Mernda vs Yan Yean

Mernda is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 48 in Yan Yean. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Mernda is closer to the city centre: 45.4 km, against 50.6 km. On these figures, Mernda tends to suit families with children, while Yan Yean suits 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

Mernda

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (96 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (19 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 0)
  • But Yan Yean has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 89%)

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

First-home buyers

Mernda

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 39%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Mernda

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (28% vs 11%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Mernda

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (45.4 km vs 50.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mernda

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 84/100)
  • But Yan Yean has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 8%)

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

Investors

Mernda

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (42.0% vs -2.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mernda Yan Yean
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.

Mernda Yan Yean
Walkability 75 / 0
Mernda — Walkability: 75/100 Yan Yean — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 40 / 16
Mernda — Safety: 40/100 Yan Yean — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 65 / 100
Mernda — Low fire risk: 65/100 Yan Yean — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 51 / 34
Mernda — Low flood risk: 51/100 Yan Yean — Low flood risk: 34/100

Demographics

Mernda has more residents (23,369 vs 246); Yan Yean skews older (48 vs 33).

Mernda Yan Yean
Population 23,369
+99% vs other
 246
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +42.0% -2.4%
Median age 33 48
Median household income $104,572/yr
+24% vs other
 $79,040/yr
Median weekly rent $381/wk $388/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mernda Yan Yean
0-4 9.6% / 3.7%
Mernda — 0-4: 9.6% Yan Yean — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 17.4% / 9.8%
Mernda — 5-14: 17.4% Yan Yean — 5-14: 9.8%
15-19 5.3% / 6.5%
Mernda — 15-19: 5.3% Yan Yean — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 5.3% / 4.5%
Mernda — 20-24: 5.3% Yan Yean — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 16.5% / 11.8%
Mernda — 25-34: 16.5% Yan Yean — 25-34: 11.8%
35-44 20.4% / 6.5%
Mernda — 35-44: 20.4% Yan Yean — 35-44: 6.5%
45-54 11.2% / 15.9%
Mernda — 45-54: 11.2% Yan Yean — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 6.8% / 15.0%
Mernda — 55-64: 6.8% Yan Yean — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 5.1% / 12.6%
Mernda — 65-74: 5.1% Yan Yean — 65-74: 12.6%
75-84 2.2% / 10.6%
Mernda — 75-84: 2.2% Yan Yean — 75-84: 10.6%
85+ 0.3% / 2.8%
Mernda — 85+: 0.3% Yan Yean — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mernda 60.4% couple families
Mernda — Couple Families: 60.4% Mernda — Lone Person: 18.6% Mernda — One Parent Families: 17.6% Mernda — Group Household: 2.2% Mernda — Other Families: 1.1%
Yan Yean 65.3% couple families
Yan Yean — Couple Families: 65.3% Yan Yean — Lone Person: 20.4% Yan Yean — One Parent Families: 14.3% Yan Yean — Group Household: 0.0% Yan Yean — 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.

Mernda 28.3% renting
Mernda — Owned Outright: 14.8% Mernda — Mortgage: 57.0% Mernda — Renting: 28.3%
Yan Yean 10.6% renting
Yan Yean — Owned Outright: 54.5% Yan Yean — Mortgage: 34.8% Yan Yean — Renting: 10.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mernda Yan Yean
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 21.5%
Mernda — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% Yan Yean — Certificate III & IV: 21.5%
Bachelor Degree 13.2% / 10.6%
Mernda — Bachelor Degree: 13.2% Yan Yean — Bachelor Degree: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 9.8%
Mernda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Yan Yean — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Postgraduate Degree 5.8% / 1.2%
Mernda — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8% Yan Yean — Postgraduate Degree: 1.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.6%
Mernda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Yan Yean — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

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.

