Armadale vs Prahran

Prahran is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 38 in Armadale. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Armadale, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Prahran, most households rent and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Armadale: a median of $654,000, against $472,000 in Prahran. Prahran is closer to the city centre: 7.6 km, against 10.4 km. On these figures, Prahran tends to suit young adults and 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

Armadale

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 5)
  • is already more of a family suburb (35% vs 23%)
  • But Prahran has more parks and reserves (9 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Prahran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($472,000 vs $654,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,600,000 vs $2,150,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Prahran

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (7.6 km vs 10.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Armadale

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 12%)
  • carries lower crime risk (76/100 vs 94/100)
  • But Prahran has more GPs (10 vs 3)

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

Investors

Prahran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 4.3%)
  • But Armadale is growing faster (3.5% vs -6.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Armadale Prahran
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.

Armadale Prahran
Walkability 99 / 99
Armadale — Walkability: 99/100 Prahran — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 24 / 6
Armadale — Safety: 24/100 Prahran — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Armadale — Low fire risk: 100/100 Prahran — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 67 / 58
Armadale — Low flood risk: 67/100 Prahran — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

Prahran has more residents (12,203 vs 9,368); Armadale skews older (38 vs 34).

Armadale Prahran
Population 9,368 12,203
+30% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.5% -6.0%
Median age 38 34
Median household income $114,036/yr
+3% vs other
 $110,292/yr
Median weekly rent $421/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Armadale Prahran
0-4 4.6% / 4.0%
Armadale — 0-4: 4.6% Prahran — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 8.1% / 4.6%
Armadale — 5-14: 8.1% Prahran — 5-14: 4.6%
15-19 3.6% / 2.4%
Armadale — 15-19: 3.6% Prahran — 15-19: 2.4%
20-24 7.1% / 7.9%
Armadale — 20-24: 7.1% Prahran — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 20.7% / 31.2%
Armadale — 25-34: 20.7% Prahran — 25-34: 31.2%
35-44 14.8% / 18.1%
Armadale — 35-44: 14.8% Prahran — 35-44: 18.1%
45-54 12.7% / 10.9%
Armadale — 45-54: 12.7% Prahran — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 9.6% / 8.4%
Armadale — 55-64: 9.6% Prahran — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 9.6% / 6.2%
Armadale — 65-74: 9.6% Prahran — 65-74: 6.2%
75-84 6.9% / 4.2%
Armadale — 75-84: 6.9% Prahran — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 2.3% / 2.1%
Armadale — 85+: 2.3% Prahran — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Armadale 54.8% lone person
Armadale — Lone Person: 54.8% Armadale — Couple Families: 25.3% Armadale — Group Household: 8.3% Armadale — One Parent Families: 9.8% Armadale — Other Families: 1.8%
Prahran 61.4% lone person
Prahran — Lone Person: 61.4% Prahran — Couple Families: 16.9% Prahran — Group Household: 13.8% Prahran — One Parent Families: 6.0% Prahran — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Armadale 46.0% renting
Armadale — Owned Outright: 30.3% Armadale — Mortgage: 23.7% Armadale — Renting: 46.0%
Prahran 55.4% renting
Prahran — Owned Outright: 20.1% Prahran — Mortgage: 24.4% Prahran — Renting: 55.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Armadale Prahran
Bachelor Degree 31.1% / 33.4%
Armadale — Bachelor Degree: 31.1% Prahran — Bachelor Degree: 33.4%
Postgraduate Degree 13.5% / 12.2%
Armadale — Postgraduate Degree: 13.5% Prahran — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.1%
Armadale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Prahran — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 4.3% / 5.9%
Armadale — Certificate III & IV: 4.3% Prahran — Certificate III & IV: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 3.8%
Armadale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Prahran — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.4%).

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.

Armadale Prahran
England 3.5% / 4.6%
Armadale — England: 3.5% Prahran — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.9% / 3.2%
Armadale — New Zealand: 1.9% Prahran — New Zealand: 3.2%
China 3.1% / 1.5%
Armadale — China: 3.1% Prahran — China: 1.5%
Greece 1.0% / 2.7%
Armadale — Greece: 1.0% Prahran — Greece: 2.7%
India 2.2% / 1.4%
Armadale — India: 2.2% Prahran — India: 1.4%
South Africa 1.1% / 0.9%
Armadale — South Africa: 1.1% Prahran — South Africa: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Armadale 57.7% flats / apartments
Armadale — Flats / Apartments: 57.7% Armadale — Houses: 25.4% Armadale — Townhouses: 16.8%
Prahran 60.1% flats / apartments
Prahran — Flats / Apartments: 60.1% Prahran — Houses: 18.3% Prahran — Townhouses: 21.6%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Armadale Prahran
Median house price $2,150,000 $1,600,000
Median unit price $654,000 $472,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 56 sales
 24 days
from 78 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.

