Lysterfield vs Upper Ferntree Gully

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lysterfield, most households are couple families. In Upper Ferntree Gully, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Lysterfield: a median of $1.43 million, against $905,000 in Upper Ferntree Gully, and rent is higher there too. Lysterfield is closer to the city centre: 37.3 km, against 41.5 km. On these figures, Lysterfield tends to suit couples, while Upper Ferntree Gully suits people living alone 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

Lysterfield

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 68/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (85% vs 64%)
  • But Upper Ferntree Gully has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Upper Ferntree Gully

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($905,000 vs $1,431,250)
  • has cheaper land ($697,500 vs $1,050,000)
  • has cheaper units ($523,000 vs $752,000)

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

Renters

Upper Ferntree Gully

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($369/wk vs $435/wk)

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

  • Lysterfield sits closer to the CBD (37.3 km vs 41.5 km)
  • Upper Ferntree Gully is more walkable (73/100 vs 4/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Upper Ferntree Gully

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (73/100 vs 4/100)
  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 12%)
  • But Lysterfield carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Upper Ferntree Gully

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
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.

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Walkability 4 / 73
Lysterfield — Walkability: 4/100 Upper Ferntree Gully — Walkability: 73/100
Safety 66 / 32
Lysterfield — Safety: 66/100 Upper Ferntree Gully — Safety: 32/100
Low fire risk 31 / 15
Lysterfield — Low fire risk: 31/100 Upper Ferntree Gully — Low fire risk: 15/100
Low flood risk 47 / 59
Lysterfield — Low flood risk: 47/100 Upper Ferntree Gully — Low flood risk: 59/100

Demographics

Lysterfield has more residents (6,681 vs 3,417); Lysterfield has higher household incomes ($143,208 vs $106,028).

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Population 6,681
+49% vs other
 3,417
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.3% +0.0%
Median age 41
same for both
Median household income $143,208/yr
+26% vs other
 $106,028/yr
Median weekly rent $435/wk
+15% vs other
 $369/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
0-4 4.2% / 5.5%
Lysterfield — 0-4: 4.2% Upper Ferntree Gully — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 13.0% / 11.6%
Lysterfield — 5-14: 13.0% Upper Ferntree Gully — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 8.2% / 5.9%
Lysterfield — 15-19: 8.2% Upper Ferntree Gully — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 8.0% / 5.4%
Lysterfield — 20-24: 8.0% Upper Ferntree Gully — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 9.4% / 12.0%
Lysterfield — 25-34: 9.4% Upper Ferntree Gully — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 11.4% / 12.8%
Lysterfield — 35-44: 11.4% Upper Ferntree Gully — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 17.0% / 14.0%
Lysterfield — 45-54: 17.0% Upper Ferntree Gully — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 16.7% / 14.2%
Lysterfield — 55-64: 16.7% Upper Ferntree Gully — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 8.1% / 10.1%
Lysterfield — 65-74: 8.1% Upper Ferntree Gully — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 3.2% / 5.4%
Lysterfield — 75-84: 3.2% Upper Ferntree Gully — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 0.8% / 2.8%
Lysterfield — 85+: 0.8% Upper Ferntree Gully — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Lysterfield 73.3% couple families
Lysterfield — Couple Families: 73.3% Lysterfield — Lone Person: 13.7% Lysterfield — One Parent Families: 11.6% Lysterfield — Group Household: 1.0% Lysterfield — Other Families: 0.5%
Upper Ferntree Gully 48.8% couple families
Upper Ferntree Gully — Couple Families: 48.8% Upper Ferntree Gully — Lone Person: 31.0% Upper Ferntree Gully — One Parent Families: 15.7% Upper Ferntree Gully — Group Household: 3.0% Upper Ferntree Gully — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Lysterfield 7.5% renting
Lysterfield — Owned Outright: 38.5% Lysterfield — Mortgage: 54.0% Lysterfield — Renting: 7.5%
Upper Ferntree Gully 14.3% renting
Upper Ferntree Gully — Owned Outright: 37.1% Upper Ferntree Gully — Mortgage: 48.6% Upper Ferntree Gully — Renting: 14.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Certificate III & IV 14.1% / 15.9%
Lysterfield — Certificate III & IV: 14.1% Upper Ferntree Gully — Certificate III & IV: 15.9%
Bachelor Degree 15.9% / 13.8%
Lysterfield — Bachelor Degree: 15.9% Upper Ferntree Gully — Bachelor Degree: 13.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 9.2%
Lysterfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Upper Ferntree Gully — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 3.8% / 5.0%
Lysterfield — Postgraduate Degree: 3.8% Upper Ferntree Gully — Postgraduate Degree: 5.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 3.0%
Lysterfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Upper Ferntree Gully — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

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.

