Doreen vs Mernda

In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Doreen: a median of $806,000, against $736,000 in Mernda. Doreen is closer to the city centre: 35.8 km, against 45.4 km.

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

Doreen

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 60/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (130 vs 96)
  • But Mernda has more childcare (19 vs 16)

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

First-home buyers

Mernda

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($396,000 vs $570,000)

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

They split

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

  • Doreen sits closer to the CBD (35.8 km vs 45.4 km)
  • Mernda is more walkable (75/100 vs 40/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Doreen carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 60/100)
  • Mernda is more walkable (75/100 vs 40/100)

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

Investors

Mernda

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (42.0% vs 27.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Doreen Mernda
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.

Doreen Mernda
Walkability 40 / 75
Doreen — Walkability: 40/100 Mernda — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 61 / 40
Doreen — Safety: 61/100 Mernda — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 74 / 65
Doreen — Low fire risk: 74/100 Mernda — Low fire risk: 65/100
Low flood risk 62 / 51
Doreen — Low flood risk: 62/100 Mernda — Low flood risk: 51/100

Demographics

Doreen Mernda
Population 27,122
+14% vs other
 23,369
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +27.3% +42.0%
Median age 33
same for both
Median household income $111,852/yr
+7% vs other
 $104,572/yr
Median weekly rent $397/wk
+4% vs other
 $381/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Doreen Mernda
0-4 8.5% / 9.6%
Doreen — 0-4: 8.5% Mernda — 0-4: 9.6%
5-14 18.4% / 17.4%
Doreen — 5-14: 18.4% Mernda — 5-14: 17.4%
15-19 6.8% / 5.3%
Doreen — 15-19: 6.8% Mernda — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.9% / 5.3%
Doreen — 20-24: 4.9% Mernda — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 13.9% / 16.5%
Doreen — 25-34: 13.9% Mernda — 25-34: 16.5%
35-44 18.6% / 20.4%
Doreen — 35-44: 18.6% Mernda — 35-44: 20.4%
45-54 13.0% / 11.2%
Doreen — 45-54: 13.0% Mernda — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 7.6% / 6.8%
Doreen — 55-64: 7.6% Mernda — 55-64: 6.8%
65-74 5.7% / 5.1%
Doreen — 65-74: 5.7% Mernda — 65-74: 5.1%
75-84 2.3% / 2.2%
Doreen — 75-84: 2.3% Mernda — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ 0.3% / 0.3%
Doreen — 85+: 0.3% Mernda — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Doreen 61.8% couple families
Doreen — Couple Families: 61.8% Doreen — Lone Person: 17.8% Doreen — One Parent Families: 17.6% Doreen — Group Household: 1.8% Doreen — Other Families: 1.0%
Mernda 60.4% couple families
Mernda — Couple Families: 60.4% Mernda — Lone Person: 18.6% Mernda — One Parent Families: 17.6% Mernda — Group Household: 2.2% Mernda — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Doreen 21.6% renting
Doreen — Owned Outright: 19.3% Doreen — Mortgage: 59.1% Doreen — Renting: 21.6%
Mernda 28.3% renting
Mernda — Owned Outright: 14.8% Mernda — Mortgage: 57.0% Mernda — Renting: 28.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Doreen Mernda
Certificate III & IV 15.2% / 11.8%
Doreen — Certificate III & IV: 15.2% Mernda — Certificate III & IV: 11.8%
Bachelor Degree 11.6% / 13.2%
Doreen — Bachelor Degree: 11.6% Mernda — Bachelor Degree: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.9%
Doreen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Mernda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 5.8%
Doreen — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Mernda — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.8%
Doreen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Mernda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

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.

Doreen Mernda
India 3.9% / 10.3%
Doreen — India: 3.9% Mernda — India: 10.3%
England 2.5% / 1.5%
Doreen — England: 2.5% Mernda — England: 1.5%
Sri Lanka 1.1% / 2.2%
Doreen — Sri Lanka: 1.1% Mernda — Sri Lanka: 2.2%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.6%
Doreen — New Zealand: 1.2% Mernda — New Zealand: 1.6%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.7%
Doreen — Philippines: 0.6% Mernda — Philippines: 1.7%
Iran 0.8% / 1.3%
Doreen — Iran: 0.8% Mernda — Iran: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Doreen 94.6% houses
Doreen — Houses: 94.6% Doreen — Townhouses: 5.1% Doreen — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Mernda 89.4% houses
Mernda — Houses: 89.4% Mernda — Townhouses: 9.1% Mernda — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Doreen Mernda
Median house price $805,500 $736,000
Median unit price $570,000 $396,000
Median land price $747,500 $701,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 359 sales
 24 days
from 355 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.

