Penshurst vs Dunkeld

Dunkeld is the younger of the two, with a median age of 48 against 51 in Penshurst. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Dunkeld: a median of $429,000, against $316,000 in Penshurst, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Penshurst tends to suit 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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

First-home buyers

Penshurst

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($105,000 vs $212,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($315,500 vs $428,750)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Penshurst

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($175/wk vs $220/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Penshurst sits closer to the CBD (271 km vs 282.3 km)
  • Dunkeld has a shorter drive in (193 min vs 198 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Penshurst

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.8% vs 1.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Penshurst Dunkeld
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.

Penshurst Dunkeld
Walkability 4 / 0
Penshurst — Walkability: 4/100 Dunkeld — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 83 / 74
Penshurst — Safety: 83/100 Dunkeld — Safety: 74/100
Low fire risk 55 / 50
Penshurst — Low fire risk: 55/100 Dunkeld — Low fire risk: 50/100
Low flood risk 100 / 83
Penshurst — Low flood risk: 100/100 Dunkeld — Low flood risk: 83/100

Demographics

Dunkeld has higher household incomes ($68,068 vs $52,728); Dunkeld rents higher ($220/wk vs $175/wk).

Penshurst Dunkeld
Population 677 688
+2% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.8% +1.5%
Median age 51 48
Median household income $52,728/yr $68,068/yr
+29% vs other
Median weekly rent $175/wk $220/wk
+26% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Penshurst Dunkeld
0-4 4.1% / 4.1%
Penshurst — 0-4: 4.1% Dunkeld — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 12.0% / 12.9%
Penshurst — 5-14: 12.0% Dunkeld — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 6.6% / 3.3%
Penshurst — 15-19: 6.6% Dunkeld — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 3.8% / 2.9%
Penshurst — 20-24: 3.8% Dunkeld — 20-24: 2.9%
25-34 5.6% / 10.2%
Penshurst — 25-34: 5.6% Dunkeld — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 9.6% / 10.6%
Penshurst — 35-44: 9.6% Dunkeld — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 14.2% / 13.4%
Penshurst — 45-54: 14.2% Dunkeld — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 17.7% / 11.9%
Penshurst — 55-64: 17.7% Dunkeld — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 16.2% / 19.6%
Penshurst — 65-74: 16.2% Dunkeld — 65-74: 19.6%
75-84 6.5% / 7.4%
Penshurst — 75-84: 6.5% Dunkeld — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 4.4% / 1.9%
Penshurst — 85+: 4.4% Dunkeld — 85+: 1.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Penshurst 48.7% lone person
Penshurst — Lone Person: 48.7% Penshurst — Couple Families: 34.2% Penshurst — One Parent Families: 10.2% Penshurst — Group Household: 4.8% Penshurst — Other Families: 2.1%
Dunkeld 50.3% lone person
Dunkeld — Lone Person: 50.3% Dunkeld — Couple Families: 36.3% Dunkeld — One Parent Families: 9.8% Dunkeld — Group Household: 3.6% Dunkeld — 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.

Penshurst 16.9% renting
Penshurst — Owned Outright: 56.9% Penshurst — Mortgage: 26.2% Penshurst — Renting: 16.9%
Dunkeld 25.0% renting
Dunkeld — Owned Outright: 52.9% Dunkeld — Mortgage: 22.1% Dunkeld — Renting: 25.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Penshurst Dunkeld
Certificate III & IV 14.0% / 15.1%
Penshurst — Certificate III & IV: 14.0% Dunkeld — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 5.0% / 14.8%
Penshurst — Bachelor Degree: 5.0% Dunkeld — Bachelor Degree: 14.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 9.7%
Penshurst — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Dunkeld — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.3%
Penshurst — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Dunkeld — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%
Postgraduate Degree 0.7% / 3.1%
Penshurst — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7% Dunkeld — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

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.

