Coburg vs Preston

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Coburg is closer to the city centre: 7.9 km, against 10.4 km.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Coburg has more parks and reserves (33 vs 28)
  • Preston has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Preston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($1,035,000 vs $1,250,000)

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

Renters

Preston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($392/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Coburg

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (7.9 km vs 10.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Coburg carries lower crime risk (78/100 vs 91/100)
  • Preston has more GPs (11 vs 8)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Coburg Preston
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.

Coburg Preston
Walkability 99 / 99
Coburg — Walkability: 99/100 Preston — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 22 / 9
Coburg — Safety: 22/100 Preston — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Coburg — Low fire risk: 100/100 Preston — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 49 / 62
Coburg — Low flood risk: 49/100 Preston — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Preston has more residents (33,790 vs 26,574); Coburg has higher household incomes ($107,380 vs $95,888).

Coburg Preston
Population 26,574 33,790
+27% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.5% +2.9%
Median age 37
same for both
Median household income $107,380/yr
+11% vs other
 $95,888/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+9% vs other
 $392/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coburg Preston
0-4 5.3% / 5.3%
Coburg — 0-4: 5.3% Preston — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 9.9% / 9.7%
Coburg — 5-14: 9.9% Preston — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 4.4% / 4.2%
Coburg — 15-19: 4.4% Preston — 15-19: 4.2%
20-24 6.8% / 6.0%
Coburg — 20-24: 6.8% Preston — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 19.0% / 19.8%
Coburg — 25-34: 19.0% Preston — 25-34: 19.8%
35-44 16.6% / 17.6%
Coburg — 35-44: 16.6% Preston — 35-44: 17.6%
45-54 13.8% / 14.0%
Coburg — 45-54: 13.8% Preston — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 10.1% / 10.1%
Coburg — 55-64: 10.1% Preston — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 7.1% / 6.8%
Coburg — 65-74: 7.1% Preston — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 4.6% / 4.4%
Coburg — 75-84: 4.6% Preston — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 2.4% / 2.2%
Coburg — 85+: 2.4% Preston — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coburg 39.9% couple families
Coburg — Couple Families: 39.9% Coburg — Lone Person: 33.5% Coburg — One Parent Families: 12.5% Coburg — Group Household: 11.9% Coburg — Other Families: 2.2%
Preston 34.9% couple families
Preston — Couple Families: 34.9% Preston — Lone Person: 38.8% Preston — One Parent Families: 13.0% Preston — Group Household: 10.8% Preston — Other Families: 2.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coburg 34.0% renting
Coburg — Owned Outright: 33.1% Coburg — Mortgage: 32.9% Coburg — Renting: 34.0%
Preston 41.2% renting
Preston — Owned Outright: 27.9% Preston — Mortgage: 30.9% Preston — Renting: 41.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coburg Preston
Bachelor Degree 21.2% / 21.1%
Coburg — Bachelor Degree: 21.2% Preston — Bachelor Degree: 21.1%
Postgraduate Degree 10.3% / 8.6%
Coburg — Postgraduate Degree: 10.3% Preston — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6%
Certificate III & IV 7.8% / 8.2%
Coburg — Certificate III & IV: 7.8% Preston — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 8.0%
Coburg — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Preston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 3.5%
Coburg — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Preston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

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.

Coburg Preston
Italy 4.4% / 3.0%
Coburg — Italy: 4.4% Preston — Italy: 3.0%
Greece 2.6% / 2.8%
Coburg — Greece: 2.6% Preston — Greece: 2.8%
England 2.4% / 2.1%
Coburg — England: 2.4% Preston — England: 2.1%
China 1.2% / 3.0%
Coburg — China: 1.2% Preston — China: 3.0%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.9%
Coburg — New Zealand: 1.8% Preston — New Zealand: 1.9%
India 1.0% / 2.5%
Coburg — India: 1.0% Preston — India: 2.5%
Lebanon 2.3% / —
Coburg — Lebanon: 2.3% Preston — Lebanon: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 2.2%
Coburg — Vietnam: not among its largest Preston — Vietnam: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coburg 65.1% houses
Coburg — Houses: 65.1% Coburg — Townhouses: 24.3% Coburg — Flats / Apartments: 10.6%
Preston 55.7% houses
Preston — Houses: 55.7% Preston — Townhouses: 24.9% Preston — Flats / Apartments: 19.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Coburg Preston
Median house price $1,235,000 $1,182,500
Median unit price $522,500 $490,000
Median land price $1,250,000 $1,035,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 264 sales
 24 days
from 273 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.

