Hurstbridge vs Doreen

Doreen is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 41 in Hurstbridge. 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 Hurstbridge: a median of $1.01 million, against $806,000 in Doreen, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Doreen tends to suit families with children and 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

Doreen

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (130 vs 13)
  • has more childcare (16 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 2)
  • But Hurstbridge carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 39/100)

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

First-home buyers

Doreen

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($805,500 vs $1,012,000)
  • has cheaper units ($570,000 vs $697,000)
  • But Hurstbridge has cheaper land ($457,500 vs $747,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Doreen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 11%)

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

Commuting to the city

Hurstbridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (63/100 vs 40/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hurstbridge

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 8%)
  • carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 39/100)
  • is more walkable (63/100 vs 40/100)
  • But Doreen has more GPs (7 vs 1)

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

Investors

Doreen

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (27.3% vs 3.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Hurstbridge Doreen
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.

Hurstbridge Doreen
Walkability 63 / 40
Hurstbridge — Walkability: 63/100 Doreen — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 78 / 61
Hurstbridge — Safety: 78/100 Doreen — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 55 / 74
Hurstbridge — Low fire risk: 55/100 Doreen — Low fire risk: 74/100
Low flood risk 53 / 62
Hurstbridge — Low flood risk: 53/100 Doreen — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Doreen has more residents (27,122 vs 3,554); Hurstbridge skews older (41 vs 33).

Hurstbridge Doreen
Population 3,554 27,122
+663% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +27.3%
Median age 41 33
Median household income $112,736/yr $111,852/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+5% vs other
 $397/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hurstbridge Doreen
0-4 5.9% / 8.5%
Hurstbridge — 0-4: 5.9% Doreen — 0-4: 8.5%
5-14 14.0% / 18.4%
Hurstbridge — 5-14: 14.0% Doreen — 5-14: 18.4%
15-19 6.4% / 6.8%
Hurstbridge — 15-19: 6.4% Doreen — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 6.0% / 4.9%
Hurstbridge — 20-24: 6.0% Doreen — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 9.9% / 13.9%
Hurstbridge — 25-34: 9.9% Doreen — 25-34: 13.9%
35-44 12.7% / 18.6%
Hurstbridge — 35-44: 12.7% Doreen — 35-44: 18.6%
45-54 15.0% / 13.0%
Hurstbridge — 45-54: 15.0% Doreen — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 14.8% / 7.6%
Hurstbridge — 55-64: 14.8% Doreen — 55-64: 7.6%
65-74 10.5% / 5.7%
Hurstbridge — 65-74: 10.5% Doreen — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 4.4% / 2.3%
Hurstbridge — 75-84: 4.4% Doreen — 75-84: 2.3%
85+ 0.7% / 0.3%
Hurstbridge — 85+: 0.7% Doreen — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hurstbridge 58.4% couple families
Hurstbridge — Couple Families: 58.4% Hurstbridge — Lone Person: 23.3% Hurstbridge — One Parent Families: 16.1% Hurstbridge — Group Household: 1.7% Hurstbridge — Other Families: 0.6%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hurstbridge 10.6% renting
Hurstbridge — Owned Outright: 36.2% Hurstbridge — Mortgage: 53.2% Hurstbridge — Renting: 10.6%
Doreen 21.6% renting
Doreen — Owned Outright: 19.3% Doreen — Mortgage: 59.1% Doreen — Renting: 21.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hurstbridge Doreen
Certificate III & IV 17.8% / 15.2%
Hurstbridge — Certificate III & IV: 17.8% Doreen — Certificate III & IV: 15.2%
Bachelor Degree 15.8% / 11.6%
Hurstbridge — Bachelor Degree: 15.8% Doreen — Bachelor Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 8.8%
Hurstbridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Doreen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 5.0% / 3.7%
Hurstbridge — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0% Doreen — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 2.0%
Hurstbridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Doreen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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.

Hurstbridge Doreen
England 4.9% / 2.5%
Hurstbridge — England: 4.9% Doreen — England: 2.5%
India 0.3% / 3.9%
Hurstbridge — India: 0.3% Doreen — India: 3.9%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.2%
Hurstbridge — New Zealand: 1.0% Doreen — New Zealand: 1.2%
Italy 0.3% / 0.8%
Hurstbridge — Italy: 0.3% Doreen — Italy: 0.8%
Sri Lanka — / 1.1%
Hurstbridge — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Doreen — Sri Lanka: 1.1%
Iran — / 0.8%
Hurstbridge — Iran: not among its largest Doreen — Iran: 0.8%
Germany 0.5% / —
Hurstbridge — Germany: 0.5% Doreen — Germany: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.3% / —
Hurstbridge — Netherlands: 0.3% Doreen — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hurstbridge 96.9% houses
Hurstbridge — Houses: 96.9% Hurstbridge — Townhouses: 2.5% Hurstbridge — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Doreen 94.6% houses
Doreen — Houses: 94.6% Doreen — Townhouses: 5.1% Doreen — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Hurstbridge Doreen
Median house price $1,012,000 $805,500
Median unit price $697,000 $570,000
Median land price $457,500 $747,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 14 sales
 20 days
from 359 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.

