Ferny Creek vs Sassafras

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Ferny Creek, most households are couple families. In Sassafras, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Ferny Creek: a median of $1.19 million, against $957,000 in Sassafras. On these figures, Sassafras tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Sassafras

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 1)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Sassafras

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($957,000 vs $1,185,000)

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

Sassafras

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (45/100 vs 36/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sassafras

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (45/100 vs 36/100)

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

Investors

Ferny Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (0.4% vs -8.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ferny Creek Sassafras
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.

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Walkability 36 / 45
Ferny Creek — Walkability: 36/100 Sassafras — Walkability: 45/100
Safety 73 / 69
Ferny Creek — Safety: 73/100 Sassafras — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 17 / 17
Ferny Creek — Low fire risk: 17/100 Sassafras — Low fire risk: 17/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Ferny Creek — Low flood risk: 100/100 Sassafras — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Ferny Creek has more residents (1,524 vs 970); Ferny Creek has higher household incomes ($124,436 vs $111,644).

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Population 1,524
+36% vs other
 970
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.4% -8.6%
Median age 45 47
Median household income $124,436/yr
+10% vs other
 $111,644/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk $410/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ferny Creek Sassafras
0-4 5.0% / 3.4%
Ferny Creek — 0-4: 5.0% Sassafras — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 12.4% / 11.3%
Ferny Creek — 5-14: 12.4% Sassafras — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 6.4% / 7.7%
Ferny Creek — 15-19: 6.4% Sassafras — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 5.4% / 4.3%
Ferny Creek — 20-24: 5.4% Sassafras — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 7.3% / 8.9%
Ferny Creek — 25-34: 7.3% Sassafras — 25-34: 8.9%
35-44 12.3% / 10.8%
Ferny Creek — 35-44: 12.3% Sassafras — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 17.1% / 16.6%
Ferny Creek — 45-54: 17.1% Sassafras — 45-54: 16.6%
55-64 15.8% / 16.6%
Ferny Creek — 55-64: 15.8% Sassafras — 55-64: 16.6%
65-74 11.4% / 13.9%
Ferny Creek — 65-74: 11.4% Sassafras — 65-74: 13.9%
75-84 5.0% / 4.4%
Ferny Creek — 75-84: 5.0% Sassafras — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 1.0% / 0.9%
Ferny Creek — 85+: 1.0% Sassafras — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ferny Creek 60.6% couple families
Ferny Creek — Couple Families: 60.6% Ferny Creek — Lone Person: 28.4% Ferny Creek — One Parent Families: 8.5% Ferny Creek — Group Household: 1.4% Ferny Creek — Other Families: 1.1%
Sassafras 52.2% couple families
Sassafras — Couple Families: 52.2% Sassafras — Lone Person: 23.7% Sassafras — One Parent Families: 18.8% Sassafras — Group Household: 3.7% Sassafras — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ferny Creek 5.8% renting
Ferny Creek — Owned Outright: 37.2% Ferny Creek — Mortgage: 57.0% Ferny Creek — Renting: 5.8%
Sassafras 9.6% renting
Sassafras — Owned Outright: 41.3% Sassafras — Mortgage: 49.2% Sassafras — Renting: 9.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Bachelor Degree 19.6% / 18.1%
Ferny Creek — Bachelor Degree: 19.6% Sassafras — Bachelor Degree: 18.1%
Certificate III & IV 11.5% / 11.5%
Ferny Creek — Certificate III & IV: 11.5% Sassafras — Certificate III & IV: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 9.7%
Ferny Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Sassafras — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 7.9% / 7.0%
Ferny Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9% Sassafras — Postgraduate Degree: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 4.1%
Ferny Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% Sassafras — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

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.

