Side by sideSuburb comparison

Waurn Ponds vs Mount Duneed.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $780,000 and $710,000. Mount Duneed edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

Mount Duneed (median $710,000) is roughly 10% cheaper to buy into than Waurn Ponds ($780,000).

Mount Duneed scores higher on walkability (0/100 vs 26/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Mount Duneed (1072) sits above Waurn Ponds (1055).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

Mount Duneed is the lower entry point at $710,000 median, 10% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

Mount Duneed offers the higher gross rental yield (2.64% vs 2.40%), favouring cash-flow investors.

For families

Mount Duneed edges out on average school ICSEA (1072 vs 1055).

Common questionsWaurn Ponds vs Mount Duneed

Common questions

Is Waurn Ponds or Mount Duneed cheaper to buy in?

Mount Duneed has the lower median house price at $710,000, roughly 10% below Waurn Ponds ($780,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does Waurn Ponds or Mount Duneed have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Mount Duneed scores 1072 vs 1055 in Waurn Ponds. 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, Waurn Ponds or Mount Duneed?

Mount Duneed scores 26/100 on walkability vs 0/100. 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, Waurn Ponds or Mount Duneed?

Gross rental yield on houses is 2.64% in Mount Duneed vs 2.40% in Waurn Ponds. 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

Waurn Ponds
Metric
Mount Duneed

Price & Market

$780,000
Median house
$710,000
$274,320
Median unit
$274,320
+0.0%
Annual growth (house)
+0.0%
Days on market

Rental

$360/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$360/wk
$430/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$446/wk
78.0%
Owner occupied
75.0%
21.0%
Renter occupied
23.0%

Lifestyle & Demographics

0
Walk score
26
0
Transit score
0
40
Bike score
100
4,956
Population
6,182
27
Median age
32

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1055
Avg ICSEA
1072

Climate

612 mm
Annual rainfall
612 mm
25.3°C
Mean max (Jan)
25.3°C

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