue Mountains
Approvals change year on year -78% +14%

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 Plains Glenbrook
Houses 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.24M
 2.7%
$800/wk on $1.52M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

Emu Plains Glenbrook
House price Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 77% of NSW
Income Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 89% of NSW
Schools Higher than 23% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 91% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 49% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 70% of NSW Higher than 94% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 12% of NSW

Liveability

Glenbrook scores higher overall (54 vs 44); Emu Plains is more walkable (91 vs 77).

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Grade C B
Score 44/100 54/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Glenbrook carries more bushfire risk (92 vs 45); Emu Plains carries more crime risk (70 vs 53).

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 High
92/100
Crime High
70/100
 Moderate
53/100
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
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Inside the suburb 5 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 2
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 5.9 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 9.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 2.7%

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

Schools in Glenbrook

  • Glenbrook Public School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Finbar's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 12 7
Parks & reserves 19 17
Childcare 7 6
GPs 5 1
Pharmacies 4 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 3 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 14 13

Mobility

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Walkability score 91/100 77/100
Distance to Sydney 59.2 km 60.4 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 49 min 48 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
 87/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 236.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 45.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 2750
 2.2%
postcode 2773
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 2750
 55
postcode 2773

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 Plains Glenbrook
Car (driver) 54.1% / 43.1%
Emu Plains — Car (driver): 54.1% Glenbrook — Car (driver): 43.1%
Worked from Home 38.5% / 50.8%
Emu Plains — Worked from Home: 38.5% Glenbrook — Worked from Home: 50.8%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 2.6%
Emu Plains — Car (passenger): 3.5% Glenbrook — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Train 1.9% / 1.5%
Emu Plains — Train: 1.9% Glenbrook — Train: 1.5%
Walked Only 1.3% / 1.6%
Emu Plains — Walked Only: 1.3% Glenbrook — Walked Only: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.1%).

Setting

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 178 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Emu Plains Glenbrook
Connectivity score 88/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
3,671 premises
 56%
2,112 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Emu Plains Glenbrook
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 Plains Glenbrook
Average residential rate $1,547/yr $2,080/yr
Council Penrith Blue Mountains

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Emu Plains

Easy Commute Parks Regional Centre Transport Hub

Glenbrook

Large Blocks Parks Professionals River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Emu Plains

Emu Plains vs Penrith Emu Plains vs Jamisontown Emu Plains vs Emu Heights Emu Plains vs Leonay Emu Plains vs Castlereagh Emu Plains vs Regentville

Other comparisons with Glenbrook

Glenbrook vs Blaxland Glenbrook vs Emu Heights Glenbrook vs Leonay Glenbrook vs Lapstone
Full data on Emu Plains Full data on Glenbrook
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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