Mount Dandenong vs Olinda

Comparing Mount Dandenong and Olinda, VIC: Olinda carries more crime risk (59 vs 36); Olinda has more residents (1,773 vs 1,271); and Mount Dandenong is more walkable (40 vs 31).

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Mount Dandenong carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 59/100)
  • Olinda has more parks and reserves (32 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Dandenong

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 31/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (55 min vs 63 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (47.4 km vs 50.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Dandenong

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 59/100)
  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 31/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mount Dandenong Olinda
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.

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Walkability 40 / 31
Mount Dandenong — Walkability: 40/100 Olinda — Walkability: 31/100
Safety 64 / 41
Mount Dandenong — Safety: 64/100 Olinda — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 23 / 29
Mount Dandenong — Low fire risk: 23/100 Olinda — Low fire risk: 29/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Mount Dandenong — Low flood risk: 100/100 Olinda — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Olinda has more residents (1,773 vs 1,271).

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Population 1,271 1,773
+39% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +2.0%
Median age 45
same for both
Median household income $106,860/yr
+3% vs other
 $103,740/yr
Median weekly rent $415/wk
+4% vs other
 $398/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Dandenong Olinda
0-4 4.4% / 4.9%
Mount Dandenong — 0-4: 4.4% Olinda — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 12.7% / 13.0%
Mount Dandenong — 5-14: 12.7% Olinda — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.1% / 5.3%
Mount Dandenong — 15-19: 5.1% Olinda — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 5.2% / 4.1%
Mount Dandenong — 20-24: 5.2% Olinda — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 8.9% / 8.7%
Mount Dandenong — 25-34: 8.9% Olinda — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 12.7% / 12.6%
Mount Dandenong — 35-44: 12.7% Olinda — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 13.5% / 16.9%
Mount Dandenong — 45-54: 13.5% Olinda — 45-54: 16.9%
55-64 14.6% / 14.9%
Mount Dandenong — 55-64: 14.6% Olinda — 55-64: 14.9%
65-74 13.1% / 13.8%
Mount Dandenong — 65-74: 13.1% Olinda — 65-74: 13.8%
75-84 6.8% / 4.5%
Mount Dandenong — 75-84: 6.8% Olinda — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 2.0% / 0.8%
Mount Dandenong — 85+: 2.0% Olinda — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Dandenong 49.4% couple families
Mount Dandenong — Couple Families: 49.4% Mount Dandenong — Lone Person: 31.9% Mount Dandenong — One Parent Families: 14.2% Mount Dandenong — Group Household: 4.5% Mount Dandenong — Other Families: 0.0%
Olinda 47.9% couple families
Olinda — Couple Families: 47.9% Olinda — Lone Person: 32.7% Olinda — One Parent Families: 16.1% Olinda — Group Household: 2.2% Olinda — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mount Dandenong 9.2% renting
Mount Dandenong — Owned Outright: 40.8% Mount Dandenong — Mortgage: 50.0% Mount Dandenong — Renting: 9.2%
Olinda 12.3% renting
Olinda — Owned Outright: 38.8% Olinda — Mortgage: 48.9% Olinda — Renting: 12.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 17.3%
Mount Dandenong — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Olinda — Bachelor Degree: 17.3%
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 12.1%
Mount Dandenong — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Olinda — Certificate III & IV: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.6% / 11.3%
Mount Dandenong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6% Olinda — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.3%
Postgraduate Degree 6.1% / 7.2%
Mount Dandenong — Postgraduate Degree: 6.1% Olinda — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.2% / 3.9%
Mount Dandenong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.2% Olinda — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.3%).

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.

