Donvale vs Nunawading

Nunawading is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 45 in Donvale. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Donvale, most households are couple families. In Nunawading, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Donvale: a median of $1.67 million, against $1.14 million in Nunawading, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Donvale tends to suit couples, while Nunawading suits 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 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 81/100)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (33 vs 18)
  • But Nunawading has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Nunawading

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,142,500 vs $1,665,500)
  • has cheaper units ($677,500 vs $792,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nunawading

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($391/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Nunawading

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 37/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Donvale carries lower crime risk (33/100 vs 81/100)
  • Nunawading is more walkable (90/100 vs 37/100)

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

Investors

Nunawading

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Donvale and Nunawading 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 Nunawading
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 Nunawading
Walkability 37 / 90
Donvale — Walkability: 37/100 Nunawading — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 67 / 19
Donvale — Safety: 67/100 Nunawading — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 13 / 100
Donvale — Low fire risk: 13/100 Nunawading — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 54 / 82
Donvale — Low flood risk: 54/100 Nunawading — Low flood risk: 82/100

Demographics

Donvale skews older (45 vs 39); Donvale rents higher ($450/wk vs $391/wk).

Donvale Nunawading
Population 12,644
+2% vs other
 12,413
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.4% +4.5%
Median age 45 39
Median household income $109,200/yr
+8% vs other
 $100,776/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+13% vs other
 $391/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Donvale Nunawading
0-4 4.2% / 6.0%
Donvale — 0-4: 4.2% Nunawading — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 12.3% / 11.6%
Donvale — 5-14: 12.3% Nunawading — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 6.4% / 5.2%
Donvale — 15-19: 6.4% Nunawading — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 5.8% / 5.7%
Donvale — 20-24: 5.8% Nunawading — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 8.4% / 14.6%
Donvale — 25-34: 8.4% Nunawading — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 12.1% / 15.7%
Donvale — 35-44: 12.1% Nunawading — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 14.4% / 13.4%
Donvale — 45-54: 14.4% Nunawading — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 13.0% / 9.9%
Donvale — 55-64: 13.0% Nunawading — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 10.7% / 8.3%
Donvale — 65-74: 10.7% Nunawading — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 8.2% / 6.2%
Donvale — 75-84: 8.2% Nunawading — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 4.6% / 3.5%
Donvale — 85+: 4.6% Nunawading — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

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%
Nunawading 45.9% couple families
Nunawading — Couple Families: 45.9% Nunawading — Lone Person: 34.5% Nunawading — One Parent Families: 12.4% Nunawading — Group Household: 5.3% Nunawading — Other Families: 1.9%
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%
Nunawading 30.1% renting
Nunawading — Owned Outright: 33.5% Nunawading — Mortgage: 36.4% Nunawading — Renting: 30.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Donvale Nunawading
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 20.6%
Donvale — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Nunawading — Bachelor Degree: 20.6%
Postgraduate Degree 7.4% / 9.2%
Donvale — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4% Nunawading — Postgraduate Degree: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.1%
Donvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Nunawading — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 7.8%
Donvale — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Nunawading — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.1%
Donvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Nunawading — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

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 Nunawading
China 7.5% / 8.7%
Donvale — China: 7.5% Nunawading — China: 8.7%
India 1.8% / 4.6%
Donvale — India: 1.8% Nunawading — India: 4.6%
Malaysia 3.1% / 2.4%
Donvale — Malaysia: 3.1% Nunawading — Malaysia: 2.4%
England 2.2% / 2.3%
Donvale — England: 2.2% Nunawading — England: 2.3%
Iran 1.9% / —
Donvale — Iran: 1.9% Nunawading — Iran: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.7%
Donvale — Vietnam: not among its largest Nunawading — Vietnam: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.7%).

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%
Nunawading 68.7% houses
Nunawading — Houses: 68.7% Nunawading — Townhouses: 27.8% Nunawading — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Donvale Nunawading
Median house price $1,665,500 $1,142,500
Median unit price $792,500 $677,500
Median land price $1,361,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 112 sales
 23 days
from 74 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 Nunawading
2 bed $738K / $642K
Donvale — 2 bed: $738K (27 sales) Nunawading — 2 bed: $642K (46 sales)

27 vs 46 sales

3 bed $972K / $920K
Donvale — 3 bed: $972K (18 sales) Nunawading — 3 bed: $920K (21 sales)

18 vs 21 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 Nunawading
3 bed $1.23M / $1.08M
Donvale — 3 bed: $1.23M (32 sales) Nunawading — 3 bed: $1.08M (75 sales)

32 vs 75 sales

4 bed $1.66M / $1.4M
Donvale — 4 bed: $1.66M (73 sales) Nunawading — 4 bed: $1.4M (34 sales)

73 vs 34 sales

5 bed $1.91M / $1.68M
Donvale — 5 bed: $1.91M (43 sales) Nunawading — 5 bed: $1.68M (13 sales)

43 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Donvale Nunawading
Residential 78% 67%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 11%
Parks and recreation 10% 6%
Industrial 0% 10%
Commercial 0% 6%
Environmental 4% 0%
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 Nunawading
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 Nunawading
Houses 3.2%
$955/wk on $1.55M
 3.2%
$680/wk on $1.1M
Units 4.6%
$650/wk on $730K
 5.1%
$580/wk on $586K

Ranking within VIC

Donvale Nunawading
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Schools Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 41% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC

Liveability

Nunawading is more walkable (90 vs 37); Nunawading scores higher overall (82 vs 46).

Donvale Nunawading
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 18).

Donvale Nunawading
Bushfire High
87/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
33/100
 High
81/100
Flood Moderate
46/100
 Low
18/100
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 Nunawading
Inside the suburb 7 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 9.7 km
 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 6.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 3.0%

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 Nunawading

  • Nunawading Christian College - Primary Independent · Primary above peers
  • Nunawading Christian College - Secondary Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Mount Pleasant Road Nunawading Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Donvale Nunawading
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 15
Parks & reserves 33 18
Childcare 9 8
GPs 3 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Donvale Nunawading
Walkability score 37/100 90/100
Distance to Melbourne 24.3 km
+2% vs other
 23.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 29 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 235.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 314.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 3111
 2.5%
postcode 3131
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 35
postcode 3111
 28
postcode 3131

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 Nunawading
Car (driver) 52.3% / 47.8%
Donvale — Car (driver): 52.3% Nunawading — Car (driver): 47.8%
Worked from Home 40.4% / 40.4%
Donvale — Worked from Home: 40.4% Nunawading — Worked from Home: 40.4%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.6%
Donvale — Car (passenger): 3.9% Nunawading — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 1.5% / 5.4%
Donvale — Train: 1.5% Nunawading — Train: 5.4%
Bus 1.4% / 1.2%
Donvale — Bus: 1.4% Nunawading — Bus: 1.2%
Walked Only 0.4% / 1.3%
Donvale — Walked Only: 0.4% Nunawading — Walked Only: 1.3%

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

Setting

Donvale Nunawading
Elevation 106 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 136 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.0 km 18.6 km

NBN connectivity

Donvale Nunawading
Connectivity score 76/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
5,073 premises
 15%
6,170 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Donvale Nunawading
Division Deakin
same for both
Member Matt Gregg
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Donvale Nunawading
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

Nunawading

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Donvale

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

Other comparisons with Nunawading

Nunawading vs Mitcham Nunawading vs Blackburn Nunawading vs Vermont Nunawading vs Forest Hill Nunawading vs Blackburn North
Full data on Donvale Full data on Nunawading
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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