Donvale vs Blackburn North

Blackburn North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 45 in Donvale. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Donvale, most households are couple families. In Blackburn North, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Donvale: a median of $1.67 million, against $1.4 million in Blackburn North. Blackburn North is closer to the city centre: 21.2 km, against 24.3 km. On these figures, Blackburn North tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Donvale

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (33 vs 10)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 3)
  • But Blackburn North 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

Blackburn North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,399,000 vs $1,665,500)

Weighs house prices, unit 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

Blackburn North

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (86/100 vs 37/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (25 min vs 30 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (21.2 km vs 24.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Donvale has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 16%)
  • Blackburn North is more walkable (86/100 vs 37/100)

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

Investors

Blackburn North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Donvale 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.

Donvale 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.

Donvale Blackburn North
Walkability 37 / 86
Donvale — Walkability: 37/100 Blackburn North — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 67 / 61
Donvale — Safety: 67/100 Blackburn North — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 13 / 100
Donvale — Low fire risk: 13/100 Blackburn North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 54 / 89
Donvale — Low flood risk: 54/100 Blackburn North — Low flood risk: 89/100

Demographics

Donvale has more residents (12,644 vs 7,627); Donvale skews older (45 vs 39).

Donvale Blackburn North
Population 12,644
+40% vs other
 7,627
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.4% +2.6%
Median age 45 39
Median household income $109,200/yr
+4% vs other
 $105,092/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+4% vs other
 $431/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Donvale Blackburn North
0-4 4.2% / 5.3%
Donvale — 0-4: 4.2% Blackburn North — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 12.3% / 14.5%
Donvale — 5-14: 12.3% Blackburn North — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 6.4% / 6.3%
Donvale — 15-19: 6.4% Blackburn North — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 5.8% / 5.9%
Donvale — 20-24: 5.8% Blackburn North — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 8.4% / 10.9%
Donvale — 25-34: 8.4% Blackburn North — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 12.1% / 15.4%
Donvale — 35-44: 12.1% Blackburn North — 35-44: 15.4%
45-54 14.4% / 14.5%
Donvale — 45-54: 14.4% Blackburn North — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 13.0% / 11.3%
Donvale — 55-64: 13.0% Blackburn North — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 10.7% / 6.9%
Donvale — 65-74: 10.7% Blackburn North — 65-74: 6.9%
75-84 8.2% / 5.8%
Donvale — 75-84: 8.2% Blackburn North — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 4.6% / 3.0%
Donvale — 85+: 4.6% Blackburn North — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
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.

Donvale 16.1% renting
Donvale — Owned Outright: 45.6% Donvale — Mortgage: 38.3% Donvale — Renting: 16.1%
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.

Donvale Blackburn North
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 20.8%
Donvale — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Blackburn North — Bachelor Degree: 20.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.7%
Donvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Blackburn North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 7.6%
Donvale — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Blackburn North — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 7.4% / 8.0%
Donvale — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4% Blackburn North — Postgraduate Degree: 8.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.0%
Donvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Blackburn North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

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.

Donvale Blackburn North
China 7.5% / 10.4%
Donvale — China: 7.5% Blackburn North — China: 10.4%
Malaysia 3.1% / 3.0%
Donvale — Malaysia: 3.1% Blackburn North — Malaysia: 3.0%
India 1.8% / 3.0%
Donvale — India: 1.8% Blackburn North — India: 3.0%
England 2.2% / 1.9%
Donvale — England: 2.2% Blackburn North — England: 1.9%
Iran 1.9% / —
Donvale — Iran: 1.9% Blackburn North — Iran: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.4%
Donvale — Vietnam: not among its largest Blackburn North — Vietnam: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Donvale 86.8% houses
Donvale — Houses: 86.8% Donvale — Townhouses: 10.3% Donvale — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
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

Donvale Blackburn North
Median house price $1,665,500 $1,399,000
Median unit price $792,500 $855,000
Median land price $1,361,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 112 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.

Donvale Blackburn North
2 bed $738K / $760K
Donvale — 2 bed: $738K (27 sales) Blackburn North — 2 bed: $760K (11 sales)

27 vs 11 sales

3 bed $972K / $900K
Donvale — 3 bed: $972K (18 sales) Blackburn North — 3 bed: $900K (15 sales)

18 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.

Donvale Blackburn North
3 bed $1.23M / $1.2M
Donvale — 3 bed: $1.23M (32 sales) Blackburn North — 3 bed: $1.2M (58 sales)

32 vs 58 sales

4 bed $1.66M / $1.61M
Donvale — 4 bed: $1.66M (73 sales) Blackburn North — 4 bed: $1.61M (42 sales)

73 vs 42 sales

5 bed $1.91M / $2.1M
Donvale — 5 bed: $1.91M (43 sales) Blackburn North — 5 bed: $2.1M (16 sales)

43 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Donvale Blackburn North
Residential 78% 77%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 11%
Parks and recreation 10% 8%
Environmental 4% 0%
Industrial 0% 3%
Other and special use 1% 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

Donvale 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.

Donvale Blackburn North
Houses 3.2%
$955/wk on $1.55M
 3.7%
$825/wk on $1.15M
Units 4.6%
$650/wk on $730K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Donvale Blackburn North
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 41% of VIC —

Liveability

Blackburn North is more walkable (86 vs 37); Blackburn North scores higher overall (82 vs 46).

Donvale Blackburn North
Grade C A+
Score 46/100 82/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Donvale carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 0); Donvale carries more flood risk (46 vs 11).

Donvale Blackburn North
Bushfire High
87/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
33/100
 Low
39/100
Flood Moderate
46/100
 Low
11/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Donvale Blackburn North
Inside the suburb 7 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 9.7 km
 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 3.4%

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

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

Donvale Blackburn North
Cafes & restaurants 2 3
Parks & reserves 33 10
Childcare 9 8
GPs 3 2
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 4 6

Mobility

Donvale sits further from the CBD (24.3 km vs 21.2 km).

Donvale Blackburn North
Walkability score 37/100 86/100
Distance to Melbourne 24.3 km
+13% vs other
 21.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 25 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 235.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 173.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 3111
 2.1%
postcode 3130
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 35
postcode 3111
 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.

Donvale Blackburn North
Car (driver) 52.3% / 50.3%
Donvale — Car (driver): 52.3% Blackburn North — Car (driver): 50.3%
Worked from Home 40.4% / 39.1%
Donvale — Worked from Home: 40.4% Blackburn North — Worked from Home: 39.1%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 4.2%
Donvale — Car (passenger): 3.9% Blackburn North — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Train 1.5% / 2.7%
Donvale — Train: 1.5% Blackburn North — Train: 2.7%
Bus 1.4% / 2.3%
Donvale — Bus: 1.4% Blackburn North — Bus: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.3%).

Setting

Donvale Blackburn North
Elevation 106 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 91 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.0 km 17.3 km

NBN connectivity

Donvale Blackburn North
Connectivity score 76/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
5,073 premises
 1%
3,096 premises

Climate

Donvale 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Donvale Blackburn North
Division Deakin Menzies
Member Matt Gregg Gabriel Ng
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Donvale

Large Blocks Outer Parks Premium Professionals

Blackburn North

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Donvale

Donvale vs Doncaster East Donvale vs Ringwood Donvale vs Mitcham Donvale vs Nunawading Donvale vs Ringwood North Donvale vs Warrandyte

Other comparisons with Blackburn North

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