Arthurs Creek vs Doreen

Doreen is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 52 in Arthurs Creek. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Arthurs Creek: a median of $1.78 million, against $806,000 in Doreen, though rent is higher in Doreen. Doreen is closer to the city centre: 35.8 km, against 45.1 km. On these figures, Arthurs Creek tends to suit older residents, while Doreen suits families with children and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Doreen

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (130 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (16 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 1)
  • But Arthurs Creek carries lower crime risk (27/100 vs 39/100)

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

First-home buyers

Doreen

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($805,500 vs $1,785,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 27%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Arthurs Creek

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (10% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($218/wk vs $397/wk)
  • But Doreen has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 4%)

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

Commuting to the city

Doreen

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (35.8 km vs 45.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (51 min vs 58 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Arthurs Creek has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 8%)
  • Doreen is more walkable (40/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Doreen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (27.3% vs -3.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Arthurs Creek Doreen
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.

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Walkability 0 / 40
Arthurs Creek — Walkability: 0/100 Doreen — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 73 / 61
Arthurs Creek — Safety: 73/100 Doreen — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 2 / 74
Arthurs Creek — Low fire risk: 2/100 Doreen — Low fire risk: 74/100
Low flood risk 100 / 62
Arthurs Creek — Low flood risk: 100/100 Doreen — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Doreen has more residents (27,122 vs 478); Doreen rents higher ($397/wk vs $218/wk).

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Population 478 27,122
+5574% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.6% +27.3%
Median age 52 33
Median household income $115,128/yr
+3% vs other
 $111,852/yr
Median weekly rent $218/wk $397/wk
+82% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Arthurs Creek Doreen
0-4 3.6% / 8.5%
Arthurs Creek — 0-4: 3.6% Doreen — 0-4: 8.5%
5-14 9.2% / 18.4%
Arthurs Creek — 5-14: 9.2% Doreen — 5-14: 18.4%
15-19 6.1% / 6.8%
Arthurs Creek — 15-19: 6.1% Doreen — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 7.1% / 4.9%
Arthurs Creek — 20-24: 7.1% Doreen — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 6.7% / 13.9%
Arthurs Creek — 25-34: 6.7% Doreen — 25-34: 13.9%
35-44 7.5% / 18.6%
Arthurs Creek — 35-44: 7.5% Doreen — 35-44: 18.6%
45-54 13.2% / 13.0%
Arthurs Creek — 45-54: 13.2% Doreen — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 19.5% / 7.6%
Arthurs Creek — 55-64: 19.5% Doreen — 55-64: 7.6%
65-74 15.9% / 5.7%
Arthurs Creek — 65-74: 15.9% Doreen — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 8.6% / 2.3%
Arthurs Creek — 75-84: 8.6% Doreen — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 1.3% / 0.3%
Arthurs Creek — 85+: 1.3% Doreen — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Arthurs Creek 66.7% couple families
Arthurs Creek — Couple Families: 66.7% Arthurs Creek — Lone Person: 19.8% Arthurs Creek — One Parent Families: 9.4% Arthurs Creek — Group Household: 4.2% Arthurs Creek — Other Families: 0.0%
Doreen 61.8% couple families
Doreen — Couple Families: 61.8% Doreen — Lone Person: 17.8% Doreen — One Parent Families: 17.6% Doreen — Group Household: 1.8% Doreen — 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.

Arthurs Creek 4.3% renting
Arthurs Creek — Owned Outright: 57.1% Arthurs Creek — Mortgage: 38.6% Arthurs Creek — Renting: 4.3%
Doreen 21.6% renting
Doreen — Owned Outright: 19.3% Doreen — Mortgage: 59.1% Doreen — Renting: 21.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 15.2%
Arthurs Creek — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Doreen — Certificate III & IV: 15.2%
Bachelor Degree 13.4% / 11.6%
Arthurs Creek — Bachelor Degree: 13.4% Doreen — Bachelor Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 13.0% / 8.8%
Arthurs Creek — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 13.0% Doreen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 3.7%
Arthurs Creek — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Doreen — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 2.0%
Arthurs Creek — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Doreen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

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.

