Sunbury vs Clarkefield

Sunbury is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 44 in Clarkefield. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Sunbury, about half of households are couple families. Sunbury is closer to the city centre: 44.2 km, against 49.2 km.

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

Sunbury

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (76 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (33 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 0)
  • But Clarkefield has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 88%)

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

First-home buyers

Sunbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 32%)

Weighs 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

Sunbury

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (46 min vs 55 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (44.2 km vs 49.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sunbury

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (9 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (67/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

Sunbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.7% vs -5.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sunbury Clarkefield
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.

Sunbury Clarkefield
Walkability 10 / 0
Sunbury — Walkability: 10/100 Clarkefield — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 33 / 11
Sunbury — Safety: 33/100 Clarkefield — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 55 / 32
Sunbury — Low fire risk: 55/100 Clarkefield — Low fire risk: 32/100
Low flood risk 70 / 100
Sunbury — Low flood risk: 70/100 Clarkefield — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Sunbury has more residents (38,851 vs 303); Clarkefield skews older (44 vs 38).

Sunbury Clarkefield
Population 38,851
+99% vs other
 303
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.7% -5.3%
Median age 38 44
Median household income $100,100/yr
+12% vs other
 $88,348/yr
Median weekly rent $361/wk
+4% vs other
 $345/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sunbury Clarkefield
0-4 6.0% / 5.0%
Sunbury — 0-4: 6.0% Clarkefield — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 13.0% / 12.5%
Sunbury — 5-14: 13.0% Clarkefield — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 6.1% / 5.3%
Sunbury — 15-19: 6.1% Clarkefield — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.0% / 4.6%
Sunbury — 20-24: 6.0% Clarkefield — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 14.1% / 12.5%
Sunbury — 25-34: 14.1% Clarkefield — 25-34: 12.5%
35-44 13.5% / 9.2%
Sunbury — 35-44: 13.5% Clarkefield — 35-44: 9.2%
45-54 13.6% / 14.2%
Sunbury — 45-54: 13.6% Clarkefield — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 12.5% / 16.5%
Sunbury — 55-64: 12.5% Clarkefield — 55-64: 16.5%
65-74 9.1% / 9.6%
Sunbury — 65-74: 9.1% Clarkefield — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 4.3% / 7.9%
Sunbury — 75-84: 4.3% Clarkefield — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 1.7% / —
Sunbury — 85+: 1.7% Clarkefield — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sunbury 48.9% couple families
Sunbury — Couple Families: 48.9% Sunbury — Lone Person: 29.2% Sunbury — One Parent Families: 17.6% Sunbury — Group Household: 3.0% Sunbury — Other Families: 1.3%
Clarkefield 44.3% couple families
Clarkefield — Couple Families: 44.3% Clarkefield — Lone Person: 31.6% Clarkefield — One Parent Families: 20.3% Clarkefield — Group Household: 3.8% Clarkefield — 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.

Sunbury 20.8% renting
Sunbury — Owned Outright: 31.4% Sunbury — Mortgage: 47.8% Sunbury — Renting: 20.8%
Clarkefield 16.9% renting
Clarkefield — Owned Outright: 44.6% Clarkefield — Mortgage: 38.6% Clarkefield — Renting: 16.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sunbury Clarkefield
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 15.8%
Sunbury — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% Clarkefield — Certificate III & IV: 15.8%
Bachelor Degree 10.4% / 7.9%
Sunbury — Bachelor Degree: 10.4% Clarkefield — Bachelor Degree: 7.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 5.0%
Sunbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Clarkefield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.0%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 1.3%
Sunbury — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Clarkefield — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / —
Sunbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Clarkefield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

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.

