Bacchus Marsh vs Darley

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Darley, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Bacchus Marsh tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Darley 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

Darley

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 86/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (72% vs 53%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Bacchus Marsh has cheaper land ($406,000 vs $501,000)
  • Darley leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 26%)

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

Renters

Darley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 22%)

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

Commuting to the city

Bacchus Marsh

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 20/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (57.4 km vs 60.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Bacchus Marsh

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 20/100)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 3)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 14%)
  • But Darley carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 86/100)

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

Investors

Bacchus Marsh

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (22.1% vs 9.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bacchus Marsh Darley
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.

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Walkability 80 / 20
Bacchus Marsh — Walkability: 80/100 Darley — Walkability: 20/100
Safety 14 / 43
Bacchus Marsh — Safety: 14/100 Darley — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 18
Bacchus Marsh — Low fire risk: 100/100 Darley — Low fire risk: 18/100
Low flood risk 18 / 53
Bacchus Marsh — Low flood risk: 18/100 Darley — Low flood risk: 53/100

Demographics

Darley has higher household incomes ($101,452 vs $78,416); Bacchus Marsh skews older (39 vs 37).

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Population 7,808 9,190
+18% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +22.1% +9.8%
Median age 39 37
Median household income $78,416/yr $101,452/yr
+29% vs other
Median weekly rent $330/wk
+3% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bacchus Marsh Darley
0-4 6.4% / 6.3%
Bacchus Marsh — 0-4: 6.4% Darley — 0-4: 6.3%
5-14 12.4% / 14.8%
Bacchus Marsh — 5-14: 12.4% Darley — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 4.7% / 6.5%
Bacchus Marsh — 15-19: 4.7% Darley — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 5.1% / 5.9%
Bacchus Marsh — 20-24: 5.1% Darley — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 15.3% / 13.2%
Bacchus Marsh — 25-34: 15.3% Darley — 25-34: 13.2%
35-44 12.3% / 13.7%
Bacchus Marsh — 35-44: 12.3% Darley — 35-44: 13.7%
45-54 11.3% / 13.7%
Bacchus Marsh — 45-54: 11.3% Darley — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 10.7% / 12.2%
Bacchus Marsh — 55-64: 10.7% Darley — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 12.0% / 8.7%
Bacchus Marsh — 65-74: 12.0% Darley — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 7.6% / 3.3%
Bacchus Marsh — 75-84: 7.6% Darley — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 2.3% / 1.5%
Bacchus Marsh — 85+: 2.3% Darley — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bacchus Marsh 35.4% couple families
Bacchus Marsh — Couple Families: 35.4% Bacchus Marsh — Lone Person: 42.3% Bacchus Marsh — One Parent Families: 18.0% Bacchus Marsh — Group Household: 2.7% Bacchus Marsh — Other Families: 1.6%
Darley 53.8% couple families
Darley — Couple Families: 53.8% Darley — Lone Person: 24.7% Darley — One Parent Families: 17.9% Darley — Group Household: 2.4% Darley — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bacchus Marsh 27.0% renting
Bacchus Marsh — Owned Outright: 33.8% Bacchus Marsh — Mortgage: 39.2% Bacchus Marsh — Renting: 27.0%
Darley 17.3% renting
Darley — Owned Outright: 28.8% Darley — Mortgage: 53.9% Darley — Renting: 17.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Certificate III & IV 16.2% / 18.2%
Bacchus Marsh — Certificate III & IV: 16.2% Darley — Certificate III & IV: 18.2%
Bachelor Degree 10.0% / 8.6%
Bacchus Marsh — Bachelor Degree: 10.0% Darley — Bachelor Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.4%
Bacchus Marsh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Darley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.0% / 2.2%
Bacchus Marsh — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0% Darley — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.7%
Bacchus Marsh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Darley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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.

