Toolern Vale vs Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 44 in Toolern Vale. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Toolern Vale, most households are couple families. In Diggers Rest, about half of households are couple families. Diggers Rest is closer to the city centre: 37.2 km, against 46.5 km. On these figures, Toolern Vale tends to suit older residents, while Diggers Rest suits young adults and families with children.

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

Diggers Rest

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Toolern Vale has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Diggers Rest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 26%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Diggers Rest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (21% vs 8%)

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

Commuting to the city

Diggers Rest

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 30/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (37.2 km vs 46.5 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (37 min vs 44 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Diggers Rest

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (59/100 vs 30/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (69/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Toolern Vale has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 10%)

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

Investors

Diggers Rest

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (105.2% vs 13.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
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.

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Walkability 30 / 59
Toolern Vale — Walkability: 30/100 Diggers Rest — Walkability: 59/100
Safety 19 / 31
Toolern Vale — Safety: 19/100 Diggers Rest — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 25 / 25
Toolern Vale — Low fire risk: 25/100 Diggers Rest — Low fire risk: 25/100
Low flood risk 100 / 85
Toolern Vale — Low flood risk: 100/100 Diggers Rest — Low flood risk: 85/100

Demographics

Diggers Rest has more residents (5,669 vs 818); Toolern Vale skews older (44 vs 33).

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Population 818 5,669
+593% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.0% +105.2%
Median age 44 33
Median household income $99,216/yr $103,532/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $385/wk $397/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
0-4 4.9% / 9.2%
Toolern Vale — 0-4: 4.9% Diggers Rest — 0-4: 9.2%
5-14 11.6% / 11.8%
Toolern Vale — 5-14: 11.6% Diggers Rest — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 6.5% / 3.9%
Toolern Vale — 15-19: 6.5% Diggers Rest — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 6.8% / 5.7%
Toolern Vale — 20-24: 6.8% Diggers Rest — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 7.1% / 23.4%
Toolern Vale — 25-34: 7.1% Diggers Rest — 25-34: 23.4%
35-44 12.6% / 16.4%
Toolern Vale — 35-44: 12.6% Diggers Rest — 35-44: 16.4%
45-54 15.8% / 10.1%
Toolern Vale — 45-54: 15.8% Diggers Rest — 45-54: 10.1%
55-64 14.1% / 9.9%
Toolern Vale — 55-64: 14.1% Diggers Rest — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 12.1% / 6.7%
Toolern Vale — 65-74: 12.1% Diggers Rest — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 6.7% / 2.5%
Toolern Vale — 75-84: 6.7% Diggers Rest — 75-84: 2.5%
85+ 1.2% / 0.4%
Toolern Vale — 85+: 1.2% Diggers Rest — 85+: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Toolern Vale 59.7% couple families
Toolern Vale — Couple Families: 59.7% Toolern Vale — Lone Person: 25.8% Toolern Vale — One Parent Families: 14.5% Toolern Vale — Group Household: 0.0% Toolern Vale — Other Families: 0.0%
Diggers Rest 50.3% couple families
Diggers Rest — Couple Families: 50.3% Diggers Rest — Lone Person: 29.1% Diggers Rest — One Parent Families: 15.4% Diggers Rest — Group Household: 3.3% Diggers Rest — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Toolern Vale 8.1% renting
Toolern Vale — Owned Outright: 46.8% Toolern Vale — Mortgage: 45.2% Toolern Vale — Renting: 8.1%
Diggers Rest 21.1% renting
Diggers Rest — Owned Outright: 20.7% Diggers Rest — Mortgage: 58.2% Diggers Rest — Renting: 21.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Certificate III & IV 17.4% / 16.3%
Toolern Vale — Certificate III & IV: 17.4% Diggers Rest — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 8.7% / 12.0%
Toolern Vale — Bachelor Degree: 8.7% Diggers Rest — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.8%
Toolern Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Diggers Rest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 3.6%
Toolern Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Diggers Rest — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.9%
Toolern Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Diggers Rest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

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.

