Emu Plains vs Penrith

Penrith is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in Emu Plains. In Emu Plains, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. In Penrith, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Emu Plains: a median of $1.19 million, against $993,000 in Penrith, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Emu Plains tends to suit couples, while Penrith suits renters, young adults, and 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 Plains has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 36%)
  • Penrith has more childcare (24 vs 7)

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

First-home buyers

Penrith

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($575,000 vs $806,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($993,000 vs $1,190,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Penrith

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (63% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Penrith

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (64% vs 18%)
  • has more GPs (15 vs 5)
  • But Emu Plains carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 97/100)

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

Investors

Penrith

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (35.1% vs -3.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Emu Plains and Penrith 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 Penrith
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 Penrith
Walkability 91 / 93
Emu Plains — Walkability: 91/100 Penrith — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 30 / 3
Emu Plains — Safety: 30/100 Penrith — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 55 / 62
Emu Plains — Low fire risk: 55/100 Penrith — Low fire risk: 62/100

Demographics

Penrith has more residents (17,966 vs 8,126); Emu Plains has higher household incomes ($97,604 vs $72,644).

Emu Plains Penrith
Population 8,126 17,966
+121% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.5% +35.1%
Median age 41 36
Median household income $97,604/yr
+26% vs other
 $72,644/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+10% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Emu Plains Penrith
0-4 5.4% / 5.8%
Emu Plains — 0-4: 5.4% Penrith — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 13.3% / 9.1%
Emu Plains — 5-14: 13.3% Penrith — 5-14: 9.1%
15-19 5.8% / 4.1%
Emu Plains — 15-19: 5.8% Penrith — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 6.0% / 9.5%
Emu Plains — 20-24: 6.0% Penrith — 20-24: 9.5%
25-34 10.8% / 19.8%
Emu Plains — 25-34: 10.8% Penrith — 25-34: 19.8%
35-44 13.2% / 13.6%
Emu Plains — 35-44: 13.2% Penrith — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 12.9% / 11.2%
Emu Plains — 45-54: 12.9% Penrith — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 11.1% / 9.8%
Emu Plains — 55-64: 11.1% Penrith — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 12.3% / 8.2%
Emu Plains — 65-74: 12.3% Penrith — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 6.7% / 5.7%
Emu Plains — 75-84: 6.7% Penrith — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 2.7% / 3.1%
Emu Plains — 85+: 2.7% Penrith — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Emu Plains 33.1% lone person
Emu Plains — Lone Person: 33.1% Emu Plains — Couple Families: 46.5% Emu Plains — One Parent Families: 17.0% Emu Plains — Group Household: 2.2% Emu Plains — Other Families: 1.1%
Penrith 52.2% lone person
Penrith — Lone Person: 52.2% Penrith — Couple Families: 21.5% Penrith — One Parent Families: 17.6% Penrith — Group Household: 6.4% Penrith — Other Families: 2.3%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Penrith 62.6% renting
Penrith — Owned Outright: 16.0% Penrith — Mortgage: 21.4% Penrith — Renting: 62.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Emu Plains Penrith
Certificate III & IV 16.9% / 15.0%
Emu Plains — Certificate III & IV: 16.9% Penrith — Certificate III & IV: 15.0%
Bachelor Degree 9.9% / 11.2%
Emu Plains — Bachelor Degree: 9.9% Penrith — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 7.2%
Emu Plains — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Penrith — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 4.4%
Emu Plains — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Penrith — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.1%
Emu Plains — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Penrith — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

