Dandenong North vs Rowville

Dandenong North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Rowville. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Dandenong North, about half of households are couple families. In Rowville, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Rowville: a median of $1.11 million, against $790,000 in Dandenong North, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Dandenong North tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Rowville 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

Rowville

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 16)
  • has more childcare (22 vs 17)

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

First-home buyers

Dandenong North

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($790,500 vs $1,115,000)
  • has cheaper land ($757,500 vs $946,327)
  • But Rowville leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)

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

Renters

Dandenong North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($341/wk vs $441/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Rowville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (31.7 km vs 33.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Rowville

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (12 vs 5)
  • carries lower crime risk (52/100 vs 65/100)

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

Investors

Rowville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (7.5% vs 4.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dandenong North Rowville
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.

Dandenong North Rowville
Walkability 85 / 87
Dandenong North — Walkability: 85/100 Rowville — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 35 / 48
Dandenong North — Safety: 35/100 Rowville — Safety: 48/100
Low fire risk 100 / 47
Dandenong North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rowville — Low fire risk: 47/100
Low flood risk 30 / 31
Dandenong North — Low flood risk: 30/100 Rowville — Low flood risk: 31/100

Demographics

Rowville has higher household incomes ($114,660 vs $74,672); Rowville has more residents (33,571 vs 22,550).

Dandenong North Rowville
Population 22,550 33,571
+49% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.4% -0.3%
Median age 38 41
Median household income $74,672/yr $114,660/yr
+54% vs other
Median weekly rent $341/wk $441/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dandenong North Rowville
0-4 5.9% / 4.7%
Dandenong North — 0-4: 5.9% Rowville — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 11.6% / 12.0%
Dandenong North — 5-14: 11.6% Rowville — 5-14: 12.0%
15-19 5.9% / 6.6%
Dandenong North — 15-19: 5.9% Rowville — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 6.0% / 7.0%
Dandenong North — 20-24: 6.0% Rowville — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 14.9% / 11.3%
Dandenong North — 25-34: 14.9% Rowville — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 13.9% / 12.4%
Dandenong North — 35-44: 13.9% Rowville — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 12.2% / 14.9%
Dandenong North — 45-54: 12.2% Rowville — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 11.2% / 15.3%
Dandenong North — 55-64: 11.2% Rowville — 55-64: 15.3%
65-74 10.0% / 9.2%
Dandenong North — 65-74: 10.0% Rowville — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 6.1% / 4.9%
Dandenong North — 75-84: 6.1% Rowville — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 2.4% / 1.7%
Dandenong North — 85+: 2.4% Rowville — 85+: 1.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dandenong North 47.7% couple families
Dandenong North — Couple Families: 47.7% Dandenong North — Lone Person: 26.9% Dandenong North — One Parent Families: 18.9% Dandenong North — Group Household: 4.7% Dandenong North — Other Families: 1.8%
Rowville 62.3% couple families
Rowville — Couple Families: 62.3% Rowville — Lone Person: 20.2% Rowville — One Parent Families: 14.0% Rowville — Group Household: 2.2% Rowville — 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.

Dandenong North 28.9% renting
Dandenong North — Owned Outright: 36.1% Dandenong North — Mortgage: 35.0% Dandenong North — Renting: 28.9%
Rowville 15.7% renting
Rowville — Owned Outright: 37.5% Rowville — Mortgage: 46.8% Rowville — Renting: 15.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dandenong North Rowville
Bachelor Degree 11.0% / 16.2%
Dandenong North — Bachelor Degree: 11.0% Rowville — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 12.2%
Dandenong North — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Rowville — Certificate III & IV: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 9.5%
Dandenong North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Rowville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.9% / 5.7%
Dandenong North — Postgraduate Degree: 3.9% Rowville — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.9%
Dandenong North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Rowville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

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.

Dandenong North Rowville
Sri Lanka 6.4% / 3.5%
Dandenong North — Sri Lanka: 6.4% Rowville — Sri Lanka: 3.5%
India 6.4% / 3.2%
Dandenong North — India: 6.4% Rowville — India: 3.2%
China 1.8% / 4.8%
Dandenong North — China: 1.8% Rowville — China: 4.8%
England 1.4% / 2.7%
Dandenong North — England: 1.4% Rowville — England: 2.7%
Vietnam 2.8% / 1.0%
Dandenong North — Vietnam: 2.8% Rowville — Vietnam: 1.0%
Afghanistan 3.6% / —
Dandenong North — Afghanistan: 3.6% Rowville — Afghanistan: not among its largest
Malaysia — / 2.4%
Dandenong North — Malaysia: not among its largest Rowville — Malaysia: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dandenong North 85.5% houses
Dandenong North — Houses: 85.5% Dandenong North — Townhouses: 11.2% Dandenong North — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Rowville 91.8% houses
Rowville — Houses: 91.8% Rowville — Townhouses: 7.2% Rowville — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Dandenong North Rowville
Median house price $790,500 $1,115,000
Median unit price $590,000 $645,000
Median land price $757,500 $946,327
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 234 sales
 24 days
from 350 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.

