Menzies Creek vs Emerald

Comparing Menzies Creek and Emerald, VIC: Menzies Creek is more walkable (38 vs 0); Emerald has more residents (5,890 vs 966); and Emerald carries more crime risk (40 vs 27).

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

Emerald

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 4)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Menzies Creek carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 40/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Menzies Creek

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (38/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (54 min vs 60 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (50.2 km vs 54.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Menzies Creek

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (38/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 40/100)
  • But Emerald has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Emerald

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1.9% vs -3.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Menzies Creek Emerald
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.

Menzies Creek Emerald
Walkability 38 / 0
Menzies Creek — Walkability: 38/100 Emerald — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 73 / 60
Menzies Creek — Safety: 73/100 Emerald — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 19 / 37
Menzies Creek — Low fire risk: 19/100 Emerald — Low fire risk: 37/100
Low flood risk 77 / 84
Menzies Creek — Low flood risk: 77/100 Emerald — Low flood risk: 84/100

Demographics

Emerald has more residents (5,890 vs 966); Menzies Creek has higher household incomes ($121,472 vs $110,188).

Menzies Creek Emerald
Population 966 5,890
+510% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.2% +1.9%
Median age 44 43
Median household income $121,472/yr
+9% vs other
 $110,188/yr
Median weekly rent $388/wk $400/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Menzies Creek Emerald
0-4 4.8% / 5.1%
Menzies Creek — 0-4: 4.8% Emerald — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 14.8% / 13.4%
Menzies Creek — 5-14: 14.8% Emerald — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 6.4% / 6.4%
Menzies Creek — 15-19: 6.4% Emerald — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 6.5% / 5.7%
Menzies Creek — 20-24: 6.5% Emerald — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 6.2% / 8.9%
Menzies Creek — 25-34: 6.2% Emerald — 25-34: 8.9%
35-44 12.9% / 12.7%
Menzies Creek — 35-44: 12.9% Emerald — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 17.2% / 15.4%
Menzies Creek — 45-54: 17.2% Emerald — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 14.6% / 13.9%
Menzies Creek — 55-64: 14.6% Emerald — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 11.3% / 11.7%
Menzies Creek — 65-74: 11.3% Emerald — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 4.1% / 5.1%
Menzies Creek — 75-84: 4.1% Emerald — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 1.0% / 1.7%
Menzies Creek — 85+: 1.0% Emerald — 85+: 1.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Menzies Creek 63.2% couple families
Menzies Creek — Couple Families: 63.2% Menzies Creek — Lone Person: 17.7% Menzies Creek — One Parent Families: 15.0% Menzies Creek — Group Household: 4.1% Menzies Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Emerald 59.0% couple families
Emerald — Couple Families: 59.0% Emerald — Lone Person: 25.2% Emerald — One Parent Families: 12.7% Emerald — Group Household: 2.3% Emerald — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Menzies Creek 6.3% renting
Menzies Creek — Owned Outright: 36.5% Menzies Creek — Mortgage: 57.1% Menzies Creek — Renting: 6.3%
Emerald 8.5% renting
Emerald — Owned Outright: 39.5% Emerald — Mortgage: 52.0% Emerald — Renting: 8.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Menzies Creek Emerald
Certificate III & IV 13.8% / 16.6%
Menzies Creek — Certificate III & IV: 13.8% Emerald — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 16.0% / 13.0%
Menzies Creek — Bachelor Degree: 16.0% Emerald — Bachelor Degree: 13.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 9.8%
Menzies Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Emerald — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 3.7%
Menzies Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Emerald — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.0%
Menzies Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Emerald — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Menzies Creek Emerald
England 4.7% / 6.8%
Menzies Creek — England: 4.7% Emerald — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.2%
Menzies Creek — New Zealand: 2.3% Emerald — New Zealand: 1.2%
Germany 1.0% / 0.6%
Menzies Creek — Germany: 1.0% Emerald — Germany: 0.6%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.7%
Menzies Creek — Scotland: 0.6% Emerald — Scotland: 0.7%
Netherlands — / 1.0%
Menzies Creek — Netherlands: not among its largest Emerald — Netherlands: 1.0%
Vietnam 0.5% / —
Menzies Creek — Vietnam: 0.5% Emerald — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Menzies Creek 100.0% houses
Menzies Creek — Houses: 100.0% Menzies Creek — Townhouses: 0.0% Menzies Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Emerald 98.2% houses
Emerald — Houses: 98.2% Emerald — Townhouses: 1.1% Emerald — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Menzies Creek Emerald
Median house price $950,000 $930,000
Median unit price — $920,000
Median land price — $522,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 5 sales
 22 days
from 39 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.

