Emerton vs Whalan
Whalan (median $875,000) is roughly 3% cheaper to buy into than Emerton ($900,000). Over the past year, Emerton (+12.5%) ran 0.3 percentage points ahead of Whalan (+12.2%) on house-price growth.
Buying in Emerton or Whalan?
Selling in Emerton? The free selling guide
Emerton and Whalan side by side
| Measure | Emerton | Whalan |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $900,000 | $875,000 |
| Median unit | $285,120 | $285,120 |
| House price change, 12 months | +12.5% | +12.2% |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $550/wk | $550/wk |
| Unit rent | $480/wk | $480/wk |
| Owner occupied | 42.0% | 44.0% |
| Renter occupied | 54.0% | 53.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 879 | 923 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 42 | 8 |
| Transit score | 0 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | 2,295 | 5,929 |
| Median age | 32 | 34 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 696 mm | 696 mm |
| Mean max, January | 30.3°C | 30.3°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Emerton scores higher on walkability (42/100 vs 8/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Whalan (923) sits above Emerton (879).
- For buyers
- Whalan is the lower entry point at $875,000 median, 3% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Investors face a yield-versus-growth split: Whalan delivers the better gross yield (3.27% vs 3.18%), but Emerton has run faster on capital growth this year. The right pick depends on whether you're optimising for cash flow or capital appreciation.
- For families
- Whalan edges out on average school ICSEA (923 vs 879).
Emerton vs Whalan: common questions
Is Emerton or Whalan cheaper to buy in?
Whalan has the lower median house price at $875,000, roughly 3% below Emerton ($900,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Emerton or Whalan?
Over the past 12 months, Emerton grew +12.5% vs +12.2% in Whalan, a gap of 0.3 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Emerton or Whalan have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Whalan scores 923 vs 879 in Emerton. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Emerton or Whalan?
Emerton scores 42/100 on walkability vs 8/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Emerton or Whalan?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.27% in Whalan vs 3.18% in Emerton. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
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