James Creek vs Maclean

James Creek is the younger of the two, with a median age of 52 against 56 in Maclean. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In James Creek, the large majority of households are couple families. In Maclean, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in James Creek: a median of $1.26 million, against $678,000 in Maclean, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, James Creek tends to suit families with children and couples, while Maclean suits people living alone and 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

James Creek

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (28/100 vs 88/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (88% vs 44%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 87%)
  • But Maclean has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Maclean

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($287,500 vs $545,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($678,500 vs $1,257,500)
  • But James Creek leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 33%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • James Creek leaves renters under less rental stress (24% vs 34%)
  • Maclean has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $423/wk)

Weighs rent and rental stress.

Commuting to the city

Maclean

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 8/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Maclean

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (13% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 8/100)
  • But James Creek carries lower crime risk (28/100 vs 88/100)

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

Investors

James Creek

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (21.8% vs 5.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

James Creek Maclean
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.

James Creek Maclean
Walkability 8 / 21
James Creek — Walkability: 8/100 Maclean — Walkability: 21/100
Safety 72 / 12
James Creek — Safety: 72/100 Maclean — Safety: 12/100
Low fire risk 79 / 72
James Creek — Low fire risk: 79/100 Maclean — Low fire risk: 72/100

Demographics

Maclean has more residents (2,778 vs 257); James Creek has higher household incomes ($92,248 vs $50,180).

James Creek Maclean
Population 257 2,778
+981% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +21.8% +5.7%
Median age 52 56
Median household income $92,248/yr
+46% vs other
 $50,180/yr
Median weekly rent $423/wk
+22% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

James Creek Maclean
0-4 5.1% / 4.7%
James Creek — 0-4: 5.1% Maclean — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 13.6% / 9.4%
James Creek — 5-14: 13.6% Maclean — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 2.3% / 4.0%
James Creek — 15-19: 2.3% Maclean — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 5.4% / 3.2%
James Creek — 20-24: 5.4% Maclean — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 5.4% / 7.9%
James Creek — 25-34: 5.4% Maclean — 25-34: 7.9%
35-44 12.5% / 8.6%
James Creek — 35-44: 12.5% Maclean — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 12.1% / 10.8%
James Creek — 45-54: 12.1% Maclean — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 18.7% / 15.1%
James Creek — 55-64: 18.7% Maclean — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 20.2% / 15.7%
James Creek — 65-74: 20.2% Maclean — 65-74: 15.7%
75-84 5.4% / 13.4%
James Creek — 75-84: 5.4% Maclean — 75-84: 13.4%
85+ 3.5% / 7.2%
James Creek — 85+: 3.5% Maclean — 85+: 7.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

James Creek 76.2% couple families
James Creek — Couple Families: 76.2% James Creek — Lone Person: 11.9% James Creek — One Parent Families: 11.9% James Creek — Group Household: 0.0% James Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Maclean 24.4% couple families
Maclean — Couple Families: 24.4% Maclean — Lone Person: 50.6% Maclean — One Parent Families: 19.4% Maclean — Group Household: 3.7% Maclean — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

James Creek 0.0% renting
James Creek — Owned Outright: 66.3% James Creek — Mortgage: 33.7% James Creek — Renting: 0.0%
Maclean 32.2% renting
Maclean — Owned Outright: 47.7% Maclean — Mortgage: 20.1% Maclean — Renting: 32.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

James Creek Maclean
Certificate III & IV 18.3% / 16.0%
James Creek — Certificate III & IV: 18.3% Maclean — Certificate III & IV: 16.0%
Bachelor Degree 10.1% / 7.9%
James Creek — Bachelor Degree: 10.1% Maclean — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 6.8%
James Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Maclean — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 1.8%
James Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Maclean — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 1.8%
James Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Maclean — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

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.

James Creek Maclean
England 3.1% / 3.2%
James Creek — England: 3.1% Maclean — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.5%
James Creek — New Zealand: 1.6% Maclean — New Zealand: 1.5%
South Africa 2.3% / 0.4%
James Creek — South Africa: 2.3% Maclean — South Africa: 0.4%
Germany 1.6% / —
James Creek — Germany: 1.6% Maclean — Germany: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.0%
James Creek — Philippines: not among its largest Maclean — Philippines: 1.0%
Scotland — / 0.7%
James Creek — Scotland: not among its largest Maclean — Scotland: 0.7%
India — / 0.4%
James Creek — India: not among its largest Maclean — India: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

James Creek 97.6% houses
James Creek — Houses: 97.6% James Creek — Flats / Apartments: 2.4% James Creek — Townhouses: 0.0%
Maclean 86.8% houses
Maclean — Houses: 86.8% Maclean — Flats / Apartments: 6.4% Maclean — Townhouses: 6.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

James Creek Maclean
Median house price $1,257,500 $678,500
Median unit price — $447,500
Median land price $545,000 $287,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 35 days
from 57 sales

Zoning mix

James Creek has more rural and farming land (41% vs 26%).

James Creek Maclean
Rural and farming 41% 26%
Environmental 35% 40%
Residential 22% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 9%
Parks and recreation 0% 3%
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

James Creek Maclean
New dwellings approved 246
across Clarence Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year -80%
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.

James Creek Maclean
Houses — 4.8%
$640/wk on $699K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within NSW

James Creek Maclean
House price Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 25% of NSW
Income Higher than 59% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 15% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 53% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 54% of NSW Higher than 41% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 27% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 57% of NSW Higher than 75% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 94% of NSW

Liveability

Maclean is more walkable (21 vs 8).

James Creek Maclean
Grade — D
Score — 18/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Maclean carries more crime risk (88 vs 28).

James Creek Maclean
Bushfire Low
21/100
 Low
28/100
Crime Low
28/100
 High
88/100
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 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

James Creek Maclean
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in James Creek

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Maclean

  • Maclean High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Maclean Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

James Creek Maclean
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 10
Parks & reserves 0 10
Childcare 0 1
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

James Creek Maclean
Walkability score 8/100 21/100
Distance to Sydney 649.3 km 648.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 421 min
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.2%
postcode 2463
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 70
postcode 2463
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.

James Creek Maclean
Car (driver) 75.6% / 74.1%
James Creek — Car (driver): 75.6% Maclean — Car (driver): 74.1%
Worked from Home 15.9% / 10.3%
James Creek — Worked from Home: 15.9% Maclean — Worked from Home: 10.3%
Walked Only 3.7% / 10.1%
James Creek — Walked Only: 3.7% Maclean — Walked Only: 10.1%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 4.8%
James Creek — Car (passenger): 4.9% Maclean — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Bus — / 0.7%
James Creek — Bus: not among its largest Maclean — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.6%).

Setting

James Creek Maclean
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.7 km 7.3 km

NBN connectivity

James Creek Maclean
Connectivity score 30/100 68/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
89 premises
 29%
1,583 premises

Climate

James Creek Maclean
Annual rainfall 1,408 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

James Creek Maclean
Average residential rate $1,380/yr
same for both
Council Clarence Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

James Creek Maclean
Division Page
same for both
Member Kevin Hogan
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

James Creek Maclean
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

James Creek

Retirees Rural

Maclean

Acreage Affordable Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with James Creek

James Creek vs Gulmarrad James Creek vs Townsend James Creek vs Harwood James Creek vs Palmers Channel

Other comparisons with Maclean

Maclean vs Gulmarrad Maclean vs Townsend Maclean vs Harwood Maclean vs Ashby Maclean vs South Arm
Full data on James Creek Full data on Maclean
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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