Doreen Mernda
2 bed $502K / $475K
Doreen — 2 bed: $502K (5 sales) Mernda — 2 bed: $475K (13 sales)

5 vs 13 sales

3 bed $721K / $682K
Doreen — 3 bed: $721K (193 sales) Mernda — 3 bed: $682K (183 sales)

193 vs 183 sales

4 bed $842K / $760K
Doreen — 4 bed: $842K (401 sales) Mernda — 4 bed: $760K (307 sales)

401 vs 307 sales

5 bed $1.09M / $910K
Doreen — 5 bed: $1.09M (24 sales) Mernda — 5 bed: $910K (18 sales)

24 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Doreen has more rural and farming land (38% vs 26%); Mernda has more land zoned for conservation (32% vs 21%).

Doreen Mernda
Rural and farming 38% 26%
Residential 33% 32%
Environmental 21% 32%
Parks and recreation 3% 4%
Other and special use 3%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 1% 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

Doreen Mernda
New dwellings approved 98
across Nillumbik
 2,632
across Whittlesea
Approvals change year on year +8% -28%

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.

Doreen Mernda
Houses 3.8%
$585/wk on $810K
 4.0%
$560/wk on $735K
Units — 5.8%
$440/wk on $395K

Ranking within VIC

Doreen Mernda
House price Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools Higher than 41% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 82% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 88% of VIC

Liveability

Mernda is more walkable (75 vs 40); Doreen scores higher overall (58 vs 51).

Doreen Mernda
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100 51/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Mernda carries more crime risk (60 vs 39); Mernda carries more flood risk (49 vs 38).

Doreen Mernda
Bushfire Low
26/100
 Low
35/100
Crime Low
39/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood Low
38/100
 Moderate
49/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Doreen Mernda
Inside the suburb 8 7
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 4 2
Rated below peers 1 2

Schools in Doreen

  • Doreen Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ashley Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Hazel Glen College Government · Combined at peers
  • Laurimar Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Plenty Valley Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Paul the Apostle Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Mernda

  • Mernda Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mernda Central P-12 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Mernda Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mernda Hills Christian College Independent · Combined below peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Gilson College - Mernda Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Doreen Mernda
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 6 14
Parks & reserves 130 96
Childcare 16 19
GPs 7
same for both
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 3
Waterways 7 6

Mobility

Mernda sits further from the CBD (45.4 km vs 35.8 km).

Doreen Mernda
Walkability score 40/100 75/100
Distance to Melbourne 35.8 km 45.4 km
+27% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 51 min 52 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 263.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 346.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3754
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 45
postcode 3754
same for both

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.

Doreen Mernda
Car (driver) 65.4% / 66.7%
Doreen — Car (driver): 65.4% Mernda — Car (driver): 66.7%
Worked from Home 27.0% / 23.7%
Doreen — Worked from Home: 27.0% Mernda — Worked from Home: 23.7%
Train 3.0% / 4.5%
Doreen — Train: 3.0% Mernda — Train: 4.5%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.9%
Doreen — Car (passenger): 3.5% Mernda — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Walked Only 0.6% / 0.6%
Doreen — Walked Only: 0.6% Mernda — Walked Only: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.7%).

Setting

Doreen Mernda
Elevation 195 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 186 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.8 km 30.8 km

NBN connectivity

Doreen Mernda
Connectivity score 86/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 74%
8,430 premises
 76%
9,201 premises

Climate

Doreen Mernda
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Doreen Mernda
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Doreen Mernda
Average residential rate $2,696/yr $1,899/yr
Council Nillumbik Whittlesea

Federal electorate

Doreen Mernda
Division Mcewen
same for both
Member Rob Mitchell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Doreen Mernda
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Doreen

Family Large Blocks Outer Parks Young Families

Mernda

Easy Commute Family Large Blocks Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Doreen

Doreen vs South Morang Doreen vs Hurstbridge Doreen vs Yarrambat Doreen vs Arthurs Creek Doreen vs Yan Yean Doreen vs Nutfield

Other comparisons with Mernda

Mernda vs South Morang Mernda vs Wollert Mernda vs Yan Yean Mernda vs Woodstock
Full data on Doreen Full data on Mernda
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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