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Doncaster suburb profile

Doncaster is an established eastern Melbourne suburb in the City of Manningham, built around the rise of Doncaster Hill and anchored by the Westfield Doncaster shopping centre. Its character is a mix of tree-lined streets of postwar brick homes and newer medium-density apartments clustered around the hill and mall, making it popular with families and professionals who want suburban space without losing access to retail and services. The area is served by an extensive bus network and has easy links to the Eastern Freeway, while local creekside reserves, neighbourhood parks and sporting facilities provide outdoor recreation close to home.

Doncaster property market performance

Current median dwelling price$932,722Past 3 months

Property growth+1.1%Past 12 months

The median house price in Doncaster is $1,309,444, with house values up a modest 3.9% over the last 12 months. The median unit price is $556,000, while unit values edged down a marginal 1.7% over the same period. House values grew more strongly than unit values.

Over the last 3 months 86 houses and 56 units were sold. The median days on market over the last 12 months was 59 days for houses and 45 days for units, so units sold faster than houses.

The rental market in Doncaster shows average house rents of $849 a week, up sharply 13.2% over the last 12 months, and average unit rents of $620 a week, up a solid 5.1% over the same period, so house rents grew faster than unit rents.

HousesUnits
Median price
Past 3 months
$1.31M$556K
Change in value
Past 12 months
3.9%-1.7%
Sold
Past 3 months
8656
Median days on market
Past 12 months
5945
Average rent
Past 12 months
$849$620
Change in rent
Past 12 months
13.2%5.1%

5 year median price trend for houses and units

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Doncaster demographics

Doncaster is home to about 25,020 people, with a median age of 40 and a median household income of $1,592 a week, roughly $82,784 a year.

Family types are dominated by couples: couple families with children are 41.0% and couple families without children are 41.2%, together making up 82.2% of reported families. One-parent families account for 15.5% and other families 2.2%.

Owner-occupation is the most common tenure, at 68.0% combined (39.5% owned outright and 28.5% owned with a mortgage), while renters make up 32.1% of homes. In Doncaster, most homes are owner-occupied.

Doncaster infrastructure, key developments and investment opportunities

Doncaster is currently the focus of major state transport upgrades. The Eastern Freeway overhaul and North East Link works include rebuilding the Doncaster Road interchange, new express lanes and provision for Melbourne’s first dedicated Eastern Busway, with bridge and interchange construction continuing through 2026. The Doncaster Park and Ride redevelopment is progressing through planning, with its urban design/public exhibition held in September 2024 and approval expected in the 2026–27 period.

The Doncaster Hill precinct remains governed by the council strategy and development contributions plan, and a Doncaster Hill recycled-water facility received a planning permit in December 2023. Separately, the state Suburban Rail Loop project identifies a proposed Doncaster station on the SRL North alignment as a future stage.

Suburbs near Doncaster

Some popular suburbs near Doncaster include:

  • Box Hill North: Established, family-oriented suburb in Melbourne's east with tree-lined streets.
  • Mont Albert North: Quiet residential area with small parks and a suburban village feel.
  • Doncaster East: Hilly suburb with pockets of native bushland and larger residential blocks.
  • Templestowe Lower: Riverside suburb along the Yarra, known for bushland and walking tracks.
  • Balwyn North: Leafy, established suburb with wide streets and sizeable family homes.

How does Doncaster compare to nearby suburbs?

  • Median house prices: Doncaster’s median house price is 0.7% higher than Box Hill North’s.
  • Median unit prices: Doncaster’s median unit price is 11.9% lower than Doncaster East’s.
  • House price growth: Over the past 12 months, house prices in Doncaster have grown 1.4% higher than in Box Hill North.
  • Unit price growth: Over the past 12 months, unit prices in Doncaster have grown 3.7% higher than in Box Hill North.
  • Selling speed for houses: Properties in nearby Box Hill North are selling 18.6% faster than in Doncaster.
  • Selling speed for units: Properties in Doncaster are selling 22.4% faster than in Box Hill North.
  • Investment considerations: In Doncaster, the rental yield for house is 33.9% higher than the Melbourne average, while the rental yield for units is 5.1% higher.
  • House price growth: Over the past 12 months, house prices in Doncaster have grown 42.5% higher than the average rate of growth across Melbourne.
  • Unit price growth:Over the past 12 months, unit prices in Doncaster have grown 3.2% lower than the average rate of growth for units across Melbourne.

Common questions about Doncaster

  • Is Doncaster a nice place to live?

    Doncaster is an established eastern Melbourne suburb built around Doncaster Hill and anchored by Westfield Doncaster. Its streets mix postwar brick homes and newer medium-density apartments clustered near the hill and mall, and it is popular with families and professionals who want suburban space while keeping retail and services close. Around 25,020 people live in Doncaster and the community has a median age of 40; most homes are owner-occupied (68.0%) with a sizable renting presence.

    Day-to-day life is supported by an extensive bus network, easy links to the Eastern Freeway, and nearby creekside reserves, neighbourhood parks and sporting facilities. Major state transport upgrades are under way, including works on the Eastern Freeway and North East Link with provision for an Eastern Busway, a Park and Ride redevelopment in planning, and a proposed Doncaster station on the Suburban Rail Loop; Doncaster Hill is also guided by local planning and has a recycled-water facility with planning approval.

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  • Is it expensive to live in Doncaster?

    Buying in Doncaster sits well above what a typical local household earned at the last Census: the median house price of $1,309,444 is about 15.8 times a local year's household income at the last Census, while the median unit price of $556,000 is about 6.7 times that income. Renting also takes a notable share of local incomes — house rent of $849 a week is about 53.3% of a typical local household's weekly income at the last Census (a large share), and unit rent of $620 a week is about 38.9% (a sizeable share).

    Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

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  • Is Doncaster a good place to invest?

    Over the past 12 months in Doncaster, house rents jumped 13.2% while house values rose a modest 3.9%, so the rent a house earns climbed faster than its price did over the year. Units moved differently: unit rents increased 5.1% while unit values fell 1.7%.

    If rental income is your priority, the house side shows the strongest movement this year; if capital growth is your focus, house prices rose modestly while unit prices dipped. Whether that balance suits your goals and circumstances is for you to decide.

    This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.

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Choose the right real estate agents in Doncaster

Choosing the right real estate agent in Doncaster can have a big impact on your sale. While there are 240 real estate agents working in the suburb, but just 5 of them were responsible for 21.3% of all property sales over the past year, showing a strong footprint and track record in the area.

Commission rates typically range from 1.71% to 2.57%, depending on the agent and what’s included. Comparing both performance and fee structures can help you find someone who's well-suited to your needs, and set them up for a successful result.

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