Mount Rowan vs Wendouree

Wendouree is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 50 in Mount Rowan. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Mount Rowan, about half of households are couple families. In Wendouree, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Mount Rowan: a median of $988,000, against $515,000 in Wendouree, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Mount Rowan tends to suit couples, while Wendouree 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

They split

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

  • Mount Rowan is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 42%)
  • Wendouree has more parks and reserves (21 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Wendouree

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($515,000 vs $987,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wendouree

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 9%)
  • has cheaper rent ($250/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Wendouree

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 23/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wendouree

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 23/100)
  • But Mount Rowan carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 93/100)

Weighs 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 Rowan and Wendouree 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 Rowan Wendouree
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 Rowan Wendouree
Walkability 23 / 82
Mount Rowan — Walkability: 23/100 Wendouree — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 36 / 7
Mount Rowan — Safety: 36/100 Wendouree — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 69 / 86
Mount Rowan — Low fire risk: 69/100 Wendouree — Low fire risk: 86/100
Low flood risk 27 / 100
Mount Rowan — Low flood risk: 27/100 Wendouree — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Wendouree has more residents (10,376 vs 295); Mount Rowan rents higher ($400/wk vs $250/wk).

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Population 295 10,376
+3417% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.3% -0.7%
Median age 50 42
Median household income $79,456/yr
+35% vs other
 $51,480/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+38% vs other
 $250/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Rowan Wendouree
0-4 3.7% / 5.4%
Mount Rowan — 0-4: 3.7% Wendouree — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 13.9% / 10.7%
Mount Rowan — 5-14: 13.9% Wendouree — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 5.4% / 6.1%
Mount Rowan — 15-19: 5.4% Wendouree — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 4.1% / 6.4%
Mount Rowan — 20-24: 4.1% Wendouree — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 2.7% / 14.1%
Mount Rowan — 25-34: 2.7% Wendouree — 25-34: 14.1%
35-44 11.9% / 9.7%
Mount Rowan — 35-44: 11.9% Wendouree — 35-44: 9.7%
45-54 15.9% / 11.2%
Mount Rowan — 45-54: 15.9% Wendouree — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 12.2% / 11.8%
Mount Rowan — 55-64: 12.2% Wendouree — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 14.6% / 11.8%
Mount Rowan — 65-74: 14.6% Wendouree — 65-74: 11.8%
75-84 10.2% / 8.5%
Mount Rowan — 75-84: 10.2% Wendouree — 75-84: 8.5%
85+ 4.4% / 4.5%
Mount Rowan — 85+: 4.4% Wendouree — 85+: 4.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Rowan 34.3% lone person
Mount Rowan — Lone Person: 34.3% Mount Rowan — Couple Families: 48.6% Mount Rowan — One Parent Families: 17.1% Mount Rowan — Group Household: 0.0% Mount Rowan — Other Families: 0.0%
Wendouree 51.5% lone person
Wendouree — Lone Person: 51.5% Wendouree — Couple Families: 20.1% Wendouree — One Parent Families: 21.7% Wendouree — Group Household: 4.5% Wendouree — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mount Rowan 9.3% renting
Mount Rowan — Owned Outright: 65.7% Mount Rowan — Mortgage: 25.0% Mount Rowan — Renting: 9.3%
Wendouree 44.4% renting
Wendouree — Owned Outright: 34.6% Wendouree — Mortgage: 21.1% Wendouree — Renting: 44.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Rowan Wendouree
England 1.7% / 1.5%
Mount Rowan — England: 1.7% Wendouree — England: 1.5%
Netherlands 1.0% / 0.6%
Mount Rowan — Netherlands: 1.0% Wendouree — Netherlands: 0.6%
Philippines — / 1.3%
Mount Rowan — Philippines: not among its largest Wendouree — Philippines: 1.3%
India — / 0.7%
Mount Rowan — India: not among its largest Wendouree — India: 0.7%
New Zealand — / 0.7%
Mount Rowan — New Zealand: not among its largest Wendouree — New Zealand: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (1.7%).