Armadale Prahran
2 bed $1.72M / $1.37M
Armadale — 2 bed: $1.72M (17 sales) Prahran — 2 bed: $1.37M (44 sales)

17 vs 44 sales

3 bed $1.97M / $1.74M
Armadale — 3 bed: $1.97M (44 sales) Prahran — 3 bed: $1.74M (65 sales)

44 vs 65 sales

4 bed $4.3M / $2.77M
Armadale — 4 bed: $4.3M (20 sales) Prahran — 4 bed: $2.77M (11 sales)

20 vs 11 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.

Armadale Prahran
1 bed $445K / $375K
Armadale — 1 bed: $445K (81 sales) Prahran — 1 bed: $375K (184 sales)

81 vs 184 sales

2 bed $705K / $605K
Armadale — 2 bed: $705K (158 sales) Prahran — 2 bed: $605K (175 sales)

158 vs 175 sales

3 bed $1.33M / $900K
Armadale — 3 bed: $1.33M (35 sales) Prahran — 3 bed: $900K (19 sales)

35 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Prahran has more commercially zoned land (18% vs 6%).

Armadale Prahran
Residential 80% 67%
Commercial 6% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 9%
Parks and recreation 3% 5%
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

Armadale Prahran
New dwellings approved 818
across Stonnington
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Armadale Prahran
Houses 2.4%
$962/wk on $2.1M
 3.2%
$1,000/wk on $1.6M
Units 4.3%
$690/wk on $828K
 5.0%
$550/wk on $575K

Ranking within VIC

Armadale Prahran
House price Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Income Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools Higher than 79% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 12% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 60% of VIC

Liveability

Armadale scores higher overall (85 vs 80).

Armadale Prahran
Grade A+ A
Score 85/100 80/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Prahran carries more crime risk (94 vs 76).

Armadale Prahran
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
76/100
 High
94/100
Flood Low
33/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Armadale Prahran
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.3 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 3.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.9% 3.3%

Schools in Armadale

  • Armadale Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Lauriston Girls' School Independent · Combined above peers
  • The King David School Independent · Combined below peers
  • The King David School - Junior School Independent · Combined
  • The King David School - The Rebecca Magid Centre Independent · Combined

Schools in Prahran

  • Our Lady of Lourdes School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Armadale Prahran
Supermarkets 2 3
Cafes & restaurants 9 29
Parks & reserves 6 9
Childcare 9 5
GPs 3 10
Pharmacies 3 5
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Armadale sits further from the CBD (10.4 km vs 7.6 km).

Armadale Prahran
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 10.4 km
+27% vs other
 7.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 18 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 291.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 262.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3143
 2.2%
postcode 3181
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 3143
 5
postcode 3181

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.

Armadale Prahran
Worked from Home 50.9% / 51.9%
Armadale — Worked from Home: 50.9% Prahran — Worked from Home: 51.9%
Car (driver) 34.0% / 27.4%
Armadale — Car (driver): 34.0% Prahran — Car (driver): 27.4%
Train 6.4% / 5.3%
Armadale — Train: 6.4% Prahran — Train: 5.3%
Walked Only 3.3% / 7.4%
Armadale — Walked Only: 3.3% Prahran — Walked Only: 7.4%
Tram / Light Rail 2.4% / 4.4%
Armadale — Tram / Light Rail: 2.4% Prahran — Tram / Light Rail: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.9%).

Setting

Armadale Prahran
Elevation 49 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.2 km
4.3 km to a named beach
 2.8 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Armadale Prahran
Connectivity score 77/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 8%
6,000 premises
 19%
9,581 premises

Climate

Armadale Prahran
Annual rainfall 644 mm 534 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C 26.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C 6.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Armadale Prahran
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³ 7.9 µg/m³
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Armadale Prahran
Average residential rate $1,647/yr
same for both
Council Stonnington
same for both

Federal electorate

Armadale Prahran
Division Kooyong Melbourne
Member Monique Ryan Sarah Witty
Party Independent Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Armadale Prahran
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Armadale

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Prahran

Affordable Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Armadale

Armadale vs Caulfield North Armadale vs Toorak Armadale vs St Kilda East Armadale vs Malvern

Other comparisons with Prahran

Prahran vs Melbourne Prahran vs South Yarra Prahran vs Toorak Prahran vs St Kilda East Prahran vs Windsor
Full data on Armadale Full data on Prahran
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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