Doncaster vs Blackburn North

In both, most households own their home. In Blackburn North, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Doncaster is closer to the city centre: 17.7 km, against 21.2 km. On these figures, Doncaster tends to suit people living alone, while Blackburn North suits families with children and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Doncaster has more parks and reserves (36 vs 10)
  • Blackburn North carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 76/100)

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

First-home buyers

Doncaster

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($551,125 vs $855,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Doncaster has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 22%)
  • Blackburn North leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Doncaster

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (17.7 km vs 21.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Doncaster

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 17%)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 16%)
  • But Blackburn North carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Doncaster is growing faster (19.5% vs 2.6%)
  • Blackburn North returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Doncaster and Blackburn North 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 Blackburn North
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 Blackburn North
Walkability 92 / 86
Doncaster — Walkability: 92/100 Blackburn North — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 24 / 61
Doncaster — Safety: 24/100 Blackburn North — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Doncaster — Low fire risk: 100/100 Blackburn North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 65 / 89
Doncaster — Low flood risk: 65/100 Blackburn North — Low flood risk: 89/100

Demographics

Doncaster has more residents (25,020 vs 7,627); Blackburn North has higher household incomes ($105,092 vs $82,784).

Doncaster Blackburn North
Population 25,020
+70% vs other
 7,627
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.5% +2.6%
Median age 40 39
Median household income $82,784/yr $105,092/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+4% vs other
 $431/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Doncaster Blackburn North
0-4 4.6% / 5.3%
Doncaster — 0-4: 4.6% Blackburn North — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 9.4% / 14.5%
Doncaster — 5-14: 9.4% Blackburn North — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 4.9% / 6.3%
Doncaster — 15-19: 4.9% Blackburn North — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.5% / 5.9%
Doncaster — 20-24: 6.5% Blackburn North — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 15.5% / 10.9%
Doncaster — 25-34: 15.5% Blackburn North — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 13.9% / 15.4%
Doncaster — 35-44: 13.9% Blackburn North — 35-44: 15.4%
45-54 11.8% / 14.5%
Doncaster — 45-54: 11.8% Blackburn North — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 11.4% / 11.3%
Doncaster — 55-64: 11.4% Blackburn North — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 9.8% / 6.9%
Doncaster — 65-74: 9.8% Blackburn North — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 8.3% / 5.8%
Doncaster — 75-84: 8.3% Blackburn North — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 4.0% / 3.0%
Doncaster — 85+: 4.0% Blackburn North — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Doncaster 41.2% couple families
Doncaster — Couple Families: 41.2% Doncaster — Lone Person: 36.3% Doncaster — One Parent Families: 15.6% Doncaster — Group Household: 4.6% Doncaster — Other Families: 2.2%
Blackburn North 54.7% couple families
Blackburn North — Couple Families: 54.7% Blackburn North — Lone Person: 26.6% Blackburn North — One Parent Families: 12.9% Blackburn North — Group Household: 4.5% Blackburn North — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Doncaster 32.1% renting
Doncaster — Owned Outright: 39.5% Doncaster — Mortgage: 28.5% Doncaster — Renting: 32.1%
Blackburn North 21.8% renting
Blackburn North — Owned Outright: 38.7% Blackburn North — Mortgage: 39.5% Blackburn North — Renting: 21.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Doncaster Blackburn North
Bachelor Degree 22.3% / 20.8%
Doncaster — Bachelor Degree: 22.3% Blackburn North — Bachelor Degree: 20.8%
Postgraduate Degree 10.4% / 8.0%
Doncaster — Postgraduate Degree: 10.4% Blackburn North — Postgraduate Degree: 8.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.7%
Doncaster — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Blackburn North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 6.4% / 7.6%
Doncaster — Certificate III & IV: 6.4% Blackburn North — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 3.0%
Doncaster — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Blackburn North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.3%).

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 Blackburn North
China 17.1% / 10.4%
Doncaster — China: 17.1% Blackburn North — China: 10.4%
Malaysia 5.5% / 3.0%
Doncaster — Malaysia: 5.5% Blackburn North — Malaysia: 3.0%
India 2.3% / 3.0%
Doncaster — India: 2.3% Blackburn North — India: 3.0%
Greece 3.0% / 1.1%
Doncaster — Greece: 3.0% Blackburn North — Greece: 1.1%
Iran 3.2% / —
Doncaster — Iran: 3.2% Blackburn North — Iran: not among its largest
England 1.3% / 1.9%
Doncaster — England: 1.3% Blackburn North — England: 1.9%
Vietnam 1.1% / 1.4%
Doncaster — Vietnam: 1.1% Blackburn North — Vietnam: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Doncaster 53.1% houses
Doncaster — Houses: 53.1% Doncaster — Townhouses: 19.6% Doncaster — Flats / Apartments: 27.4%
Blackburn North 83.2% houses
Blackburn North — Houses: 83.2% Blackburn North — Townhouses: 15.4% Blackburn North — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Doncaster Blackburn North
Median house price $1,500,000 $1,399,000
Median unit price $551,125 $855,000
Median land price $1,702,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 206 sales
 26 days
from 43 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 Blackburn North
2 bed $550K / $760K
Doncaster — 2 bed: $550K (184 sales) Blackburn North — 2 bed: $760K (11 sales)