Mernda Yan Yean
India 10.3% / —
Mernda — India: 10.3% Yan Yean — India: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.6% / 3.3%
Mernda — New Zealand: 1.6% Yan Yean — New Zealand: 3.3%
England 1.5% / 2.8%
Mernda — England: 1.5% Yan Yean — England: 2.8%
Iran 1.3% / 2.4%
Mernda — Iran: 1.3% Yan Yean — Iran: 2.4%
Italy 1.1% / 2.0%
Mernda — Italy: 1.1% Yan Yean — Italy: 2.0%
Sri Lanka 2.2% / —
Mernda — Sri Lanka: 2.2% Yan Yean — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Philippines 1.7% / —
Mernda — Philippines: 1.7% Yan Yean — Philippines: not among its largest
Germany — / 1.2%
Mernda — Germany: not among its largest Yan Yean — Germany: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mernda 89.4% houses
Mernda — Houses: 89.4% Mernda — Townhouses: 9.1% Mernda — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Yan Yean 100.0% houses
Yan Yean — Houses: 100.0% Yan Yean — Townhouses: 0.0% Yan Yean — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mernda Yan Yean
Median house price $736,000 —
Median unit price $396,000 —
Median land price $701,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 355 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Mernda Yan Yean
Infrastructure and transport 2% 53%
Environmental 32% 23%
Residential 32% 0%
Rural and farming 26% 24%
Parks and recreation 4% 0%
Other and special use 3% 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

Mernda Yan Yean
New dwellings approved 2,632
across Whittlesea
same for both
Approvals change year on year -28%
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.

Mernda Yan Yean
Houses 4.0%
$560/wk on $735K
 —
Units 5.8%
$440/wk on $395K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Mernda Yan Yean
House price Higher than 44% of VIC —
Income Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Schools Higher than 44% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 83% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 88% of VIC —

Liveability

Mernda is more walkable (75 vs 0).

Mernda Yan Yean
Grade B —
Score 51/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Mernda carries more bushfire risk (35 vs 0); Yan Yean carries more crime risk (84 vs 60).

Mernda Yan Yean
Bushfire Low
35/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
60/100
 High
84/100
Flood Moderate
49/100
 Moderate
66/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Mernda Yan Yean
Inside the suburb 7 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Mernda

  • Mernda Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mernda Central P-12 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Mernda Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mernda Hills Christian College Independent · Combined below peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Gilson College - Mernda Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Yan Yean

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Mernda Yan Yean
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 14 0
Parks & reserves 96 3
Childcare 19 0
GPs 7 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 6 3

Mobility

Yan Yean sits further from the CBD (50.6 km vs 45.4 km).

Mernda Yan Yean
Walkability score 75/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 45.4 km 50.6 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 52 min 56 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 346.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 28.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3754
 1.2%
postcode 3755
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 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.

Mernda Yan Yean
Car (driver) 66.7% / 67.9%
Mernda — Car (driver): 66.7% Yan Yean — Car (driver): 67.9%
Worked from Home 23.7% / 22.6%
Mernda — Worked from Home: 23.7% Yan Yean — Worked from Home: 22.6%
Train 4.5% / 4.8%
Mernda — Train: 4.5% Yan Yean — Train: 4.8%
Walked Only 0.6% / 4.8%
Mernda — Walked Only: 0.6% Yan Yean — Walked Only: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / —
Mernda — Car (passenger): 3.9% Yan Yean — Car (passenger): not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.9%).

Setting

Mernda Yan Yean
Elevation 186 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 213 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 30.8 km 36.7 km

NBN connectivity

Mernda Yan Yean
Connectivity score 87/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 76%
9,201 premises
 0%
107 premises

Climate

Mernda Yan Yean
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)

Mernda Yan Yean
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Mernda Yan Yean
Average residential rate $1,899/yr
same for both
Council Whittlesea
same for both

Federal electorate

Mernda Yan Yean
Division Mcewen
same for both
Member Rob Mitchell
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mernda Yan Yean
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mernda

Easy Commute Family Large Blocks Multicultural Outer Parks Transport Hub Young Families

Yan Yean

Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mernda

Mernda vs Doreen Mernda vs South Morang Mernda vs Wollert Mernda vs Woodstock

Other comparisons with Yan Yean

Yan Yean vs Doreen Yan Yean vs Whittlesea Yan Yean vs Eden Park Yan Yean vs Arthurs Creek Yan Yean vs Humevale Yan Yean vs Woodstock
Full data on Mernda Full data on Yan Yean
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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