Ashwood vs Mount Waverley

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Mount Waverley, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mount Waverley: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.42 million in Ashwood, and rent is higher there too. Ashwood is closer to the city centre: 16.1 km, against 22.4 km. On these figures, Ashwood tends to suit people living alone, while Mount Waverley suits couples.

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

Mount Waverley

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (32 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (10 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (25 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

Ashwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,415,000 vs $1,600,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ashwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($391/wk vs $476/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Ashwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (16.1 km vs 22.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Waverley

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 76/100)
  • But Ashwood has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 31%)

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

Investors

Ashwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.3% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Ashwood Mount Waverley
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.

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Walkability 88 / 91
Ashwood — Walkability: 88/100 Mount Waverley — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 24 / 43
Ashwood — Safety: 24/100 Mount Waverley — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Ashwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Waverley — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 58 / 74
Ashwood — Low flood risk: 58/100 Mount Waverley — Low flood risk: 74/100

Demographics

Mount Waverley has more residents (35,340 vs 7,154); Mount Waverley rents higher ($476/wk vs $391/wk).

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Population 7,154 35,340
+394% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +5.1%
Median age 39 40
Median household income $99,268/yr $107,432/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $391/wk $476/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ashwood Mount Waverley
0-4 5.2% / 4.4%
Ashwood — 0-4: 5.2% Mount Waverley — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 11.6% / 12.6%
Ashwood — 5-14: 11.6% Mount Waverley — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 5.7% / 6.5%
Ashwood — 15-19: 5.7% Mount Waverley — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 6.1% / 6.9%
Ashwood — 20-24: 6.1% Mount Waverley — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 14.6% / 12.1%
Ashwood — 25-34: 14.6% Mount Waverley — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 14.2% / 13.6%
Ashwood — 35-44: 14.2% Mount Waverley — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 13.4% / 13.7%
Ashwood — 45-54: 13.4% Mount Waverley — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 11.2% / 11.6%
Ashwood — 55-64: 11.2% Mount Waverley — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 8.5% / 8.5%
Ashwood — 65-74: 8.5% Mount Waverley — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 5.8% / 6.8%
Ashwood — 75-84: 5.8% Mount Waverley — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 3.6% / 3.4%
Ashwood — 85+: 3.6% Mount Waverley — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ashwood 41.8% couple families
Ashwood — Couple Families: 41.8% Ashwood — Lone Person: 35.9% Ashwood — One Parent Families: 15.4% Ashwood — Group Household: 5.4% Ashwood — Other Families: 1.5%
Mount Waverley 54.2% couple families
Mount Waverley — Couple Families: 54.2% Mount Waverley — Lone Person: 25.2% Mount Waverley — One Parent Families: 13.9% Mount Waverley — Group Household: 4.9% Mount Waverley — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ashwood 37.8% renting
Ashwood — Owned Outright: 30.1% Ashwood — Mortgage: 32.1% Ashwood — Renting: 37.8%
Mount Waverley 24.8% renting
Mount Waverley — Owned Outright: 42.9% Mount Waverley — Mortgage: 32.3% Mount Waverley — Renting: 24.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Bachelor Degree 21.8% / 22.0%
Ashwood — Bachelor Degree: 21.8% Mount Waverley — Bachelor Degree: 22.0%
Postgraduate Degree 10.0% / 11.9%
Ashwood — Postgraduate Degree: 10.0% Mount Waverley — Postgraduate Degree: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 8.1%
Ashwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Mount Waverley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 7.0% / 6.2%
Ashwood — Certificate III & IV: 7.0% Mount Waverley — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.9%
Ashwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Mount Waverley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

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.

Ashwood Mount Waverley
China 9.7% / 13.0%
Ashwood — China: 9.7% Mount Waverley — China: 13.0%
India 3.1% / 6.1%
Ashwood — India: 3.1% Mount Waverley — India: 6.1%
Sri Lanka 2.1% / 4.2%
Ashwood — Sri Lanka: 2.1% Mount Waverley — Sri Lanka: 4.2%
Malaysia 2.3% / 3.0%
Ashwood — Malaysia: 2.3% Mount Waverley — Malaysia: 3.0%
England 2.5% / 1.9%
Ashwood — England: 2.5% Mount Waverley — England: 1.9%
Greece 1.4% / 2.0%
Ashwood — Greece: 1.4% Mount Waverley — Greece: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ashwood 58.1% houses
Ashwood — Houses: 58.1% Ashwood — Flats / Apartments: 29.8% Ashwood — Townhouses: 12.1%
Mount Waverley 68.6% houses
Mount Waverley — Houses: 68.6% Mount Waverley — Flats / Apartments: 21.6% Mount Waverley — Townhouses: 9.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Median house price $1,415,000 $1,600,000
Median unit price $858,000 $905,000
Median land price — $1,692,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 56 sales
 26 days
from 408 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.

