Donvale vs Ringwood North

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Donvale: a median of $1.67 million, against $1.2 million in Ringwood North. Donvale is closer to the city centre: 24.3 km, against 29.9 km. On these figures, Ringwood 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 schools inside the suburb (7 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (33 vs 19)
  • But Ringwood North has more separate houses rather than flats (98% vs 87%)

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

First-home buyers

Ringwood North

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($810,000 vs $1,361,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,201,500 vs $1,665,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)

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

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Donvale sits closer to the CBD (24.3 km vs 29.9 km)
  • Ringwood North is more walkable (82/100 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 has more units and townhouses to downsize into (13% vs 2%)
  • Ringwood North is more walkable (82/100 vs 37/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Donvale and Ringwood 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 Ringwood 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 Ringwood North
Walkability 37 / 82
Donvale — Walkability: 37/100 Ringwood North — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 67 / 69
Donvale — Safety: 67/100 Ringwood North — Safety: 69/100
Low fire risk 13 / 9
Donvale — Low fire risk: 13/100 Ringwood North — Low fire risk: 9/100
Low flood risk 54 / 75
Donvale — Low flood risk: 54/100 Ringwood North — Low flood risk: 75/100

Demographics

Donvale has more residents (12,644 vs 9,964); Ringwood North has higher household incomes ($121,420 vs $109,200).

Donvale Ringwood North
Population 12,644
+21% vs other
 9,964
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.4% +1.3%
Median age 45 43
Median household income $109,200/yr $121,420/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+3% vs other
 $436/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Donvale Ringwood North
0-4 4.2% / 4.8%
Donvale — 0-4: 4.2% Ringwood North — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 12.3% / 13.6%
Donvale — 5-14: 12.3% Ringwood North — 5-14: 13.6%
15-19 6.4% / 6.8%
Donvale — 15-19: 6.4% Ringwood North — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 5.8% / 5.5%
Donvale — 20-24: 5.8% Ringwood North — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 8.4% / 8.8%
Donvale — 25-34: 8.4% Ringwood North — 25-34: 8.8%
35-44 12.1% / 12.7%
Donvale — 35-44: 12.1% Ringwood North — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 14.4% / 14.7%
Donvale — 45-54: 14.4% Ringwood North — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 13.0% / 13.7%
Donvale — 55-64: 13.0% Ringwood North — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 10.7% / 10.7%
Donvale — 65-74: 10.7% Ringwood North — 65-74: 10.7%
75-84 8.2% / 6.7%
Donvale — 75-84: 8.2% Ringwood North — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 4.6% / 2.2%
Donvale — 85+: 4.6% Ringwood North — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

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%
Ringwood North 61.1% couple families
Ringwood North — Couple Families: 61.1% Ringwood North — Lone Person: 22.0% Ringwood North — One Parent Families: 14.1% Ringwood North — Group Household: 2.1% Ringwood North — Other Families: 0.7%
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%
Ringwood North 12.0% renting
Ringwood North — Owned Outright: 43.5% Ringwood North — Mortgage: 44.4% Ringwood North — Renting: 12.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Donvale Ringwood North
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 18.8%
Donvale — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Ringwood North — Bachelor Degree: 18.8%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 10.9%
Donvale — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Ringwood North — Certificate III & IV: 10.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 9.7%
Donvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Ringwood North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 7.4% / 5.8%
Donvale — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4% Ringwood North — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.3%
Donvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Ringwood North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

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 Ringwood North
China 7.5% / 3.8%
Donvale — China: 7.5% Ringwood North — China: 3.8%
England 2.2% / 3.3%
Donvale — England: 2.2% Ringwood North — England: 3.3%
Malaysia 3.1% / 1.3%
Donvale — Malaysia: 3.1% Ringwood North — Malaysia: 1.3%
India 1.8% / 1.1%
Donvale — India: 1.8% Ringwood North — India: 1.1%
Iran 1.9% / —
Donvale — Iran: 1.9% Ringwood North — Iran: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.1%
Donvale — New Zealand: not among its largest Ringwood North — New Zealand: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.5%).