Arthurs Creek Doreen
England 4.0% / 2.5%
Arthurs Creek — England: 4.0% Doreen — England: 2.5%
India — / 3.9%
Arthurs Creek — India: not among its largest Doreen — India: 3.9%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.2%
Arthurs Creek — New Zealand: 1.7% Doreen — New Zealand: 1.2%
Sri Lanka — / 1.1%
Arthurs Creek — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Doreen — Sri Lanka: 1.1%
China 0.8% / —
Arthurs Creek — China: 0.8% Doreen — China: not among its largest
Iran — / 0.8%
Arthurs Creek — Iran: not among its largest Doreen — Iran: 0.8%
Malaysia 0.6% / —
Arthurs Creek — Malaysia: 0.6% Doreen — Malaysia: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Arthurs Creek 99.4% houses
Arthurs Creek — Houses: 99.4% Arthurs Creek — Townhouses: 0.0% Arthurs Creek — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Doreen 94.6% houses
Doreen — Houses: 94.6% Doreen — Townhouses: 5.1% Doreen — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Median house price $1,785,000 $805,500
Median unit price — $570,000
Median land price — $747,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 20 days
from 359 sales

Zoning mix

Arthurs Creek has more rural and farming land (70% vs 38%).

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Rural and farming 70% 38%
Residential 0% 33%
Environmental 29% 21%
Parks and recreation 0% 3%
Other and special use 0% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
same for both
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

Arthurs Creek Doreen
New dwellings approved 98
across Nillumbik
same for both
Approvals change year on year +8%
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.

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Houses — 3.8%
$585/wk on $810K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Arthurs Creek Doreen
House price — Higher than 52% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 41% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 81% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 68% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 51% of VIC

Liveability

Doreen is more walkable (40 vs 0).

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Grade — B
Score — 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Doreen carries more flood risk (38 vs 0); Arthurs Creek carries more bushfire risk (98 vs 26).

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Bushfire High
98/100
 Low
26/100
Crime Low
27/100
 Low
39/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Inside the suburb 1 8
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 4
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Arthurs Creek

  • Arthurs Creek Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Doreen

  • Doreen Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ashley Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Hazel Glen College Government · Combined at peers
  • Laurimar Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Plenty Valley Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Paul the Apostle Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 6
Parks & reserves 1 130
Childcare 0 16
GPs 0 7
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 1 7

Mobility

Arthurs Creek sits further from the CBD (45.1 km vs 35.8 km).

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Walkability score 0/100 40/100
Distance to Melbourne 45.1 km
+21% vs other
 35.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 58 min 51 min
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3099
 1.2%
postcode 3754
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 3099
 45
postcode 3754

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.

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Car (driver) 62.1% / 65.4%
Arthurs Creek — Car (driver): 62.1% Doreen — Car (driver): 65.4%
Worked from Home 29.2% / 27.0%
Arthurs Creek — Worked from Home: 29.2% Doreen — Worked from Home: 27.0%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 3.5%
Arthurs Creek — Car (passenger): 2.3% Doreen — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 4.6% / 0.6%
Arthurs Creek — Walked Only: 4.6% Doreen — Walked Only: 0.6%
Train 1.8% / 3.0%
Arthurs Creek — Train: 1.8% Doreen — Train: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.4%).

Setting

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Elevation 181 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 195 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 38.9 km 32.8 km

NBN connectivity

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Connectivity score 30/100 86/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
184 premises
 74%
8,430 premises

Climate

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Annual rainfall 1,215 mm 534 mm
Summer max (Jan) 22.9°C 26.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 3.8°C 6.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Arthurs Creek Doreen
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Average residential rate $2,696/yr
same for both
Council Nillumbik
same for both

Federal electorate

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Division Mcewen
same for both
Member Rob Mitchell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Arthurs Creek Doreen
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Arthurs Creek

Outer Retirees

Doreen

Family Large Blocks Outer Parks Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Arthurs Creek

Arthurs Creek vs Kinglake West Arthurs Creek vs St Andrews Arthurs Creek vs Cottles Bridge Arthurs Creek vs Humevale Arthurs Creek vs Yan Yean Arthurs Creek vs Strathewen

Other comparisons with Doreen

Doreen vs South Morang Doreen vs Mernda Doreen vs Hurstbridge Doreen vs Yarrambat Doreen vs Yan Yean Doreen vs Nutfield
Full data on Arthurs Creek Full data on Doreen
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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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