Doncaster East vs Donvale

Doncaster East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 45 in Donvale. In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families.

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

Doncaster East

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (23 vs 9)
  • has more parks and reserves (50 vs 33)
  • But Donvale has more separate houses rather than flats (87% vs 63%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Doncaster East has cheaper units ($633,000 vs $792,500)
  • Donvale has cheaper land ($1,361,000 vs $1,585,000)

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

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Doncaster East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 37/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Doncaster East

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (12 vs 3)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (37% vs 13%)
  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 37/100)

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

Investors

Doncaster East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (9.0% vs 2.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Doncaster East Donvale
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.

Doncaster East Donvale
Walkability 75 / 37
Doncaster East — Walkability: 75/100 Donvale — Walkability: 37/100
Safety 61 / 67
Doncaster East — Safety: 61/100 Donvale — Safety: 67/100
Low fire risk 28 / 13
Doncaster East — Low fire risk: 28/100 Donvale — Low fire risk: 13/100
Low flood risk 62 / 54
Doncaster East — Low flood risk: 62/100 Donvale — Low flood risk: 54/100

Demographics

Doncaster East has more residents (30,926 vs 12,644); Donvale has higher household incomes ($109,200 vs $93,184).

Doncaster East Donvale
Population 30,926
+59% vs other
 12,644
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.0% +2.4%
Median age 41 45
Median household income $93,184/yr $109,200/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $462/wk
+3% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Doncaster East Donvale
0-4 4.8% / 4.2%
Doncaster East — 0-4: 4.8% Donvale — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 13.3% / 12.3%
Doncaster East — 5-14: 13.3% Donvale — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 5.3% / 6.4%
Doncaster East — 15-19: 5.3% Donvale — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 5.5% / 5.8%
Doncaster East — 20-24: 5.5% Donvale — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 10.9% / 8.4%
Doncaster East — 25-34: 10.9% Donvale — 25-34: 8.4%
35-44 14.8% / 12.1%
Doncaster East — 35-44: 14.8% Donvale — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 12.5% / 14.4%
Doncaster East — 45-54: 12.5% Donvale — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 12.0% / 13.0%
Doncaster East — 55-64: 12.0% Donvale — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 10.1% / 10.7%
Doncaster East — 65-74: 10.1% Donvale — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 7.7% / 8.2%
Doncaster East — 75-84: 7.7% Donvale — 75-84: 8.2%
85+ 3.2% / 4.6%
Doncaster East — 85+: 3.2% Donvale — 85+: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Doncaster East 55.4% couple families
Doncaster East — Couple Families: 55.4% Doncaster East — Lone Person: 25.9% Doncaster East — One Parent Families: 14.8% Doncaster East — Group Household: 2.3% Doncaster East — Other Families: 1.5%
Donvale 57.2% couple families
Donvale — Couple Families: 57.2% Donvale — Lone Person: 27.2% Donvale — One Parent Families: 13.0% Donvale — Group Household: 1.9% Donvale — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Doncaster East 24.2% renting
Doncaster East — Owned Outright: 42.9% Doncaster East — Mortgage: 32.9% Doncaster East — Renting: 24.2%
Donvale 16.1% renting
Donvale — Owned Outright: 45.6% Donvale — Mortgage: 38.3% Donvale — Renting: 16.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Doncaster East Donvale
Bachelor Degree 21.0% / 20.8%
Doncaster East — Bachelor Degree: 21.0% Donvale — Bachelor Degree: 20.8%
Postgraduate Degree 9.5% / 7.4%
Doncaster East — Postgraduate Degree: 9.5% Donvale — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.3%
Doncaster East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Donvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Certificate III & IV 6.6% / 8.2%
Doncaster East — Certificate III & IV: 6.6% Donvale — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.1%
Doncaster East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Donvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

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.

Doncaster East Donvale
China 14.9% / 7.5%
Doncaster East — China: 14.9% Donvale — China: 7.5%
Malaysia 5.5% / 3.1%
Doncaster East — Malaysia: 5.5% Donvale — Malaysia: 3.1%
Iran 3.1% / 1.9%
Doncaster East — Iran: 3.1% Donvale — Iran: 1.9%
India 2.5% / 1.8%
Doncaster East — India: 2.5% Donvale — India: 1.8%
England 1.5% / 2.2%
Doncaster East — England: 1.5% Donvale — England: 2.2%
Greece 2.0% / 1.0%
Doncaster East — Greece: 2.0% Donvale — Greece: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Doncaster East 63.1% houses
Doncaster East — Houses: 63.1% Doncaster East — Townhouses: 23.1% Doncaster East — Flats / Apartments: 13.8%
Donvale 86.8% houses
Donvale — Houses: 86.8% Donvale — Townhouses: 10.3% Donvale — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Doncaster East Donvale
Median house price $1,536,750 $1,665,500
Median unit price $633,000 $792,500
Median land price $1,585,000 $1,361,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 307 sales
 26 days
from 112 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Doncaster East Donvale
2 bed $580K / $738K
Doncaster East — 2 bed: $580K (115 sales) Donvale — 2 bed: $738K (27 sales)

115 vs 27 sales

3 bed $925K / $972K
Doncaster East — 3 bed: $925K (56 sales) Donvale — 3 bed: $972K (18 sales)

56 vs 18 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.

