Diggers Rest vs Sunbury

Diggers Rest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 38 in Sunbury. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Diggers Rest is closer to the city centre: 37.2 km, against 44.2 km. On these figures, Diggers Rest tends to suit young adults.

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

Sunbury

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (76 vs 9)
  • has more childcare (33 vs 4)
  • But Diggers Rest has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Renters

Sunbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($361/wk vs $397/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 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (37 min vs 46 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (37.2 km vs 44.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sunbury

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 2)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (15% vs 10%)
  • But Diggers Rest is more walkable (59/100 vs 10/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, 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 7.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Diggers Rest and Sunbury 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 Sunbury
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 Sunbury
Walkability 59 / 10
Diggers Rest — Walkability: 59/100 Sunbury — Walkability: 10/100
Safety 31 / 33
Diggers Rest — Safety: 31/100 Sunbury — Safety: 33/100
Low fire risk 25 / 55
Diggers Rest — Low fire risk: 25/100 Sunbury — Low fire risk: 55/100
Low flood risk 85 / 70
Diggers Rest — Low flood risk: 85/100 Sunbury — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

Sunbury has more residents (38,851 vs 5,669); Sunbury skews older (38 vs 33).

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Population 5,669 38,851
+585% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +105.2% +7.7%
Median age 33 38
Median household income $103,532/yr
+3% vs other
 $100,100/yr
Median weekly rent $397/wk
+9% vs other
 $361/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Diggers Rest Sunbury
0-4 9.2% / 6.0%
Diggers Rest — 0-4: 9.2% Sunbury — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 11.8% / 13.0%
Diggers Rest — 5-14: 11.8% Sunbury — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 3.9% / 6.1%
Diggers Rest — 15-19: 3.9% Sunbury — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 5.7% / 6.0%
Diggers Rest — 20-24: 5.7% Sunbury — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 23.4% / 14.1%
Diggers Rest — 25-34: 23.4% Sunbury — 25-34: 14.1%
35-44 16.4% / 13.5%
Diggers Rest — 35-44: 16.4% Sunbury — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 10.1% / 13.6%
Diggers Rest — 45-54: 10.1% Sunbury — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 9.9% / 12.5%
Diggers Rest — 55-64: 9.9% Sunbury — 55-64: 12.5%
65-74 6.7% / 9.1%
Diggers Rest — 65-74: 6.7% Sunbury — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 2.5% / 4.3%
Diggers Rest — 75-84: 2.5% Sunbury — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 0.4% / 1.7%
Diggers Rest — 85+: 0.4% Sunbury — 85+: 1.7%

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%
Sunbury 48.9% couple families
Sunbury — Couple Families: 48.9% Sunbury — Lone Person: 29.2% Sunbury — One Parent Families: 17.6% Sunbury — Group Household: 3.0% Sunbury — 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.

Diggers Rest 21.1% renting
Diggers Rest — Owned Outright: 20.7% Diggers Rest — Mortgage: 58.2% Diggers Rest — Renting: 21.1%
Sunbury 20.8% renting
Sunbury — Owned Outright: 31.4% Sunbury — Mortgage: 47.8% Sunbury — Renting: 20.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Certificate III & IV 16.3% / 17.5%
Diggers Rest — Certificate III & IV: 16.3% Sunbury — Certificate III & IV: 17.5%
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 10.4%
Diggers Rest — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Sunbury — Bachelor Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 9.0%
Diggers Rest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Sunbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 2.8%
Diggers Rest — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Sunbury — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.2%
Diggers Rest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Sunbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

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

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 Sunbury
India 6.8% / 1.7%
Diggers Rest — India: 6.8% Sunbury — India: 1.7%
England 1.7% / 3.4%
Diggers Rest — England: 1.7% Sunbury — England: 3.4%
Philippines 2.5% / 0.9%
Diggers Rest — Philippines: 2.5% Sunbury — Philippines: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.7%
Diggers Rest — New Zealand: 1.5% Sunbury — New Zealand: 1.7%
Italy 1.1% / 0.6%
Diggers Rest — Italy: 1.1% Sunbury — Italy: 0.6%
Scotland — / 0.6%
Diggers Rest — Scotland: not among its largest Sunbury — 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%
Sunbury 88.5% houses
Sunbury — Houses: 88.5% Sunbury — Townhouses: 4.1% Sunbury — Flats / Apartments: 7.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Median house price $672,750 $711,000
Median unit price $540,000 $517,058
Median land price $585,000 $645,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 135 sales
 28 days
from 793 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.

