Preston vs Ivanhoe

Preston is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 40 in Ivanhoe. In both, most households own their home. In Preston, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Ivanhoe: a median of $1.85 million, against $1.18 million in Preston, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Preston tends to suit share households 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

Preston

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (16 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (30 vs 13)
  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 18)
  • But Ivanhoe carries lower crime risk (78/100 vs 91/100)

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

First-home buyers

Preston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,182,500 vs $1,846,250)
  • has cheaper units ($490,000 vs $731,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Preston

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($392/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Preston has more GPs (11 vs 8)
  • Ivanhoe carries lower crime risk (78/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

Preston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.7% vs 4.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.7%)
  • But Ivanhoe is growing faster (9.9% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Preston Ivanhoe
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.

Preston Ivanhoe
Walkability 99 / 93
Preston — Walkability: 99/100 Ivanhoe — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 9 / 22
Preston — Safety: 9/100 Ivanhoe — Safety: 22/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Preston — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ivanhoe — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 62 / 28
Preston — Low flood risk: 62/100 Ivanhoe — Low flood risk: 28/100

Demographics

Preston has more residents (33,790 vs 13,374); Ivanhoe has higher household incomes ($116,064 vs $95,888).

Preston Ivanhoe
Population 33,790
+60% vs other
 13,374
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% +9.9%
Median age 37 40
Median household income $95,888/yr $116,064/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $392/wk $430/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Preston Ivanhoe
0-4 5.3% / 4.4%
Preston — 0-4: 5.3% Ivanhoe — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 9.7% / 10.7%
Preston — 5-14: 9.7% Ivanhoe — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 4.2% / 5.5%
Preston — 15-19: 4.2% Ivanhoe — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 6.0% / 6.4%
Preston — 20-24: 6.0% Ivanhoe — 20-24: 6.4%
25-34 19.8% / 14.4%
Preston — 25-34: 19.8% Ivanhoe — 25-34: 14.4%
35-44 17.6% / 14.2%
Preston — 35-44: 17.6% Ivanhoe — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 14.0% / 13.5%
Preston — 45-54: 14.0% Ivanhoe — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 10.1% / 13.0%
Preston — 55-64: 10.1% Ivanhoe — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 6.8% / 10.1%
Preston — 65-74: 6.8% Ivanhoe — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 4.4% / 5.1%
Preston — 75-84: 4.4% Ivanhoe — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 2.2% / 2.8%
Preston — 85+: 2.2% Ivanhoe — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Preston 38.8% lone person
Preston — Lone Person: 38.8% Preston — Couple Families: 34.9% Preston — One Parent Families: 13.0% Preston — Group Household: 10.8% Preston — Other Families: 2.6%
Ivanhoe 39.7% lone person
Ivanhoe — Lone Person: 39.7% Ivanhoe — Couple Families: 42.4% Ivanhoe — One Parent Families: 11.7% Ivanhoe — Group Household: 4.7% Ivanhoe — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Preston 41.2% renting
Preston — Owned Outright: 27.9% Preston — Mortgage: 30.9% Preston — Renting: 41.2%
Ivanhoe 33.3% renting
Ivanhoe — Owned Outright: 35.9% Ivanhoe — Mortgage: 30.7% Ivanhoe — Renting: 33.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Preston Ivanhoe
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 25.7%
Preston — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% Ivanhoe — Bachelor Degree: 25.7%
Postgraduate Degree 8.6% / 12.3%
Preston — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6% Ivanhoe — Postgraduate Degree: 12.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.4%
Preston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Ivanhoe — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 6.3%
Preston — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Ivanhoe — Certificate III & IV: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 4.4%
Preston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Ivanhoe — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.7%).

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.

Preston Ivanhoe
China 3.0% / 4.3%
Preston — China: 3.0% Ivanhoe — China: 4.3%
England 2.1% / 3.0%
Preston — England: 2.1% Ivanhoe — England: 3.0%
Italy 3.0% / 1.6%
Preston — Italy: 3.0% Ivanhoe — Italy: 1.6%
India 2.5% / 1.9%
Preston — India: 2.5% Ivanhoe — India: 1.9%
Greece 2.8% / 1.2%
Preston — Greece: 2.8% Ivanhoe — Greece: 1.2%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.4%
Preston — New Zealand: 1.9% Ivanhoe — New Zealand: 1.4%
Vietnam 2.2% / 0.8%
Preston — Vietnam: 2.2% Ivanhoe — Vietnam: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Preston 55.7% houses
Preston — Houses: 55.7% Preston — Townhouses: 24.9% Preston — Flats / Apartments: 19.4%
Ivanhoe 52.8% houses
Ivanhoe — Houses: 52.8% Ivanhoe — Townhouses: 22.2% Ivanhoe — Flats / Apartments: 25.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Preston Ivanhoe
Median house price $1,182,500 $1,846,250
Median unit price $490,000 $731,000
Median land price $1,035,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 273 sales
 28 days
from 88 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Preston Ivanhoe
1 bed $375K / $400K
Preston — 1 bed: $375K (98 sales) Ivanhoe — 1 bed: $400K (14 sales)

98 vs 14 sales

2 bed $530K / $706K
Preston — 2 bed: $530K (213 sales) Ivanhoe — 2 bed: $706K (60 sales)

213 vs 60 sales

3 bed $775K / $940K
Preston — 3 bed: $775K (27 sales) Ivanhoe — 3 bed: $940K (19 sales)

27 vs 19 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.

