Reservoir vs Kingsbury

Kingsbury is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 38 in Reservoir. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Reservoir, most households own their home. In Kingsbury, about half of households rent. Reservoir is closer to the city centre: 13 km, against 14.7 km. On these figures, Kingsbury tends to suit young adults.

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

Reservoir

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (58 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (30 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (17 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Kingsbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($440,000 vs $588,750)

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

Reservoir

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 69/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Reservoir

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (14 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 69/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (78/100 vs 88/100)

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

Investors

Reservoir

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1.2% vs -8.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Reservoir Kingsbury
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.

Reservoir Kingsbury
Walkability 95 / 69
Reservoir — Walkability: 95/100 Kingsbury — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 22 / 12
Reservoir — Safety: 22/100 Kingsbury — Safety: 12/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Reservoir — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kingsbury — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 57 / 41
Reservoir — Low flood risk: 57/100 Kingsbury — Low flood risk: 41/100

Demographics

Reservoir has more residents (51,096 vs 3,460); Reservoir skews older (38 vs 34).

Reservoir Kingsbury
Population 51,096
+93% vs other
 3,460
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.2% -8.5%
Median age 38 34
Median household income $80,132/yr
+9% vs other
 $72,748/yr
Median weekly rent $360/wk $361/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Reservoir Kingsbury
0-4 6.1% / 5.2%
Reservoir — 0-4: 6.1% Kingsbury — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 9.5% / 7.8%
Reservoir — 5-14: 9.5% Kingsbury — 5-14: 7.8%
15-19 4.1% / 4.0%
Reservoir — 15-19: 4.1% Kingsbury — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 6.1% / 10.3%
Reservoir — 20-24: 6.1% Kingsbury — 20-24: 10.3%
25-34 18.5% / 23.1%
Reservoir — 25-34: 18.5% Kingsbury — 25-34: 23.1%
35-44 15.7% / 14.3%
Reservoir — 35-44: 15.7% Kingsbury — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 12.6% / 11.5%
Reservoir — 45-54: 12.6% Kingsbury — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 10.1% / 8.2%
Reservoir — 55-64: 10.1% Kingsbury — 55-64: 8.2%
65-74 7.8% / 5.5%
Reservoir — 65-74: 7.8% Kingsbury — 65-74: 5.5%
75-84 6.0% / 7.3%
Reservoir — 75-84: 6.0% Kingsbury — 75-84: 7.3%
85+ 3.4% / 2.7%
Reservoir — 85+: 3.4% Kingsbury — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Reservoir 40.2% lone person
Reservoir — Lone Person: 40.2% Reservoir — Couple Families: 35.6% Reservoir — One Parent Families: 14.9% Reservoir — Group Household: 6.9% Reservoir — Other Families: 2.4%
Kingsbury 37.8% lone person
Kingsbury — Lone Person: 37.8% Kingsbury — Couple Families: 32.2% Kingsbury — One Parent Families: 14.5% Kingsbury — Group Household: 12.0% Kingsbury — Other Families: 3.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Reservoir 37.8% renting
Reservoir — Owned Outright: 32.1% Reservoir — Mortgage: 30.1% Reservoir — Renting: 37.8%
Kingsbury 45.7% renting
Kingsbury — Owned Outright: 31.2% Kingsbury — Mortgage: 23.1% Kingsbury — Renting: 45.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Reservoir Kingsbury
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 16.7%
Reservoir — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Kingsbury — Bachelor Degree: 16.7%
Certificate III & IV 10.1% / 10.0%
Reservoir — Certificate III & IV: 10.1% Kingsbury — Certificate III & IV: 10.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 11.4%
Reservoir — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Kingsbury — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 7.9%
Reservoir — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Kingsbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.8%
Reservoir — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Kingsbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

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.

Reservoir Kingsbury
India 3.7% / 7.5%
Reservoir — India: 3.7% Kingsbury — India: 7.5%
China 3.1% / 6.1%
Reservoir — China: 3.1% Kingsbury — China: 6.1%
Italy 5.5% / 3.4%
Reservoir — Italy: 5.5% Kingsbury — Italy: 3.4%
Vietnam 2.0% / 6.2%
Reservoir — Vietnam: 2.0% Kingsbury — Vietnam: 6.2%
Greece 2.4% / 2.0%
Reservoir — Greece: 2.4% Kingsbury — Greece: 2.0%
Sri Lanka — / 2.1%
Reservoir — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Kingsbury — Sri Lanka: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Reservoir 63.2% houses
Reservoir — Houses: 63.2% Reservoir — Townhouses: 32.5% Reservoir — Flats / Apartments: 4.3%
Kingsbury 66.4% houses
Kingsbury — Houses: 66.4% Kingsbury — Townhouses: 16.4% Kingsbury — Flats / Apartments: 17.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Reservoir Kingsbury
Median house price $920,000 $865,000
Median unit price $588,750 $440,000
Median land price $815,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 455 sales
 25 days
from 34 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.

