Blairgowrie vs Sorrento

Blairgowrie is the younger of the two, with a median age of 58 against 64 in Sorrento. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Blairgowrie, about half of households are people living alone. In Sorrento, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Sorrento: a median of $1.8 million, against $1.28 million in Blairgowrie, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Blairgowrie tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Sorrento suits 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

Blairgowrie

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 68/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 8)
  • But Sorrento has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Blairgowrie

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,281,000 vs $1,800,000)
  • has cheaper land ($857,500 vs $1,151,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Blairgowrie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $462/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Blairgowrie sits closer to the CBD (103.1 km vs 106.6 km)
  • Sorrento is more walkable (60/100 vs 34/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Sorrento

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (60/100 vs 34/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (49% vs 39%)
  • But Blairgowrie carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Sorrento

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (26.4% vs 20.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Blairgowrie Sorrento
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.

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Walkability 34 / 60
Blairgowrie — Walkability: 34/100 Sorrento — Walkability: 60/100
Safety 58 / 32
Blairgowrie — Safety: 58/100 Sorrento — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Blairgowrie — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sorrento — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 78 / 81
Blairgowrie — Low flood risk: 78/100 Sorrento — Low flood risk: 81/100

Demographics

Blairgowrie has more residents (2,786 vs 2,013); Sorrento rents higher ($462/wk vs $400/wk).

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Population 2,786
+28% vs other
 2,013
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +20.4% +26.4%
Median age 58 64
Median household income $77,480/yr $86,216/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $462/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blairgowrie Sorrento
0-4 4.3% / 2.5%
Blairgowrie — 0-4: 4.3% Sorrento — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 7.1% / 5.8%
Blairgowrie — 5-14: 7.1% Sorrento — 5-14: 5.8%
15-19 3.7% / 2.5%
Blairgowrie — 15-19: 3.7% Sorrento — 15-19: 2.5%
20-24 3.4% / 2.6%
Blairgowrie — 20-24: 3.4% Sorrento — 20-24: 2.6%
25-34 5.7% / 4.4%
Blairgowrie — 25-34: 5.7% Sorrento — 25-34: 4.4%
35-44 7.9% / 5.9%
Blairgowrie — 35-44: 7.9% Sorrento — 35-44: 5.9%
45-54 11.5% / 9.6%
Blairgowrie — 45-54: 11.5% Sorrento — 45-54: 9.6%
55-64 17.2% / 16.6%
Blairgowrie — 55-64: 17.2% Sorrento — 55-64: 16.6%
65-74 23.0% / 29.3%
Blairgowrie — 65-74: 23.0% Sorrento — 65-74: 29.3%
75-84 12.6% / 16.3%
Blairgowrie — 75-84: 12.6% Sorrento — 75-84: 16.3%
85+ 3.0% / 3.4%
Blairgowrie — 85+: 3.0% Sorrento — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Blairgowrie 52.9% lone person
Blairgowrie — Lone Person: 52.9% Blairgowrie — Couple Families: 33.8% Blairgowrie — One Parent Families: 9.9% Blairgowrie — Group Household: 2.8% Blairgowrie — Other Families: 0.6%
Sorrento 60.2% lone person
Sorrento — Lone Person: 60.2% Sorrento — Couple Families: 27.6% Sorrento — One Parent Families: 8.5% Sorrento — Group Household: 2.5% Sorrento — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Blairgowrie 14.0% renting
Blairgowrie — Owned Outright: 60.3% Blairgowrie — Mortgage: 25.6% Blairgowrie — Renting: 14.0%
Sorrento 13.3% renting
Sorrento — Owned Outright: 66.2% Sorrento — Mortgage: 20.5% Sorrento — Renting: 13.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Blairgowrie Sorrento
England 4.3% / 4.0%
Blairgowrie — England: 4.3% Sorrento — England: 4.0%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.3%
Blairgowrie — New Zealand: 1.0% Sorrento — New Zealand: 1.3%
Italy 0.8% / 1.5%
Blairgowrie — Italy: 0.8% Sorrento — Italy: 1.5%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.7%
Blairgowrie — Scotland: 0.8% Sorrento — Scotland: 0.7%
Germany 0.6% / 0.8%
Blairgowrie — Germany: 0.6% Sorrento — Germany: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