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 Penrith
England 4.5% / 2.9%
Emu Plains — England: 4.5% Penrith — England: 2.9%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.0%
Emu Plains — New Zealand: 1.6% Penrith — New Zealand: 2.0%
Philippines 0.6% / 2.2%
Emu Plains — Philippines: 0.6% Penrith — Philippines: 2.2%
India — / 2.7%
Emu Plains — India: not among its largest Penrith — India: 2.7%
China — / 1.7%
Emu Plains — China: not among its largest Penrith — China: 1.7%
Ireland 0.6% / —
Emu Plains — Ireland: 0.6% Penrith — Ireland: not among its largest
Scotland 0.5% / —
Emu Plains — Scotland: 0.5% Penrith — Scotland: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Emu Plains 82.1% houses
Emu Plains — Houses: 82.1% Emu Plains — Flats / Apartments: 5.5% Emu Plains — Townhouses: 12.4%
Penrith 36.0% houses
Penrith — Houses: 36.0% Penrith — Flats / Apartments: 43.6% Penrith — Townhouses: 20.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Emu Plains Penrith
Median house price $1,190,000 $993,000
Median unit price $806,500 $575,000
Median land price — $1,120,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 44 sales
 24 days
from 114 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 Penrith
3 bed $1.12M / $977K
Emu Plains — 3 bed: $1.12M (41 sales) Penrith — 3 bed: $977K (95 sales)

41 vs 95 sales

4 bed $1.27M / $1.16M
Emu Plains — 4 bed: $1.27M (28 sales) Penrith — 4 bed: $1.16M (33 sales)

28 vs 33 sales

Zoning mix

Emu Plains has more land zoned for conservation (20% vs 3%).

Emu Plains Penrith
Residential 35%
same for both
Industrial 16% 21%
Environmental 20% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 17% 12%
Other and special use 3% 14%
Parks and recreation 8% 13%
Commercial 1% 3%
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 Penrith
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 Plains Penrith
Houses 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.24M
 3.4%
$650/wk on $1M
Units — 4.8%
$550/wk on $594K

Ranking within NSW

Emu Plains Penrith
House price Higher than 58% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Income Higher than 66% of NSW Higher than 39% of NSW
Schools Higher than 23% of NSW Higher than 54% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 97% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 70% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of NSW Higher than 98% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 58% of NSW

Liveability

Emu Plains Penrith
Grade C
same for both
Score 44/100
same for both
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Penrith carries more crime risk (97 vs 70).

Emu Plains Penrith
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 Low
38/100
Crime High
70/100
 High
97/100
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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Emu Plains Penrith
Inside the suburb 5 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 5.9 km
 1
Western Sydney University - Penrith, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 1.6%

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 Penrith

  • Penrith High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Penrith Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Nicholas of Myra Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Kingswood Park Public School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Emu Plains Penrith
Supermarkets 2 7
Cafes & restaurants 12 73
Parks & reserves 19 24
Childcare 7 24
GPs 5 15
Pharmacies 4 12
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 12
Fuel stations 3 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 14 7

Mobility

Emu Plains Penrith
Walkability score 91/100 93/100
Distance to Sydney 59.2 km
+2% vs other
 58.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 49 min 51 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 236.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 685.5
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 Plains Penrith
Car (driver) 54.1% / 50.9%
Emu Plains — Car (driver): 54.1% Penrith — Car (driver): 50.9%
Worked from Home 38.5% / 34.2%
Emu Plains — Worked from Home: 38.5% Penrith — Worked from Home: 34.2%
Train 1.9% / 5.5%
Emu Plains — Train: 1.9% Penrith — Train: 5.5%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.7%
Emu Plains — Car (passenger): 3.5% Penrith — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Walked Only 1.3% / 4.4%
Emu Plains — Walked Only: 1.3% Penrith — Walked Only: 4.4%

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

Setting

Emu Plains Penrith
Elevation 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 28 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Emu Plains Penrith
Connectivity score 88/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
3,671 premises
 95%
11,886 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

Emu Plains Penrith
Division Macquarie Lindsay
Member Susan Templeman Melissa Mcintosh
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Emu Plains Penrith
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

Penrith

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Outer Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Emu Plains

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

Other comparisons with Penrith

Penrith vs Cranebrook Penrith vs South Penrith Penrith vs Kingswood Penrith vs Cambridge Park Penrith vs Jamisontown Penrith vs Cambridge Gardens
Full data on Emu Plains Full data on Penrith
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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