Reservoir Kingsbury
1 bed $430K / $215K
Reservoir — 1 bed: $430K (83 sales) Kingsbury — 1 bed: $215K (11 sales)

83 vs 11 sales

2 bed $588K / $470K
Reservoir — 2 bed: $588K (287 sales) Kingsbury — 2 bed: $470K (26 sales)

287 vs 26 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.

Reservoir Kingsbury
2 bed $812K / $740K
Reservoir — 2 bed: $812K (142 sales) Kingsbury — 2 bed: $740K (7 sales)

142 vs 7 sales

3 bed $900K / $861K
Reservoir — 3 bed: $900K (468 sales) Kingsbury — 3 bed: $861K (56 sales)

468 vs 56 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $905K
Reservoir — 4 bed: $1.11M (153 sales) Kingsbury — 4 bed: $905K (11 sales)

153 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Reservoir Kingsbury
Residential 74% 67%
Parks and recreation 9% 24%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 8%
Industrial 6% 0%
Commercial 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

Reservoir Kingsbury
New dwellings approved 1,213
across Darebin
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.

Reservoir Kingsbury
Houses 3.9%
$650/wk on $865K
 4.0%
$600/wk on $782K
Units 4.5%
$500/wk on $575K
 4.8%
$410/wk on $442K

Ranking within VIC

Reservoir Kingsbury
House price Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Income Higher than 47% of VIC —
Schools Higher than 53% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 26% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC

Liveability

Reservoir is more walkable (95 vs 69); Reservoir scores higher overall (61 vs 49).

Reservoir Kingsbury
Grade B C
Score 61/100 49/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Kingsbury carries more flood risk (59 vs 43); Kingsbury carries more crime risk (88 vs 78).

Reservoir Kingsbury
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
88/100
Flood Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
59/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 19
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Reservoir Kingsbury
Inside the suburb 17 2
Rated above peers 4 1
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 3 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.9 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 3.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 5.0%

Schools in Reservoir

  • Maharishi School of the Age of Enlightenment Independent · Primary above peers
  • Reservoir High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Reservoir Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Reservoir West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Holy Name School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Reservoir East Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Kingsbury

  • Our Lady of the Way School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Kingsbury Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Reservoir Kingsbury
Supermarkets 10 0
Cafes & restaurants 35 1
Parks & reserves 58 5
Childcare 30 3
GPs 14 0
Pharmacies 9 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 8 3
Waterways 15 1

Mobility

Reservoir Kingsbury
Walkability score 95/100 69/100
Distance to Melbourne 13 km 14.7 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 31 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 997.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 98.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3073
 1.0%
postcode 3083
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 3073
 27
postcode 3083

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.

Reservoir Kingsbury
Car (driver) 53.7% / 59.1%
Reservoir — Car (driver): 53.7% Kingsbury — Car (driver): 59.1%
Worked from Home 32.5% / 24.5%
Reservoir — Worked from Home: 32.5% Kingsbury — Worked from Home: 24.5%
Train 6.0% / 3.3%
Reservoir — Train: 6.0% Kingsbury — Train: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.7%
Reservoir — Car (passenger): 3.5% Kingsbury — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Bus 1.4% / 3.3%
Reservoir — Bus: 1.4% Kingsbury — Bus: 3.3%
Tram / Light Rail 0.7% / 3.8%
Reservoir — Tram / Light Rail: 0.7% Kingsbury — Tram / Light Rail: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.1%).

Setting

Reservoir Kingsbury
Elevation 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.8 km 16.5 km

NBN connectivity

Reservoir Kingsbury
Connectivity score 76/100 80/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
26,272 premises
 16%
1,647 premises

Climate

Reservoir Kingsbury
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)

Reservoir Kingsbury
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Reservoir Kingsbury
Average residential rate $1,764/yr
same for both
Council Darebin
same for both

Federal electorate

Reservoir Kingsbury
Division Cooper
same for both
Member Ged Kearney
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Reservoir Kingsbury
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Reservoir

Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Kingsbury

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Quiet River Trams

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Reservoir

Reservoir vs Preston Reservoir vs Bundoora Reservoir vs Thomastown Reservoir vs Fawkner Reservoir vs Coburg North Reservoir vs Heidelberg West

Other comparisons with Kingsbury

Kingsbury vs Bundoora
Full data on Reservoir Full data on Kingsbury
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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