Freshwater Creek vs Mount Duneed

Mount Duneed is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 45 in Freshwater 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. On these figures, Freshwater Creek tends to suit older residents, while Mount Duneed suits young adults and families with children.

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

Mount Duneed

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Freshwater Creek carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 73/100)

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

Freshwater Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $446/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 20%)

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Duneed

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (93.5 km vs 96.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Freshwater Creek

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 9%)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 73/100)
  • But Mount Duneed is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Mount Duneed

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (291.8% vs 9.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
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.

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Walkability 0 / 13
Freshwater Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Mount Duneed — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 43 / 27
Freshwater Creek — Safety: 43/100 Mount Duneed — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Freshwater Creek — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Duneed — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 47 / 50
Freshwater Creek — Low flood risk: 47/100 Mount Duneed — Low flood risk: 50/100

Demographics

Mount Duneed has more residents (6,182 vs 454); Mount Duneed rents higher ($446/wk vs $300/wk).

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Population 454 6,182
+1262% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.7% +291.8%
Median age 45 32
Median household income $108,524/yr $118,248/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $446/wk
+49% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
0-4 3.7% / 9.5%
Freshwater Creek — 0-4: 3.7% Mount Duneed — 0-4: 9.5%
5-14 14.3% / 14.8%
Freshwater Creek — 5-14: 14.3% Mount Duneed — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 8.6% / 4.8%
Freshwater Creek — 15-19: 8.6% Mount Duneed — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 3.7% / 6.9%
Freshwater Creek — 20-24: 3.7% Mount Duneed — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 6.6% / 20.0%
Freshwater Creek — 25-34: 6.6% Mount Duneed — 25-34: 20.0%
35-44 12.1% / 16.6%
Freshwater Creek — 35-44: 12.1% Mount Duneed — 35-44: 16.6%
45-54 16.5% / 10.3%
Freshwater Creek — 45-54: 16.5% Mount Duneed — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 13.0% / 8.1%
Freshwater Creek — 55-64: 13.0% Mount Duneed — 55-64: 8.1%
65-74 14.5% / 6.6%
Freshwater Creek — 65-74: 14.5% Mount Duneed — 65-74: 6.6%
75-84 6.2% / 2.2%
Freshwater Creek — 75-84: 6.2% Mount Duneed — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ 2.0% / 0.3%
Freshwater Creek — 85+: 2.0% Mount Duneed — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek 61.4% couple families
Freshwater Creek — Couple Families: 61.4% Freshwater Creek — Lone Person: 25.7% Freshwater Creek — One Parent Families: 12.9% Freshwater Creek — Group Household: 0.0% Freshwater Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Mount Duneed 56.5% couple families
Mount Duneed — Couple Families: 56.5% Mount Duneed — Lone Person: 21.8% Mount Duneed — One Parent Families: 13.7% Mount Duneed — Group Household: 6.8% Mount Duneed — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek 14.8% renting
Freshwater Creek — Owned Outright: 51.7% Freshwater Creek — Mortgage: 33.6% Freshwater Creek — Renting: 14.8%
Mount Duneed 23.6% renting
Mount Duneed — Owned Outright: 20.8% Mount Duneed — Mortgage: 55.6% Mount Duneed — Renting: 23.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Bachelor Degree 16.3% / 17.2%
Freshwater Creek — Bachelor Degree: 16.3% Mount Duneed — Bachelor Degree: 17.2%
Certificate III & IV 13.2% / 14.3%
Freshwater Creek — Certificate III & IV: 13.2% Mount Duneed — Certificate III & IV: 14.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 8.7%
Freshwater Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Mount Duneed — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.8% / 4.9%
Freshwater Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8% Mount Duneed — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.6%
Freshwater Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Mount Duneed — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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.

