Fawkner vs Reservoir

Fawkner is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 38 in Reservoir. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Fawkner, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Reservoir: a median of $920,000, against $837,000 in Fawkner. Reservoir is closer to the city centre: 13 km, against 24.9 km. On these figures, Fawkner tends to suit families with children and couples, while Reservoir suits people living alone.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Fawkner has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 63%)
  • Reservoir has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Reservoir

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (13 km vs 24.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Reservoir

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (14 vs 5)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (37% vs 16%)
  • But Fawkner carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 78/100)

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

Investors

Fawkner

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fawkner Reservoir
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.

Fawkner Reservoir
Walkability 92 / 95
Fawkner — Walkability: 92/100 Reservoir — Walkability: 95/100
Safety 36 / 22
Fawkner — Safety: 36/100 Reservoir — Safety: 22/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Fawkner — Low fire risk: 100/100 Reservoir — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 50 / 57
Fawkner — Low flood risk: 50/100 Reservoir — Low flood risk: 57/100

Demographics

Reservoir has more residents (51,096 vs 14,274); Reservoir skews older (38 vs 35).

Fawkner Reservoir
Population 14,274 51,096
+258% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +1.2%
Median age 35 38
Median household income $74,256/yr $80,132/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $376/wk
+4% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fawkner Reservoir
0-4 7.6% / 6.1%
Fawkner — 0-4: 7.6% Reservoir — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 13.6% / 9.5%
Fawkner — 5-14: 13.6% Reservoir — 5-14: 9.5%
15-19 5.2% / 4.1%
Fawkner — 15-19: 5.2% Reservoir — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 6.9% / 6.1%
Fawkner — 20-24: 6.9% Reservoir — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 16.6% / 18.5%
Fawkner — 25-34: 16.6% Reservoir — 25-34: 18.5%
35-44 15.0% / 15.7%
Fawkner — 35-44: 15.0% Reservoir — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 10.5% / 12.6%
Fawkner — 45-54: 10.5% Reservoir — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 8.8% / 10.1%
Fawkner — 55-64: 8.8% Reservoir — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 6.4% / 7.8%
Fawkner — 65-74: 6.4% Reservoir — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 5.6% / 6.0%
Fawkner — 75-84: 5.6% Reservoir — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 3.7% / 3.4%
Fawkner — 85+: 3.7% Reservoir — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Fawkner 46.3% couple families
Fawkner — Couple Families: 46.3% Fawkner — Lone Person: 30.3% Fawkner — One Parent Families: 15.9% Fawkner — Group Household: 5.6% Fawkner — Other Families: 1.9%
Reservoir 35.6% couple families
Reservoir — Couple Families: 35.6% Reservoir — Lone Person: 40.2% Reservoir — One Parent Families: 14.9% Reservoir — Group Household: 6.9% Reservoir — Other Families: 2.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fawkner 31.9% renting
Fawkner — Owned Outright: 37.5% Fawkner — Mortgage: 30.6% Fawkner — Renting: 31.9%
Reservoir 37.8% renting
Reservoir — Owned Outright: 32.1% Reservoir — Mortgage: 30.1% Reservoir — Renting: 37.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fawkner Reservoir
Bachelor Degree 12.9% / 15.5%
Fawkner — Bachelor Degree: 12.9% Reservoir — Bachelor Degree: 15.5%
Certificate III & IV 8.3% / 10.1%
Fawkner — Certificate III & IV: 8.3% Reservoir — Certificate III & IV: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 7.8%
Fawkner — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Reservoir — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.8% / 6.6%
Fawkner — Postgraduate Degree: 6.8% Reservoir — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.3%
Fawkner — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Reservoir — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

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.

Fawkner Reservoir
Italy 7.4% / 5.5%
Fawkner — Italy: 7.4% Reservoir — Italy: 5.5%
India 4.5% / 3.7%
Fawkner — India: 4.5% Reservoir — India: 3.7%
Pakistan 7.9% / —
Fawkner — Pakistan: 7.9% Reservoir — Pakistan: not among its largest
Nepal 3.1% / 1.4%
Fawkner — Nepal: 3.1% Reservoir — Nepal: 1.4%
Greece 1.5% / 2.4%
Fawkner — Greece: 1.5% Reservoir — Greece: 2.4%
China — / 3.1%
Fawkner — China: not among its largest Reservoir — China: 3.1%
Lebanon 2.8% / —
Fawkner — Lebanon: 2.8% Reservoir — Lebanon: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 2.0%
Fawkner — Vietnam: not among its largest Reservoir — Vietnam: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fawkner 83.6% houses
Fawkner — Houses: 83.6% Fawkner — Townhouses: 15.4% Fawkner — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Reservoir 63.2% houses
Reservoir — Houses: 63.2% Reservoir — Townhouses: 32.5% Reservoir — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Fawkner Reservoir
Median house price $836,750 $920,000
Median unit price $575,000 $588,750
Median land price — $815,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 156 sales
 24 days
from 455 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.

