Side by sideSuburb comparison

Templestowe Lower vs Doncaster.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,350,000 and $1,554,000. Templestowe Lower edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Templestowe Lower (median $1,350,000) is roughly 13% cheaper to buy into than Doncaster ($1,554,000).

Doncaster scores higher on walkability (14/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Templestowe Lower (1122) sits above Doncaster (1113). Templestowe Lower skews owner-occupied (80%), Doncaster runs more rental-dense (64% owner).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Templestowe Lower is the lower entry point at $1,350,000 median, 13% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

Doncaster offers the higher gross rental yield (2.21% vs 1.83%), favouring cash-flow investors.

For families

Templestowe Lower edges out on average school ICSEA (1122 vs 1113).

Common questionsTemplestowe Lower vs Doncaster

Common questions

Is Templestowe Lower or Doncaster cheaper to buy in?

Templestowe Lower has the lower median house price at $1,350,000, roughly 13% below Doncaster ($1,554,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does Templestowe Lower or Doncaster have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Templestowe Lower scores 1122 vs 1113 in Doncaster. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.

Which is more walkable, Templestowe Lower or Doncaster?

Doncaster scores 100/100 on walkability vs 14/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.

Which suburb has higher rental yield, Templestowe Lower or Doncaster?

Gross rental yield on houses is 2.21% in Doncaster vs 1.83% in Templestowe Lower. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.

The numbers behind the take

Templestowe Lower
Metric
Doncaster

Price & Market

$1,350,000
Median house
$1,554,000
$920,000
Median unit
$620,000
+0.0%
Annual growth (house)
+0.0%
Days on market

Rental

$476/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$660/wk
$475/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$595/wk
80.0%
Owner occupied
64.0%
18.0%
Renter occupied
30.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

14
Walk score
100
0
Transit score
50
100
Bike score
100
14,098
Population
25,020
45
Median age
40

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1122
Avg ICSEA
1113

Climate

639 mm
Annual rainfall
639 mm
25.9°C
Mean max (Jan)
25.9°C

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).