Daylesford vs Hepburn

Hepburn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 52 against 55 in Daylesford. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Daylesford, most households are people living alone. In Hepburn, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Daylesford: a median of $820,000, against $639,000 in Hepburn, though rent is higher in Hepburn. On these figures, Daylesford tends to suit people living alone, while Hepburn suits 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

Daylesford

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • But Hepburn carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 74/100)

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

First-home buyers

Hepburn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($639,000 vs $820,000)
  • has cheaper land ($319,000 vs $392,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Daylesford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (27% vs 15%)

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

Commuting to the city

Daylesford

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (67/100 vs 29/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (86 min vs 94 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (112.6 km vs 116.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Daylesford

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (67/100 vs 29/100)
  • But Hepburn carries lower crime risk (31/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Daylesford Hepburn
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.

Daylesford Hepburn
Walkability 67 / 29
Daylesford — Walkability: 67/100 Hepburn — Walkability: 29/100
Safety 26 / 69
Daylesford — Safety: 26/100 Hepburn — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 34 / 17
Daylesford — Low fire risk: 34/100 Hepburn — Low fire risk: 17/100
Low flood risk 63 / 100
Daylesford — Low flood risk: 63/100 Hepburn — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Daylesford has more residents (2,781 vs 631); Daylesford skews older (55 vs 52).

Daylesford Hepburn
Population 2,781
+77% vs other
 631
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.1% +5.3%
Median age 55 52
Median household income $61,620/yr $65,312/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $331/wk $350/wk
+6% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Daylesford Hepburn
0-4 3.2% / 1.6%
Daylesford — 0-4: 3.2% Hepburn — 0-4: 1.6%
5-14 8.2% / 11.6%
Daylesford — 5-14: 8.2% Hepburn — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 3.4% / 5.5%
Daylesford — 15-19: 3.4% Hepburn — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 2.2% / 1.6%
Daylesford — 20-24: 2.2% Hepburn — 20-24: 1.6%
25-34 9.1% / 5.7%
Daylesford — 25-34: 9.1% Hepburn — 25-34: 5.7%
35-44 9.6% / 10.9%
Daylesford — 35-44: 9.6% Hepburn — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 13.2% / 18.7%
Daylesford — 45-54: 13.2% Hepburn — 45-54: 18.7%
55-64 19.8% / 17.0%
Daylesford — 55-64: 19.8% Hepburn — 55-64: 17.0%
65-74 17.7% / 17.7%
Daylesford — 65-74: 17.7% Hepburn — 65-74: 17.7%
75-84 9.0% / 7.0%
Daylesford — 75-84: 9.0% Hepburn — 75-84: 7.0%
85+ 4.5% / 2.5%
Daylesford — 85+: 4.5% Hepburn — 85+: 2.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Daylesford 59.6% lone person
Daylesford — Lone Person: 59.6% Daylesford — Couple Families: 20.1% Daylesford — One Parent Families: 15.1% Daylesford — Group Household: 4.8% Daylesford — Other Families: 0.5%
Hepburn 51.3% lone person
Hepburn — Lone Person: 51.3% Hepburn — Couple Families: 28.8% Hepburn — One Parent Families: 14.1% Hepburn — Group Household: 5.8% Hepburn — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Daylesford 27.0% renting
Daylesford — Owned Outright: 47.7% Daylesford — Mortgage: 25.3% Daylesford — Renting: 27.0%
Hepburn 15.1% renting
Hepburn — Owned Outright: 48.2% Hepburn — Mortgage: 36.8% Hepburn — Renting: 15.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Daylesford Hepburn
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 12.7%
Daylesford — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Hepburn — Bachelor Degree: 12.7%
Certificate III & IV 10.9% / 11.9%
Daylesford — Certificate III & IV: 10.9% Hepburn — Certificate III & IV: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.0% / 11.7%
Daylesford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.0% Hepburn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 5.5%
Daylesford — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Hepburn — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.0%
Daylesford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Hepburn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

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.