Diggers Rest Sunbury
2 bed $530K / $520K
Diggers Rest — 2 bed: $530K (7 sales) Sunbury — 2 bed: $520K (45 sales)

7 vs 45 sales

3 bed $609K / $655K
Diggers Rest — 3 bed: $609K (86 sales) Sunbury — 3 bed: $655K (527 sales)

86 vs 527 sales

4 bed $723K / $760K
Diggers Rest — 4 bed: $723K (94 sales) Sunbury — 4 bed: $760K (573 sales)

94 vs 573 sales

5 bed $779K / $900K
Diggers Rest — 5 bed: $779K (5 sales) Sunbury — 5 bed: $900K (52 sales)

5 vs 52 sales

Zoning mix

Diggers Rest has more rural and farming land (89% vs 50%).

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Rural and farming 89% 50%
Residential 8% 32%
Environmental 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 5%
Other and special use 0% 2%
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 Sunbury
New dwellings approved 4,602
across Melton
 3,063
across Hume
Approvals change year on year +5% +0%

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 Sunbury
Houses 3.8%
$530/wk on $732K
 3.8%
$550/wk on $745K
Units — 4.1%
$430/wk on $540K

Ranking within VIC

Diggers Rest Sunbury
House price Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Income Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 10% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 14% of VIC

Liveability

Diggers Rest is more walkable (59 vs 10); Diggers Rest scores higher overall (46 vs 37).

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Grade C
same for both
Score 46/100 37/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
same for both

Risk profile

Sunbury carries more flood risk (30 vs 15); Diggers Rest carries more bushfire risk (75 vs 45).

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Bushfire High
75/100
 Moderate
45/100
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
67/100
Flood Low
15/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Inside the suburb 1 15
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 7
Rated below peers 0 6

Schools in Diggers Rest

  • Diggers Rest Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Sunbury

  • Holy Trinity Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Killara Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Kismet Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Red Rock Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Salesian College Sunbury Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Anne's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Supermarkets 1 8
Cafes & restaurants 2 10
Parks & reserves 9 76
Childcare 4 33
GPs 2 9
Pharmacies 1 10
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 0 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 4 56

Mobility

Sunbury sits further from the CBD (44.2 km vs 37.2 km).

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Walkability score 59/100 10/100
Distance to Melbourne 37.2 km 44.2 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 37 min 46 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 84/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 72.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 574.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 3427
 0.8%
postcode 3429
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 3427
 47
postcode 3429

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 Sunbury
Car (driver) 64.6% / 65.8%
Diggers Rest — Car (driver): 64.6% Sunbury — Car (driver): 65.8%
Worked from Home 26.3% / 25.6%
Diggers Rest — Worked from Home: 26.3% Sunbury — Worked from Home: 25.6%
Train 5.2% / 2.8%
Diggers Rest — Train: 5.2% Sunbury — Train: 2.8%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 4.2%
Diggers Rest — Car (passenger): 3.5% Sunbury — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Walked Only 0.2% / 1.0%
Diggers Rest — Walked Only: 0.2% Sunbury — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.8%).

Setting

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Elevation 212 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 276 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 30.1 km 36.9 km

NBN connectivity

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Connectivity score 88/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 80%
3,418 premises
 57%
18,150 premises

Climate

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Annual rainfall 518 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Average residential rate $1,779/yr $1,715/yr
Council Melton Hume

Federal electorate

Diggers Rest Sunbury
Division Hawke
same for both
Member Sam Rae
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Diggers Rest Sunbury
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

Sunbury

Acreage Outer Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest vs Gisborne South Diggers Rest vs Toolern Vale Diggers Rest vs Bulla Diggers Rest vs Plumpton Diggers Rest vs Keilor North

Other comparisons with Sunbury

Sunbury vs Gisborne Sunbury vs Riddells Creek Sunbury vs Gisborne South Sunbury vs Bulla Sunbury vs Clarkefield Sunbury vs Wildwood
Full data on Diggers Rest Full data on Sunbury
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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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