Nilma North vs Darnum

Darnum is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 49 in Nilma North. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. On these figures, Nilma North tends to suit couples and older residents, while Darnum suits families with children.

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

Nilma North

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 47/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 87%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 71%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Nilma North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (11% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($189/wk vs $307/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Darnum

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (113.6 km vs 116 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Nilma North

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (13/100 vs 47/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Nilma North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.8% vs 1.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Nilma North Darnum
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.

Nilma North Darnum
Walkability 0 / 0
Nilma North — Walkability: 0/100 Darnum — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 87 / 53
Nilma North — Safety: 87/100 Darnum — Safety: 53/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Nilma North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Darnum — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 69 / 36
Nilma North — Low flood risk: 69/100 Darnum — Low flood risk: 36/100

Demographics

Darnum has more residents (759 vs 344); Darnum rents higher ($307/wk vs $189/wk).

Nilma North Darnum
Population 344 759
+121% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.8% +1.1%
Median age 49 41
Median household income $91,624/yr
+1% vs other
 $90,688/yr
Median weekly rent $189/wk $307/wk
+62% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Nilma North Darnum
0-4 2.6% / 5.1%
Nilma North — 0-4: 2.6% Darnum — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 10.5% / 15.0%
Nilma North — 5-14: 10.5% Darnum — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 7.3% / 6.9%
Nilma North — 15-19: 7.3% Darnum — 15-19: 6.9%
20-24 4.1% / 5.0%
Nilma North — 20-24: 4.1% Darnum — 20-24: 5.0%
25-34 7.6% / 9.1%
Nilma North — 25-34: 7.6% Darnum — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 11.0% / 12.4%
Nilma North — 35-44: 11.0% Darnum — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 10.5% / 17.5%
Nilma North — 45-54: 10.5% Darnum — 45-54: 17.5%
55-64 14.8% / 12.0%
Nilma North — 55-64: 14.8% Darnum — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 19.5% / 8.4%
Nilma North — 65-74: 19.5% Darnum — 65-74: 8.4%
75-84 6.4% / 5.4%
Nilma North — 75-84: 6.4% Darnum — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 3.2% / 0.7%
Nilma North — 85+: 3.2% Darnum — 85+: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Nilma North 68.1% couple families
Nilma North — Couple Families: 68.1% Nilma North — Lone Person: 20.3% Nilma North — One Parent Families: 11.6% Nilma North — Group Household: 0.0% Nilma North — Other Families: 0.0%
Darnum 55.8% couple families
Darnum — Couple Families: 55.8% Darnum — Lone Person: 22.1% Darnum — One Parent Families: 15.5% Darnum — Group Household: 5.0% Darnum — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Nilma North 8.1% renting
Nilma North — Owned Outright: 60.4% Nilma North — Mortgage: 31.5% Nilma North — Renting: 8.1%
Darnum 6.4% renting
Darnum — Owned Outright: 41.7% Darnum — Mortgage: 51.9% Darnum — Renting: 6.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Nilma North Darnum
Certificate III & IV 15.4% / 19.6%
Nilma North — Certificate III & IV: 15.4% Darnum — Certificate III & IV: 19.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.2% / 6.5%
Nilma North — Bachelor Degree: 12.2% Darnum — Bachelor Degree: 6.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.2% / 7.2%
Nilma North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2% Darnum — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 1.7%
Nilma North — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Darnum — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.7%
Nilma North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Darnum — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

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.

Nilma North Darnum
England 2.3% / 2.0%
Nilma North — England: 2.3% Darnum — England: 2.0%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.1%
Nilma North — New Zealand: 2.3% Darnum — New Zealand: 1.1%
Netherlands 0.9% / 1.2%
Nilma North — Netherlands: 0.9% Darnum — Netherlands: 1.2%
Indonesia 1.5% / —
Nilma North — Indonesia: 1.5% Darnum — Indonesia: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.4%
Nilma North — Philippines: not among its largest Darnum — Philippines: 0.4%
Thailand — / 0.4%
Nilma North — Thailand: not among its largest Darnum — Thailand: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Nilma North 100.0% houses
Nilma North — Houses: 100.0% Nilma North — Townhouses: 0.0% Nilma North — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Darnum 86.9% houses
Darnum — Houses: 86.9% Darnum — Townhouses: 12.7% Darnum — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Nilma North Darnum
Median house price — $871,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 86 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Nilma North Darnum
Rural and farming 100% 94%
Residential 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
Parks and recreation 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

Nilma North Darnum
New dwellings approved 619
across Baw Baw
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Nilma North Darnum
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 60% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 60% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 22% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC

Liveability

Nilma North Darnum
Grade — C
Score — 41/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Darnum carries more crime risk (47 vs 13); Darnum carries more flood risk (64 vs 31).

Nilma North Darnum
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
13/100
 Moderate
47/100
Flood Low
31/100
 Moderate
64/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Nilma North Darnum
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Nilma North

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

Schools in Darnum

  • Darnum Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Nilma North Darnum
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Childcare 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Nilma North sits further from the CBD (116 km vs 113.6 km).

Nilma North Darnum
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 116 km
+2% vs other
 113.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 88 min 86 min
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3821
 0.3%
postcode 3822
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 55
postcode 3821
 54
postcode 3822

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.

Nilma North Darnum
Car (driver) 59.6% / 71.7%
Nilma North — Car (driver): 59.6% Darnum — Car (driver): 71.7%
Worked from Home 33.1% / 18.6%
Nilma North — Worked from Home: 33.1% Darnum — Worked from Home: 18.6%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 6.3%
Nilma North — Car (passenger): 2.2% Darnum — Car (passenger): 6.3%
Walked Only 5.1% / 1.6%
Nilma North — Walked Only: 5.1% Darnum — Walked Only: 1.6%
Bus — / 1.9%
Nilma North — Bus: not among its largest Darnum — Bus: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.7%).

Setting

Nilma North Darnum
Elevation 117 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 135 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 46.1 km 45.3 km

NBN connectivity

Nilma North Darnum
Connectivity score 29/100 54/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
117 premises
 32%
292 premises

Climate

Nilma North Darnum
Annual rainfall 1,090 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Nilma North Darnum
Average residential rate $2,138/yr
same for both
Council Baw Baw
same for both

Federal electorate

Nilma North Darnum
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Nilma North Darnum
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Nilma North

Retirees Rural

Darnum

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Nilma North

Nilma North vs Warragul Nilma North vs Buln Buln Nilma North vs Nilma Nilma North vs Shady Creek Nilma North vs Buln Buln East Nilma North vs Lillico

Other comparisons with Darnum

Darnum vs Yarragon Darnum vs Nilma Darnum vs Shady Creek Darnum vs Cloverlea Darnum vs Bona Vista
Full data on Nilma North Full data on Darnum
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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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