Daylesford Hepburn
England 5.2% / 6.0%
Daylesford — England: 5.2% Hepburn — England: 6.0%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.4%
Daylesford — New Zealand: 1.4% Hepburn — New Zealand: 1.4%
India 1.3% / —
Daylesford — India: 1.3% Hepburn — India: not among its largest
Italy 0.8% / 0.5%
Daylesford — Italy: 0.8% Hepburn — Italy: 0.5%
Nepal 0.9% / —
Daylesford — Nepal: 0.9% Hepburn — Nepal: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.8%
Daylesford — Ireland: not among its largest Hepburn — Ireland: 0.8%
Malaysia — / 0.5%
Daylesford — Malaysia: not among its largest Hepburn — Malaysia: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Daylesford 89.2% houses
Daylesford — Houses: 89.2% Daylesford — Townhouses: 9.7% Daylesford — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Hepburn 98.2% houses
Hepburn — Houses: 98.2% Hepburn — Townhouses: 0.0% Hepburn — Flats / Apartments: 1.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Daylesford Hepburn
Median house price $820,000 $639,000
Median unit price $495,000 —
Median land price $392,500 $319,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 63 days
from 72 sales
 48 days
from 8 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.

Daylesford Hepburn
2 bed $650K / $510K
Daylesford — 2 bed: $650K (25 sales) Hepburn — 2 bed: $510K (5 sales)

25 vs 5 sales

3 bed $815K / $656K
Daylesford — 3 bed: $815K (78 sales) Hepburn — 3 bed: $656K (12 sales)

78 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Daylesford has more rural and farming land (54% vs 36%).

Daylesford Hepburn
Rural and farming 54% 36%
Residential 13% 28%
Parks and recreation 28% 17%
Other and special use 0% 11%
Environmental 0% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 2%
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

Daylesford Hepburn
New dwellings approved 104
across Hepburn
same for both
Approvals change year on year -6%
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.

Daylesford Hepburn
Houses 3.2%
$625/wk on $1.01M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Daylesford Hepburn
House price Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC
Income Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Schools Higher than 86% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of VIC —

Liveability

Daylesford is more walkable (67 vs 29).

Daylesford Hepburn
Grade C
same for both
Score 49/100 46/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Daylesford carries more flood risk (37 vs 0); Daylesford carries more crime risk (74 vs 31).

Daylesford Hepburn
Bushfire Moderate
66/100
 High
83/100
Crime High
74/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Low
37/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Daylesford Hepburn
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Daylesford

  • Daylesford Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Michael's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Daylesford Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Daylesford Dharma School Independent · Primary below peers

Schools in Hepburn

  • Hepburn Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Daylesford Hepburn
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 17 0
Parks & reserves 11 0
Childcare 3 1
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 31 3

Mobility

Hepburn sits further from the CBD (116.4 km vs 112.6 km).

Daylesford Hepburn
Walkability score 67/100 29/100
Distance to Melbourne 112.6 km 116.4 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 86 min 94 min
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3460
 1.4%
postcode 3461
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 3460
 48
postcode 3461

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.

Daylesford Hepburn
Car (driver) 53.8% / 65.7%
Daylesford — Car (driver): 53.8% Hepburn — Car (driver): 65.7%
Worked from Home 31.7% / 25.3%
Daylesford — Worked from Home: 31.7% Hepburn — Worked from Home: 25.3%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 6.9%
Daylesford — Car (passenger): 5.1% Hepburn — Car (passenger): 6.9%
Walked Only 8.4% / —
Daylesford — Walked Only: 8.4% Hepburn — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus — / 2.0%
Daylesford — Bus: not among its largest Hepburn — Bus: 2.0%
Bicycle 0.7% / —
Daylesford — Bicycle: 0.7% Hepburn — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.7%).

Setting

Daylesford Hepburn
Elevation 641 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 481 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Daylesford Hepburn
Connectivity score 63/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 35%
2,342 premises
 39%
394 premises

Climate

Daylesford Hepburn
Annual rainfall 531 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Daylesford Hepburn
Average residential rate $1,748/yr
same for both
Council Hepburn
same for both

Federal electorate

Daylesford Hepburn
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Daylesford Hepburn
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Daylesford

Acreage Cafe Culture Parks Retirees River Village Feel

Hepburn

Acreage Quiet Retirees

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Hepburn

Hepburn vs Hepburn Springs Hepburn vs Shepherds Flat
Full data on Daylesford Full data on Hepburn
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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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