Mooroolbark vs Lilydale

Mooroolbark is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Lilydale. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Mooroolbark is closer to the city centre: 37.2 km, against 42.5 km. On these figures, Lilydale tends to suit people living alone.

Mooroolbark is a larger, younger suburb with notably higher household incomes ($103,688 vs $91,728) and stronger walkability (71 vs 50), sitting closer to the CBD at 37.2 km. Lilydale has a slightly lower median house price ($901,500 vs $870,000) but higher unit rental yields at 5.0% compared to 4.3%. The key trade-off is lifestyle and accessibility in Mooroolbark against lower risk profiles in Lilydale—Mooroolbark scores higher on liveability (56 vs 40) but carries higher bushfire and flood risks, while Lilydale's crime risk is notably lower (74 vs 50).

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

Mooroolbark

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (32 vs 19)
  • has more childcare (21 vs 14)

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

First-home buyers

Lilydale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($615,100 vs $712,500)

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

Renters

Lilydale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($369/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mooroolbark

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (71/100 vs 50/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (37.2 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

  • Mooroolbark carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 74/100)
  • Lilydale has more units and townhouses to downsize into (20% vs 4%)

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

Investors

Lilydale

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mooroolbark Lilydale
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.

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Walkability 71 / 50
Mooroolbark — Walkability: 71/100 Lilydale — Walkability: 50/100
Safety 50 / 26
Mooroolbark — Safety: 50/100 Lilydale — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 15 / 21
Mooroolbark — Low fire risk: 15/100 Lilydale — Low fire risk: 21/100
Low flood risk 68 / 42
Mooroolbark — Low flood risk: 68/100 Lilydale — Low flood risk: 42/100

Demographics

Mooroolbark has more residents (23,059 vs 17,348); Mooroolbark has higher household incomes ($103,688 vs $91,728).

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Population 23,059
+25% vs other
 17,348
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.0% +4.9%
Median age 37 40
Median household income $103,688/yr
+12% vs other
 $91,728/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+8% vs other
 $369/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mooroolbark Lilydale
0-4 6.7% / 5.6%
Mooroolbark — 0-4: 6.7% Lilydale — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 13.1% / 11.6%
Mooroolbark — 5-14: 13.1% Lilydale — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.9% / 6.2%
Mooroolbark — 15-19: 5.9% Lilydale — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 6.3% / 6.1%
Mooroolbark — 20-24: 6.3% Lilydale — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 14.6% / 13.3%
Mooroolbark — 25-34: 14.6% Lilydale — 25-34: 13.3%
35-44 14.5% / 12.3%
Mooroolbark — 35-44: 14.5% Lilydale — 35-44: 12.3%
45-54 12.6% / 13.9%
Mooroolbark — 45-54: 12.6% Lilydale — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 10.9% / 12.6%
Mooroolbark — 55-64: 10.9% Lilydale — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 9.0% / 9.8%
Mooroolbark — 65-74: 9.0% Lilydale — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 4.9% / 6.2%
Mooroolbark — 75-84: 4.9% Lilydale — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 1.5% / 2.4%
Mooroolbark — 85+: 1.5% Lilydale — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mooroolbark 52.5% couple families
Mooroolbark — Couple Families: 52.5% Mooroolbark — Lone Person: 25.8% Mooroolbark — One Parent Families: 17.4% Mooroolbark — Group Household: 2.9% Mooroolbark — Other Families: 1.3%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mooroolbark 20.7% renting
Mooroolbark — Owned Outright: 32.3% Mooroolbark — Mortgage: 47.0% Mooroolbark — Renting: 20.7%
Lilydale 19.6% renting
Lilydale — Owned Outright: 34.3% Lilydale — Mortgage: 46.1% Lilydale — Renting: 19.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Certificate III & IV 17.0% / 18.0%
Mooroolbark — Certificate III & IV: 17.0% Lilydale — Certificate III & IV: 18.0%
Bachelor Degree 11.8% / 11.2%
Mooroolbark — Bachelor Degree: 11.8% Lilydale — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 9.3%
Mooroolbark — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Lilydale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 2.6%
Mooroolbark — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Lilydale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.9%
Mooroolbark — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Lilydale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

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.

Mooroolbark Lilydale
England 3.8% / 5.0%
Mooroolbark — England: 3.8% Lilydale — England: 5.0%
Myanmar 3.3% / —
Mooroolbark — Myanmar: 3.3% Lilydale — Myanmar: not among its largest
India 1.6% / 1.0%
Mooroolbark — India: 1.6% Lilydale — India: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.2%
Mooroolbark — New Zealand: 1.1% Lilydale — New Zealand: 1.2%
China 1.5% / —
Mooroolbark — China: 1.5% Lilydale — China: not among its largest
Italy — / 1.0%
Mooroolbark — Italy: not among its largest Lilydale — Italy: 1.0%
Netherlands — / 0.8%
Mooroolbark — Netherlands: not among its largest Lilydale — Netherlands: 0.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mooroolbark 95.4% houses
Mooroolbark — Houses: 95.4% Mooroolbark — Townhouses: 4.3% Mooroolbark — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Lilydale 79.7% houses
Lilydale — Houses: 79.7% Lilydale — Townhouses: 18.9% Lilydale — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Median house price $870,000 $901,500
Median unit price $712,500 $615,100
Median land price $858,500 $770,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 305 sales
 25 days
from 220 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.

