Doncaster vs Doncaster East

In both, most households own their home. In Doncaster East, most homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Doncaster is closer to the city centre: 17.7 km, against 23 km. On these figures, Doncaster tends to suit people living alone, while Doncaster East 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

Doncaster East

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 76/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (23 vs 14)

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 $633,000)

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

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (17.7 km vs 23 km)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 75/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Doncaster has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 37%)
  • Doncaster East carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Doncaster

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (19.5% vs 9.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.3% vs 5.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Doncaster and Doncaster East 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 Doncaster East
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 Doncaster East
Walkability 92 / 75
Doncaster — Walkability: 92/100 Doncaster East — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 24 / 61
Doncaster — Safety: 24/100 Doncaster East — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 100 / 28
Doncaster — Low fire risk: 100/100 Doncaster East — Low fire risk: 28/100
Low flood risk 65 / 62
Doncaster — Low flood risk: 65/100 Doncaster East — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Doncaster East has higher household incomes ($93,184 vs $82,784).

Doncaster Doncaster East
Population 25,020 30,926
+24% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.5% +9.0%
Median age 40 41
Median household income $82,784/yr $93,184/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk $462/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Doncaster Doncaster East
0-4 4.6% / 4.8%
Doncaster — 0-4: 4.6% Doncaster East — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 9.4% / 13.3%
Doncaster — 5-14: 9.4% Doncaster East — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 4.9% / 5.3%
Doncaster — 15-19: 4.9% Doncaster East — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.5% / 5.5%
Doncaster — 20-24: 6.5% Doncaster East — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 15.5% / 10.9%
Doncaster — 25-34: 15.5% Doncaster East — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 13.9% / 14.8%
Doncaster — 35-44: 13.9% Doncaster East — 35-44: 14.8%
45-54 11.8% / 12.5%
Doncaster — 45-54: 11.8% Doncaster East — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 11.4% / 12.0%
Doncaster — 55-64: 11.4% Doncaster East — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 9.8% / 10.1%
Doncaster — 65-74: 9.8% Doncaster East — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 8.3% / 7.7%
Doncaster — 75-84: 8.3% Doncaster East — 75-84: 7.7%
85+ 4.0% / 3.2%
Doncaster — 85+: 4.0% Doncaster East — 85+: 3.2%

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%
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%
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%
Doncaster East 24.2% renting
Doncaster East — Owned Outright: 42.9% Doncaster East — Mortgage: 32.9% Doncaster East — Renting: 24.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Doncaster East
China 17.1% / 14.9%
Doncaster — China: 17.1% Doncaster East — China: 14.9%
Malaysia 5.5% / 5.5%
Doncaster — Malaysia: 5.5% Doncaster East — Malaysia: 5.5%
Iran 3.2% / 3.1%
Doncaster — Iran: 3.2% Doncaster East — Iran: 3.1%
Greece 3.0% / 2.0%
Doncaster — Greece: 3.0% Doncaster East — Greece: 2.0%
India 2.3% / 2.5%
Doncaster — India: 2.3% Doncaster East — India: 2.5%

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

Qualifications

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

Doncaster Doncaster East
Bachelor Degree 22.3% / 21.0%
Doncaster — Bachelor Degree: 22.3% Doncaster East — Bachelor Degree: 21.0%
Postgraduate Degree 10.4% / 9.5%
Doncaster — Postgraduate Degree: 10.4% Doncaster East — Postgraduate Degree: 9.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.4%
Doncaster — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Doncaster East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Certificate III & IV 6.4% / 6.6%
Doncaster — Certificate III & IV: 6.4% Doncaster East — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.4%
Doncaster — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Doncaster East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

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

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%
Doncaster East 63.1% houses
Doncaster East — Houses: 63.1% Doncaster East — Townhouses: 23.1% Doncaster East — Flats / Apartments: 13.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Doncaster Doncaster East
Median house price $1,500,000 $1,536,750
Median unit price $551,125 $633,000
Median land price $1,702,500 $1,585,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 206 sales
 25 days
from 307 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 Doncaster East
1 bed $378K / $388K
Doncaster — 1 bed: $378K (44 sales) Doncaster East — 1 bed: $388K (14 sales)