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
England 2.9% / 5.0%
Lysterfield — England: 2.9% Upper Ferntree Gully — England: 5.0%
China 2.5% / 0.6%
Lysterfield — China: 2.5% Upper Ferntree Gully — China: 0.6%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.3%
Lysterfield — New Zealand: 1.0% Upper Ferntree Gully — New Zealand: 1.3%
India 1.2% / 1.0%
Lysterfield — India: 1.2% Upper Ferntree Gully — India: 1.0%
Sri Lanka 1.8% / —
Lysterfield — Sri Lanka: 1.8% Upper Ferntree Gully — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
South Africa 0.7% / 0.7%
Lysterfield — South Africa: 0.7% Upper Ferntree Gully — South Africa: 0.7%
Italy 1.2% / —
Lysterfield — Italy: 1.2% Upper Ferntree Gully — Italy: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.0%
Lysterfield — Germany: not among its largest Upper Ferntree Gully — Germany: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Lysterfield 99.8% houses
Lysterfield — Houses: 99.8% Lysterfield — Flats / Apartments: 0.2% Lysterfield — Townhouses: 0.0%
Upper Ferntree Gully 96.1% houses
Upper Ferntree Gully — Houses: 96.1% Upper Ferntree Gully — Flats / Apartments: 2.4% Upper Ferntree Gully — Townhouses: 1.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Median house price $1,431,250 $905,000
Median unit price $752,000 $523,000
Median land price $1,050,000 $697,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 70 sales
 24 days
from 32 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.

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
3 bed $938K / $848K
Lysterfield — 3 bed: $938K (20 sales) Upper Ferntree Gully — 3 bed: $848K (38 sales)

20 vs 38 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $942K
Lysterfield — 4 bed: $1.3M (55 sales) Upper Ferntree Gully — 4 bed: $942K (40 sales)

55 vs 40 sales

5 bed $1.63M / $1.26M
Lysterfield — 5 bed: $1.63M (38 sales) Upper Ferntree Gully — 5 bed: $1.26M (8 sales)

38 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Lysterfield has more rural and farming land (35% vs 13%).

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Residential 9% 60%
Parks and recreation 43% 11%
Rural and farming 35% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 13%
Environmental 5% 0%
Other and special use 4% 0%
Commercial 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

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
New dwellings approved 416
across Yarra Ranges
 577
across Knox
Approvals change year on year -57% -14%

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.

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Houses 3.0%
$798/wk on $1.38M
 4.3%
$750/wk on $910K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
House price Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Income Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 81% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC

Liveability

Upper Ferntree Gully is more walkable (73 vs 4); Lysterfield scores higher overall (52 vs 46).

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Grade B C
Score 52/100 46/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Upper Ferntree Gully carries more crime risk (68 vs 34); Lysterfield carries more flood risk (53 vs 41).

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Bushfire Moderate
69/100
 High
85/100
Crime Low
34/100
 Moderate
68/100
Flood Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
41/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Lysterfield

  • Lysterfield Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Upper Ferntree Gully

  • Upper Ferntree Gully Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 3 9
Parks & reserves 12 4
Childcare 2
same for both
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 3 11

Mobility

Upper Ferntree Gully sits further from the CBD (41.5 km vs 37.3 km).

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Walkability score 4/100 73/100
Distance to Melbourne 37.3 km 41.5 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 41 min 44 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 53.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3156
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 3156
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.

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Car (driver) 64.5% / 60.7%
Lysterfield — Car (driver): 64.5% Upper Ferntree Gully — Car (driver): 60.7%
Worked from Home 29.6% / 30.9%
Lysterfield — Worked from Home: 29.6% Upper Ferntree Gully — Worked from Home: 30.9%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.2%
Lysterfield — Car (passenger): 4.1% Upper Ferntree Gully — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Train 0.9% / 3.0%
Lysterfield — Train: 0.9% Upper Ferntree Gully — Train: 3.0%
Walked Only 0.3% / 1.4%
Lysterfield — Walked Only: 0.3% Upper Ferntree Gully — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 0.4% / 0.9%
Lysterfield — Bus: 0.4% Upper Ferntree Gully — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.5%).

Setting

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Elevation 151 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 161 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 20.4 km 23.1 km

NBN connectivity

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Connectivity score 82/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
2,331 premises
 2%
1,537 premises

Climate

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Annual rainfall 781 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) — 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.98 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Average residential rate $2,161/yr $1,732/yr
Council Yarra Ranges Knox

Federal electorate

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Division Casey Aston
Member Aaron Violi Mary Doyle
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Lysterfield Upper Ferntree Gully
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Lysterfield

Acreage Outer Premium

Upper Ferntree Gully

Easy Commute Large Blocks Outer River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Lysterfield

Lysterfield vs Rowville Lysterfield vs Ferntree Gully Lysterfield vs Narre Warren North Lysterfield vs Upwey Lysterfield vs Tecoma Lysterfield vs Belgrave South

Other comparisons with Upper Ferntree Gully

Upper Ferntree Gully vs Ferntree Gully Upper Ferntree Gully vs Upwey Upper Ferntree Gully vs Tremont
Full data on Lysterfield Full data on Upper Ferntree Gully
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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