Mount Dandenong Olinda
England 7.6% / 6.4%
Mount Dandenong — England: 7.6% Olinda — England: 6.4%
South Africa 0.8% / 1.0%
Mount Dandenong — South Africa: 0.8% Olinda — South Africa: 1.0%
Germany 0.9% / 0.8%
Mount Dandenong — Germany: 0.9% Olinda — Germany: 0.8%
Netherlands 1.3% / —
Mount Dandenong — Netherlands: 1.3% Olinda — Netherlands: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.2%
Mount Dandenong — New Zealand: not among its largest Olinda — New Zealand: 1.2%
Canada 0.6% / —
Mount Dandenong — Canada: 0.6% Olinda — Canada: not among its largest
China — / 0.5%
Mount Dandenong — China: not among its largest Olinda — China: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Dandenong 98.3% houses
Mount Dandenong — Houses: 98.3% Mount Dandenong — Townhouses: 1.7% Mount Dandenong — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Olinda 99.1% houses
Olinda — Houses: 99.1% Olinda — Townhouses: 0.6% Olinda — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Median house price $1,007,500 $1,089,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 50 days
from 9 sales
 36 days
from 29 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.

Mount Dandenong Olinda
2 bed $760K / $860K
Mount Dandenong — 2 bed: $760K (9 sales) Olinda — 2 bed: $860K (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

3 bed $932K / $860K
Mount Dandenong — 3 bed: $932K (18 sales) Olinda — 3 bed: $860K (30 sales)

18 vs 30 sales

4 bed $1.19M / $1.1M
Mount Dandenong — 4 bed: $1.19M (21 sales) Olinda — 4 bed: $1.1M (39 sales)

21 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Parks and recreation 64% 57%
Rural and farming 33% 39%
Infrastructure and transport 2%
same for both
Environmental 0% 1%
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

Mount Dandenong Olinda
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.

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Houses — 4.6%
$900/wk on $1.02M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Mount Dandenong Olinda
House price Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 61% of VIC
Income Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 93% of VIC

Liveability

Mount Dandenong is more walkable (40 vs 31); Mount Dandenong scores higher overall (67 vs 59).

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Grade B
same for both
Score 67/100 59/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Olinda carries more crime risk (59 vs 36).

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Bushfire High
77/100
 High
71/100
Crime Low
36/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Mount Dandenong

  • Mount Dandenong Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Olinda

  • Olinda Primary School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 2 13
Parks & reserves 4 32
Childcare 2 0
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 3 17

Mobility

Olinda sits further from the CBD (50.4 km vs 47.4 km).

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Walkability score 40/100 31/100
Distance to Melbourne 47.4 km 50.4 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 55 min 63 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 66/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 40.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 19.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 3767
 1.9%
postcode 3788
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 3767
 25
postcode 3788

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.

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Car (driver) 59.4% / 52.5%
Mount Dandenong — Car (driver): 59.4% Olinda — Car (driver): 52.5%
Worked from Home 35.1% / 38.0%
Mount Dandenong — Worked from Home: 35.1% Olinda — Worked from Home: 38.0%
Car (passenger) 2.9% / 3.3%
Mount Dandenong — Car (passenger): 2.9% Olinda — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 1.1% / 3.3%
Mount Dandenong — Walked Only: 1.1% Olinda — Walked Only: 3.3%
Train 0.7% / 1.4%
Mount Dandenong — Train: 0.7% Olinda — Train: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.4%).

Setting

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Elevation 586 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 493 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 30.2 km 31.1 km

NBN connectivity

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Connectivity score 94/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 70%
583 premises
 61%
944 premises

Climate

Mount Dandenong Olinda
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)

Mount Dandenong Olinda
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Average residential rate $2,161/yr
same for both
Council Yarra Ranges
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Division Casey
same for both
Member Aaron Violi
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Dandenong Olinda
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Dandenong

Acreage Outer Professionals Quiet

Olinda

Acreage Outer Parks Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Dandenong

Mount Dandenong vs Montrose Mount Dandenong vs The Basin Mount Dandenong vs Kalorama Mount Dandenong vs Sassafras

Other comparisons with Olinda

Olinda vs Monbulk Olinda vs Kallista Olinda vs Silvan Olinda vs Kalorama Olinda vs The Patch Olinda vs Sassafras
Full data on Mount Dandenong Full data on Olinda
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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