Reservoir vs Thomastown

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Reservoir: a median of $920,000, against $760,000 in Thomastown. Reservoir is closer to the city centre: 13 km, against 16.4 km. On these figures, Reservoir tends to suit people living alone, while Thomastown suits 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

Reservoir

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (58 vs 25)
  • has more childcare (30 vs 15)
  • But Thomastown has more separate houses rather than flats (84% vs 63%)

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

First-home buyers

Thomastown

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($760,000 vs $920,000)
  • has cheaper units ($530,000 vs $588,750)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Reservoir

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 29%)

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

Commuting to the city

Reservoir

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (13 km vs 16.4 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (27 min vs 32 min)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 86/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Reservoir

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (37% vs 16%)
  • has more GPs (14 vs 6)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 86/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Reservoir and Thomastown 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 Thomastown
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 Thomastown
Walkability 95 / 86
Reservoir — Walkability: 95/100 Thomastown — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 22 / 17
Reservoir — Safety: 22/100 Thomastown — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 63
Reservoir — Low fire risk: 100/100 Thomastown — Low fire risk: 63/100
Low flood risk 57 / 53
Reservoir — Low flood risk: 57/100 Thomastown — Low flood risk: 53/100

Demographics

Reservoir has more residents (51,096 vs 20,234); Reservoir has higher household incomes ($80,132 vs $63,700).

Reservoir Thomastown
Population 51,096
+60% vs other
 20,234
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.2% -1.4%
Median age 38 39
Median household income $80,132/yr
+21% vs other
 $63,700/yr
Median weekly rent $360/wk
+3% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Reservoir Thomastown
0-4 6.1% / 5.5%
Reservoir — 0-4: 6.1% Thomastown — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 9.5% / 10.1%
Reservoir — 5-14: 9.5% Thomastown — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 4.1% / 4.9%
Reservoir — 15-19: 4.1% Thomastown — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 6.1% / 6.6%
Reservoir — 20-24: 6.1% Thomastown — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 18.5% / 15.9%
Reservoir — 25-34: 18.5% Thomastown — 25-34: 15.9%
35-44 15.7% / 13.2%
Reservoir — 35-44: 15.7% Thomastown — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 12.6% / 11.0%
Reservoir — 45-54: 12.6% Thomastown — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 10.1% / 11.0%
Reservoir — 55-64: 10.1% Thomastown — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 7.8% / 11.2%
Reservoir — 65-74: 7.8% Thomastown — 65-74: 11.2%
75-84 6.0% / 7.9%
Reservoir — 75-84: 6.0% Thomastown — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 3.4% / 2.7%
Reservoir — 85+: 3.4% Thomastown — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Reservoir 35.6% couple families
Reservoir — Couple Families: 35.6% Reservoir — Lone Person: 40.2% Reservoir — One Parent Families: 14.9% Reservoir — Group Household: 6.9% Reservoir — Other Families: 2.4%
Thomastown 41.8% couple families
Thomastown — Couple Families: 41.8% Thomastown — Lone Person: 31.7% Thomastown — One Parent Families: 19.9% Thomastown — Group Household: 4.1% Thomastown — Other Families: 2.5%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Thomastown 29.7% renting
Thomastown — Owned Outright: 44.3% Thomastown — Mortgage: 26.0% Thomastown — Renting: 29.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Thomastown
Italy 5.5% / 5.9%
Reservoir — Italy: 5.5% Thomastown — Italy: 5.9%
India 3.7% / 6.2%
Reservoir — India: 3.7% Thomastown — India: 6.2%
Vietnam 2.0% / 5.2%
Reservoir — Vietnam: 2.0% Thomastown — Vietnam: 5.2%
Greece 2.4% / 4.1%
Reservoir — Greece: 2.4% Thomastown — Greece: 4.1%
China 3.1% / 2.0%
Reservoir — China: 3.1% Thomastown — China: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

Qualifications

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

Reservoir Thomastown
Bachelor Degree 15.5% / 9.2%
Reservoir — Bachelor Degree: 15.5% Thomastown — Bachelor Degree: 9.2%
Certificate III & IV 10.1% / 10.0%
Reservoir — Certificate III & IV: 10.1% Thomastown — Certificate III & IV: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 6.4%
Reservoir — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Thomastown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.6% / 4.2%
Reservoir — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6% Thomastown — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.0%
Reservoir — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Thomastown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

