Mount Burnett vs Emerald

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, Mount Burnett tends to suit young adults and couples, while Emerald suits 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

Emerald

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Mount Burnett is already more of a family suburb (88% vs 72%)

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

Mount Burnett

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (9% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Emerald

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (54.7 km vs 63.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (60 min vs 65 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Emerald

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (40/100 vs 53/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Mount Burnett 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.

Mount Burnett 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.

Mount Burnett Emerald
Walkability 0 / 0
Mount Burnett — Walkability: 0/100 Emerald — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 47 / 60
Mount Burnett — Safety: 47/100 Emerald — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 0 / 37
Mount Burnett — Low fire risk: 0/100 Emerald — Low fire risk: 37/100
Low flood risk 85 / 84
Mount Burnett — Low flood risk: 85/100 Emerald — Low flood risk: 84/100

Demographics

Emerald has more residents (5,890 vs 180); Emerald rents higher ($400/wk vs $200/wk).

Mount Burnett Emerald
Population 180 5,890
+3172% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.0% +1.9%
Median age 42 43
Median household income $112,632/yr
+2% vs other
 $110,188/yr
Median weekly rent $200/wk $400/wk
+100% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Burnett Emerald
0-4 2.8% / 5.1%
Mount Burnett — 0-4: 2.8% Emerald — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 5.6% / 13.4%
Mount Burnett — 5-14: 5.6% Emerald — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 13.9% / 6.4%
Mount Burnett — 15-19: 13.9% Emerald — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 11.1% / 5.7%
Mount Burnett — 20-24: 11.1% Emerald — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 13.9% / 8.9%
Mount Burnett — 25-34: 13.9% Emerald — 25-34: 8.9%
35-44 7.8% / 12.7%
Mount Burnett — 35-44: 7.8% Emerald — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 20.6% / 15.4%
Mount Burnett — 45-54: 20.6% Emerald — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 14.4% / 13.9%
Mount Burnett — 55-64: 14.4% Emerald — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 11.1% / 11.7%
Mount Burnett — 65-74: 11.1% Emerald — 65-74: 11.7%
75-84 5.6% / 5.1%
Mount Burnett — 75-84: 5.6% Emerald — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ — / 1.7%
Mount Burnett — 85+: not among its largest Emerald — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Burnett 71.4% couple families
Mount Burnett — Couple Families: 71.4% Mount Burnett — Lone Person: 11.4% Mount Burnett — One Parent Families: 17.1% Mount Burnett — Group Household: 0.0% Mount Burnett — 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.

Mount Burnett 5.9% renting
Mount Burnett — Owned Outright: 49.0% Mount Burnett — Mortgage: 45.1% Mount Burnett — Renting: 5.9%
Emerald 8.5% renting
Emerald — Owned Outright: 39.5% Emerald — Mortgage: 52.0% Emerald — Renting: 8.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Mount Burnett Emerald
England 3.3% / 6.8%
Mount Burnett — England: 3.3% Emerald — England: 6.8%
New Zealand — / 1.2%
Mount Burnett — New Zealand: not among its largest Emerald — New Zealand: 1.2%
Netherlands — / 1.0%
Mount Burnett — Netherlands: not among its largest Emerald — Netherlands: 1.0%
Scotland — / 0.7%
Mount Burnett — Scotland: not among its largest Emerald — Scotland: 0.7%
Germany — / 0.6%
Mount Burnett — Germany: not among its largest Emerald — Germany: 0.6%

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

Qualifications

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

Mount Burnett Emerald
Certificate III & IV 13.9% / 16.6%
Mount Burnett — Certificate III & IV: 13.9% Emerald — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.1% / 9.8%
Mount Burnett — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.1% Emerald — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Bachelor Degree 2.8% / 13.0%
Mount Burnett — Bachelor Degree: 2.8% Emerald — Bachelor Degree: 13.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 3.7%
Mount Burnett — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Emerald — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.0%
Mount Burnett — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Emerald — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Burnett 100.0% houses
Mount Burnett — Houses: 100.0% Mount Burnett — Townhouses: 0.0% Mount Burnett — 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

Mount Burnett Emerald
Median house price — $930,000
Median unit price — $920,000
Median land price — $522,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 22 days
from 39 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Burnett has more land zoned for conservation (57% vs 19%); Mount Burnett has more rural and farming land (41% vs 13%).

Mount Burnett Emerald
Environmental 57% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 56%
Rural and farming 41% 13%
Residential 0% 9%
Parks and recreation 0% 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

Mount Burnett Emerald
New dwellings approved 1,323
across Cardinia
same for both
Approvals change year on year +13%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Mount Burnett Emerald
House price — Higher than 61% of VIC
Income Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 65% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 69% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC

Liveability

Mount Burnett Emerald
Grade — B
Score — 56/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

Mount Burnett carries more bushfire risk (100 vs 63); Mount Burnett carries more crime risk (53 vs 40).

Mount Burnett Emerald
Bushfire High
100/100
 Moderate
63/100
Crime Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Low
15/100
 Low
16/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Mount Burnett

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

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

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

Mobility

Mount Burnett sits further from the CBD (63.2 km vs 54.7 km).

Mount Burnett Emerald
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 63.2 km
+13% vs other
 54.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 65 min 60 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3781
 1.1%
postcode 3782
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3781
 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.

Mount Burnett Emerald
Car (driver) 70.5% / 65.4%
Mount Burnett — Car (driver): 70.5% Emerald — Car (driver): 65.4%
Worked from Home 25.6% / 27.7%
Mount Burnett — Worked from Home: 25.6% Emerald — Worked from Home: 27.7%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 4.4%
Mount Burnett — Car (passenger): 3.8% Emerald — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only — / 1.5%
Mount Burnett — Walked Only: not among its largest Emerald — Walked Only: 1.5%
Train — / 0.7%
Mount Burnett — Train: not among its largest Emerald — Train: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.5%).

Setting

Mount Burnett Emerald
Elevation 261 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 231 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 27.6 km 30.1 km

NBN connectivity

Mount Burnett Emerald
Connectivity score 29/100 57/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
54 premises
 23%
2,364 premises

Climate

Mount Burnett Emerald
Annual rainfall 1,350 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) — 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Mount Burnett Emerald
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ —
PM10 20.8 µg/m³ 15.5 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.98 pphm —

Council rates

Mount Burnett Emerald
Average residential rate $1,880/yr
same for both
Council Cardinia
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Burnett Emerald
Division La Trobe
same for both
Member Jason Wood
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mount Burnett

Rural Students

Emerald

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Burnett

Mount Burnett vs Cockatoo Mount Burnett vs Gembrook Mount Burnett vs Pakenham Upper Mount Burnett vs Dewhurst

Other comparisons with Emerald

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