44 vs 14 sales

2 bed $550K / $580K
Doncaster — 2 bed: $550K (184 sales) Doncaster East — 2 bed: $580K (115 sales)

184 vs 115 sales

3 bed $820K / $925K
Doncaster — 3 bed: $820K (51 sales) Doncaster East — 3 bed: $925K (56 sales)

51 vs 56 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 Doncaster East
2 bed $1.01M / $975K
Doncaster — 2 bed: $1.01M (13 sales) Doncaster East — 2 bed: $975K (14 sales)

13 vs 14 sales

3 bed $1.38M / $1.46M
Doncaster — 3 bed: $1.38M (90 sales) Doncaster East — 3 bed: $1.46M (138 sales)

90 vs 138 sales

4 bed $1.5M / $1.55M
Doncaster — 4 bed: $1.5M (162 sales) Doncaster East — 4 bed: $1.55M (214 sales)

162 vs 214 sales

5 bed $1.81M / $1.71M
Doncaster — 5 bed: $1.81M (56 sales) Doncaster East — 5 bed: $1.71M (85 sales)

56 vs 85 sales

Zoning mix

Doncaster Doncaster East
Residential 75% 81%
Infrastructure and transport 9%
same for both
Parks and recreation 8% 7%
Commercial 8% 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

Doncaster Doncaster East
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 Doncaster East
Houses 3.2%
$900/wk on $1.45M
 3.3%
$880/wk on $1.4M
Units 6.3%
$695/wk on $575K
 5.3%
$668/wk on $660K

Ranking within VIC

Doncaster Doncaster East
House price Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Income Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Schools Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC

Liveability

Doncaster is more walkable (92 vs 75); Doncaster scores higher overall (81 vs 71).

Doncaster Doncaster East
Grade A
same for both
Score 81/100 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Doncaster East carries more bushfire risk (72 vs 0); Doncaster carries more crime risk (76 vs 39).

Doncaster Doncaster East
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
72/100
Crime High
76/100
 Low
39/100
Flood Low
35/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Doncaster Doncaster East
Inside the suburb 4 6
Rated above peers 3 5
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 7.3 km
 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 9.1 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 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

Amenities in the suburb

Doncaster Doncaster East
Supermarkets 4 9
Cafes & restaurants 27 60
Parks & reserves 36 50
Childcare 14 23
GPs 7 12
Pharmacies 3 7
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 7
same for both
Fuel stations 1 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 9 7

Mobility

Doncaster East sits further from the CBD (23 km vs 17.7 km).

Doncaster Doncaster East
Walkability score 92/100 75/100
Distance to Melbourne 17.7 km 23 km
+30% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 27 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 782.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 832.2
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 3109
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 3108
 25
postcode 3109

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 Doncaster East
Car (driver) 51.8% / 53.1%
Doncaster — Car (driver): 51.8% Doncaster East — Car (driver): 53.1%
Worked from Home 35.8% / 36.8%
Doncaster — Worked from Home: 35.8% Doncaster East — Worked from Home: 36.8%
Bus 4.8% / 4.0%
Doncaster — Bus: 4.8% Doncaster East — Bus: 4.0%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.6%
Doncaster — Car (passenger): 4.1% Doncaster East — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 2.1% / 1.3%
Doncaster — Walked Only: 2.1% Doncaster East — Walked Only: 1.3%

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

Setting

Doncaster Doncaster East
Elevation 115 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 122 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.0 km 19.3 km

NBN connectivity

Doncaster Doncaster East
Connectivity score 80/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
13,123 premises
 10%
13,872 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Doncaster Doncaster East
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

Doncaster East

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Doncaster

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

Other comparisons with Doncaster East

Doncaster East vs Templestowe Doncaster East vs Donvale Doncaster East vs Box Hill North Doncaster East vs Blackburn North Doncaster East vs Warrandyte
Full data on Doncaster Full data on Doncaster East
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or