Hurstbridge Doreen
2 bed $950K / $502K
Hurstbridge — 2 bed: $950K (6 sales) Doreen — 2 bed: $502K (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

3 bed $895K / $721K
Hurstbridge — 3 bed: $895K (43 sales) Doreen — 3 bed: $721K (193 sales)

43 vs 193 sales

4 bed $1.14M / $842K
Hurstbridge — 4 bed: $1.14M (33 sales) Doreen — 4 bed: $842K (401 sales)

33 vs 401 sales

Zoning mix

Hurstbridge has more land zoned for conservation (83% vs 21%); Doreen has more rural and farming land (38% vs 0%).

Hurstbridge Doreen
Environmental 83% 21%
Rural and farming 0% 38%
Residential 9% 33%
Parks and recreation 4% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 1%
Other and special use 0% 3%
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

Hurstbridge Doreen
New dwellings approved 98
across Nillumbik
same for both
Approvals change year on year +8%
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.

Hurstbridge Doreen
Houses 2.9%
$650/wk on $1.15M
 3.8%
$585/wk on $810K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Hurstbridge Doreen
House price Higher than 68% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
Income Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 41% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 58% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC

Liveability

Hurstbridge is more walkable (63 vs 40); Hurstbridge scores higher overall (66 vs 58).

Hurstbridge Doreen
Grade B
same for both
Score 66/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Doreen carries more crime risk (39 vs 22); Hurstbridge carries more bushfire risk (45 vs 26).

Hurstbridge Doreen
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 Low
26/100
Crime Low
22/100
 Low
39/100
Flood Moderate
47/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Hurstbridge Doreen
Inside the suburb 2 8
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 4
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Hurstbridge

  • Hurstbridge Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Launch Campus Independent · Combined

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

Amenities in the suburb

Hurstbridge Doreen
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 12 6
Parks & reserves 13 130
Childcare 3 16
GPs 1 7
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 17 7

Mobility

Hurstbridge Doreen
Walkability score 63/100 40/100
Distance to Melbourne 34.8 km 35.8 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 48 min 51 min
Public transport score 66/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 17.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 263.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 3 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3099
 1.2%
postcode 3754
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 3099
 45
postcode 3754

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.

Hurstbridge Doreen
Car (driver) 61.7% / 65.4%
Hurstbridge — Car (driver): 61.7% Doreen — Car (driver): 65.4%
Worked from Home 32.0% / 27.0%
Hurstbridge — Worked from Home: 32.0% Doreen — Worked from Home: 27.0%
Train 2.7% / 3.0%
Hurstbridge — Train: 2.7% Doreen — Train: 3.0%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 3.5%
Hurstbridge — Car (passenger): 2.1% Doreen — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 1.0% / 0.6%
Hurstbridge — Walked Only: 1.0% Doreen — Walked Only: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.4%).

Setting

Hurstbridge Doreen
Elevation 76 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 195 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 31.6 km 32.8 km

NBN connectivity

Hurstbridge Doreen
Connectivity score 62/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
1,425 premises
 74%
8,430 premises

Climate

Hurstbridge Doreen
Annual rainfall 777 mm 534 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C 26.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C 6.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

Hurstbridge Doreen
Average residential rate $2,696/yr
same for both
Council Nillumbik
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Hurstbridge

Acreage Outer Parks River Trains Village Feel

Doreen

Family Large Blocks Outer Parks Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hurstbridge

Hurstbridge vs Diamond Creek Hurstbridge vs Wattle Glen Hurstbridge vs Yarrambat Hurstbridge vs Kangaroo Ground Hurstbridge vs Panton Hill Hurstbridge vs Cottles Bridge

Other comparisons with Doreen

Doreen vs South Morang Doreen vs Mernda Doreen vs Yarrambat Doreen vs Arthurs Creek Doreen vs Yan Yean Doreen vs Nutfield
Full data on Hurstbridge Full data on Doreen
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or