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
England 3.3% / 2.8%
Freshwater Creek — England: 3.3% Mount Duneed — England: 2.8%
India — / 4.0%
Freshwater Creek — India: not among its largest Mount Duneed — India: 4.0%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.5%
Freshwater Creek — New Zealand: 1.3% Mount Duneed — New Zealand: 1.5%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.5%
Freshwater Creek — Scotland: 0.7% Mount Duneed — Scotland: 0.5%
China — / 1.0%
Freshwater Creek — China: not among its largest Mount Duneed — China: 1.0%
Philippines — / 0.8%
Freshwater Creek — Philippines: not among its largest Mount Duneed — Philippines: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Freshwater Creek 94.2% houses
Freshwater Creek — Houses: 94.2% Freshwater Creek — Flats / Apartments: 5.8% Freshwater Creek — Townhouses: 0.0%
Mount Duneed 97.0% houses
Mount Duneed — Houses: 97.0% Mount Duneed — Flats / Apartments: 1.8% Mount Duneed — Townhouses: 1.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Median house price — $730,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $720,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 31 days
from 219 sales

Zoning mix

Freshwater Creek has more rural and farming land (99% vs 58%).

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Rural and farming 99% 58%
Other and special use 0% 20%
Residential 0% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 4%
Parks and recreation 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

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
New dwellings approved 300
across Surf Coast
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.

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Houses — 3.8%
$590/wk on $800K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
House price — Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 94% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 82% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 57% of VIC

Liveability

Mount Duneed is more walkable (13 vs 0).

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Grade — B
Score — 54/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mount Duneed carries more crime risk (73 vs 57).

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
57/100
 High
73/100
Flood Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
50/100
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

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Freshwater Creek

  • Freshwater Creek Steiner School Independent · Primary below peers

Schools in Mount Duneed

  • Mirripoa Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount Duneed Regional Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 0 10
Childcare 0 8
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 27 14

Mobility

Freshwater Creek sits further from the CBD (96.1 km vs 93.5 km).

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Walkability score 0/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 96.1 km
+3% vs other
 93.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 75 min 73 min
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3217
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 3217
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.

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Car (driver) 58.3% / 69.8%
Freshwater Creek — Car (driver): 58.3% Mount Duneed — Car (driver): 69.8%
Worked from Home 33.3% / 23.9%
Freshwater Creek — Worked from Home: 33.3% Mount Duneed — Worked from Home: 23.9%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 3.8%
Freshwater Creek — Car (passenger): 3.4% Mount Duneed — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Walked Only 3.4% / 0.2%
Freshwater Creek — Walked Only: 3.4% Mount Duneed — Walked Only: 0.2%
Bicycle 1.5% / 0.3%
Freshwater Creek — Bicycle: 1.5% Mount Duneed — Bicycle: 0.3%
Bus — / 1.0%
Freshwater Creek — Bus: not among its largest Mount Duneed — Bus: 1.0%
Train — / 1.0%
Freshwater Creek — Train: not among its largest Mount Duneed — Train: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.8%).

Setting

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.3 km 8.2 km

NBN connectivity

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Connectivity score 30/100 84/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
183 premises
 77%
1,108 premises

Climate

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Annual rainfall 599 mm —
Summer max (Jan) 23.2°C 22.8°C
Winter min (Jul) 7.6°C 7.8°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Average residential rate $2,314/yr
same for both
Council Surf Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Division Wannon Corangamite
Member Dan Tehan Libby Coker
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Freshwater Creek Mount Duneed
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Freshwater Creek

Rural

Mount Duneed

Acreage Family Transport Hub Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Freshwater Creek

Freshwater Creek vs Torquay Freshwater Creek vs Waurn Ponds Freshwater Creek vs Bellbrae Freshwater Creek vs Moriac Freshwater Creek vs Mount Moriac Freshwater Creek vs Paraparap

Other comparisons with Mount Duneed

Mount Duneed vs Torquay Mount Duneed vs Grovedale Mount Duneed vs Armstrong Creek Mount Duneed vs Waurn Ponds Mount Duneed vs Charlemont Mount Duneed vs Connewarre
Full data on Freshwater Creek Full data on Mount Duneed
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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