Sunbury vs Riddells Creek

Sunbury is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 42 in Riddells Creek. 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. In Riddells Creek, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Riddells Creek: a median of $1.06 million, against $711,000 in Sunbury, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Sunbury tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Riddells Creek suits 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

Sunbury

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (33 vs 5)
  • has more parks and reserves (76 vs 12)
  • But Riddells Creek carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 67/100)

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

First-home buyers

Sunbury

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($711,000 vs $1,064,000)
  • has cheaper units ($517,058 vs $590,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sunbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($361/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sunbury

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (44.2 km vs 62.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (46 min vs 54 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sunbury

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (9 vs 2)
  • But Riddells Creek carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 67/100)

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

Investors

Sunbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 2.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Sunbury and Riddells Creek 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 Riddells Creek
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 Riddells Creek
Walkability 10 / 0
Sunbury — Walkability: 10/100 Riddells Creek — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 33 / 56
Sunbury — Safety: 33/100 Riddells Creek — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 55 / 21
Sunbury — Low fire risk: 55/100 Riddells Creek — Low fire risk: 21/100
Low flood risk 70 / 86
Sunbury — Low flood risk: 70/100 Riddells Creek — Low flood risk: 86/100

Demographics

Sunbury has more residents (38,851 vs 4,390); Riddells Creek has higher household incomes ($111,800 vs $100,100).

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Population 38,851
+89% vs other
 4,390
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.7% +11.2%
Median age 38 42
Median household income $100,100/yr $111,800/yr
+12% vs other
Median weekly rent $361/wk $400/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sunbury Riddells Creek
0-4 6.0% / 5.1%
Sunbury — 0-4: 6.0% Riddells Creek — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 13.0% / 14.3%
Sunbury — 5-14: 13.0% Riddells Creek — 5-14: 14.3%
15-19 6.1% / 7.1%
Sunbury — 15-19: 6.1% Riddells Creek — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 6.0% / 5.2%
Sunbury — 20-24: 6.0% Riddells Creek — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 14.1% / 9.0%
Sunbury — 25-34: 14.1% Riddells Creek — 25-34: 9.0%
35-44 13.5% / 12.3%
Sunbury — 35-44: 13.5% Riddells Creek — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 13.6% / 15.6%
Sunbury — 45-54: 13.6% Riddells Creek — 45-54: 15.6%
55-64 12.5% / 14.8%
Sunbury — 55-64: 12.5% Riddells Creek — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 9.1% / 11.0%
Sunbury — 65-74: 9.1% Riddells Creek — 65-74: 11.0%
75-84 4.3% / 5.0%
Sunbury — 75-84: 4.3% Riddells Creek — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 1.7% / 0.8%
Sunbury — 85+: 1.7% Riddells Creek — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

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%
Riddells Creek 59.6% couple families
Riddells Creek — Couple Families: 59.6% Riddells Creek — Lone Person: 23.1% Riddells Creek — One Parent Families: 14.4% Riddells Creek — Group Household: 2.0% Riddells Creek — Other Families: 1.0%
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%
Riddells Creek 11.7% renting
Riddells Creek — Owned Outright: 38.8% Riddells Creek — Mortgage: 49.5% Riddells Creek — Renting: 11.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Certificate III & IV 17.5% / 18.1%
Sunbury — Certificate III & IV: 17.5% Riddells Creek — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Bachelor Degree 10.4% / 12.0%
Sunbury — Bachelor Degree: 10.4% Riddells Creek — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 9.2%
Sunbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Riddells Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 3.7%
Sunbury — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Riddells Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.1%
Sunbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Riddells Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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 Riddells Creek
England 3.4% / 4.2%
Sunbury — England: 3.4% Riddells Creek — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.2%
Sunbury — New Zealand: 1.7% Riddells Creek — New Zealand: 1.2%
India 1.7% / 0.3%
Sunbury — India: 1.7% Riddells Creek — India: 0.3%
Scotland 0.6% / 0.5%
Sunbury — Scotland: 0.6% Riddells Creek — Scotland: 0.5%
Germany 0.5% / 0.5%
Sunbury — Germany: 0.5% Riddells Creek — Germany: 0.5%
Italy 0.6% / 0.4%
Sunbury — Italy: 0.6% Riddells Creek — Italy: 0.4%
Philippines 0.9% / —
Sunbury — Philippines: 0.9% Riddells Creek — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sunbury 88.5% houses
Sunbury — Houses: 88.5% Sunbury — Townhouses: 4.1% Sunbury — Flats / Apartments: 7.4%
Riddells Creek 94.4% houses
Riddells Creek — Houses: 94.4% Riddells Creek — Townhouses: 5.3% Riddells Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Median house price $711,000 $1,064,000
Median unit price $517,058 $590,000
Median land price $645,000 $655,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 793 sales
 34 days
from 44 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.

