Lilydale vs Montrose

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lilydale, about half of households are couple families. In Montrose, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Montrose: a median of $980,000, against $902,000 in Lilydale. On these figures, Lilydale tends to suit people living alone, while Montrose suits couples.

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

Montrose

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 74/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 62%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (92% vs 80%)
  • But Lilydale has more schools inside the suburb (11 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Montrose

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($455,000 vs $770,000)

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

Renters

Lilydale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (20% vs 9%)

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

Commuting to the city

Montrose

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 50/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (38.9 km vs 42.5 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Lilydale has more GPs (9 vs 1)
  • Montrose carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 74/100)

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

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

Lilydale Montrose
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.

Lilydale Montrose
Walkability 50 / 69
Lilydale — Walkability: 50/100 Montrose — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 26 / 61
Lilydale — Safety: 26/100 Montrose — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 21 / 26
Lilydale — Low fire risk: 21/100 Montrose — Low fire risk: 26/100
Low flood risk 42 / 75
Lilydale — Low flood risk: 42/100 Montrose — Low flood risk: 75/100

Demographics

Lilydale has more residents (17,348 vs 6,900); Montrose has higher household incomes ($108,576 vs $91,728).

Lilydale Montrose
Population 17,348
+60% vs other
 6,900
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.9% +2.1%
Median age 40 41
Median household income $91,728/yr $108,576/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $369/wk
+1% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lilydale Montrose
0-4 5.6% / 6.5%
Lilydale — 0-4: 5.6% Montrose — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 11.6% / 13.1%
Lilydale — 5-14: 11.6% Montrose — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 6.2% / 5.9%
Lilydale — 15-19: 6.2% Montrose — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 6.1% / 5.2%
Lilydale — 20-24: 6.1% Montrose — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 13.3% / 11.2%
Lilydale — 25-34: 13.3% Montrose — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 12.3% / 13.2%
Lilydale — 35-44: 12.3% Montrose — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 13.9% / 13.7%
Lilydale — 45-54: 13.9% Montrose — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 12.6% / 11.6%
Lilydale — 55-64: 12.6% Montrose — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 9.8% / 10.2%
Lilydale — 65-74: 9.8% Montrose — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 6.2% / 6.2%
Lilydale — 75-84: 6.2% Montrose — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 2.4% / 3.1%
Lilydale — 85+: 2.4% Montrose — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lilydale 46.0% couple families
Lilydale — Couple Families: 46.0% Lilydale — Lone Person: 34.3% Lilydale — One Parent Families: 15.6% Lilydale — Group Household: 2.8% Lilydale — Other Families: 1.2%
Montrose 58.5% couple families
Montrose — Couple Families: 58.5% Montrose — Lone Person: 26.1% Montrose — One Parent Families: 12.7% Montrose — Group Household: 1.8% Montrose — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lilydale 19.6% renting
Lilydale — Owned Outright: 34.3% Lilydale — Mortgage: 46.1% Lilydale — Renting: 19.6%
Montrose 8.9% renting
Montrose — Owned Outright: 37.7% Montrose — Mortgage: 53.5% Montrose — Renting: 8.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lilydale Montrose
Certificate III & IV 18.0% / 17.8%
Lilydale — Certificate III & IV: 18.0% Montrose — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 11.2% / 12.0%
Lilydale — Bachelor Degree: 11.2% Montrose — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 8.9%
Lilydale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Montrose — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 2.6% / 2.8%
Lilydale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6% Montrose — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.3%
Lilydale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Montrose — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

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.

Lilydale Montrose
England 5.0% / 5.2%
Lilydale — England: 5.0% Montrose — England: 5.2%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.0%
Lilydale — New Zealand: 1.2% Montrose — New Zealand: 1.0%
Netherlands 0.8% / 1.4%
Lilydale — Netherlands: 0.8% Montrose — Netherlands: 1.4%
India 1.0% / 0.4%
Lilydale — India: 1.0% Montrose — India: 0.4%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.4%
Lilydale — South Africa: 0.8% Montrose — South Africa: 0.4%
Germany 0.5% / 0.6%
Lilydale — Germany: 0.5% Montrose — Germany: 0.6%
Italy 1.0% / —
Lilydale — Italy: 1.0% Montrose — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lilydale 79.7% houses
Lilydale — Houses: 79.7% Lilydale — Townhouses: 18.9% Lilydale — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Montrose 92.0% houses
Montrose — Houses: 92.0% Montrose — Townhouses: 4.0% Montrose — Flats / Apartments: 4.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Lilydale Montrose
Median house price $901,500 $980,000
Median unit price $615,100 $640,000
Median land price $770,000 $455,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 220 sales
 15 days
from 65 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.