Ferny Creek Sassafras
England 5.8% / 7.3%
Ferny Creek — England: 5.8% Sassafras — England: 7.3%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.1%
Ferny Creek — New Zealand: 1.7% Sassafras — New Zealand: 1.1%
Germany 1.0% / 0.8%
Ferny Creek — Germany: 1.0% Sassafras — Germany: 0.8%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.6%
Ferny Creek — Scotland: 0.9% Sassafras — Scotland: 0.6%
China 0.6% / 0.8%
Ferny Creek — China: 0.6% Sassafras — China: 0.8%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.9%
Ferny Creek — South Africa: 0.4% Sassafras — South Africa: 0.9%
Malaysia 0.7% / —
Ferny Creek — Malaysia: 0.7% Sassafras — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ferny Creek 99.8% houses
Ferny Creek — Houses: 99.8% Ferny Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Sassafras 98.6% houses
Sassafras — Houses: 98.6% Sassafras — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Median house price $1,185,000 $957,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $970,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 12 sales
 32 days
from 4 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.

Ferny Creek Sassafras
3 bed $958K / $942K
Ferny Creek — 3 bed: $958K (10 sales) Sassafras — 3 bed: $942K (16 sales)

10 vs 16 sales

4 bed $1.24M / $1.08M
Ferny Creek — 4 bed: $1.24M (20 sales) Sassafras — 4 bed: $1.08M (6 sales)

20 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Ferny Creek has more rural and farming land (55% vs 44%).

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Rural and farming 55% 44%
Parks and recreation 40% 47%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 7%
Other and special use 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

Ferny Creek Sassafras
New dwellings approved 416
across Yarra Ranges
same for both
Approvals change year on year -57%
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.

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Houses 5.7%
$1,200/wk on $1.1M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Ferny Creek Sassafras
House price Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 100% of VIC —

Liveability

Sassafras is more walkable (45 vs 36).

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Grade A B
Score 70/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Bushfire High
83/100
same for both
Crime Low
27/100
 Low
31/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Ferny Creek

  • Ferny Creek Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Sassafras

  • Sherbrooke Community School Government · Combined above peers
  • Sassafras Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Cafes & restaurants 1 7
Parks & reserves 1 6
Childcare 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 7 11

Mobility

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Walkability score 36/100 45/100
Distance to Melbourne 47.4 km
+4% vs other
 45.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 54 min 52 min
Public transport score 72/100
Bus
 75/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 25.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 28.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 3786
 2.0%
postcode 3787
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 3786
 24
postcode 3787

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.

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Car (driver) 53.7% / 53.8%
Ferny Creek — Car (driver): 53.7% Sassafras — Car (driver): 53.8%
Worked from Home 40.0% / 38.2%
Ferny Creek — Worked from Home: 40.0% Sassafras — Worked from Home: 38.2%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 3.7%
Ferny Creek — Car (passenger): 3.3% Sassafras — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Train 0.9% / 3.0%
Ferny Creek — Train: 0.9% Sassafras — Train: 3.0%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.4%
Ferny Creek — Walked Only: 1.0% Sassafras — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 1.1% / —
Ferny Creek — Bus: 1.1% Sassafras — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.8%).

Setting

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Elevation 551 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 468 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 26.4 km 28.1 km

NBN connectivity

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Connectivity score 81/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 60%
656 premises
 50%
502 premises

Climate

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Annual rainfall 777 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Ferny Creek Sassafras
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Average residential rate $2,161/yr
same for both
Council Yarra Ranges
same for both

Federal electorate

Ferny Creek Sassafras
Division Casey
same for both
Member Aaron Violi
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Ferny Creek

Acreage Outer Professionals

Sassafras

Acreage Outer River Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ferny Creek

Ferny Creek vs Upwey Ferny Creek vs The Basin Ferny Creek vs Tecoma Ferny Creek vs Sherbrooke Ferny Creek vs Tremont

Other comparisons with Sassafras

Sassafras vs The Basin Sassafras vs Olinda Sassafras vs Mount Dandenong Sassafras vs Sherbrooke Sassafras vs Tremont
Full data on Ferny Creek Full data on Sassafras
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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