Diggers Rest vs Gisborne South

Diggers Rest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 46 in Gisborne South. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Diggers Rest, about half of households are couple families. In Gisborne South, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gisborne South: a median of $1.74 million, against $673,000 in Diggers Rest, and rent is higher there too. Diggers Rest is closer to the city centre: 37.2 km, against 48.7 km. On these figures, Diggers Rest tends to suit young adults, families with children, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Gisborne South 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

Diggers Rest

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Gisborne South carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 69/100)

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

First-home buyers

Diggers Rest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($585,000 vs $1,630,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($672,750 vs $1,735,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Diggers Rest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (21% vs 5%)
  • has cheaper rent ($397/wk vs $462/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Diggers Rest

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (37.2 km vs 48.7 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (37 min vs 42 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Diggers Rest is more walkable (59/100 vs 0/100)
  • Gisborne South carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 69/100)

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

Investors

Diggers Rest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (105.2% vs 6.9%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
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.

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Walkability 59 / 0
Diggers Rest — Walkability: 59/100 Gisborne South — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 31 / 77
Diggers Rest — Safety: 31/100 Gisborne South — Safety: 77/100
Low fire risk 25 / 14
Diggers Rest — Low fire risk: 25/100 Gisborne South — Low fire risk: 14/100
Low flood risk 85 / 100
Diggers Rest — Low flood risk: 85/100 Gisborne South — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Diggers Rest has more residents (5,669 vs 854); Gisborne South has higher household incomes ($145,548 vs $103,532).

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Population 5,669
+85% vs other
 854
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +105.2% +6.9%
Median age 33 46
Median household income $103,532/yr $145,548/yr
+41% vs other
Median weekly rent $397/wk $462/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
0-4 9.2% / 3.9%
Diggers Rest — 0-4: 9.2% Gisborne South — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 11.8% / 13.0%
Diggers Rest — 5-14: 11.8% Gisborne South — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 3.9% / 8.2%
Diggers Rest — 15-19: 3.9% Gisborne South — 15-19: 8.2%
20-24 5.7% / 4.6%
Diggers Rest — 20-24: 5.7% Gisborne South — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 23.4% / 6.6%
Diggers Rest — 25-34: 23.4% Gisborne South — 25-34: 6.6%
35-44 16.4% / 10.9%
Diggers Rest — 35-44: 16.4% Gisborne South — 35-44: 10.9%
45-54 10.1% / 16.0%
Diggers Rest — 45-54: 10.1% Gisborne South — 45-54: 16.0%
55-64 9.9% / 19.0%
Diggers Rest — 55-64: 9.9% Gisborne South — 55-64: 19.0%
65-74 6.7% / 11.1%
Diggers Rest — 65-74: 6.7% Gisborne South — 65-74: 11.1%
75-84 2.5% / 5.0%
Diggers Rest — 75-84: 2.5% Gisborne South — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 0.4% / 1.6%
Diggers Rest — 85+: 0.4% Gisborne South — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Diggers Rest 50.3% couple families
Diggers Rest — Couple Families: 50.3% Diggers Rest — Lone Person: 29.1% Diggers Rest — One Parent Families: 15.4% Diggers Rest — Group Household: 3.3% Diggers Rest — Other Families: 1.8%
Gisborne South 73.1% couple families
Gisborne South — Couple Families: 73.1% Gisborne South — Lone Person: 18.0% Gisborne South — One Parent Families: 9.0% Gisborne South — Group Household: 0.0% Gisborne South — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Diggers Rest 21.1% renting
Diggers Rest — Owned Outright: 20.7% Diggers Rest — Mortgage: 58.2% Diggers Rest — Renting: 21.1%
Gisborne South 4.8% renting
Gisborne South — Owned Outright: 49.3% Gisborne South — Mortgage: 46.0% Gisborne South — Renting: 4.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 18.1%
Diggers Rest — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Gisborne South — Certificate III & IV: 18.1%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 13.3%
Diggers Rest — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Gisborne South — Bachelor Degree: 13.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.4%
Diggers Rest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Gisborne South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 2.8%
Diggers Rest — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Gisborne South — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.3%
Diggers Rest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Gisborne South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

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.