Lilydale Montrose
2 bed $626K / $798K
Lilydale — 2 bed: $626K (26 sales) Montrose — 2 bed: $798K (10 sales)

26 vs 10 sales

3 bed $815K / $892K
Lilydale — 3 bed: $815K (158 sales) Montrose — 3 bed: $892K (51 sales)

158 vs 51 sales

4 bed $1.08M / $1.06M
Lilydale — 4 bed: $1.08M (126 sales) Montrose — 4 bed: $1.06M (63 sales)

126 vs 63 sales

5 bed $1.34M / $1.05M
Lilydale — 5 bed: $1.34M (34 sales) Montrose — 5 bed: $1.05M (14 sales)

34 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Lilydale Montrose
Rural and farming 43% 36%
Residential 29% 31%
Parks and recreation 4% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 8%
Other and special use 10% 7%
Industrial 2% 1%
Commercial 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

Lilydale Montrose
New dwellings approved 416
across Yarra Ranges
same for both
Approvals change year on year -57%
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.

Lilydale Montrose
Houses 4.1%
$680/wk on $862K
 3.9%
$700/wk on $930K
Units 5.0%
$575/wk on $600K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Lilydale Montrose
House price Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Income — Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 64% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 60% of VIC —

Liveability

Montrose scores higher overall (66 vs 40); Montrose is more walkable (69 vs 50).

Lilydale Montrose
Grade C B
Score 40/100 66/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Lilydale carries more flood risk (58 vs 25); Lilydale carries more crime risk (74 vs 39).

Lilydale Montrose
Bushfire High
79/100
 High
74/100
Crime High
74/100
 Low
39/100
Flood Moderate
58/100
 Low
25/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Lilydale Montrose
Inside the suburb 11 3
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 6 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Lilydale

  • Lilydale Heights College Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Patrick's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Edinburgh College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Lilydale High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Lilydale Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mount Lilydale Mercy College Catholic · Secondary at peers

Schools in Montrose

  • Billanook Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Montrose Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount Evelyn Christian School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lilydale Montrose
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 17 7
Parks & reserves 19 18
Childcare 14 8
GPs 9 1
Pharmacies 4 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 6 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 17 7

Mobility

Lilydale sits further from the CBD (42.5 km vs 38.9 km).

Lilydale Montrose
Walkability score 50/100 69/100
Distance to Melbourne 42.5 km
+8% vs other
 38.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 47 min 46 min
Public transport score 90/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 270.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 99.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3140
 0.8%
postcode 3765
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 3140
 35
postcode 3765

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.

Lilydale Montrose
Car (driver) 66.7% / 66.3%
Lilydale — Car (driver): 66.7% Montrose — Car (driver): 66.3%
Worked from Home 25.4% / 27.0%
Lilydale — Worked from Home: 25.4% Montrose — Worked from Home: 27.0%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 4.2%
Lilydale — Car (passenger): 3.9% Montrose — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Train 2.2% / 1.1%
Lilydale — Train: 2.2% Montrose — Train: 1.1%
Walked Only 1.1% / 0.7%
Lilydale — Walked Only: 1.1% Montrose — Walked Only: 0.7%

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

Setting

Lilydale Montrose
Elevation 149 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 193 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 36.7 km 31.7 km

NBN connectivity

Lilydale Montrose
Connectivity score 89/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
8,610 premises
 52%
2,716 premises

Climate

Lilydale Montrose
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)

Lilydale Montrose
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Lilydale Montrose
Average residential rate $2,161/yr
same for both
Council Yarra Ranges
same for both

Federal electorate

Lilydale Montrose
Division Casey
same for both
Member Aaron Violi
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Lilydale Montrose
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lilydale

Outer Transport Hub

Montrose

Large Blocks Outer Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lilydale

Lilydale vs Mooroolbark Lilydale vs Chirnside Park Lilydale vs Mount Evelyn Lilydale vs Wandin North Lilydale vs Coldstream

Other comparisons with Montrose

Montrose vs Mooroolbark Montrose vs Kilsyth Montrose vs Mount Evelyn Montrose vs The Basin Montrose vs Kalorama Montrose vs Mount Dandenong
Full data on Lilydale Full data on Montrose
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