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
India — / 6.8%
Toolern Vale — India: not among its largest Diggers Rest — India: 6.8%
England 2.9% / 1.7%
Toolern Vale — England: 2.9% Diggers Rest — England: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.5%
Toolern Vale — New Zealand: 1.0% Diggers Rest — New Zealand: 1.5%
Philippines — / 2.5%
Toolern Vale — Philippines: not among its largest Diggers Rest — Philippines: 2.5%
Italy 0.6% / 1.1%
Toolern Vale — Italy: 0.6% Diggers Rest — Italy: 1.1%
Scotland 1.0% / —
Toolern Vale — Scotland: 1.0% Diggers Rest — Scotland: not among its largest
Germany 0.6% / —
Toolern Vale — Germany: 0.6% Diggers Rest — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Toolern Vale 97.7% houses
Toolern Vale — Houses: 97.7% Toolern Vale — Townhouses: 1.5% Toolern Vale — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Diggers Rest 92.6% houses
Diggers Rest — Houses: 92.6% Diggers Rest — Townhouses: 7.3% Diggers Rest — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Median house price — $672,750
Median unit price — $540,000
Median land price — $585,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 27 days
from 135 sales

Zoning mix

Diggers Rest has more rural and farming land (89% vs 56%); Toolern Vale has more land zoned for conservation (30% vs 0%).

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Rural and farming 56% 89%
Environmental 30% 0%
Parks and recreation 8% 0%
Residential 0% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 2%
Other and special use 1% 0%
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

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
New dwellings approved 4,602
across Melton
same for both
Approvals change year on year +5%
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.

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Houses — 3.8%
$530/wk on $732K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
House price — Higher than 27% of VIC
Income Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Schools Higher than 27% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 94% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 52% of VIC

Liveability

Diggers Rest is more walkable (59 vs 30); Diggers Rest scores higher overall (46 vs 36).

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Grade C
same for both
Score 36/100 46/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
same for both

Risk profile

Diggers Rest carries more flood risk (15 vs 0); Toolern Vale carries more crime risk (81 vs 69).

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Bushfire High
75/100
same for both
Crime High
81/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
15/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
70/100
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Toolern Vale

  • Toolern Vale and District Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Melton Christian College - Online Campus Independent · Combined
  • Melton Christian College - Toolern Vale Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Diggers Rest

  • Diggers Rest Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 2
Parks & reserves 3 9
Childcare 2 4
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 5 4

Mobility

Toolern Vale sits further from the CBD (46.5 km vs 37.2 km).

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Walkability score 30/100 59/100
Distance to Melbourne 46.5 km
+20% vs other
 37.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 44 min 37 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3337
 1.1%
postcode 3427
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 3337
 50
postcode 3427

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.

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Car (driver) 62.7% / 64.6%
Toolern Vale — Car (driver): 62.7% Diggers Rest — Car (driver): 64.6%
Worked from Home 26.6% / 26.3%
Toolern Vale — Worked from Home: 26.6% Diggers Rest — Worked from Home: 26.3%
Car (passenger) 6.3% / 3.5%
Toolern Vale — Car (passenger): 6.3% Diggers Rest — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Train 2.1% / 5.2%
Toolern Vale — Train: 2.1% Diggers Rest — Train: 5.2%
Walked Only 2.4% / 0.2%
Toolern Vale — Walked Only: 2.4% Diggers Rest — Walked Only: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.6%).

Setting

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Elevation 233 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 212 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 36.0 km 30.1 km

NBN connectivity

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Connectivity score 29/100 88/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
283 premises
 80%
3,418 premises

Climate

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Annual rainfall 778 mm 518 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 26.7°C
Winter min (Jul) — 6.0°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Average residential rate $1,779/yr
same for both
Council Melton
same for both

Federal electorate

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Division Hawke
same for both
Member Sam Rae
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Toolern Vale Diggers Rest
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Toolern Vale

Outer River

Diggers Rest

Acreage Outer Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Toolern Vale

Toolern Vale vs Harkness Toolern Vale vs Kurunjang Toolern Vale vs Gisborne Toolern Vale vs Melton Toolern Vale vs Gisborne South Toolern Vale vs Coimadai

Other comparisons with Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest vs Sunbury Diggers Rest vs Gisborne South Diggers Rest vs Bulla Diggers Rest vs Plumpton Diggers Rest vs Keilor North
Full data on Toolern Vale Full data on Diggers Rest
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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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