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
India 6.8% / 0.6%
Diggers Rest — India: 6.8% Gisborne South — India: 0.6%
England 1.7% / 2.7%
Diggers Rest — England: 1.7% Gisborne South — England: 2.7%
Italy 1.1% / 2.3%
Diggers Rest — Italy: 1.1% Gisborne South — Italy: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.4%
Diggers Rest — New Zealand: 1.5% Gisborne South — New Zealand: 1.4%
Philippines 2.5% / —
Diggers Rest — Philippines: 2.5% Gisborne South — Philippines: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.6%
Diggers Rest — Scotland: not among its largest Gisborne South — Scotland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Diggers Rest 92.6% houses
Diggers Rest — Houses: 92.6% Diggers Rest — Townhouses: 7.3% Diggers Rest — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Gisborne South 100.0% houses
Gisborne South — Houses: 100.0% Gisborne South — Townhouses: 0.0% Gisborne South — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Median house price $672,750 $1,735,000
Median unit price $540,000 —
Median land price $585,000 $1,630,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 135 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Rural and farming 89% 91%
Residential 8% 0%
Environmental 0% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 3%
Parks and recreation 0% 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

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
New dwellings approved 4,602
across Melton
 331
across Macedon Ranges
Approvals change year on year +5% +80%

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.

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Houses 3.8%
$530/wk on $732K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
House price Higher than 27% of VIC —
Income Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 94% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 52% of VIC —

Liveability

Diggers Rest is more walkable (59 vs 0); Gisborne South scores higher overall (62 vs 46).

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Grade C B
Score 46/100 62/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Diggers Rest carries more flood risk (15 vs 0); Diggers Rest carries more crime risk (69 vs 23).

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Bushfire High
75/100
 High
86/100
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Low
23/100
Flood Low
15/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Diggers Rest

  • Diggers Rest Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Gisborne South

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

Amenities in the suburb

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 9 2
Childcare 4 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 4 3

Mobility

Gisborne South sits further from the CBD (48.7 km vs 37.2 km).

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Walkability score 59/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 37.2 km 48.7 km
+31% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 37 min 42 min
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 3427
 1.3%
postcode 3437
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 3427
 51
postcode 3437

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.

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Car (driver) 64.6% / 60.1%
Diggers Rest — Car (driver): 64.6% Gisborne South — Car (driver): 60.1%
Worked from Home 26.3% / 32.3%
Diggers Rest — Worked from Home: 26.3% Gisborne South — Worked from Home: 32.3%
Train 5.2% / 2.4%
Diggers Rest — Train: 5.2% Gisborne South — Train: 2.4%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.0%
Diggers Rest — Car (passenger): 3.5% Gisborne South — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only 0.2% / 2.2%
Diggers Rest — Walked Only: 0.2% Gisborne South — Walked Only: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.6%).

Setting

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Elevation 212 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 446 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 30.1 km 39.9 km

NBN connectivity

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Connectivity score 88/100 29/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 80%
3,418 premises
 0%
272 premises

Climate

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Annual rainfall 518 mm 778 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C —
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Average residential rate $1,779/yr $2,065/yr
Council Melton Macedon Ranges

Federal electorate

Diggers Rest Gisborne South
Division Hawke Mcewen
Member Sam Rae Rob Mitchell
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Diggers Rest

Acreage Outer Young Families

Gisborne South

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest vs Sunbury Diggers Rest vs Toolern Vale Diggers Rest vs Bulla Diggers Rest vs Plumpton Diggers Rest vs Keilor North

Other comparisons with Gisborne South

Gisborne South vs Sunbury Gisborne South vs Gisborne Gisborne South vs Toolern Vale
Full data on Diggers Rest Full data on Gisborne South
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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