Preston Ivanhoe
2 bed $1.02M / $1.21M
Preston — 2 bed: $1.02M (98 sales) Ivanhoe — 2 bed: $1.21M (11 sales)

98 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.18M / $1.62M
Preston — 3 bed: $1.18M (235 sales) Ivanhoe — 3 bed: $1.62M (65 sales)

235 vs 65 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $2.08M
Preston — 4 bed: $1.36M (76 sales) Ivanhoe — 4 bed: $2.08M (49 sales)

76 vs 49 sales

5 bed $1.57M / $2.5M
Preston — 5 bed: $1.57M (8 sales) Ivanhoe — 5 bed: $2.5M (15 sales)

8 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Preston has more industrially zoned land (12% vs 0%).

Preston Ivanhoe
Residential 64% 66%
Parks and recreation 4% 21%
Industrial 12% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 9%
Commercial 9% 4%
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

Preston Ivanhoe
New dwellings approved 1,213
across Darebin
 722
across Banyule
Approvals change year on year +0% -75%

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.

Preston Ivanhoe
Houses 3.4%
$720/wk on $1.1M
 2.7%
$890/wk on $1.73M
Units 5.7%
$550/wk on $498K
 4.1%
$600/wk on $760K

Ranking within VIC

Preston Ivanhoe
House price Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC

Liveability

Ivanhoe scores higher overall (75 vs 68).

Preston Ivanhoe
Grade A
same for both
Score 68/100 75/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Ivanhoe carries more flood risk (72 vs 38); Preston carries more crime risk (91 vs 78).

Preston Ivanhoe
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 High
78/100
Flood Low
38/100
 High
72/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Preston Ivanhoe
Inside the suburb 16 5
Rated above peers 4 2
Rated at peers 6 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 6.6 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 6.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 4.0%

Schools in Preston

  • Newlands Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Preston High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Preston Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Preston West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • East Preston Islamic College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Preston North East Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Ivanhoe

  • Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Ivanhoe Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ivanhoe Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Mary Immaculate School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Bernadette's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Preston Ivanhoe
Supermarkets 13 2
Cafes & restaurants 107 20
Parks & reserves 28 18
Childcare 30 13
GPs 11 8
Pharmacies 9 4
Hospitals 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 14 4
Fuel stations 10 1
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Preston Ivanhoe
Walkability score 99/100 93/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.4 km 11.5 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 21 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 1062.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 256.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3072
 2.6%
postcode 3079
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 3072
 21
postcode 3079

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.

Preston Ivanhoe
Worked from Home 41.8% / 46.5%
Preston — Worked from Home: 41.8% Ivanhoe — Worked from Home: 46.5%
Car (driver) 42.1% / 40.8%
Preston — Car (driver): 42.1% Ivanhoe — Car (driver): 40.8%
Train 4.4% / 4.3%
Preston — Train: 4.4% Ivanhoe — Train: 4.3%
Walked Only 2.4% / 3.8%
Preston — Walked Only: 2.4% Ivanhoe — Walked Only: 3.8%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.4%
Preston — Car (passenger): 2.7% Ivanhoe — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Bicycle 2.6% / 1.3%
Preston — Bicycle: 2.6% Ivanhoe — Bicycle: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.5%).

Setting

Preston Ivanhoe
Elevation 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.9 km 12.0 km

NBN connectivity

Preston Ivanhoe
Connectivity score 79/100 80/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
18,580 premises
 20%
7,330 premises

Climate

Preston Ivanhoe
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Preston Ivanhoe
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.82 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Preston Ivanhoe
Average residential rate $1,764/yr $1,787/yr
Council Darebin Banyule

Federal electorate

Preston Ivanhoe
Division Cooper Jagajaga
Member Ged Kearney Kate Thwaites
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Preston Ivanhoe
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Preston

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Ivanhoe

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Preston

Preston vs Reservoir Preston vs Coburg Preston vs Thornbury Preston vs Coburg North Preston vs Heidelberg West Preston vs Bellfield

Other comparisons with Ivanhoe

Ivanhoe vs Balwyn North Ivanhoe vs Thornbury Ivanhoe vs Heidelberg Ivanhoe vs Heidelberg Heights Ivanhoe vs Kew East Ivanhoe vs Alphington
Full data on Preston Full data on Ivanhoe
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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