Coburg Preston
1 bed $392K / $375K
Coburg — 1 bed: $392K (82 sales) Preston — 1 bed: $375K (98 sales)

82 vs 98 sales

2 bed $600K / $530K
Coburg — 2 bed: $600K (123 sales) Preston — 2 bed: $530K (213 sales)

123 vs 213 sales

3 bed $690K / $775K
Coburg — 3 bed: $690K (17 sales) Preston — 3 bed: $775K (27 sales)

17 vs 27 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.

Coburg Preston
2 bed $1.01M / $1.02M
Coburg — 2 bed: $1.01M (85 sales) Preston — 2 bed: $1.02M (98 sales)

85 vs 98 sales

3 bed $1.22M / $1.18M
Coburg — 3 bed: $1.22M (193 sales) Preston — 3 bed: $1.18M (235 sales)

193 vs 235 sales

4 bed $1.43M / $1.36M
Coburg — 4 bed: $1.43M (93 sales) Preston — 4 bed: $1.36M (76 sales)

93 vs 76 sales

5 bed $1.61M / $1.57M
Coburg — 5 bed: $1.61M (11 sales) Preston — 5 bed: $1.57M (8 sales)

11 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Preston has more industrially zoned land (12% vs 0%).

Coburg Preston
Residential 77% 64%
Industrial 0% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 12%
Commercial 9%
same for both
Parks and recreation 6% 4%
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

Coburg Preston
New dwellings approved 1,387
across Merri-bek
 1,213
across Darebin
Approvals change year on year +68% +0%

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.

Coburg Preston
Houses 3.4%
$750/wk on $1.15M
 3.4%
$720/wk on $1.1M
Units 5.3%
$550/wk on $540K
 5.7%
$550/wk on $498K

Ranking within VIC

Coburg Preston
House price Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Income Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Schools Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 30% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 31% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (units) Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC

Liveability

Coburg Preston
Grade B A
Score 67/100 68/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Coburg carries more flood risk (51 vs 38); Preston carries more crime risk (91 vs 78).

Coburg Preston
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
91/100
Flood Moderate
51/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Coburg Preston
Inside the suburb 14 16
Rated above peers 2 4
Rated at peers 2 6
Rated below peers 5 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 4.8 km
 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 2.6%

Schools in Coburg

  • St Bernard's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Paul's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Coburg High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Fidelis' School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Australian International Academy of Education Independent · Combined below peers
  • Coburg North Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Preston

  • Newlands Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Preston High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Preston Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Preston West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • East Preston Islamic College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Preston North East Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Coburg Preston
Supermarkets 9 13
Cafes & restaurants 67 107
Parks & reserves 33 28
Childcare 23 30
GPs 8 11
Pharmacies 9
same for both
Hospitals 1
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 7 14
Fuel stations 5 10
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Preston sits further from the CBD (10.4 km vs 7.9 km).

Coburg Preston
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 7.9 km 10.4 km
+32% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 23 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 754.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 1062.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3058
 1.2%
postcode 3072
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 3058
 21
postcode 3072

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.

Coburg Preston
Worked from Home 45.4% / 41.8%
Coburg — Worked from Home: 45.4% Preston — Worked from Home: 41.8%
Car (driver) 37.3% / 42.1%
Coburg — Car (driver): 37.3% Preston — Car (driver): 42.1%
Train 3.9% / 4.4%
Coburg — Train: 3.9% Preston — Train: 4.4%
Bicycle 3.8% / 2.6%
Coburg — Bicycle: 3.8% Preston — Bicycle: 2.6%
Tram / Light Rail 3.6% / 2.4%
Coburg — Tram / Light Rail: 3.6% Preston — Tram / Light Rail: 2.4%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 2.7%
Coburg — Car (passenger): 2.5% Preston — Car (passenger): 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (45.4%).

Setting

Coburg Preston
Elevation 61 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.1 km 12.9 km

NBN connectivity

Coburg Preston
Connectivity score 82/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 26%
13,334 premises
 17%
18,580 premises

Climate

Coburg Preston
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Coburg Preston
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.82 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Coburg Preston
Average residential rate $1,914/yr $1,764/yr
Council Merri-bek Darebin

Federal electorate

Coburg Preston
Division Wills Cooper
Member Peter Khalil Ged Kearney
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coburg Preston
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coburg

Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Preston

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coburg

Coburg vs Brunswick Coburg vs Thornbury Coburg vs Pascoe Vale Coburg vs Brunswick West Coburg vs Brunswick East Coburg vs Pascoe Vale South

Other comparisons with Preston

Preston vs Reservoir Preston vs Thornbury Preston vs Ivanhoe Preston vs Coburg North Preston vs Heidelberg West Preston vs Bellfield
Full data on Coburg Full data on Preston
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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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