Dandenong North Rowville
2 bed $520K / $480K
Dandenong North — 2 bed: $520K (55 sales) Rowville — 2 bed: $480K (22 sales)

55 vs 22 sales

3 bed $660K / $830K
Dandenong North — 3 bed: $660K (37 sales) Rowville — 3 bed: $830K (15 sales)

37 vs 15 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.

Dandenong North Rowville
2 bed $675K / $632K
Dandenong North — 2 bed: $675K (14 sales) Rowville — 2 bed: $632K (9 sales)

14 vs 9 sales

3 bed $755K / $960K
Dandenong North — 3 bed: $755K (237 sales) Rowville — 3 bed: $960K (195 sales)

237 vs 195 sales

4 bed $888K / $1.21M
Dandenong North — 4 bed: $888K (111 sales) Rowville — 4 bed: $1.21M (250 sales)

111 vs 250 sales

5 bed $910K / $1.35M
Dandenong North — 5 bed: $910K (20 sales) Rowville — 5 bed: $1.35M (60 sales)

20 vs 60 sales

6 bed $956K / $1.58M
Dandenong North — 6 bed: $956K (5 sales) Rowville — 6 bed: $1.58M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Dandenong North Rowville
Residential 66% 52%
Infrastructure and transport 32% 15%
Other and special use 0% 16%
Parks and recreation 2% 7%
Industrial 0% 4%
Commercial 0% 3%
Rural and farming 0% 1%
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

Dandenong North Rowville
New dwellings approved 594
across Greater Dandenong
 577
across Knox
Approvals change year on year -34% -14%

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.

Dandenong North Rowville
Houses 4.0%
$600/wk on $788K
 3.6%
$720/wk on $1.05M
Units 4.7%
$520/wk on $576K
 7.5%
$685/wk on $472K

Ranking within VIC

Dandenong North Rowville
House price Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Income Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC

Liveability

Rowville scores higher overall (63 vs 51).

Dandenong North Rowville
Grade B
same for both
Score 51/100 63/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Rowville carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0); Dandenong North carries more crime risk (65 vs 52).

Dandenong North Rowville
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
52/100
Flood High
70/100
 Moderate
69/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Dandenong North Rowville
Inside the suburb 7
same for both
Rated above peers 2 3
Rated at peers 2 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Monash Clayton, 8.4 km
 1
Monash Clayton, 10.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 3.2%

Schools in Dandenong North

  • Lyndale Greens Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lyndale Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Rosewood Downs Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Wooranna Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Elizabeth's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Basketball - Dandenong Independent · Secondary

Schools in Rowville

  • Karoo Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Park Ridge Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Rowville Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Heany Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rowville Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Simon's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Dandenong North Rowville
Supermarkets 1 5
Cafes & restaurants 5 18
Parks & reserves 16 22
Childcare 17 22
GPs 5 12
Pharmacies 4 6
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 2 5
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 1 9

Mobility

Dandenong North sits further from the CBD (33.8 km vs 31.7 km).

Dandenong North Rowville
Walkability score 85/100 87/100
Distance to Melbourne 33.8 km
+6% vs other
 31.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 34 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 227.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 372.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3175
 1.6%
postcode 3178
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 3175
 47
postcode 3178

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.

Dandenong North Rowville
Car (driver) 71.0% / 64.1%
Dandenong North — Car (driver): 71.0% Rowville — Car (driver): 64.1%
Worked from Home 18.3% / 29.3%
Dandenong North — Worked from Home: 18.3% Rowville — Worked from Home: 29.3%
Car (passenger) 5.6% / 4.0%
Dandenong North — Car (passenger): 5.6% Rowville — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Train 2.3% / 1.4%
Dandenong North — Train: 2.3% Rowville — Train: 1.4%
Bus 2.2% / 0.7%
Dandenong North — Bus: 2.2% Rowville — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.0%).

Setting

Dandenong North Rowville
Elevation 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 86 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.6 km 16.8 km

NBN connectivity

Dandenong North Rowville
Connectivity score 75/100 86/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
8,768 premises
 40%
13,198 premises

Climate

Dandenong North Rowville
Annual rainfall 781 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Dandenong North Rowville
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.98 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Dandenong North Rowville
Average residential rate $2,123/yr $1,732/yr
Council Greater Dandenong Knox

Federal electorate

Dandenong North Rowville
Division Bruce Aston
Member Julian Hill Mary Doyle
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dandenong North Rowville
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dandenong North

Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub

Rowville

Large Blocks Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dandenong North

Dandenong North vs Dandenong Dandenong North vs Endeavour Hills Dandenong North vs Mulgrave Dandenong North vs Doveton Dandenong North vs Noble Park North

Other comparisons with Rowville

Rowville vs Ferntree Gully Rowville vs Endeavour Hills Rowville vs Wheelers Hill Rowville vs Mulgrave Rowville vs Knoxfield Rowville vs Lysterfield
Full data on Dandenong North Full data on Rowville
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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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