Mooroolbark Lilydale
2 bed $610K / $615K
Mooroolbark — 2 bed: $610K (23 sales) Lilydale — 2 bed: $615K (39 sales)

23 vs 39 sales

3 bed $760K / $738K
Mooroolbark — 3 bed: $760K (26 sales) Lilydale — 3 bed: $738K (14 sales)

26 vs 14 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.

Mooroolbark Lilydale
2 bed $715K / $626K
Mooroolbark — 2 bed: $715K (17 sales) Lilydale — 2 bed: $626K (26 sales)

17 vs 26 sales

3 bed $818K / $815K
Mooroolbark — 3 bed: $818K (285 sales) Lilydale — 3 bed: $815K (158 sales)

285 vs 158 sales

4 bed $988K / $1.08M
Mooroolbark — 4 bed: $988K (166 sales) Lilydale — 4 bed: $1.08M (126 sales)

166 vs 126 sales

5 bed $1.16M / $1.34M
Mooroolbark — 5 bed: $1.16M (38 sales) Lilydale — 5 bed: $1.34M (34 sales)

38 vs 34 sales

Zoning mix

Lilydale has more rural and farming land (43% vs 12%).

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Residential 73% 29%
Rural and farming 12% 43%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 11%
Other and special use 1% 10%
Parks and recreation 4%
same for both
Industrial 0% 2%
Commercial 1%
same for both
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

Mooroolbark Lilydale
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.

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Houses 4.1%
$670/wk on $842K
 4.1%
$680/wk on $862K
Units 4.3%
$588/wk on $705K
 5.0%
$575/wk on $600K

Ranking within VIC

Mooroolbark Lilydale
House price Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Income Higher than 76% of VIC —
Schools Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 63% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 60% of VIC

Liveability

Mooroolbark is more walkable (71 vs 50); Mooroolbark scores higher overall (56 vs 40).

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Grade B C
Score 56/100 40/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Lilydale carries more flood risk (58 vs 32); Lilydale carries more crime risk (74 vs 50).

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Bushfire High
85/100
 High
79/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 High
74/100
Flood Low
32/100
 Moderate
58/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Inside the suburb 10 11
Rated above peers 4 2
Rated at peers 3 6
Rated below peers 3 0

Schools in Mooroolbark

  • Mooroolbark East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mooroolbark Grammar Independent · Combined above peers
  • Pembroke Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Rolling Hills Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Billanook College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Mooroolbark College Government · Secondary at peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Supermarkets 6 3
Cafes & restaurants 15 17
Parks & reserves 32 19
Childcare 21 14
GPs 4 9
Pharmacies 1 4
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 3 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 11 17

Mobility

Lilydale sits further from the CBD (42.5 km vs 37.2 km).

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Walkability score 71/100 50/100
Distance to Melbourne 37.2 km 42.5 km
+14% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 43 min 47 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 90/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 111.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 270.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3138
 0.8%
postcode 3140
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 35
postcode 3138
 36
postcode 3140

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.

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Car (driver) 66.1% / 66.7%
Mooroolbark — Car (driver): 66.1% Lilydale — Car (driver): 66.7%
Worked from Home 26.1% / 25.4%
Mooroolbark — Worked from Home: 26.1% Lilydale — Worked from Home: 25.4%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.9%
Mooroolbark — Car (passenger): 4.2% Lilydale — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Train 2.4% / 2.2%
Mooroolbark — Train: 2.4% Lilydale — Train: 2.2%
Walked Only 0.6% / 1.1%
Mooroolbark — Walked Only: 0.6% Lilydale — Walked Only: 1.1%

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

Setting

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Elevation 110 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 149 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.3 km 36.7 km

NBN connectivity

Mooroolbark Lilydale
Connectivity score 90/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
9,281 premises
 49%
8,610 premises

Climate

Mooroolbark Lilydale
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mooroolbark

Easy Commute Outer Parks Transport Hub

Lilydale

Outer Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mooroolbark

Mooroolbark vs Croydon Mooroolbark vs Chirnside Park Mooroolbark vs Kilsyth Mooroolbark vs Montrose

Other comparisons with Lilydale

Lilydale vs Chirnside Park Lilydale vs Mount Evelyn Lilydale vs Montrose Lilydale vs Wandin North Lilydale vs Coldstream
Full data on Mooroolbark Full data on Lilydale
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