Dandenong South vs Dandenong

Dandenong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 51 in Dandenong South. In both, most households rent. In Dandenong South, most homes are flats or apartments and the large majority of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Dandenong South: a median of $4.11 million, against $750,000 in Dandenong, though rent is higher in Dandenong. Dandenong is closer to the city centre: 34.2 km, against 41.2 km. On these figures, Dandenong South tends to suit renters, people living alone, and older residents, while Dandenong suits young adults 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

Dandenong

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (14 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (27 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Dandenong

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($400,000 vs $2,420,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($750,000 vs $4,110,000)
  • has cheaper land ($770,000 vs $2,420,000)
  • But Dandenong South leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)

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

Renters

Dandenong South

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (80% vs 55%)
  • has cheaper rent ($245/wk vs $319/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Dandenong

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 18/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (34.2 km vs 41.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (35 min vs 40 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Dandenong South has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 13%)
  • Dandenong has more GPs (22 vs 2)

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

Investors

Dandenong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (0.7% vs -21.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Dandenong South and Dandenong 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 South Dandenong
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 South Dandenong
Walkability 18 / 95
Dandenong South — Walkability: 18/100 Dandenong — Walkability: 95/100
Safety 0 / 5
Dandenong South — Safety: 0/100 Dandenong — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Dandenong South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Dandenong — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 33 / 46
Dandenong South — Low flood risk: 33/100 Dandenong — Low flood risk: 46/100

Demographics

Dandenong has more residents (30,127 vs 125); Dandenong South skews older (51 vs 33).

Dandenong South Dandenong
Population 125 30,127
+24002% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -21.9% +0.7%
Median age 51 33
Median household income $42,692/yr $65,884/yr
+54% vs other
Median weekly rent $245/wk $319/wk
+30% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dandenong South Dandenong
0-4 — / 7.1%
Dandenong South — 0-4: not among its largest Dandenong — 0-4: 7.1%
5-14 — / 11.9%
Dandenong South — 5-14: not among its largest Dandenong — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 — / 4.9%
Dandenong South — 15-19: not among its largest Dandenong — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 4.0% / 7.4%
Dandenong South — 20-24: 4.0% Dandenong — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 16.0% / 20.7%
Dandenong South — 25-34: 16.0% Dandenong — 25-34: 20.7%
35-44 8.8% / 15.7%
Dandenong South — 35-44: 8.8% Dandenong — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 19.2% / 10.6%
Dandenong South — 45-54: 19.2% Dandenong — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 22.4% / 9.0%
Dandenong South — 55-64: 22.4% Dandenong — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 13.6% / 6.6%
Dandenong South — 65-74: 13.6% Dandenong — 65-74: 6.6%
75-84 8.8% / 4.1%
Dandenong South — 75-84: 8.8% Dandenong — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ — / 2.1%
Dandenong South — 85+: not among its largest Dandenong — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dandenong South 94.6% lone person
Dandenong South — Lone Person: 94.6% Dandenong South — Couple Families: 0.0% Dandenong South — One Parent Families: 5.4% Dandenong South — Group Household: 0.0% Dandenong South — Other Families: 0.0%
Dandenong 32.9% lone person
Dandenong — Lone Person: 32.9% Dandenong — Couple Families: 39.2% Dandenong — One Parent Families: 16.6% Dandenong — Group Household: 8.9% Dandenong — Other Families: 2.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Dandenong South 80.0% renting
Dandenong South — Owned Outright: 20.0% Dandenong South — Mortgage: 0.0% Dandenong South — Renting: 80.0%
Dandenong 55.0% renting
Dandenong — Owned Outright: 20.5% Dandenong — Mortgage: 24.5% Dandenong — Renting: 55.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Dandenong South Dandenong
Certificate III & IV 20.8% / 8.4%
Dandenong South — Certificate III & IV: 20.8% Dandenong — Certificate III & IV: 8.4%
Bachelor Degree 7.2% / 9.9%
Dandenong South — Bachelor Degree: 7.2% Dandenong — Bachelor Degree: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 3.2% / 6.9%
Dandenong South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 3.2% Dandenong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Postgraduate Degree — / 4.4%
Dandenong South — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Dandenong — Postgraduate Degree: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 0.9%
Dandenong South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Dandenong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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 South Dandenong
India 2.4% / 9.5%
Dandenong South — India: 2.4% Dandenong — India: 9.5%
Afghanistan — / 11.5%
Dandenong South — Afghanistan: not among its largest Dandenong — Afghanistan: 11.5%
Sri Lanka — / 5.4%
Dandenong South — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Dandenong — Sri Lanka: 5.4%
China 2.4% / 2.5%
Dandenong South — China: 2.4% Dandenong — China: 2.5%
New Zealand 4.8% / —
Dandenong South — New Zealand: 4.8% Dandenong — New Zealand: not among its largest
England 4.0% / —
Dandenong South — England: 4.0% Dandenong — England: not among its largest
Scotland 4.0% / —
Dandenong South — Scotland: 4.0% Dandenong — Scotland: not among its largest
Pakistan — / 4.0%
Dandenong South — Pakistan: not among its largest Dandenong — Pakistan: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dandenong South 70.7% flats / apartments
Dandenong South — Flats / Apartments: 70.7% Dandenong South — Houses: 24.0% Dandenong South — Townhouses: 5.3%
Dandenong 19.6% flats / apartments
Dandenong — Flats / Apartments: 19.6% Dandenong — Houses: 41.4% Dandenong — Townhouses: 39.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Dandenong South Dandenong
Median house price $4,110,000 $750,000
Median unit price $2,420,000 $400,000
Median land price $2,420,000 $770,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 28 days
from 207 sales

