Maiden Gully vs California Gully

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Maiden Gully, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Maiden Gully: a median of $800,000, against $549,000 in California Gully, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Maiden Gully tends to suit families with children and couples, while California Gully 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

Maiden Gully

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 80/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (81% vs 50%)

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

First-home buyers

California Gully

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($549,000 vs $800,000)
  • has cheaper land ($305,000 vs $385,000)
  • But Maiden Gully leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 26%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

California Gully

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (35% vs 7%)
  • has cheaper rent ($251/wk vs $380/wk)
  • But Maiden Gully leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Maiden Gully

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (110 min vs 115 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (152.1 km vs 154.7 km)
  • But California Gully is more walkable (61/100 vs 30/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

California Gully

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (61/100 vs 30/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 13%)
  • But Maiden Gully carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Maiden Gully is growing faster (8.3% vs 2.6%)
  • California Gully returns a higher gross yield on houses (5.1% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Maiden Gully California Gully
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.

Maiden Gully California Gully
Walkability 30 / 61
Maiden Gully — Walkability: 30/100 California Gully — Walkability: 61/100
Safety 77 / 20
Maiden Gully — Safety: 77/100 California Gully — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 62 / 44
Maiden Gully — Low fire risk: 62/100 California Gully — Low fire risk: 44/100
Low flood risk 52 / 64
Maiden Gully — Low flood risk: 52/100 California Gully — Low flood risk: 64/100

Demographics

Maiden Gully has higher household incomes ($114,868 vs $54,808); Maiden Gully rents higher ($380/wk vs $251/wk).

Maiden Gully California Gully
Population 5,407
+17% vs other
 4,476
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.3% +2.6%
Median age 37 39
Median household income $114,868/yr
+52% vs other
 $54,808/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+34% vs other
 $251/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maiden Gully California Gully
0-4 6.8% / 5.2%
Maiden Gully — 0-4: 6.8% California Gully — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 17.9% / 13.5%
Maiden Gully — 5-14: 17.9% California Gully — 5-14: 13.5%
15-19 6.7% / 6.7%
Maiden Gully — 15-19: 6.7% California Gully — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 5.2% / 6.6%
Maiden Gully — 20-24: 5.2% California Gully — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 9.1% / 13.0%
Maiden Gully — 25-34: 9.1% California Gully — 25-34: 13.0%
35-44 15.3% / 11.4%
Maiden Gully — 35-44: 15.3% California Gully — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 14.3% / 11.4%
Maiden Gully — 45-54: 14.3% California Gully — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 11.4% / 12.6%
Maiden Gully — 55-64: 11.4% California Gully — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 9.5% / 10.9%
Maiden Gully — 65-74: 9.5% California Gully — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 3.3% / 6.0%
Maiden Gully — 75-84: 3.3% California Gully — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 0.5% / 2.9%
Maiden Gully — 85+: 0.5% California Gully — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Maiden Gully 69.3% couple families
Maiden Gully — Couple Families: 69.3% Maiden Gully — Lone Person: 15.6% Maiden Gully — One Parent Families: 11.8% Maiden Gully — Group Household: 2.5% Maiden Gully — Other Families: 0.9%
California Gully 25.1% couple families
California Gully — Couple Families: 25.1% California Gully — Lone Person: 43.9% California Gully — One Parent Families: 24.6% California Gully — Group Household: 3.6% California Gully — Other Families: 2.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Maiden Gully 7.4% renting
Maiden Gully — Owned Outright: 36.7% Maiden Gully — Mortgage: 55.9% Maiden Gully — Renting: 7.4%
California Gully 35.0% renting
California Gully — Owned Outright: 31.6% California Gully — Mortgage: 33.4% California Gully — Renting: 35.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maiden Gully California Gully
Certificate III & IV 18.6% / 17.3%
Maiden Gully — Certificate III & IV: 18.6% California Gully — Certificate III & IV: 17.3%
Bachelor Degree 10.6% / 5.5%
Maiden Gully — Bachelor Degree: 10.6% California Gully — Bachelor Degree: 5.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 5.2%
Maiden Gully — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% California Gully — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.6% / 1.2%
Maiden Gully — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6% California Gully — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 1.3%
Maiden Gully — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% California Gully — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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.