184 vs 11 sales

3 bed $820K / $900K
Doncaster — 3 bed: $820K (51 sales) Blackburn North — 3 bed: $900K (15 sales)

51 vs 15 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 Blackburn North
3 bed $1.38M / $1.2M
Doncaster — 3 bed: $1.38M (90 sales) Blackburn North — 3 bed: $1.2M (58 sales)

90 vs 58 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.61M
Doncaster — 4 bed: $1.5M (162 sales) Blackburn North — 4 bed: $1.61M (42 sales)

162 vs 42 sales

5 bed $1.81M / $2.1M
Doncaster — 5 bed: $1.81M (56 sales) Blackburn North — 5 bed: $2.1M (16 sales)

56 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Doncaster Blackburn North
Residential 75% 77%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 11%
Parks and recreation 8%
same for both
Commercial 8% 0%
Industrial 0% 3%
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 Blackburn North
New dwellings approved 486
across Manningham
 879
across Whitehorse
Approvals change year on year -2% +17%

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 Blackburn North
Houses 3.2%
$900/wk on $1.45M
 3.7%
$825/wk on $1.15M
Units 6.3%
$695/wk on $575K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Doncaster Blackburn North
House price Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Income Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 95% of VIC —

Liveability

Doncaster Blackburn North
Grade A A+
Score 81/100 82/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Doncaster carries more flood risk (35 vs 11); Doncaster carries more crime risk (76 vs 39).

Doncaster Blackburn North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
76/100
 Low
39/100
Flood Low
35/100
 Low
11/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Doncaster Blackburn North
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 7.3 km
 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 3.4%

Schools in Doncaster

  • Birralee Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Doncaster Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Gregory the Great School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Doncaster Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Blackburn North

  • Whitehorse Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Old Orchard Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Philip's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Doncaster Blackburn North
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 27 3
Parks & reserves 36 10
Childcare 14 8
GPs 7 2
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 0
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 9 6

Mobility

Blackburn North sits further from the CBD (21.2 km vs 17.7 km).

Doncaster Blackburn North
Walkability score 92/100 86/100
Distance to Melbourne 17.7 km 21.2 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 25 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 782.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 173.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.4%
postcode 3108
 2.1%
postcode 3130
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 3108
 27
postcode 3130

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 Blackburn North
Car (driver) 51.8% / 50.3%
Doncaster — Car (driver): 51.8% Blackburn North — Car (driver): 50.3%
Worked from Home 35.8% / 39.1%
Doncaster — Worked from Home: 35.8% Blackburn North — Worked from Home: 39.1%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.2%
Doncaster — Car (passenger): 4.1% Blackburn North — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Bus 4.8% / 2.3%
Doncaster — Bus: 4.8% Blackburn North — Bus: 2.3%
Train 1.3% / 2.7%
Doncaster — Train: 1.3% Blackburn North — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only 2.1% / 1.2%
Doncaster — Walked Only: 2.1% Blackburn North — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.8%).

Setting

Doncaster Blackburn North
Elevation 115 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 91 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.0 km 17.3 km

NBN connectivity

Doncaster Blackburn North
Connectivity score 80/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
13,123 premises
 1%
3,096 premises

Climate

Doncaster Blackburn North
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 Blackburn North
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Doncaster Blackburn North
Average residential rate $2,000/yr $1,516/yr
Council Manningham Whitehorse

Federal electorate

Doncaster Blackburn North
Division Menzies
same for both
Member Gabriel Ng
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Doncaster

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals

Blackburn North

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Doncaster

Doncaster vs Doncaster East Doncaster vs Balwyn North Doncaster vs Templestowe Doncaster vs Templestowe Lower Doncaster vs Box Hill North Doncaster vs Bulleen

Other comparisons with Blackburn North

Blackburn North vs Doncaster East Blackburn North vs Blackburn Blackburn North vs Donvale Blackburn North vs Nunawading Blackburn North vs Box Hill North
Full data on Doncaster Full data on Blackburn North
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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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