Zoning mix

Dandenong South has more industrially zoned land (69% vs 9%); Dandenong South has more commercially zoned land (14% vs 4%).

Dandenong South Dandenong
Industrial 69% 9%
Residential 0% 50%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 19%
Commercial 14% 4%
Parks and recreation 1% 9%
Other and special use 0% 8%
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 South Dandenong
New dwellings approved 594
across Greater Dandenong
same for both
Approvals change year on year -34%
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.

Dandenong South Dandenong
Houses — 4.0%
$575/wk on $741K
Units — 6.0%
$492/wk on $430K

Ranking within VIC

Dandenong South Dandenong
House price — Higher than 50% of VIC
Income Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 52% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 27% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 75% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 70% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 92% of VIC

Liveability

Dandenong is more walkable (95 vs 18).

Dandenong South Dandenong
Grade — C
Score — 44/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Dandenong South carries more flood risk (67 vs 54).

Dandenong South Dandenong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
100/100
 High
95/100
Flood Moderate
67/100
 Moderate
54/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 40
within 5 km
 30
within 5 km

Schools

Dandenong South Dandenong
Inside the suburb 0 14
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Dandenong South

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

Schools in Dandenong

  • Dandenong North Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Dandenong South Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St John's Regional College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Dandenong High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Dandenong Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Dandenong West Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Dandenong South Dandenong
Supermarkets 2 22
Cafes & restaurants 28 60
Parks & reserves 1 15
Childcare 2 27
GPs 2 22
Pharmacies 1 12
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 7
Fuel stations 13 8
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 11 9

Mobility

Dandenong South sits further from the CBD (41.2 km vs 34.2 km).

Dandenong South Dandenong
Walkability score 18/100 95/100
Distance to Melbourne 41.2 km
+17% vs other
 34.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 40 min 35 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 204.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 639.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3175
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 3175
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.

Dandenong South Dandenong
Car (driver) 62.9% / 69.4%
Dandenong South — Car (driver): 62.9% Dandenong — Car (driver): 69.4%
Worked from Home 14.5% / 12.2%
Dandenong South — Worked from Home: 14.5% Dandenong — Worked from Home: 12.2%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / 7.2%
Dandenong South — Car (passenger): 6.5% Dandenong — Car (passenger): 7.2%
Walked Only 11.3% / 1.9%
Dandenong South — Walked Only: 11.3% Dandenong — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 4.8% / 3.9%
Dandenong South — Bus: 4.8% Dandenong — Bus: 3.9%
Train — / 4.9%
Dandenong South — Train: not among its largest Dandenong — Train: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.4%).

Setting

Dandenong South Dandenong
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 40 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.8 km 10.9 km

NBN connectivity

Dandenong South Dandenong
Connectivity score 86/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
3,965 premises
 10%
14,739 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Dandenong South Dandenong
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 South Dandenong
Average residential rate $2,123/yr
same for both
Council Greater Dandenong
same for both

Federal electorate

Dandenong South Dandenong
Division Isaacs
same for both
Member Mark Dreyfus
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Dandenong South

Luxury Outer

Dandenong

Affordable Easy Commute Multicultural Outer Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dandenong South

Dandenong South vs Keysborough Dandenong South vs Hampton Park Dandenong South vs Hallam Dandenong South vs Doveton Dandenong South vs Lynbrook Dandenong South vs Lyndhurst

Other comparisons with Dandenong

Dandenong vs Noble Park Dandenong vs Keysborough Dandenong vs Dandenong North Dandenong vs Doveton Dandenong vs Noble Park North
Full data on Dandenong South Full data on Dandenong
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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