Doncaster East Donvale
3 bed $1.46M / $1.23M
Doncaster East — 3 bed: $1.46M (138 sales) Donvale — 3 bed: $1.23M (32 sales)

138 vs 32 sales

4 bed $1.55M / $1.66M
Doncaster East — 4 bed: $1.55M (214 sales) Donvale — 4 bed: $1.66M (73 sales)

214 vs 73 sales

5 bed $1.71M / $1.91M
Doncaster East — 5 bed: $1.71M (85 sales) Donvale — 5 bed: $1.91M (43 sales)

85 vs 43 sales

Zoning mix

Doncaster East Donvale
Residential 81% 78%
Parks and recreation 7% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 6%
Environmental 0% 4%
Commercial 2% 0%
Other and special use 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

Doncaster East Donvale
New dwellings approved 486
across Manningham
same for both
Approvals change year on year -2%
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.

Doncaster East Donvale
Houses 3.3%
$880/wk on $1.4M
 3.2%
$955/wk on $1.55M
Units 5.3%
$668/wk on $660K
 4.6%
$650/wk on $730K

Ranking within VIC

Doncaster East Donvale
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Income Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 12% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 22% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC

Liveability

Doncaster East is more walkable (75 vs 37); Doncaster East scores higher overall (71 vs 46).

Doncaster East Donvale
Grade A C
Score 71/100 46/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Donvale carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 72).

Doncaster East Donvale
Bushfire High
72/100
 High
87/100
Crime Low
39/100
 Low
33/100
Flood Low
38/100
 Moderate
46/100
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

Doncaster East Donvale
Inside the suburb 6 7
Rated above peers 5 0
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 9.1 km
 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 9.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.4% 3.8%

Schools in Doncaster East

  • Beverley Hills Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Donburn Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Doncaster Gardens Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • East Doncaster Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Milgate Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ss Peter & Paul's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Donvale

  • Donvale Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Donvale Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of the Pines School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Whitefriars College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • Carey Baptist Grammar School - Donvale Campus Independent · Combined
  • Heatherwood School Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Doncaster East Donvale
Supermarkets 9 0
Cafes & restaurants 60 2
Parks & reserves 50 33
Childcare 23 9
GPs 12 3
Pharmacies 7 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 6 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 7 4

Mobility

Doncaster East Donvale
Walkability score 75/100 37/100
Distance to Melbourne 23 km 24.3 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 832.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 235.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 3109
 2.4%
postcode 3111
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 3109
 35
postcode 3111

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.

Doncaster East Donvale
Car (driver) 53.1% / 52.3%
Doncaster East — Car (driver): 53.1% Donvale — Car (driver): 52.3%
Worked from Home 36.8% / 40.4%
Doncaster East — Worked from Home: 36.8% Donvale — Worked from Home: 40.4%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 3.9%
Doncaster East — Car (passenger): 3.6% Donvale — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Bus 4.0% / 1.4%
Doncaster East — Bus: 4.0% Donvale — Bus: 1.4%
Train 1.1% / 1.5%
Doncaster East — Train: 1.1% Donvale — Train: 1.5%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.4%
Doncaster East — Walked Only: 1.3% Donvale — Walked Only: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.1%).

Setting

Doncaster East Donvale
Elevation 122 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 106 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.3 km 21.0 km

NBN connectivity

Doncaster East Donvale
Connectivity score 77/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 10%
13,872 premises
 6%
5,073 premises

Climate

Doncaster East Donvale
Annual rainfall 777 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Doncaster East Donvale
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Doncaster East Donvale
Average residential rate $2,000/yr
same for both
Council Manningham
same for both

Federal electorate

Doncaster East Donvale
Division Menzies Deakin
Member Gabriel Ng Matt Gregg
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Doncaster East Donvale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Doncaster East

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses

Donvale

Large Blocks Outer Parks Premium Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Doncaster East

Doncaster East vs Doncaster Doncaster East vs Templestowe Doncaster East vs Box Hill North Doncaster East vs Blackburn North Doncaster East vs Warrandyte

Other comparisons with Donvale

Donvale vs Ringwood Donvale vs Mitcham Donvale vs Nunawading Donvale vs Ringwood North Donvale vs Blackburn North Donvale vs Warrandyte
Full data on Doncaster East Full data on Donvale
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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