Tambo Upper vs Swan Reach

Tambo Upper is the younger of the two, with a median age of 47 against 51 in Swan Reach. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Tambo Upper, most households are couple families. On these figures, Tambo Upper tends to suit couples, while Swan Reach suits people living alone and older residents.

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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 53/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 57%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 87%)
  • But Swan Reach 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

Swan Reach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($210/wk vs $268/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Swan Reach

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (226 min vs 231 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (303.8 km vs 307.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Swan Reach

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (14/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (32% vs 22%)
  • But Tambo Upper carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 53/100)

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

Investors

Swan Reach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.6% vs 0.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
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.

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Walkability 0 / 14
Tambo Upper — Walkability: 0/100 Swan Reach — Walkability: 14/100
Safety 64 / 47
Tambo Upper — Safety: 64/100 Swan Reach — Safety: 47/100
Low fire risk 6 / 47
Tambo Upper — Low fire risk: 6/100 Swan Reach — Low fire risk: 47/100
Low flood risk 100 / 42
Tambo Upper — Low flood risk: 100/100 Swan Reach — Low flood risk: 42/100

Demographics

Swan Reach has more residents (861 vs 325); Tambo Upper has higher household incomes ($84,500 vs $55,848).

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Population 325 861
+165% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.3% +14.6%
Median age 47 51
Median household income $84,500/yr
+34% vs other
 $55,848/yr
Median weekly rent $268/wk
+22% vs other
 $210/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
0-4 5.8% / 4.8%
Tambo Upper — 0-4: 5.8% Swan Reach — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 12.0% / 13.1%
Tambo Upper — 5-14: 12.0% Swan Reach — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 5.8% / 3.6%
Tambo Upper — 15-19: 5.8% Swan Reach — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 2.5% / 2.1%
Tambo Upper — 20-24: 2.5% Swan Reach — 20-24: 2.1%
25-34 8.9% / 9.3%
Tambo Upper — 25-34: 8.9% Swan Reach — 25-34: 9.3%
35-44 9.5% / 11.4%
Tambo Upper — 35-44: 9.5% Swan Reach — 35-44: 11.4%
45-54 14.8% / 10.7%
Tambo Upper — 45-54: 14.8% Swan Reach — 45-54: 10.7%
55-64 18.2% / 14.3%
Tambo Upper — 55-64: 18.2% Swan Reach — 55-64: 14.3%
65-74 15.4% / 21.0%
Tambo Upper — 65-74: 15.4% Swan Reach — 65-74: 21.0%
75-84 5.2% / 8.4%
Tambo Upper — 75-84: 5.2% Swan Reach — 75-84: 8.4%
85+ 1.2% / 2.2%
Tambo Upper — 85+: 1.2% Swan Reach — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Swan Reach 43.1% couple families
Swan Reach — Couple Families: 43.1% Swan Reach — Lone Person: 39.1% Swan Reach — One Parent Families: 13.9% Swan Reach — Group Household: 2.5% Swan Reach — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Tambo Upper 10.3% renting
Tambo Upper — Owned Outright: 47.9% Tambo Upper — Mortgage: 41.9% Tambo Upper — Renting: 10.3%
Swan Reach 12.0% renting
Swan Reach — Owned Outright: 53.1% Swan Reach — Mortgage: 35.0% Swan Reach — Renting: 12.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Certificate III & IV 20.3% / 19.7%
Tambo Upper — Certificate III & IV: 20.3% Swan Reach — Certificate III & IV: 19.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 8.0%
Tambo Upper — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Swan Reach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.0% / 8.2%
Tambo Upper — Bachelor Degree: 8.0% Swan Reach — Bachelor Degree: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.5%
Tambo Upper — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Swan Reach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%
Postgraduate Degree 1.2% / 1.0%
Tambo Upper — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2% Swan Reach — Postgraduate Degree: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.3%).

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.

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
England 1.2% / 4.2%
Tambo Upper — England: 1.2% Swan Reach — England: 4.2%
New Zealand 1.5% / 0.9%
Tambo Upper — New Zealand: 1.5% Swan Reach — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 1.2% / 1.0%
Tambo Upper — Scotland: 1.2% Swan Reach — Scotland: 1.0%
Philippines 1.2% / 0.5%
Tambo Upper — Philippines: 1.2% Swan Reach — Philippines: 0.5%
Germany 0.9% / 0.7%
Tambo Upper — Germany: 0.9% Swan Reach — Germany: 0.7%
Thailand — / 0.7%
Tambo Upper — Thailand: not among its largest Swan Reach — Thailand: 0.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Tambo Upper 100.0% houses
Tambo Upper — Houses: 100.0% Tambo Upper — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Swan Reach 86.9% houses
Swan Reach — Houses: 86.9% Swan Reach — Flats / Apartments: 13.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Median house price — $645,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $245,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 18 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Swan Reach has more rural and farming land (77% vs 52%).

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Rural and farming 52% 77%
Parks and recreation 47% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 7%
Residential 0% 2%
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

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

Ranking within VIC

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
House price — Higher than 37% of VIC
Income Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 24% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 51% of VIC —
NBN connectivity Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC

Liveability

Swan Reach is more walkable (14 vs 0).

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Grade — D
Score — 22/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Swan Reach carries more flood risk (58 vs 0); Tambo Upper carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 53).

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Bushfire High
94/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Low
36/100
 Moderate
53/100
Flood None
0/100
 Moderate
58/100
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

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

Schools in Tambo Upper

  • Tambo Upper Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Swan Reach

  • Swan Reach Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Parks & reserves 0 3
Childcare 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 6 1

Mobility

Tambo Upper sits further from the CBD (307.2 km vs 303.8 km).

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Walkability score 0/100 14/100
Distance to Melbourne 307.2 km
+1% vs other
 303.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 231 min 226 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3885
 0.0%
postcode 3903
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 55
postcode 3885
 55
postcode 3903

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.

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Car (driver) 73.4% / 76.8%
Tambo Upper — Car (driver): 73.4% Swan Reach — Car (driver): 76.8%
Worked from Home 18.9% / 18.3%
Tambo Upper — Worked from Home: 18.9% Swan Reach — Worked from Home: 18.3%
Car (passenger) 7.7% / 3.3%
Tambo Upper — Car (passenger): 7.7% Swan Reach — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only — / 1.6%
Tambo Upper — Walked Only: not among its largest Swan Reach — Walked Only: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.8%).

Setting

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
Elevation 79 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.2 km 11.1 km

NBN connectivity

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

Climate

Tambo Upper Swan Reach
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Tambo Upper

Rural

Swan Reach

Acreage Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Tambo Upper

Tambo Upper vs Nicholson Tambo Upper vs Bruthen Tambo Upper vs Sarsfield Tambo Upper vs Toorloo Arm Tambo Upper vs Johnsonville Tambo Upper vs Nowa Nowa

Other comparisons with Swan Reach

Swan Reach vs Metung Swan Reach vs Nungurner Swan Reach vs Johnsonville Swan Reach vs Kalimna West Swan Reach vs Bumberrah
Full data on Tambo Upper Full data on Swan Reach
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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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