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%
Ringwood North 98.3% houses
Ringwood North — Houses: 98.3% Ringwood North — Townhouses: 0.9% Ringwood North — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Donvale Ringwood North
Median house price $1,665,500 $1,201,500
Median unit price $792,500 $720,800
Median land price $1,361,000 $810,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 112 sales
 21 days
from 102 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 Ringwood North
2 bed $738K / $682K
Donvale — 2 bed: $738K (27 sales) Ringwood North — 2 bed: $682K (6 sales)

27 vs 6 sales

3 bed $972K / $860K
Donvale — 3 bed: $972K (18 sales) Ringwood North — 3 bed: $860K (7 sales)

18 vs 7 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 Ringwood North
3 bed $1.23M / $1.02M
Donvale — 3 bed: $1.23M (32 sales) Ringwood North — 3 bed: $1.02M (69 sales)

32 vs 69 sales

4 bed $1.66M / $1.27M
Donvale — 4 bed: $1.66M (73 sales) Ringwood North — 4 bed: $1.27M (90 sales)

73 vs 90 sales

5 bed $1.91M / $1.45M
Donvale — 5 bed: $1.91M (43 sales) Ringwood North — 5 bed: $1.45M (25 sales)

43 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Donvale Ringwood North
Residential 78% 84%
Parks and recreation 10% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 7%
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 Ringwood North
New dwellings approved 486
across Manningham
 328
across Maroondah
Approvals change year on year -2% -74%

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 Ringwood North
Houses 3.2%
$955/wk on $1.55M
 3.1%
$718/wk on $1.22M
Units 4.6%
$650/wk on $730K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Donvale Ringwood North
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 41% of VIC —

Liveability

Ringwood North is more walkable (82 vs 37); Ringwood North scores higher overall (54 vs 46).

Donvale Ringwood North
Grade C B
Score 46/100 54/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Donvale carries more flood risk (46 vs 25).

Donvale Ringwood North
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
91/100
Crime Low
33/100
 Low
31/100
Flood Moderate
46/100
 Low
25/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Donvale Ringwood North
Inside the suburb 7 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 9.7 km
 None

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 Ringwood North

  • Holy Spirit School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Ringwood North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Ringwood Heights Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Donvale Ringwood North
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2 8
Parks & reserves 33 19
Childcare 9 8
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 4 3

Mobility

Ringwood North sits further from the CBD (29.9 km vs 24.3 km).

Donvale Ringwood North
Walkability score 37/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 24.3 km 29.9 km
+23% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 33 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 235.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 177.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 3111
 1.6%
postcode 3134
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 35
postcode 3111
 27
postcode 3134

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 Ringwood North
Car (driver) 52.3% / 52.7%
Donvale — Car (driver): 52.3% Ringwood North — Car (driver): 52.7%
Worked from Home 40.4% / 39.8%
Donvale — Worked from Home: 40.4% Ringwood North — Worked from Home: 39.8%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 3.7%
Donvale — Car (passenger): 3.9% Ringwood North — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Train 1.5% / 2.2%
Donvale — Train: 1.5% Ringwood North — Train: 2.2%
Bus 1.4% / 0.5%
Donvale — Bus: 1.4% Ringwood North — Bus: 0.5%
Walked Only 0.4% / 1.0%
Donvale — Walked Only: 0.4% Ringwood North — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.7%).

Setting

Donvale Ringwood North
Elevation 106 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 147 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.0 km 24.0 km

NBN connectivity

Donvale Ringwood North
Connectivity score 76/100 82/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
5,073 premises
 27%
3,926 premises

Climate

Donvale Ringwood 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 Ringwood North
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³ —
PM10 — 15.5 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Donvale Ringwood North
Average residential rate $2,000/yr $1,715/yr
Council Manningham Maroondah

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Donvale Ringwood 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

Ringwood North

Outer Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Donvale

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

Other comparisons with Ringwood North

Ringwood North vs Ringwood Ringwood North vs Warranwood Ringwood North vs Park Orchards Ringwood North vs Warrandyte South
Full data on Donvale Full data on Ringwood 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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