Penshurst Dunkeld
England 1.8% / 2.3%
Penshurst — England: 1.8% Dunkeld — England: 2.3%
New Zealand 1.9% / 0.9%
Penshurst — New Zealand: 1.9% Dunkeld — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 0.9% / 0.9%
Penshurst — Scotland: 0.9% Dunkeld — Scotland: 0.9%
Netherlands 0.4% / 0.6%
Penshurst — Netherlands: 0.4% Dunkeld — Netherlands: 0.6%
India 0.7% / —
Penshurst — India: 0.7% Dunkeld — India: not among its largest
Germany 0.7% / —
Penshurst — Germany: 0.7% Dunkeld — Germany: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.6%
Penshurst — Ireland: not among its largest Dunkeld — Ireland: 0.6%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Penshurst 98.1% houses
Penshurst — Houses: 98.1% Penshurst — Flats / Apartments: 1.9% Penshurst — Townhouses: 0.0%
Dunkeld 95.2% houses
Dunkeld — Houses: 95.2% Dunkeld — Flats / Apartments: 2.0% Dunkeld — Townhouses: 2.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Penshurst Dunkeld
Median house price $315,500 $428,750
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $105,000 $212,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 208 days
from 3 sales
 84 days
from 11 sales

Zoning mix

Penshurst Dunkeld
Rural and farming 98% 96%
Parks and recreation 0% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 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

Penshurst Dunkeld
New dwellings approved 43
across Southern Grampians
same for both
Approvals change year on year +200%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Penshurst Dunkeld
House price — Higher than 22% of VIC
Income Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 29% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 62% of VIC
EV adoption — Higher than 19% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC

Liveability

Penshurst Dunkeld
Grade C
same for both
Score 42/100 46/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Dunkeld carries more flood risk (17 vs 0).

Penshurst Dunkeld
Bushfire Moderate
45/100
 Moderate
50/100
Crime Low
17/100
 Low
26/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
17/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Penshurst Dunkeld
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Penshurst

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Penshurst Primary School Government · Primary

Schools in Dunkeld

  • Dunkeld Consolidated School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brauer Secondary College-Dunkeld Annexe Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Penshurst Dunkeld
Cafes & restaurants 2 4
Parks & reserves 5 4
Childcare 1
same for both
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 11 17

Mobility

Dunkeld sits further from the CBD (282.3 km vs 271 km).

Penshurst Dunkeld
Walkability score 4/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 271 km 282.3 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 198 min 193 min
Electric vehicle share 0.0%
postcode 3289
 0.3%
postcode 3294
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 3289
 35
postcode 3294

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.

Penshurst Dunkeld
Car (driver) 56.1% / 65.3%
Penshurst — Car (driver): 56.1% Dunkeld — Car (driver): 65.3%
Worked from Home 29.4% / 19.2%
Penshurst — Worked from Home: 29.4% Dunkeld — Worked from Home: 19.2%
Walked Only 9.5% / 12.3%
Penshurst — Walked Only: 9.5% Dunkeld — Walked Only: 12.3%
Car (passenger) 5.0% / 1.6%
Penshurst — Car (passenger): 5.0% Dunkeld — Car (passenger): 1.6%
Bicycle — / 1.6%
Penshurst — Bicycle: not among its largest Dunkeld — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.3%).

Setting

Penshurst Dunkeld
Elevation 225 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 260 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Penshurst Dunkeld
Connectivity score 29/100
same for both
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
335 premises
 0%
378 premises

Climate

Penshurst Dunkeld
Annual rainfall 604 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Penshurst Dunkeld
Average residential rate $1,892/yr
same for both
Council Southern Grampians
same for both

Federal electorate

Penshurst Dunkeld
Division Wannon
same for both
Member Dan Tehan
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Penshurst Dunkeld
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Penshurst

Affordable Retirees Rural

Dunkeld

Affordable Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Penshurst

Penshurst vs Caramut Penshurst vs Minhamite Penshurst vs Croxton East

Other comparisons with Dunkeld

Dunkeld vs Glenthompson Dunkeld vs Moutajup Dunkeld vs Croxton East Dunkeld vs Victoria Valley
Full data on Penshurst Full data on Dunkeld
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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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