Maiden Gully California Gully
England 1.4% / 1.1%
Maiden Gully — England: 1.4% California Gully — England: 1.1%
Thailand — / 2.0%
Maiden Gully — Thailand: not among its largest California Gully — Thailand: 2.0%
Myanmar — / 1.9%
Maiden Gully — Myanmar: not among its largest California Gully — Myanmar: 1.9%
New Zealand 0.6% / 0.8%
Maiden Gully — New Zealand: 0.6% California Gully — New Zealand: 0.8%
India 0.7% / 0.2%
Maiden Gully — India: 0.7% California Gully — India: 0.2%
Philippines 0.3% / 0.5%
Maiden Gully — Philippines: 0.3% California Gully — Philippines: 0.5%
Netherlands 0.3% / —
Maiden Gully — Netherlands: 0.3% California Gully — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Maiden Gully 98.9% houses
Maiden Gully — Houses: 98.9% Maiden Gully — Townhouses: 0.0% Maiden Gully — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
California Gully 95.4% houses
California Gully — Houses: 95.4% California Gully — Townhouses: 3.6% California Gully — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Maiden Gully California Gully
Median house price $800,000 $549,000
Median unit price — $331,000
Median land price $385,000 $305,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 35 days
from 73 sales
 22 days
from 32 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.

Maiden Gully California Gully
3 bed $695K / $550K
Maiden Gully — 3 bed: $695K (32 sales) California Gully — 3 bed: $550K (74 sales)

32 vs 74 sales

4 bed $812K / $606K
Maiden Gully — 4 bed: $812K (84 sales) California Gully — 4 bed: $606K (17 sales)

84 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Maiden Gully has more rural and farming land (44% vs 0%).

Maiden Gully California Gully
Residential 22% 71%
Rural and farming 44% 0%
Parks and recreation 31% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 11%
Industrial 1% 7%
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

Maiden Gully California Gully
New dwellings approved 885
across Greater Bendigo
same for both
Approvals change year on year +28%
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.

Maiden Gully California Gully
Houses 3.9%
$675/wk on $904K
 5.1%
$540/wk on $550K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Maiden Gully California Gully
House price Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC

Liveability

Maiden Gully scores higher overall (55 vs 22); California Gully is more walkable (61 vs 30).

Maiden Gully California Gully
Grade B D
Score 55/100 22/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

California Gully carries more crime risk (80 vs 23); California Gully carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 38).

Maiden Gully California Gully
Bushfire Low
38/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime Low
23/100
 High
80/100
Flood Moderate
48/100
 Low
36/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Maiden Gully California Gully
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Bendigo Campus, 8.4 km
 1
Bendigo Campus, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.3% 0.5%

Schools in Maiden Gully

  • Maiden Gully Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Marist College Bendigo Catholic · Combined below peers

Schools in California Gully

  • California Gully Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Maiden Gully California Gully
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 5
same for both
Childcare 5 3
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 13

Mobility

California Gully sits further from the CBD (154.7 km vs 152.1 km).

Maiden Gully California Gully
Walkability score 30/100 61/100
Distance to Melbourne 152.1 km 154.7 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 110 min 115 min
Public transport score 75/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 45.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 44.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3551
 0.2%
postcode 3556
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 3551
 44
postcode 3556

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.

Maiden Gully California Gully
Car (driver) 76.4% / 80.6%
Maiden Gully — Car (driver): 76.4% California Gully — Car (driver): 80.6%
Worked from Home 15.9% / 9.0%
Maiden Gully — Worked from Home: 15.9% California Gully — Worked from Home: 9.0%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 7.1%
Maiden Gully — Car (passenger): 5.7% California Gully — Car (passenger): 7.1%
Walked Only 0.8% / 1.5%
Maiden Gully — Walked Only: 0.8% California Gully — Walked Only: 1.5%
Bus 0.4% / 1.3%
Maiden Gully — Bus: 0.4% California Gully — Bus: 1.3%
Bicycle 0.6% / 0.5%
Maiden Gully — Bicycle: 0.6% California Gully — Bicycle: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (80.6%).

Setting

Maiden Gully California Gully
Elevation 221 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 242 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Maiden Gully California Gully
Connectivity score 84/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
2,088 premises
 45%
2,273 premises

Climate

Maiden Gully California Gully
Annual rainfall 598 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Maiden Gully California Gully
Average residential rate $1,949/yr
same for both
Council Greater Bendigo
same for both

Federal electorate

Maiden Gully California Gully
Division Bendigo
same for both
Member Lisa Chesters
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Maiden Gully California Gully
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Maiden Gully

Acreage Family

California Gully

Affordable Large Blocks Parks Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Maiden Gully

Maiden Gully vs Kangaroo Flat Maiden Gully vs Golden Square Maiden Gully vs Eaglehawk Maiden Gully vs Long Gully Maiden Gully vs Marong Maiden Gully vs Lockwood

Other comparisons with California Gully

California Gully vs Eaglehawk California Gully vs North Bendigo California Gully vs Long Gully California Gully vs Jackass Flat
Full data on Maiden Gully Full data on California Gully
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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