Drouin vs Drouin West

Drouin is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 54 in Drouin West. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Drouin West, most households are couple families. On these figures, Drouin tends to suit families with children, while Drouin West suits couples and older residents.

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

Drouin

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • But Drouin West carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 64/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Drouin West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (12% vs 23%)
  • has cheaper rent ($193/wk vs $330/wk)
  • But Drouin has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 6%)

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

Commuting to the city

Drouin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 22/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Drouin has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • Drouin West carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

Drouin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (23.8% vs 9.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Drouin Drouin West
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.

Drouin Drouin West
Walkability 82 / 22
Drouin — Walkability: 82/100 Drouin West — Walkability: 22/100
Safety 36 / 55
Drouin — Safety: 36/100 Drouin West — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 25 / 1
Drouin — Low fire risk: 25/100 Drouin West — Low fire risk: 1/100
Low flood risk 46 / 26
Drouin — Low flood risk: 46/100 Drouin West — Low flood risk: 26/100

Demographics

Drouin has more residents (15,287 vs 361); Drouin rents higher ($330/wk vs $193/wk).

Drouin Drouin West
Population 15,287
+98% vs other
 361
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +23.8% +9.4%
Median age 39 54
Median household income $74,464/yr $82,316/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $330/wk
+42% vs other
 $193/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Drouin Drouin West
0-4 7.0% / 3.9%
Drouin — 0-4: 7.0% Drouin West — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 13.4% / 9.4%
Drouin — 5-14: 13.4% Drouin West — 5-14: 9.4%
15-19 5.3% / 2.5%
Drouin — 15-19: 5.3% Drouin West — 15-19: 2.5%
20-24 5.1% / 4.2%
Drouin — 20-24: 5.1% Drouin West — 20-24: 4.2%
25-34 13.8% / 7.2%
Drouin — 25-34: 13.8% Drouin West — 25-34: 7.2%
35-44 11.3% / 8.6%
Drouin — 35-44: 11.3% Drouin West — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 11.0% / 14.7%
Drouin — 45-54: 11.0% Drouin West — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 11.7% / 18.0%
Drouin — 55-64: 11.7% Drouin West — 55-64: 18.0%
65-74 11.9% / 19.1%
Drouin — 65-74: 11.9% Drouin West — 65-74: 19.1%
75-84 7.1% / 8.0%
Drouin — 75-84: 7.1% Drouin West — 75-84: 8.0%
85+ 2.5% / 2.5%
Drouin — 85+: 2.5% Drouin West — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Drouin 42.3% couple families
Drouin — Couple Families: 42.3% Drouin — Lone Person: 36.3% Drouin — One Parent Families: 17.3% Drouin — Group Household: 2.9% Drouin — Other Families: 1.2%
Drouin West 56.5% couple families
Drouin West — Couple Families: 56.5% Drouin West — Lone Person: 29.4% Drouin West — One Parent Families: 7.1% Drouin West — Group Household: 7.1% Drouin West — 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.

Drouin 22.0% renting
Drouin — Owned Outright: 36.5% Drouin — Mortgage: 41.5% Drouin — Renting: 22.0%
Drouin West 6.2% renting
Drouin West — Owned Outright: 58.6% Drouin West — Mortgage: 35.2% Drouin West — Renting: 6.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Drouin Drouin West
Certificate III & IV 19.2% / 20.2%
Drouin — Certificate III & IV: 19.2% Drouin West — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 9.4%
Drouin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Drouin West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Bachelor Degree 7.8% / 7.8%
Drouin — Bachelor Degree: 7.8% Drouin West — Bachelor Degree: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 3.0%
Drouin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Drouin West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 1.1%
Drouin — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Drouin West — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

Drouin Drouin West
England 3.9% / 4.7%
Drouin — England: 3.9% Drouin West — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.1%
Drouin — New Zealand: 1.3% Drouin West — New Zealand: 1.1%
Netherlands 0.9% / 1.1%
Drouin — Netherlands: 0.9% Drouin West — Netherlands: 1.1%
Germany 0.5% / 1.4%
Drouin — Germany: 0.5% Drouin West — Germany: 1.4%
Scotland 0.6% / —
Drouin — Scotland: 0.6% Drouin West — Scotland: not among its largest
Philippines 0.5% / —
Drouin — Philippines: 0.5% Drouin West — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Drouin 89.8% houses
Drouin — Houses: 89.8% Drouin — Flats / Apartments: 5.1% Drouin — Townhouses: 5.1%
Drouin West 100.0% houses
Drouin West — Houses: 100.0% Drouin West — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Drouin West — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Drouin Drouin West
Median house price $650,000 —
Median unit price $457,250 —
Median land price $650,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 44 days
from 234 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Drouin West has more rural and farming land (91% vs 46%).

Drouin Drouin West
Rural and farming 46% 91%
Residential 41% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 4%
Parks and recreation 3% 5%
Industrial 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

Drouin Drouin West
New dwellings approved 619
across Baw Baw
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
same for both

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.

Drouin Drouin West
Houses 4.4%
$600/wk on $715K
 —
Units 4.8%
$440/wk on $474K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Drouin Drouin West
House price Higher than 29% of VIC —
Income Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Schools Higher than 50% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 62% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 55% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 53% of VIC —

Liveability

Drouin is more walkable (82 vs 22).

Drouin Drouin West
Grade C —
Score 37/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Drouin carries more crime risk (64 vs 45); Drouin West carries more flood risk (74 vs 54).

Drouin Drouin West
Bushfire High
75/100
 High
99/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood Moderate
54/100
 High
74/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Drouin Drouin West
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Drouin

  • St Paul's Anglican Grammar School - Drouin Campus Independent · Combined above peers
  • Chairo Christian School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Drouin Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Ita's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Drouin Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Drouin West

  • Drouin West Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Drouin Drouin West
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 7 0
Parks & reserves 14 2
Childcare 13 2
GPs 5 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 7 2

Mobility

Drouin Drouin West
Walkability score 82/100 22/100
Distance to Melbourne 96.8 km
+1% vs other
 95.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 76 min 74 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3818
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 49
postcode 3818
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.

Drouin Drouin West
Car (driver) 76.3% / 60.5%
Drouin — Car (driver): 76.3% Drouin West — Car (driver): 60.5%
Worked from Home 16.0% / 30.8%
Drouin — Worked from Home: 16.0% Drouin West — Worked from Home: 30.8%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 3.5%
Drouin — Car (passenger): 4.7% Drouin West — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 1.4% / 5.2%
Drouin — Walked Only: 1.4% Drouin West — Walked Only: 5.2%
Train 1.3% / —
Drouin — Train: 1.3% Drouin West — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.3%).

Setting

Drouin Drouin West
Elevation 104 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 84 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 33.4 km 37.0 km

NBN connectivity

Drouin Drouin West
Connectivity score 74/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
7,340 premises
 0%
157 premises

Climate

Drouin Drouin West
Annual rainfall 1,090 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Drouin Drouin West
Average residential rate $2,138/yr
same for both
Council Baw Baw
same for both

Federal electorate

Drouin Drouin West
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Drouin Drouin West
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Drouin

Regional Centre Transport Hub

Drouin West

Retirees River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Drouin

Drouin vs Warragul Drouin vs Longwarry Drouin vs Drouin South Drouin vs Warragul South Drouin vs Longwarry North Drouin vs Drouin East

Other comparisons with Drouin West

Drouin West vs Longwarry Drouin West vs Jindivick Drouin West vs Labertouche Drouin West vs Longwarry North Drouin West vs Rokeby Drouin West vs Drouin East
Full data on Drouin Full data on Drouin West
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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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