Bacchus Marsh Darley
England 3.3% / 3.3%
Bacchus Marsh — England: 3.3% Darley — England: 3.3%
India 2.6% / 1.7%
Bacchus Marsh — India: 2.6% Darley — India: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.3%
Bacchus Marsh — New Zealand: 1.5% Darley — New Zealand: 1.3%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.6%
Bacchus Marsh — Scotland: 0.8% Darley — Scotland: 0.6%
Germany 0.6% / 0.4%
Bacchus Marsh — Germany: 0.6% Darley — Germany: 0.4%
Netherlands 0.4% / 0.4%
Bacchus Marsh — Netherlands: 0.4% Darley — Netherlands: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bacchus Marsh 84.2% houses
Bacchus Marsh — Houses: 84.2% Bacchus Marsh — Townhouses: 12.5% Bacchus Marsh — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Darley 92.9% houses
Darley — Houses: 92.9% Darley — Townhouses: 6.7% Darley — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Median house price $650,000
same for both
Median unit price $420,000 $430,000
Median land price $406,000 $501,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 125 sales
 37 days
from 153 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bacchus Marsh Darley
2 bed $420K / $415K
Bacchus Marsh — 2 bed: $420K (17 sales) Darley — 2 bed: $415K (15 sales)

17 vs 15 sales

3 bed $520K / $459K
Bacchus Marsh — 3 bed: $520K (9 sales) Darley — 3 bed: $459K (13 sales)

9 vs 13 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.

Bacchus Marsh Darley
3 bed $625K / $560K
Bacchus Marsh — 3 bed: $625K (165 sales) Darley — 3 bed: $560K (118 sales)

165 vs 118 sales

4 bed $670K / $745K
Bacchus Marsh — 4 bed: $670K (109 sales) Darley — 4 bed: $745K (133 sales)

109 vs 133 sales

5 bed $848K / $851K
Bacchus Marsh — 5 bed: $848K (6 sales) Darley — 5 bed: $851K (15 sales)

6 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Rural and farming 49% 48%
Residential 37% 22%
Other and special use 0% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 3%
Parks and recreation 3% 8%
Environmental 0% 3%
Commercial 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

Bacchus Marsh Darley
New dwellings approved 338
across Moorabool
same for both
Approvals change year on year +4%
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.

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Houses 3.7%
$500/wk on $710K
 3.6%
$520/wk on $754K
Units 5.4%
$430/wk on $414K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Bacchus Marsh Darley
House price Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Income Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Schools Higher than 31% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 79% of VIC —

Liveability

Bacchus Marsh is more walkable (80 vs 20).

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Grade C
same for both
Score 35/100 31/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Darley carries more bushfire risk (82 vs 0); Bacchus Marsh carries more flood risk (82 vs 47).

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
82/100
Crime High
86/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood High
82/100
 Moderate
47/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Bacchus Marsh

  • Bacchus Marsh Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Indie School (Bacchus Marsh) Independent · Secondary · Special school at peers
  • St Bernard's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Darley

  • Pentland Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Darley Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 14 1
Parks & reserves 7 5
Childcare 6 8
GPs 5 3
Pharmacies 2 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 6 0
Waterways 2 3

Mobility

Darley sits further from the CBD (60.8 km vs 57.4 km).

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Walkability score 80/100 20/100
Distance to Melbourne 57.4 km 60.8 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 50 min 52 min
Public transport score 74/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 116.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 80.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3340
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 3340
same for both

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.

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Car (driver) 66.5% / 71.4%
Bacchus Marsh — Car (driver): 66.5% Darley — Car (driver): 71.4%
Worked from Home 23.3% / 20.2%
Bacchus Marsh — Worked from Home: 23.3% Darley — Worked from Home: 20.2%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / 5.1%
Bacchus Marsh — Car (passenger): 4.4% Darley — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Train 2.5% / 2.1%
Bacchus Marsh — Train: 2.5% Darley — Train: 2.1%
Walked Only 3.0% / 0.8%
Bacchus Marsh — Walked Only: 3.0% Darley — Walked Only: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.4%).

Setting

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Elevation 101 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 157 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 38.8 km 43.3 km

NBN connectivity

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Connectivity score 99/100 98/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
4,136 premises
 97%
3,821 premises

Climate

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Annual rainfall 578 mm 778 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Bacchus Marsh Darley
PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Average residential rate $1,979/yr
same for both
Council Moorabool
same for both

Federal electorate

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Division Hawke
same for both
Member Sam Rae
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bacchus Marsh Darley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bacchus Marsh

Outer Village Feel

Darley

Quiet Regional Centre River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bacchus Marsh

Bacchus Marsh vs Maddingley Bacchus Marsh vs Hopetoun Park Bacchus Marsh vs Merrimu Bacchus Marsh vs Parwan Bacchus Marsh vs Pentland Hills

Other comparisons with Darley

Darley vs Coimadai Darley vs Merrimu Darley vs Myrniong Darley vs Pentland Hills
Full data on Bacchus Marsh Full data on Darley
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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