Darnum vs Yarragon

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Darnum, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Darnum: a median of $871,000, against $630,000 in Yarragon. On these figures, Darnum tends to suit couples, while Yarragon suits people living alone, older residents, 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

Darnum

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (47/100 vs 63/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 54%)
  • But Yarragon has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 87%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Darnum leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 25%)
  • Yarragon has cheaper houses ($629,500 vs $871,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Darnum

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Darnum

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (86 min vs 94 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (113.6 km vs 120.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Darnum has more units and townhouses to downsize into (13% vs 2%)
  • Yarragon has more GPs (3 vs 0)

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

Investors

Yarragon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.7% vs 1.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Darnum Yarragon
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.

Darnum Yarragon
Walkability 0 / 0
Darnum — Walkability: 0/100 Yarragon — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 53 / 37
Darnum — Safety: 53/100 Yarragon — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Darnum — Low fire risk: 100/100 Yarragon — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 20
Darnum — Low flood risk: 36/100 Yarragon — Low flood risk: 20/100

Demographics

Yarragon has more residents (1,893 vs 759); Darnum has higher household incomes ($90,688 vs $70,876).

Darnum Yarragon
Population 759 1,893
+149% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.1% +14.7%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $90,688/yr
+22% vs other
 $70,876/yr
Median weekly rent $307/wk $320/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Darnum Yarragon
0-4 5.1% / 5.7%
Darnum — 0-4: 5.1% Yarragon — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 15.0% / 12.4%
Darnum — 5-14: 15.0% Yarragon — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 6.9% / 5.2%
Darnum — 15-19: 6.9% Yarragon — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 5.0% / 5.1%
Darnum — 20-24: 5.0% Yarragon — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 9.1% / 12.9%
Darnum — 25-34: 9.1% Yarragon — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 12.4% / 10.7%
Darnum — 35-44: 12.4% Yarragon — 35-44: 10.7%
45-54 17.5% / 9.7%
Darnum — 45-54: 17.5% Yarragon — 45-54: 9.7%
55-64 12.0% / 15.4%
Darnum — 55-64: 12.0% Yarragon — 55-64: 15.4%
65-74 8.4% / 14.4%
Darnum — 65-74: 8.4% Yarragon — 65-74: 14.4%
75-84 5.4% / 6.8%
Darnum — 75-84: 5.4% Yarragon — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 0.7% / 2.1%
Darnum — 85+: 0.7% Yarragon — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Darnum 55.8% couple families
Darnum — Couple Families: 55.8% Darnum — Lone Person: 22.1% Darnum — One Parent Families: 15.5% Darnum — Group Household: 5.0% Darnum — Other Families: 1.7%
Yarragon 39.7% couple families
Yarragon — Couple Families: 39.7% Yarragon — Lone Person: 43.0% Yarragon — One Parent Families: 14.2% Yarragon — Group Household: 1.6% Yarragon — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Darnum 6.4% renting
Darnum — Owned Outright: 41.7% Darnum — Mortgage: 51.9% Darnum — Renting: 6.4%
Yarragon 15.2% renting
Yarragon — Owned Outright: 44.3% Yarragon — Mortgage: 40.4% Yarragon — Renting: 15.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Darnum Yarragon
Certificate III & IV 19.6% / 20.0%
Darnum — Certificate III & IV: 19.6% Yarragon — Certificate III & IV: 20.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.5%
Darnum — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Yarragon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Bachelor Degree 6.5% / 7.7%
Darnum — Bachelor Degree: 6.5% Yarragon — Bachelor Degree: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.7% / 2.3%
Darnum — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7% Yarragon — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.5%
Darnum — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Yarragon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

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.

Darnum Yarragon
England 2.0% / 4.3%
Darnum — England: 2.0% Yarragon — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.5%
Darnum — New Zealand: 1.1% Yarragon — New Zealand: 1.5%
Netherlands 1.2% / 0.7%
Darnum — Netherlands: 1.2% Yarragon — Netherlands: 0.7%
Scotland — / 0.8%
Darnum — Scotland: not among its largest Yarragon — Scotland: 0.8%
India — / 0.5%
Darnum — India: not among its largest Yarragon — India: 0.5%
Philippines 0.4% / —
Darnum — Philippines: 0.4% Yarragon — Philippines: not among its largest
Thailand 0.4% / —
Darnum — Thailand: 0.4% Yarragon — Thailand: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Darnum 86.9% houses
Darnum — Houses: 86.9% Darnum — Townhouses: 12.7% Darnum — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Yarragon 97.7% houses
Yarragon — Houses: 97.7% Yarragon — Townhouses: 2.1% Yarragon — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Darnum Yarragon
Median house price $871,000 $629,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $499,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 86 days
from 4 sales
 74 days
from 19 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.

Darnum Yarragon
3 bed $690K / $625K
Darnum — 3 bed: $690K (8 sales) Yarragon — 3 bed: $625K (23 sales)

8 vs 23 sales

4 bed $872K / $698K
Darnum — 4 bed: $872K (5 sales) Yarragon — 4 bed: $698K (10 sales)

5 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Darnum Yarragon
Rural and farming 94% 95%
Residential 2%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 2% 1%
Parks and recreation 1%
same for both
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

Darnum Yarragon
New dwellings approved 619
across Baw Baw
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Darnum Yarragon
House price — Higher than 18% of VIC
Income Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 75% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC

Liveability

Darnum scores higher overall (41 vs 31).

Darnum Yarragon
Grade C D
Score 41/100 31/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Yarragon carries more crime risk (63 vs 47); Yarragon carries more flood risk (80 vs 64).

Darnum Yarragon
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
47/100
 Moderate
63/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
80/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Darnum Yarragon
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Darnum

  • Darnum Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Yarragon

  • Yarragon Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Darnum Yarragon
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 3
Childcare 1 3
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 2
same for both

Mobility

Yarragon sits further from the CBD (120.6 km vs 113.6 km).

Darnum Yarragon
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 113.6 km 120.6 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 94 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3822
 1.0%
postcode 3823
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3822
 57
postcode 3823

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.

Darnum Yarragon
Car (driver) 71.7% / 73.6%
Darnum — Car (driver): 71.7% Yarragon — Car (driver): 73.6%
Worked from Home 18.6% / 19.3%
Darnum — Worked from Home: 18.6% Yarragon — Worked from Home: 19.3%
Car (passenger) 6.3% / 3.2%
Darnum — Car (passenger): 6.3% Yarragon — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 1.6% / 3.3%
Darnum — Walked Only: 1.6% Yarragon — Walked Only: 3.3%
Bus 1.9% / —
Darnum — Bus: 1.9% Yarragon — Bus: not among its largest
Train — / 0.7%
Darnum — Train: not among its largest Yarragon — Train: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.6%).

Setting

Darnum Yarragon
Elevation 135 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 74 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 45.3 km 49.1 km

NBN connectivity

Darnum Yarragon
Connectivity score 54/100 67/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 32%
292 premises
 46%
977 premises

Climate

Darnum Yarragon
Annual rainfall 1,090 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Darnum Yarragon
Average residential rate $2,138/yr
same for both
Council Baw Baw
same for both

Federal electorate

Darnum Yarragon
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Darnum Yarragon
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Darnum

Rural

Yarragon

Acreage River Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Darnum

Darnum vs Nilma Darnum vs Nilma North Darnum vs Shady Creek Darnum vs Cloverlea Darnum vs Bona Vista

Other comparisons with Yarragon

Yarragon vs Trafalgar Yarragon vs Yarragon South Yarragon vs Shady Creek Yarragon vs Cloverlea
Full data on Darnum Full data on Yarragon
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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