Dondingalong vs Marlo Merrican

Marlo Merrican is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 51 in Dondingalong. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Dondingalong, about half of households are couple families. In Marlo Merrican, most households are couple families. On these figures, Dondingalong tends to suit older residents, while Marlo Merrican 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

Marlo Merrican

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 60%)

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

First-home buyers

Dondingalong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 40%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Marlo Merrican

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $330/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Marlo Merrican

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (422.7 km vs 432.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Dondingalong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 7%)

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

Investors

Dondingalong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.2% vs -14.3%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
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.

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Walkability 0 / 0
Dondingalong — Walkability: 0/100 Marlo Merrican — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 43 / 37
Dondingalong — Safety: 43/100 Marlo Merrican — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 46 / 8
Dondingalong — Low fire risk: 46/100 Marlo Merrican — Low fire risk: 8/100

Demographics

Dondingalong has more residents (712 vs 60); Dondingalong rents higher ($330/wk vs $250/wk).

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Population 712
+92% vs other
 60
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.2% -14.3%
Median age 51 43
Median household income $60,528/yr
+18% vs other
 $49,348/yr
Median weekly rent $330/wk
+24% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
0-4 5.2% / —
Dondingalong — 0-4: 5.2% Marlo Merrican — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 9.6% / 15.0%
Dondingalong — 5-14: 9.6% Marlo Merrican — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 6.0% / 11.7%
Dondingalong — 15-19: 6.0% Marlo Merrican — 15-19: 11.7%
20-24 4.9% / 8.3%
Dondingalong — 20-24: 4.9% Marlo Merrican — 20-24: 8.3%
25-34 9.0% / —
Dondingalong — 25-34: 9.0% Marlo Merrican — 25-34: not among its largest
35-44 7.4% / 8.3%
Dondingalong — 35-44: 7.4% Marlo Merrican — 35-44: 8.3%
45-54 13.8% / 13.3%
Dondingalong — 45-54: 13.8% Marlo Merrican — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 21.8% / 21.7%
Dondingalong — 55-64: 21.8% Marlo Merrican — 55-64: 21.7%
65-74 14.3% / 6.7%
Dondingalong — 65-74: 14.3% Marlo Merrican — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 6.2% / —
Dondingalong — 75-84: 6.2% Marlo Merrican — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ 1.4% / —
Dondingalong — 85+: 1.4% Marlo Merrican — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Dondingalong 46.4% couple families
Dondingalong — Couple Families: 46.4% Dondingalong — Lone Person: 35.1% Dondingalong — One Parent Families: 13.7% Dondingalong — Group Household: 3.0% Dondingalong — Other Families: 1.8%
Marlo Merrican 69.2% couple families
Marlo Merrican — Couple Families: 69.2% Marlo Merrican — Lone Person: 30.8% Marlo Merrican — One Parent Families: 0.0% Marlo Merrican — Group Household: 0.0% Marlo Merrican — 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.

Dondingalong 11.2% renting
Dondingalong — Owned Outright: 51.4% Dondingalong — Mortgage: 37.5% Dondingalong — Renting: 11.2%
Marlo Merrican 17.6% renting
Marlo Merrican — Owned Outright: 41.2% Marlo Merrican — Mortgage: 41.2% Marlo Merrican — Renting: 17.6%
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.

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
England 3.7% / 6.7%
Dondingalong — England: 3.7% Marlo Merrican — England: 6.7%
Ireland — / 10.0%
Dondingalong — Ireland: not among its largest Marlo Merrican — Ireland: 10.0%
New Zealand 1.0% / —
Dondingalong — New Zealand: 1.0% Marlo Merrican — New Zealand: not among its largest
Philippines 0.4% / —
Dondingalong — Philippines: 0.4% Marlo Merrican — Philippines: not among its largest
South Africa 0.4% / —
Dondingalong — South Africa: 0.4% Marlo Merrican — South Africa: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.0%).

Qualifications

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

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Certificate III & IV 23.0% / 18.3%
Dondingalong — Certificate III & IV: 23.0% Marlo Merrican — Certificate III & IV: 18.3%
Bachelor Degree 6.7% / 15.0%
Dondingalong — Bachelor Degree: 6.7% Marlo Merrican — Bachelor Degree: 15.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 8.3%
Dondingalong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Marlo Merrican — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / —
Dondingalong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Marlo Merrican — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: not among its largest
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / —
Dondingalong — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% Marlo Merrican — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Dondingalong 100.4% houses
Dondingalong — Houses: 100.4%
Marlo Merrican 100.0% houses
Marlo Merrican — Houses: 100.0%
Houses

Property market

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Median house price $620,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $665,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 40 days
from 4 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Marlo Merrican has more land zoned for conservation (58% vs 13%); Dondingalong has more rural and farming land (84% vs 42%).

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Rural and farming 84% 42%
Environmental 13% 58%
Residential 3% 0%
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

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
New dwellings approved 144
across Kempsey
 546
across Port Macquarie-Hastings
Approvals change year on year +380% +33%

Ranking within NSW

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
House price Higher than 24% of NSW —
Income Higher than 22% of NSW Higher than 11% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 32% of NSW Higher than 36% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 56% of NSW —
EV adoption Higher than 7% of NSW Higher than 35% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 48% of NSW Higher than 28% of NSW

Liveability

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Grade D —
Score 19/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Marlo Merrican carries more bushfire risk (92 vs 54).

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Bushfire Moderate
54/100
 High
92/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
63/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Waterways 7 3

Mobility

Dondingalong sits further from the CBD (432.2 km vs 422.7 km).

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Sydney 432.2 km
+2% vs other
 422.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 296 min 300 min
Electric vehicle share 0.1%
postcode 2440
 0.4%
postcode 2441
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 2440
 72
postcode 2441

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.

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Car (driver) 76.0% / 52.0%
Dondingalong — Car (driver): 76.0% Marlo Merrican — Car (driver): 52.0%
Worked from Home 14.3% / 36.0%
Dondingalong — Worked from Home: 14.3% Marlo Merrican — Worked from Home: 36.0%
Car (passenger) 7.0% / 12.0%
Dondingalong — Car (passenger): 7.0% Marlo Merrican — Car (passenger): 12.0%
Walked Only 1.6% / —
Dondingalong — Walked Only: 1.6% Marlo Merrican — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bus 1.2% / —
Dondingalong — Bus: 1.2% Marlo Merrican — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.0%).

Setting

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Elevation 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 142 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.6 km 27.1 km

NBN connectivity

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Connectivity score 29/100 18/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
304 premises
 0%
25 premises

Council rates

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Average residential rate $1,447/yr $1,325/yr
Council Kempsey Port Macquarie-Hastings

Federal electorate

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Division Cowper Lyne
Member Pat Conaghan Alison Penfold
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Dondingalong Marlo Merrican
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Dondingalong

Affordable Rural

Marlo Merrican

Rural Students

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Dondingalong

Dondingalong vs South Kempsey Dondingalong vs Aldavilla Dondingalong vs Kundabung Dondingalong vs Euroka Dondingalong vs Sherwood Dondingalong vs Gum Scrub

Other comparisons with Marlo Merrican

Marlo Merrican vs Upper Rollands Plains Marlo Merrican vs Gum Scrub Marlo Merrican vs Yessabah
Full data on Dondingalong Full data on Marlo Merrican
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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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