Nicholson vs Tambo Upper

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Nicholson, about half of households are couple families. In Tambo Upper, most households are couple families. On these figures, Tambo Upper tends to suit couples.

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

Tambo Upper

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 60/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 60%)
  • But Nicholson has more parks and reserves (3 vs 0)

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

Tambo Upper

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($268/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Nicholson

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (221 min vs 231 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (294.8 km vs 307.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Nicholson is more walkable (22/100 vs 0/100)
  • Tambo Upper carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 60/100)

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

Investors

Nicholson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.7% vs 0.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Nicholson Tambo Upper
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.

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Walkability 22 / 0
Nicholson — Walkability: 22/100 Tambo Upper — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 40 / 64
Nicholson — Safety: 40/100 Tambo Upper — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 6 / 6
Nicholson — Low fire risk: 6/100 Tambo Upper — Low fire risk: 6/100
Low flood risk 33 / 100
Nicholson — Low flood risk: 33/100 Tambo Upper — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Nicholson has more residents (1,322 vs 325); Tambo Upper has higher household incomes ($84,500 vs $72,280).

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Population 1,322
+75% vs other
 325
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +20.7% +0.3%
Median age 47
same for both
Median household income $72,280/yr $84,500/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+11% vs other
 $268/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nicholson Tambo Upper
0-4 5.2% / 5.8%
Nicholson — 0-4: 5.2% Tambo Upper — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 12.6% / 12.0%
Nicholson — 5-14: 12.6% Tambo Upper — 5-14: 12.0%
15-19 5.5% / 5.8%
Nicholson — 15-19: 5.5% Tambo Upper — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 4.2% / 2.5%
Nicholson — 20-24: 4.2% Tambo Upper — 20-24: 2.5%
25-34 10.2% / 8.9%
Nicholson — 25-34: 10.2% Tambo Upper — 25-34: 8.9%
35-44 9.1% / 9.5%
Nicholson — 35-44: 9.1% Tambo Upper — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 11.8% / 14.8%
Nicholson — 45-54: 11.8% Tambo Upper — 45-54: 14.8%
55-64 16.0% / 18.2%
Nicholson — 55-64: 16.0% Tambo Upper — 55-64: 18.2%
65-74 15.8% / 15.4%
Nicholson — 65-74: 15.8% Tambo Upper — 65-74: 15.4%
75-84 7.8% / 5.2%
Nicholson — 75-84: 7.8% Tambo Upper — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 1.8% / 1.2%
Nicholson — 85+: 1.8% Tambo Upper — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nicholson 45.8% couple families
Nicholson — Couple Families: 45.8% Nicholson — Lone Person: 35.7% Nicholson — One Parent Families: 14.4% Nicholson — Group Household: 3.1% Nicholson — Other Families: 0.9%
Tambo Upper 57.9% couple families
Tambo Upper — Couple Families: 57.9% Tambo Upper — Lone Person: 30.3% Tambo Upper — One Parent Families: 11.8% Tambo Upper — Group Household: 0.0% Tambo Upper — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Nicholson 7.7% renting
Nicholson — Owned Outright: 51.8% Nicholson — Mortgage: 40.5% Nicholson — Renting: 7.7%
Tambo Upper 10.3% renting
Tambo Upper — Owned Outright: 47.9% Tambo Upper — Mortgage: 41.9% Tambo Upper — Renting: 10.3%
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.

Nicholson Tambo Upper
England 4.0% / 1.2%
Nicholson — England: 4.0% Tambo Upper — England: 1.2%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.5%
Nicholson — New Zealand: 0.9% Tambo Upper — New Zealand: 1.5%
Philippines 0.5% / 1.2%
Nicholson — Philippines: 0.5% Tambo Upper — Philippines: 1.2%
Scotland 0.5% / 1.2%
Nicholson — Scotland: 0.5% Tambo Upper — Scotland: 1.2%
Germany 0.5% / 0.9%
Nicholson — Germany: 0.5% Tambo Upper — Germany: 0.9%

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

Qualifications

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

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Certificate III & IV 21.6% / 20.3%
Nicholson — Certificate III & IV: 21.6% Tambo Upper — Certificate III & IV: 20.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.6%
Nicholson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Tambo Upper — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Bachelor Degree 7.7% / 8.0%
Nicholson — Bachelor Degree: 7.7% Tambo Upper — Bachelor Degree: 8.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.8%
Nicholson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Tambo Upper — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%
Postgraduate Degree 1.4% / 1.2%
Nicholson — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4% Tambo Upper — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nicholson 93.1% houses
Nicholson — Houses: 93.1% Nicholson — Flats / Apartments: 6.9%
Tambo Upper 100.0% houses
Tambo Upper — Houses: 100.0% Tambo Upper — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Median house price $710,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $380,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 104 days
from 16 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Nicholson has more rural and farming land (86% vs 52%).

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Rural and farming 86% 52%
Parks and recreation 10% 47%
Residential 4% 0%
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

Nicholson Tambo Upper
New dwellings approved 386
across East Gippsland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
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.

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Houses 3.9%
$600/wk on $799K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Nicholson Tambo Upper
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 37% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption — Higher than 51% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 61% of VIC —

Liveability

Nicholson is more walkable (22 vs 0).

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Grade D —
Score 18/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Nicholson carries more flood risk (67 vs 0); Nicholson carries more crime risk (60 vs 36).

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Bushfire High
94/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
60/100
 Low
36/100
Flood Moderate
67/100
 None
0/100
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

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Nicholson

  • Nicholson Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Tambo Upper

  • Tambo Upper Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Parks & reserves 3 0
Childcare 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 7 6

Mobility

Tambo Upper sits further from the CBD (307.2 km vs 294.8 km).

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Walkability score 22/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 294.8 km 307.2 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 221 min 231 min
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 3882
 0.5%
postcode 3885
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 62
postcode 3882
 55
postcode 3885

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.

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Car (driver) 79.4% / 73.4%
Nicholson — Car (driver): 79.4% Tambo Upper — Car (driver): 73.4%
Worked from Home 13.2% / 18.9%
Nicholson — Worked from Home: 13.2% Tambo Upper — Worked from Home: 18.9%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 7.7%
Nicholson — Car (passenger): 4.6% Tambo Upper — Car (passenger): 7.7%
Walked Only 2.0% / —
Nicholson — Walked Only: 2.0% Tambo Upper — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 0.7% / —
Nicholson — Bus: 0.7% Tambo Upper — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.4%).

Setting

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 79 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.6 km 15.2 km

NBN connectivity

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Connectivity score 30/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
613 premises
 0%
161 premises

Climate

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Annual rainfall 620 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Average residential rate $1,807/yr
same for both
Council East Gippsland
same for both

Federal electorate

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Division Gippsland
same for both
Member Darren Chester
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Nicholson Tambo Upper
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Nicholson

Retirees Rural

Tambo Upper

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nicholson

Nicholson vs Metung Nicholson vs Lucknow Nicholson vs East Bairnsdale Nicholson vs Eagle Point Nicholson vs Sarsfield Nicholson vs Johnsonville

Other comparisons with Tambo Upper

Tambo Upper vs Swan Reach Tambo Upper vs Bruthen Tambo Upper vs Sarsfield Tambo Upper vs Toorloo Arm Tambo Upper vs Johnsonville Tambo Upper vs Nowa Nowa
Full data on Nicholson Full data on Tambo Upper
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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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