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%
Thomastown 84.3% houses
Thomastown — Houses: 84.3% Thomastown — Townhouses: 9.5% Thomastown — Flats / Apartments: 6.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Reservoir Thomastown
Median house price $920,000 $760,000
Median unit price $588,750 $530,000
Median land price $815,000 $794,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 455 sales
 28 days
from 309 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 Thomastown
2 bed $588K / $480K
Reservoir — 2 bed: $588K (287 sales) Thomastown — 2 bed: $480K (63 sales)

287 vs 63 sales

3 bed $750K / $615K
Reservoir — 3 bed: $750K (85 sales) Thomastown — 3 bed: $615K (25 sales)

85 vs 25 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 Thomastown
2 bed $812K / $646K
Reservoir — 2 bed: $812K (142 sales) Thomastown — 2 bed: $646K (24 sales)

142 vs 24 sales

3 bed $900K / $755K
Reservoir — 3 bed: $900K (468 sales) Thomastown — 3 bed: $755K (292 sales)

468 vs 292 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $856K
Reservoir — 4 bed: $1.11M (153 sales) Thomastown — 4 bed: $856K (56 sales)

153 vs 56 sales

5 bed $1.34M / $938K
Reservoir — 5 bed: $1.34M (23 sales) Thomastown — 5 bed: $938K (12 sales)

23 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Thomastown has more industrially zoned land (30% vs 6%).

Reservoir Thomastown
Residential 74% 39%
Industrial 6% 30%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 22%
Parks and recreation 9% 3%
Commercial 1% 3%
Other and special use 0% 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 Thomastown
New dwellings approved 1,213
across Darebin
 2,632
across Whittlesea
Approvals change year on year +0% -28%

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 Thomastown
Houses 3.9%
$650/wk on $865K
 3.8%
$550/wk on $750K
Units 4.5%
$500/wk on $575K
 4.7%
$460/wk on $504K

Ranking within VIC

Reservoir Thomastown
House price Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC
Income Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
Schools Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 22% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC

Liveability

Reservoir scores higher overall (61 vs 39); Reservoir is more walkable (95 vs 86).

Reservoir Thomastown
Grade B C
Score 61/100 39/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Thomastown carries more bushfire risk (37 vs 0).

Reservoir Thomastown
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
37/100
Crime High
78/100
 High
83/100
Flood Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
47/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 19
within 5 km
 26
within 5 km

Schools

Reservoir Thomastown
Inside the suburb 17 8
Rated above peers 4 1
Rated at peers 4 1
Rated below peers 3 6
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.9 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 2.4%

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 Thomastown

  • Thomastown East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St John XXIII Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Lalor East Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Clare's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Thomastown Meadows Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Thomastown Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Reservoir Thomastown
Supermarkets 10 3
Cafes & restaurants 35 22
Parks & reserves 58 25
Childcare 30 15
GPs 14 6
Pharmacies 9 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 2
Fuel stations 8 9
Waterways 15 10

Mobility

Thomastown sits further from the CBD (16.4 km vs 13 km).

Reservoir Thomastown
Walkability score 95/100 86/100
Distance to Melbourne 13 km 16.4 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 32 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 997.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 377.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3073
 0.5%
postcode 3074
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 3073
 28
postcode 3074

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 Thomastown
Car (driver) 53.7% / 68.5%
Reservoir — Car (driver): 53.7% Thomastown — Car (driver): 68.5%
Worked from Home 32.5% / 16.7%
Reservoir — Worked from Home: 32.5% Thomastown — Worked from Home: 16.7%
Train 6.0% / 6.5%
Reservoir — Train: 6.0% Thomastown — Train: 6.5%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 5.7%
Reservoir — Car (passenger): 3.5% Thomastown — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Bus 1.4% / 1.0%
Reservoir — Bus: 1.4% Thomastown — Bus: 1.0%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.2%
Reservoir — Walked Only: 1.0% Thomastown — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.5%).

Setting

Reservoir Thomastown
Elevation 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 105 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.8 km 18.7 km

NBN connectivity

Reservoir Thomastown
Connectivity score 76/100 89/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
26,272 premises
 49%
11,579 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Reservoir Thomastown
Average residential rate $1,764/yr $1,899/yr
Council Darebin Whittlesea

Federal electorate

Reservoir Thomastown
Division Cooper Scullin
Member Ged Kearney Andrew Giles
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Reservoir Thomastown
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

Thomastown

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Reservoir

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

Other comparisons with Thomastown

Thomastown vs Bundoora Thomastown vs Lalor Thomastown vs Fawkner Thomastown vs Campbellfield
Full data on Reservoir Full data on Thomastown
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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