North Wonthaggi vs South Dudley

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In South Dudley, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in North Wonthaggi: a median of $590,000, against $440,000 in South Dudley. On these figures, South Dudley tends to suit 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

North Wonthaggi

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 80/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 46%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • North Wonthaggi has cheaper units ($320,000 vs $417,000)
  • South Dudley has cheaper houses ($440,000 vs $590,000)

Weighs house prices, unit 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

South Dudley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (44/100 vs 4/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • North Wonthaggi carries lower crime risk (55/100 vs 80/100)
  • South Dudley is more walkable (44/100 vs 4/100)

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

Investors

North Wonthaggi

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (23.8% vs -8.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
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.

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Walkability 4 / 44
North Wonthaggi — Walkability: 4/100 South Dudley — Walkability: 44/100
Safety 45 / 20
North Wonthaggi — Safety: 45/100 South Dudley — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Wonthaggi — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Dudley — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 100
North Wonthaggi — Low flood risk: 36/100 South Dudley — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

North Wonthaggi has more residents (3,475 vs 421); North Wonthaggi has higher household incomes ($60,424 vs $51,636).

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Population 3,475
+88% vs other
 421
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +23.8% -8.7%
Median age 42
same for both
Median household income $60,424/yr
+15% vs other
 $51,636/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+3% vs other
 $290/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
0-4 5.3% / 4.3%
North Wonthaggi — 0-4: 5.3% South Dudley — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 12.3% / 11.2%
North Wonthaggi — 5-14: 12.3% South Dudley — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 6.1% / 4.3%
North Wonthaggi — 15-19: 6.1% South Dudley — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 5.8% / 4.5%
North Wonthaggi — 20-24: 5.8% South Dudley — 20-24: 4.5%
25-34 12.0% / 14.7%
North Wonthaggi — 25-34: 12.0% South Dudley — 25-34: 14.7%
35-44 10.7% / 11.9%
North Wonthaggi — 35-44: 10.7% South Dudley — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 11.3% / 11.9%
North Wonthaggi — 45-54: 11.3% South Dudley — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 12.6% / 14.3%
North Wonthaggi — 55-64: 12.6% South Dudley — 55-64: 14.3%
65-74 13.8% / 11.9%
North Wonthaggi — 65-74: 13.8% South Dudley — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 8.0% / 7.6%
North Wonthaggi — 75-84: 8.0% South Dudley — 75-84: 7.6%
85+ 2.0% / 1.9%
North Wonthaggi — 85+: 2.0% South Dudley — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Wonthaggi 36.3% lone person
North Wonthaggi — Lone Person: 36.3% North Wonthaggi — Couple Families: 37.0% North Wonthaggi — One Parent Families: 20.7% North Wonthaggi — Group Household: 4.5% North Wonthaggi — Other Families: 1.5%
South Dudley 47.8% lone person
South Dudley — Lone Person: 47.8% South Dudley — Couple Families: 28.7% South Dudley — One Parent Families: 17.6% South Dudley — Group Household: 5.9% South Dudley — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Wonthaggi 20.7% renting
North Wonthaggi — Owned Outright: 46.1% North Wonthaggi — Mortgage: 33.2% North Wonthaggi — Renting: 20.7%
South Dudley 24.4% renting
South Dudley — Owned Outright: 39.8% South Dudley — Mortgage: 35.8% South Dudley — Renting: 24.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Certificate III & IV 19.8% / 21.6%
North Wonthaggi — Certificate III & IV: 19.8% South Dudley — Certificate III & IV: 21.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 6.2%
North Wonthaggi — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% South Dudley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Bachelor Degree 6.9% / 5.2%
North Wonthaggi — Bachelor Degree: 6.9% South Dudley — Bachelor Degree: 5.2%
Postgraduate Degree 1.1% / 3.1%
North Wonthaggi — Postgraduate Degree: 1.1% South Dudley — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.7%
North Wonthaggi — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% South Dudley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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.

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
England 4.1% / 4.5%
North Wonthaggi — England: 4.1% South Dudley — England: 4.5%
Netherlands 0.7% / 1.7%
North Wonthaggi — Netherlands: 0.7% South Dudley — Netherlands: 1.7%
India 0.9% / 1.0%
North Wonthaggi — India: 0.9% South Dudley — India: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.5% / —
North Wonthaggi — New Zealand: 1.5% South Dudley — New Zealand: not among its largest
Nepal — / 1.0%
North Wonthaggi — Nepal: not among its largest South Dudley — Nepal: 1.0%
Ireland — / 1.0%
North Wonthaggi — Ireland: not among its largest South Dudley — Ireland: 1.0%
Thailand 0.7% / —
North Wonthaggi — Thailand: 0.7% South Dudley — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Wonthaggi 98.7% houses
North Wonthaggi — Houses: 98.7% North Wonthaggi — Townhouses: 0.7% North Wonthaggi — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
South Dudley 100.0% houses
South Dudley — Houses: 100.0% South Dudley — Townhouses: 0.0% South Dudley — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Median house price $590,000 $440,000
Median unit price $320,000 $417,000
Median land price $285,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 44 days
from 89 sales
 25 days
from 4 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.

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
2 bed $353K / $435K
North Wonthaggi — 2 bed: $353K (10 sales) South Dudley — 2 bed: $435K (7 sales)

10 vs 7 sales

3 bed $510K / $440K
North Wonthaggi — 3 bed: $510K (73 sales) South Dudley — 3 bed: $440K (15 sales)

73 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

South Dudley has more rural and farming land (79% vs 57%).

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Rural and farming 57% 79%
Residential 39% 12%
Commercial 0% 6%
Parks and recreation 3% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 2%
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

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
New dwellings approved 393
across Bass Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
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.

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Houses 4.5%
$550/wk on $638K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
House price Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC
Income Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 74% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 91% of VIC —

Liveability

South Dudley is more walkable (44 vs 4).

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Grade C —
Score 32/100 —
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

North Wonthaggi carries more flood risk (64 vs 0); South Dudley carries more crime risk (80 vs 55).

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
55/100
 High
80/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 2 1
Childcare 3 0
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Walkability score 4/100 44/100
Distance to Melbourne 134.7 km 133.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 107 min 108 min
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3995
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3995
same for both

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.

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Car (driver) 81.2% / 68.2%
North Wonthaggi — Car (driver): 81.2% South Dudley — Car (driver): 68.2%
Worked from Home 8.9% / 14.3%
North Wonthaggi — Worked from Home: 8.9% South Dudley — Worked from Home: 14.3%
Car (passenger) 6.1% / 10.4%
North Wonthaggi — Car (passenger): 6.1% South Dudley — Car (passenger): 10.4%
Walked Only 2.2% / 3.9%
North Wonthaggi — Walked Only: 2.2% South Dudley — Walked Only: 3.9%
Bicycle 1.3% / 3.2%
North Wonthaggi — Bicycle: 1.3% South Dudley — Bicycle: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (81.2%).

Setting

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.0 km 3.8 km
3.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Connectivity score 79/100 71/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 62%
1,897 premises
 48%
248 premises

Climate

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Annual rainfall 906 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Council rates

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Average residential rate $1,727/yr
same for both
Council Bass Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

North Wonthaggi South Dudley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Wonthaggi

Acreage

South Dudley

Acreage Affordable

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Wonthaggi

North Wonthaggi vs Wonthaggi North Wonthaggi vs Dalyston North Wonthaggi vs West Creek

Other comparisons with South Dudley

South Dudley vs Wonthaggi South Dudley vs Dalyston
Full data on North Wonthaggi Full data on South Dudley
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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