Sarsfield vs Nicholson

Nicholson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 50 in Sarsfield. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families.

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

Sarsfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 60/100)

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

First-home buyers

Sarsfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($250,000 vs $380,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sarsfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 22%)
  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Nicholson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Sarsfield carries lower crime risk (26/100 vs 60/100)
  • Nicholson is more walkable (22/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Nicholson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (20.7% vs -13.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sarsfield Nicholson
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.

Sarsfield Nicholson
Walkability 0 / 22
Sarsfield — Walkability: 0/100 Nicholson — Walkability: 22/100
Safety 74 / 40
Sarsfield — Safety: 74/100 Nicholson — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 5 / 6
Sarsfield — Low fire risk: 5/100 Nicholson — Low fire risk: 6/100
Low flood risk 100 / 33
Sarsfield — Low flood risk: 100/100 Nicholson — Low flood risk: 33/100

Demographics

Nicholson has more residents (1,322 vs 543); Nicholson rents higher ($300/wk vs $200/wk).

Sarsfield Nicholson
Population 543 1,322
+143% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -13.1% +20.7%
Median age 50 47
Median household income $73,996/yr
+2% vs other
 $72,280/yr
Median weekly rent $200/wk $300/wk
+50% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sarsfield Nicholson
0-4 1.8% / 5.2%
Sarsfield — 0-4: 1.8% Nicholson — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 14.0% / 12.6%
Sarsfield — 5-14: 14.0% Nicholson — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 4.4% / 5.5%
Sarsfield — 15-19: 4.4% Nicholson — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 4.2% / 4.2%
Sarsfield — 20-24: 4.2% Nicholson — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 7.9% / 10.2%
Sarsfield — 25-34: 7.9% Nicholson — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 11.2% / 9.1%
Sarsfield — 35-44: 11.2% Nicholson — 35-44: 9.1%
45-54 13.1% / 11.8%
Sarsfield — 45-54: 13.1% Nicholson — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 19.7% / 16.0%
Sarsfield — 55-64: 19.7% Nicholson — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 18.0% / 15.8%
Sarsfield — 65-74: 18.0% Nicholson — 65-74: 15.8%
75-84 5.7% / 7.8%
Sarsfield — 75-84: 5.7% Nicholson — 75-84: 7.8%
85+ 1.3% / 1.8%
Sarsfield — 85+: 1.3% Nicholson — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sarsfield 48.0% couple families
Sarsfield — Couple Families: 48.0% Sarsfield — Lone Person: 40.8% Sarsfield — One Parent Families: 11.2% Sarsfield — Group Household: 0.0% Sarsfield — Other Families: 0.0%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sarsfield 8.9% renting
Sarsfield — Owned Outright: 56.2% Sarsfield — Mortgage: 35.0% Sarsfield — Renting: 8.9%
Nicholson 7.7% renting
Nicholson — Owned Outright: 51.8% Nicholson — Mortgage: 40.5% Nicholson — Renting: 7.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sarsfield Nicholson
Certificate III & IV 17.9% / 21.6%
Sarsfield — Certificate III & IV: 17.9% Nicholson — Certificate III & IV: 21.6%
Bachelor Degree 10.7% / 7.7%
Sarsfield — Bachelor Degree: 10.7% Nicholson — Bachelor Degree: 7.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 8.4%
Sarsfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Nicholson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 1.5%
Sarsfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Nicholson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 1.4%
Sarsfield — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Nicholson — Postgraduate Degree: 1.4%

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

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.

Sarsfield Nicholson
England 4.6% / 4.0%
Sarsfield — England: 4.6% Nicholson — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 2.0% / 0.9%
Sarsfield — New Zealand: 2.0% Nicholson — New Zealand: 0.9%
Sri Lanka 1.3% / —
Sarsfield — Sri Lanka: 1.3% Nicholson — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Germany 0.7% / 0.5%
Sarsfield — Germany: 0.7% Nicholson — Germany: 0.5%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.5%
Sarsfield — Scotland: 0.6% Nicholson — Scotland: 0.5%
South Africa 0.9% / —
Sarsfield — South Africa: 0.9% Nicholson — South Africa: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.5%
Sarsfield — Philippines: not among its largest Nicholson — Philippines: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sarsfield 95.2% houses
Sarsfield — Houses: 95.2% Sarsfield — Flats / Apartments: 1.9% Sarsfield — Townhouses: 2.9%
Nicholson 93.1% houses
Nicholson — Houses: 93.1% Nicholson — Flats / Apartments: 6.9% Nicholson — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Sarsfield Nicholson
Median house price $700,000 $710,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $250,000 $380,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 50 days
from 3 sales
 104 days
from 16 sales

Zoning mix

Sarsfield Nicholson
Rural and farming 86%
same for both
Parks and recreation 9% 10%
Residential 4%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 2% 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

Sarsfield Nicholson
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.

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

Ranking within VIC

Sarsfield Nicholson
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 47% of VIC —
NBN connectivity Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 61% of VIC

Liveability

Nicholson is more walkable (22 vs 0); Sarsfield scores higher overall (38 vs 18).

Sarsfield Nicholson
Grade C D
Score 38/100 18/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Nicholson carries more flood risk (67 vs 0); Nicholson carries more crime risk (60 vs 26).

Sarsfield Nicholson
Bushfire High
95/100
 High
94/100
Crime Low
26/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood None
0/100
 Moderate
67/100
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

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

Schools in Sarsfield

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

Schools in Nicholson

  • Nicholson Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sarsfield Nicholson
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 3 7

Mobility

Sarsfield Nicholson
Walkability score 0/100 22/100
Distance to Melbourne 296.4 km 294.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 221 min
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3875
 0.0%
postcode 3882
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3875
 62
postcode 3882

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.

Sarsfield Nicholson
Car (driver) 73.2% / 79.4%
Sarsfield — Car (driver): 73.2% Nicholson — Car (driver): 79.4%
Worked from Home 24.4% / 13.2%
Sarsfield — Worked from Home: 24.4% Nicholson — Worked from Home: 13.2%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 4.6%
Sarsfield — Car (passenger): 2.3% Nicholson — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Walked Only — / 2.0%
Sarsfield — Walked Only: not among its largest Nicholson — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bus — / 0.7%
Sarsfield — Bus: not among its largest Nicholson — Bus: 0.7%

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

Setting

Sarsfield Nicholson
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.7 km 15.6 km

NBN connectivity

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

Climate

Sarsfield Nicholson
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Sarsfield

Retirees Rural

Nicholson

Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sarsfield

Sarsfield vs Lucknow Sarsfield vs Tambo Upper Sarsfield vs Granite Rock Sarsfield vs Wiseleigh Sarsfield vs Mossiface

Other comparisons with Nicholson

Nicholson vs Metung Nicholson vs Lucknow Nicholson vs East Bairnsdale Nicholson vs Eagle Point Nicholson vs Johnsonville Nicholson vs Tambo Upper
Full data on Sarsfield Full data on Nicholson
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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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