Qualifications

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

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Certificate III & IV 17.3% / 16.2%
Mount Rowan — Certificate III & IV: 17.3% Wendouree — Certificate III & IV: 16.2%
Bachelor Degree 9.5% / 6.5%
Mount Rowan — Bachelor Degree: 9.5% Wendouree — Bachelor Degree: 6.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 5.6%
Mount Rowan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Wendouree — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.7% / 1.5%
Mount Rowan — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7% Wendouree — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 1.2%
Mount Rowan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Wendouree — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Rowan 100.0% houses
Mount Rowan — Houses: 100.0% Mount Rowan — Townhouses: 0.0% Mount Rowan — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Wendouree 80.0% houses
Wendouree — Houses: 80.0% Wendouree — Townhouses: 15.6% Wendouree — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Median house price $987,500 $515,000
Median unit price — $327,500
Median land price — $355,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 24 days
from 116 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Rowan has more rural and farming land (55% vs 0%); Wendouree has more industrially zoned land (27% vs 4%).

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Rural and farming 55% 0%
Residential 34% 46%
Industrial 4% 27%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 12%
Parks and recreation 0% 9%
Commercial 0% 4%
Other and special use 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

Mount Rowan Wendouree
New dwellings approved 1,451
across Ballarat
same for both
Approvals change year on year +42%
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 Rowan Wendouree
Houses — 4.0%
$430/wk on $565K
Units — 5.0%
$330/wk on $345K

Ranking within VIC

Mount Rowan Wendouree
House price — Higher than 14% of VIC
Income Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 37% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 46% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 37% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 65% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 60% of VIC

Liveability

Wendouree is more walkable (82 vs 23).

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Grade — C
Score — 43/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Mount Rowan carries more flood risk (73 vs 0); Mount Rowan carries more bushfire risk (31 vs 14).

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Bushfire Low
31/100
 Low
14/100
Crime Moderate
64/100
 High
93/100
Flood High
73/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Inside the suburb 1 9
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 4
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 6.9 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 4.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.0% 1.1%

Schools in Mount Rowan

  • Ballarat Grammar - Mount Rowan Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Wendouree

  • Wendouree Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ballarat Grammar Independent · Combined at peers
  • Forest Street Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Mount Rowan Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Our Lady Help of Christians School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Yuille Park Community College Government · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 5
Parks & reserves 0 21
Childcare 0 12
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 4
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 7 0

Mobility

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Walkability score 23/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 119.7 km 120.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 85 min 86 min
Public transport score 59/100 82/100
Rail
Peak arrivals per hour 14.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 199.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 3352
 0.5%
postcode 3355
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 3352
 27
postcode 3355

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 Rowan Wendouree
Car (driver) 74.6% / 78.2%
Mount Rowan — Car (driver): 74.6% Wendouree — Car (driver): 78.2%
Worked from Home 15.8% / 9.9%
Mount Rowan — Worked from Home: 15.8% Wendouree — Worked from Home: 9.9%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 6.3%
Mount Rowan — Car (passenger): 6.1% Wendouree — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only 3.5% / 3.2%
Mount Rowan — Walked Only: 3.5% Wendouree — Walked Only: 3.2%
Bus — / 1.1%
Mount Rowan — Bus: not among its largest Wendouree — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.2%).

Setting

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Elevation 511 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 463 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Connectivity score 30/100 70/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
128 premises
 46%
6,294 premises

Climate

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Annual rainfall 605 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Rowan Wendouree
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mount Rowan

Acreage Retirees

Wendouree

Affordable Parks Regional Centre Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Rowan

Mount Rowan vs Miners Rest Mount Rowan vs Invermay Park Mount Rowan vs Invermay Mount Rowan vs Sulky

Other comparisons with Wendouree

Wendouree vs Alfredton Wendouree vs Ballarat Central Wendouree vs Ballarat North Wendouree vs Miners Rest Wendouree vs Lake Wendouree Wendouree vs Soldiers Hill
Full data on Mount Rowan Full data on Wendouree
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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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