Qualifications

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

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 20.7%
Blairgowrie — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Sorrento — Bachelor Degree: 20.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.3% / 11.1%
Blairgowrie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.3% Sorrento — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.1%
Certificate III & IV 12.1% / 9.8%
Blairgowrie — Certificate III & IV: 12.1% Sorrento — Certificate III & IV: 9.8%
Postgraduate Degree 4.9% / 5.4%
Blairgowrie — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9% Sorrento — Postgraduate Degree: 5.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.2%
Blairgowrie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Sorrento — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Blairgowrie 99.1% houses
Blairgowrie — Houses: 99.1% Blairgowrie — Flats / Apartments: 0.2% Blairgowrie — Townhouses: 0.7%
Sorrento 97.0% houses
Sorrento — Houses: 97.0% Sorrento — Flats / Apartments: 1.9% Sorrento — Townhouses: 1.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Median house price $1,281,000 $1,800,000
Median unit price — $920,000
Median land price $857,500 $1,151,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 95 sales
 34 days
from 58 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.

Blairgowrie Sorrento
3 bed $1.1M / $1.6M
Blairgowrie — 3 bed: $1.1M (72 sales) Sorrento — 3 bed: $1.6M (37 sales)

72 vs 37 sales

4 bed $1.51M / $1.92M
Blairgowrie — 4 bed: $1.51M (60 sales) Sorrento — 4 bed: $1.92M (42 sales)

60 vs 42 sales

5 bed $1.8M / $3.08M
Blairgowrie — 5 bed: $1.8M (15 sales) Sorrento — 5 bed: $3.08M (21 sales)

15 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Residential 72% 61%
Parks and recreation 21%
same for both
Other and special use 0% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 6%
Commercial 0% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Blairgowrie and 99% of Sorrento. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Blairgowrie Sorrento
New dwellings approved 791
across Mornington Peninsula
same for both
Approvals change year on year +9%
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.

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Houses 2.1%
$660/wk on $1.6M
 1.9%
$900/wk on $2.51M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Blairgowrie Sorrento
House price Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Income Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 1% of VIC
same for both

Liveability

Sorrento is more walkable (60 vs 34); Sorrento scores higher overall (75 vs 70).

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Grade A
same for both
Score 70/100 75/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Sorrento carries more crime risk (68 vs 42).

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood Low
22/100
 Low
19/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
53/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Blairgowrie

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Sorrento

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sorrento Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 15
Parks & reserves 11 8
Childcare 0 2
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 0 1
Beaches 4 2

Mobility

Sorrento sits further from the CBD (106.6 km vs 103.1 km).

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Walkability score 34/100 60/100
Distance to Melbourne 103.1 km 106.6 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 88 min 92 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 66.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 3942
 2.2%
postcode 3943
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 23
postcode 3942
 23
postcode 3943

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.

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Car (driver) 53.8% / 46.1%
Blairgowrie — Car (driver): 53.8% Sorrento — Car (driver): 46.1%
Worked from Home 40.6% / 42.9%
Blairgowrie — Worked from Home: 40.6% Sorrento — Worked from Home: 42.9%
Walked Only 1.9% / 5.0%
Blairgowrie — Walked Only: 1.9% Sorrento — Walked Only: 5.0%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 2.9%
Blairgowrie — Car (passenger): 2.9% Sorrento — Car (passenger): 2.9%
Bicycle 0.8% / 1.3%
Blairgowrie — Bicycle: 0.8% Sorrento — Bicycle: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.8%).

Setting

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 773 m
785 m to a named beach
 617 m
727 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Connectivity score 74/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 52%
3,789 premises
 51%
3,619 premises

Climate

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Annual rainfall 700 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Average residential rate $1,659/yr
same for both
Council Mornington Peninsula
same for both

Federal electorate

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Division Flinders
same for both
Member Zoe Mckenzie
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Blairgowrie Sorrento
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Blairgowrie

Acreage Beach Coastal Parks Premium Quiet Retirees

Sorrento

Acreage Beach Cafe Culture Coastal Parks Premium Retirees Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Blairgowrie

Blairgowrie vs Rye

Other comparisons with Sorrento

Sorrento vs Portsea
Full data on Blairgowrie Full data on Sorrento
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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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