Menzies Creek Emerald
3 bed $900K / $875K
Menzies Creek — 3 bed: $900K (9 sales) Emerald — 3 bed: $875K (42 sales)

9 vs 42 sales

4 bed $1.34M / $1.08M
Menzies Creek — 4 bed: $1.34M (6 sales) Emerald — 4 bed: $1.08M (44 sales)

6 vs 44 sales

Zoning mix

Menzies Creek has more rural and farming land (51% vs 13%); Menzies Creek has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 19%).

Menzies Creek Emerald
Infrastructure and transport 14% 56%
Rural and farming 51% 13%
Environmental 34% 19%
Residential 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 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

Menzies Creek Emerald
New dwellings approved 416
across Yarra Ranges
 1,323
across Cardinia
Approvals change year on year -57% +13%

Ranking within VIC

Menzies Creek Emerald
House price — Higher than 61% of VIC
Income Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 65% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 69% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC

Liveability

Menzies Creek is more walkable (38 vs 0); Menzies Creek scores higher overall (61 vs 56).

Menzies Creek Emerald
Grade B
same for both
Score 61/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Emerald carries more crime risk (40 vs 27); Menzies Creek carries more bushfire risk (81 vs 63).

Menzies Creek Emerald
Bushfire High
81/100
 Moderate
63/100
Crime Low
27/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Low
23/100
 Low
16/100
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

Menzies Creek Emerald
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 2

Schools in Menzies Creek

  • Menzies Creek Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Dandenong Ranges Steiner School - School Road Campus Independent · Primary

Schools in Emerald

  • Dandenong Ranges Steiner School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Emerald Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Emerald Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Menzies Creek Emerald
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 1 7
Parks & reserves 4 14
Childcare 2 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 5 11

Mobility

Emerald sits further from the CBD (54.7 km vs 50.2 km).

Menzies Creek Emerald
Walkability score 38/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 50.2 km 54.7 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 54 min 60 min
Public transport score 46/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 9.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 31.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 3159
 1.1%
postcode 3782
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3159
 39
postcode 3782

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.

Menzies Creek Emerald
Car (driver) 60.0% / 65.4%
Menzies Creek — Car (driver): 60.0% Emerald — Car (driver): 65.4%
Worked from Home 33.4% / 27.7%
Menzies Creek — Worked from Home: 33.4% Emerald — Worked from Home: 27.7%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 4.4%
Menzies Creek — Car (passenger): 2.7% Emerald — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Train 2.9% / 0.7%
Menzies Creek — Train: 2.9% Emerald — Train: 0.7%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.5%
Menzies Creek — Walked Only: 1.0% Emerald — Walked Only: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.4%).

Setting

Menzies Creek Emerald
Elevation 286 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 231 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.8 km 30.1 km

NBN connectivity

Menzies Creek Emerald
Connectivity score 46/100 57/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
358 premises
 23%
2,364 premises

Climate

Menzies Creek Emerald
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)

Menzies Creek Emerald
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Menzies Creek Emerald
Average residential rate $2,161/yr $1,880/yr
Council Yarra Ranges Cardinia

Federal electorate

Menzies Creek Emerald
Division Casey La Trobe
Member Aaron Violi Jason Wood
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Menzies Creek

Acreage Outer Quiet

Emerald

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Menzies Creek

Menzies Creek vs Belgrave South Menzies Creek vs Selby Menzies Creek vs Kallista Menzies Creek vs Clematis

Other comparisons with Emerald

Emerald vs Cockatoo Emerald vs Monbulk Emerald vs Beaconsfield Upper Emerald vs Belgrave South Emerald vs Kallista Emerald vs Macclesfield
Full data on Menzies Creek Full data on Emerald
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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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