Sunbury Riddells Creek
3 bed $655K / $790K
Sunbury — 3 bed: $655K (527 sales) Riddells Creek — 3 bed: $790K (25 sales)

527 vs 25 sales

4 bed $760K / $1.16M
Sunbury — 4 bed: $760K (573 sales) Riddells Creek — 4 bed: $1.16M (44 sales)

573 vs 44 sales

5 bed $900K / $1.08M
Sunbury — 5 bed: $900K (52 sales) Riddells Creek — 5 bed: $1.08M (7 sales)

52 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Riddells Creek has more land zoned for conservation (26% vs 8%).

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Rural and farming 50% 48%
Residential 32% 15%
Environmental 8% 26%
Parks and recreation 2% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 2%
Other and special use 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

Sunbury Riddells Creek
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 Riddells Creek
Houses 3.8%
$550/wk on $745K
 2.8%
$640/wk on $1.2M
Units 4.1%
$430/wk on $540K
 3.6%
$470/wk on $679K

Ranking within VIC

Sunbury Riddells Creek
House price Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
Income Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Schools Higher than 10% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC

Liveability

Sunbury is more walkable (10 vs 0); Riddells Creek scores higher overall (47 vs 37).

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Grade C
same for both
Score 37/100 47/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Sunbury carries more flood risk (30 vs 14); Riddells Creek carries more bushfire risk (79 vs 45).

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 High
79/100
Crime Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood Low
30/100
 Low
14/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Inside the suburb 15 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 7 1
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 Riddells Creek

  • Riddells Creek Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Supermarkets 8 1
Cafes & restaurants 10 4
Parks & reserves 76 12
Childcare 33 5
GPs 9 2
Pharmacies 10 0
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 5 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 56 95

Mobility

Riddells Creek sits further from the CBD (62.2 km vs 44.2 km).

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Walkability score 10/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 44.2 km 62.2 km
+41% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 46 min 54 min
Public transport score 84/100
Rail · Bus
 37/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 574.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 18 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3429
 0.9%
postcode 3431
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3429
 54
postcode 3431

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 Riddells Creek
Car (driver) 65.8% / 63.9%
Sunbury — Car (driver): 65.8% Riddells Creek — Car (driver): 63.9%
Worked from Home 25.6% / 28.6%
Sunbury — Worked from Home: 25.6% Riddells Creek — Worked from Home: 28.6%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.7%
Sunbury — Car (passenger): 4.2% Riddells Creek — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Train 2.8% / 2.7%
Sunbury — Train: 2.8% Riddells Creek — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.2%
Sunbury — Walked Only: 1.0% Riddells Creek — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.8%).

Setting

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Elevation 276 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 397 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 36.9 km 48.5 km

NBN connectivity

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Connectivity score 76/100 63/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
18,150 premises
 42%
1,786 premises

Climate

Sunbury Riddells Creek
Annual rainfall 518 mm 778 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C —
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C —

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Sunbury Riddells Creek
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

Riddells Creek

Acreage Outer River Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sunbury

Sunbury vs Gisborne Sunbury vs Diggers Rest Sunbury vs Gisborne South Sunbury vs Bulla Sunbury vs Clarkefield Sunbury vs Wildwood

Other comparisons with Riddells Creek

Riddells Creek vs Gisborne Riddells Creek vs Romsey Riddells Creek vs New Gisborne Riddells Creek vs Mount Macedon Riddells Creek vs Clarkefield Riddells Creek vs Monegeetta
Full data on Sunbury Full data on Riddells Creek
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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