Sunbury Clarkefield
England 3.4% / 1.0%
Sunbury — England: 3.4% Clarkefield — England: 1.0%
Italy 0.6% / 3.3%
Sunbury — Italy: 0.6% Clarkefield — Italy: 3.3%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.0%
Sunbury — New Zealand: 1.7% Clarkefield — New Zealand: 1.0%
India 1.7% / —
Sunbury — India: 1.7% Clarkefield — India: not among its largest
Greece — / 1.0%
Sunbury — Greece: not among its largest Clarkefield — Greece: 1.0%
Lebanon — / 1.0%
Sunbury — Lebanon: not among its largest Clarkefield — Lebanon: 1.0%
Philippines 0.9% / —
Sunbury — Philippines: 0.9% Clarkefield — Philippines: not among its largest
Scotland 0.6% / —
Sunbury — Scotland: 0.6% Clarkefield — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sunbury 88.5% houses
Sunbury — Houses: 88.5% Sunbury — Flats / Apartments: 7.4% Sunbury — Townhouses: 4.1%
Clarkefield 100.0% houses
Clarkefield — Houses: 100.0% Clarkefield — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Clarkefield — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Sunbury Clarkefield
Median house price $711,000 —
Median unit price $517,058 —
Median land price $645,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 793 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Clarkefield has more rural and farming land (98% vs 50%).

Sunbury Clarkefield
Rural and farming 50% 98%
Residential 32% 0%
Environmental 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 1%
Other and special use 2% 0%
Parks and recreation 2% 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

Sunbury Clarkefield
New dwellings approved 3,063
across Hume
 331
across Macedon Ranges
Approvals change year on year +0% +80%

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.

Sunbury Clarkefield
Houses 3.8%
$550/wk on $745K
 —
Units 4.1%
$430/wk on $540K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Sunbury Clarkefield
House price Higher than 40% of VIC —
Income Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Schools Higher than 10% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 31% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 83% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 71% of VIC —
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 57% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 14% of VIC —

Liveability

Sunbury is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Sunbury Clarkefield
Grade C —
Score 37/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Sunbury carries more flood risk (30 vs 0); Clarkefield carries more bushfire risk (68 vs 45).

Sunbury Clarkefield
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime Moderate
67/100
 High
89/100
Flood Low
30/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Sunbury Clarkefield
Inside the suburb 15 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 7 0
Rated below peers 6 0

Schools in Sunbury

  • Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Killara Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Kismet Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Red Rock Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Salesian College Sunbury Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Anne's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Clarkefield

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

Amenities in the suburb

Sunbury Clarkefield
Supermarkets 8 0
Cafes & restaurants 10 0
Parks & reserves 76 0
Childcare 33 0
GPs 9 0
Pharmacies 10 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 0
Fuel stations 5 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 56 7

Mobility

Clarkefield sits further from the CBD (49.2 km vs 44.2 km).

Sunbury Clarkefield
Walkability score 10/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 44.2 km 49.2 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 46 min 55 min
Public transport score 84/100
Rail · Bus
 41/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 574.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 9 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3429
 0.0%
postcode 3430
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3429
 44
postcode 3430

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.

Sunbury Clarkefield
Car (driver) 65.8% / 66.2%
Sunbury — Car (driver): 65.8% Clarkefield — Car (driver): 66.2%
Worked from Home 25.6% / 30.1%
Sunbury — Worked from Home: 25.6% Clarkefield — Worked from Home: 30.1%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.7%
Sunbury — Car (passenger): 4.2% Clarkefield — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Train 2.8% / —
Sunbury — Train: 2.8% Clarkefield — Train: not among its largest
Walked Only 1.0% / —
Sunbury — Walked Only: 1.0% Clarkefield — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.2%).

Setting

Sunbury Clarkefield
Elevation 276 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 323 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 36.9 km 40.5 km

NBN connectivity

Sunbury Clarkefield
Connectivity score 76/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
18,150 premises
 0%
130 premises

Climate

Sunbury Clarkefield
Annual rainfall 518 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C
same for both

Council rates

Sunbury Clarkefield
Average residential rate $1,715/yr $2,065/yr
Council Hume Macedon Ranges

Federal electorate

Sunbury Clarkefield
Division Hawke Mcewen
Member Sam Rae Rob Mitchell
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sunbury Clarkefield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sunbury

Acreage Outer Transport Hub

Clarkefield

Outer Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sunbury

Sunbury vs Gisborne Sunbury vs Diggers Rest Sunbury vs Riddells Creek Sunbury vs Gisborne South Sunbury vs Bulla Sunbury vs Wildwood

Other comparisons with Clarkefield

Clarkefield vs Mickleham Clarkefield vs Beveridge Clarkefield vs Riddells Creek Clarkefield vs Oaklands Junction Clarkefield vs Darraweit Guim Clarkefield vs Wildwood
Full data on Sunbury Full data on Clarkefield
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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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