Fawkner Reservoir
2 bed $516K / $588K
Fawkner — 2 bed: $516K (32 sales) Reservoir — 2 bed: $588K (287 sales)

32 vs 287 sales

3 bed $629K / $750K
Fawkner — 3 bed: $629K (14 sales) Reservoir — 3 bed: $750K (85 sales)

14 vs 85 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.

Fawkner Reservoir
2 bed $747K / $812K
Fawkner — 2 bed: $747K (36 sales) Reservoir — 2 bed: $812K (142 sales)

36 vs 142 sales

3 bed $826K / $900K
Fawkner — 3 bed: $826K (166 sales) Reservoir — 3 bed: $900K (468 sales)

166 vs 468 sales

4 bed $922K / $1.11M
Fawkner — 4 bed: $922K (54 sales) Reservoir — 4 bed: $1.11M (153 sales)

54 vs 153 sales

5 bed $1.04M / $1.34M
Fawkner — 5 bed: $1.04M (8 sales) Reservoir — 5 bed: $1.34M (23 sales)

8 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

Fawkner Reservoir
Residential 71% 74%
Parks and recreation 15% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 10%
Industrial 3% 6%
Commercial 3% 1%
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

Fawkner Reservoir
New dwellings approved 1,387
across Merri-bek
 1,213
across Darebin
Approvals change year on year +68% +0%

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.

Fawkner Reservoir
Houses 4.0%
$600/wk on $775K
 3.9%
$650/wk on $865K
Units 5.1%
$475/wk on $480K
 4.5%
$500/wk on $575K

Ranking within VIC

Fawkner Reservoir
House price Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Income Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Schools Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 32% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC

Liveability

Reservoir scores higher overall (61 vs 54).

Fawkner Reservoir
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 61/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Reservoir carries more crime risk (78 vs 64).

Fawkner Reservoir
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 High
78/100
Flood Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
43/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 22
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Fawkner Reservoir
Inside the suburb 7 17
Rated above peers 1 4
Rated at peers 3 4
Rated below peers 2 3
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 8.0 km
 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 2.3%

Schools in Fawkner

  • Darul Ulum College of Victoria Independent · Combined above peers
  • Moomba Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Mark's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Matthew's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Fawkner Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • John Fawkner Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Reservoir

  • Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment Independent · Primary above peers
  • Reservoir High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Reservoir Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Reservoir West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Holy Name School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Reservoir East Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Fawkner Reservoir
Supermarkets 4 10
Cafes & restaurants 8 35
Parks & reserves 17 58
Childcare 9 30
GPs 5 14
Pharmacies 3 9
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 5
Fuel stations 3 8
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 15

Mobility

Fawkner sits further from the CBD (24.9 km vs 13 km).

Fawkner Reservoir
Walkability score 92/100 95/100
Distance to Melbourne 24.9 km
+48% vs other
 13 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 27 min
Public transport score 91/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 159.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 997.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3060
 0.9%
postcode 3073
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 22
postcode 3060
 20
postcode 3073

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.

Fawkner Reservoir
Car (driver) 59.3% / 53.7%
Fawkner — Car (driver): 59.3% Reservoir — Car (driver): 53.7%
Worked from Home 26.0% / 32.5%
Fawkner — Worked from Home: 26.0% Reservoir — Worked from Home: 32.5%
Train 7.2% / 6.0%
Fawkner — Train: 7.2% Reservoir — Train: 6.0%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 3.5%
Fawkner — Car (passenger): 4.0% Reservoir — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 1.5% / 1.0%
Fawkner — Walked Only: 1.5% Reservoir — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 1.0% / 1.4%
Fawkner — Bus: 1.0% Reservoir — Bus: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.3%).

Setting

Fawkner Reservoir
Elevation 84 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.5 km 15.8 km

NBN connectivity

Fawkner Reservoir
Connectivity score 91/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 55%
6,111 premises
 9%
26,272 premises

Climate

Fawkner Reservoir
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)

Fawkner Reservoir
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Fawkner Reservoir
Average residential rate $1,914/yr $1,764/yr
Council Merri-bek Darebin

Federal electorate

Fawkner Reservoir
Division Wills Cooper
Member Peter Khalil Ged Kearney
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Fawkner Reservoir
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Fawkner

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub

Reservoir

Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fawkner

Fawkner vs Glenroy Fawkner vs Thomastown Fawkner vs Broadmeadows Fawkner vs Coburg North Fawkner vs Hadfield Fawkner vs Campbellfield

Other comparisons with Reservoir

Reservoir vs Preston Reservoir vs Bundoora Reservoir vs Thomastown Reservoir vs Coburg North Reservoir vs Heidelberg West Reservoir vs Campbellfield
Full data on Fawkner Full data on Reservoir
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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