Ashwood Mount Waverley
2 bed $778K / $792K
Ashwood — 2 bed: $778K (20 sales) Mount Waverley — 2 bed: $792K (62 sales)

20 vs 62 sales

3 bed $1M / $1.09M
Ashwood — 3 bed: $1M (15 sales) Mount Waverley — 3 bed: $1.09M (60 sales)

15 vs 60 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.

Ashwood Mount Waverley
2 bed $1.25M / $1.42M
Ashwood — 2 bed: $1.25M (8 sales) Mount Waverley — 2 bed: $1.42M (18 sales)

8 vs 18 sales

3 bed $1.35M / $1.48M
Ashwood — 3 bed: $1.35M (53 sales) Mount Waverley — 3 bed: $1.48M (205 sales)

53 vs 205 sales

4 bed $1.68M / $1.6M
Ashwood — 4 bed: $1.68M (27 sales) Mount Waverley — 4 bed: $1.6M (182 sales)

27 vs 182 sales

5 bed $2.02M / $1.86M
Ashwood — 5 bed: $2.02M (13 sales) Mount Waverley — 5 bed: $1.86M (60 sales)

13 vs 60 sales

Zoning mix

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Residential 74%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 13% 10%
Parks and recreation 10% 7%
Other and special use 0% 6%
Commercial 3% 2%
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

Ashwood Mount Waverley
New dwellings approved 1,233
across Monash
same for both
Approvals change year on year -4%
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.

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Houses 3.1%
$770/wk on $1.3M
 3.1%
$850/wk on $1.44M
Units 4.3%
$665/wk on $811K
 3.8%
$620/wk on $840K

Ranking within VIC

Ashwood Mount Waverley
House price Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Income Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Schools Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 9% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC

Liveability

Mount Waverley scores higher overall (90 vs 68).

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Grade A A+
Score 68/100 90/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Ashwood carries more flood risk (42 vs 26); Ashwood carries more crime risk (76 vs 57).

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
76/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood Moderate
42/100
 Low
26/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Inside the suburb 5 11
Rated above peers 1 10
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 2.0 km
 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.2% 4.6%

Schools in Ashwood

  • Ashwood High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Parkhill Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Ashwood School Government · Combined · Special school
  • Berengarra School - Café Education Independent · Secondary · Special school
  • Frank Dando Sports Academy Independent · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Mount Waverley

  • Avila College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Essex Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Holy Family School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Huntingtower School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Mount Waverley Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount Waverley North Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Supermarkets 1 5
Cafes & restaurants 1 34
Parks & reserves 3 32
Childcare 8 25
GPs 2 10
Pharmacies 2 8
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 7
Fuel stations 1 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 17

Mobility

Mount Waverley sits further from the CBD (22.4 km vs 16.1 km).

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Walkability score 88/100 91/100
Distance to Melbourne 16.1 km 22.4 km
+39% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 27 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 99.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 471.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 3147
 2.7%
postcode 3149
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3147
 31
postcode 3149

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.

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Car (driver) 45.8% / 49.0%
Ashwood — Car (driver): 45.8% Mount Waverley — Car (driver): 49.0%
Worked from Home 44.5% / 40.9%
Ashwood — Worked from Home: 44.5% Mount Waverley — Worked from Home: 40.9%
Train 4.0% / 4.2%
Ashwood — Train: 4.0% Mount Waverley — Train: 4.2%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 3.5%
Ashwood — Car (passenger): 2.8% Mount Waverley — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Bus 1.5% / 0.9%
Ashwood — Bus: 1.5% Mount Waverley — Bus: 0.9%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.0%
Ashwood — Walked Only: 1.0% Mount Waverley — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.0%).

Setting

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 121 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.6 km 12.6 km

NBN connectivity

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Connectivity score 75/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
3,259 premises
 7%
15,814 premises

Climate

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Annual rainfall 644 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Ashwood Mount Waverley
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Average residential rate $1,697/yr
same for both
Council Monash
same for both

Federal electorate

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Division Chisholm
same for both
Member Carina Garland
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Ashwood Mount Waverley
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Ashwood

Middle-Ring Multicultural Premium Professionals River

Mount Waverley

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ashwood

Ashwood vs Glen Iris Ashwood vs Malvern East Ashwood vs Burwood Ashwood vs Chadstone Ashwood vs Ashburton

Other comparisons with Mount Waverley

Mount Waverley vs Glen Waverley Mount Waverley vs Clayton Mount Waverley vs Burwood Mount Waverley vs Burwood East Mount Waverley vs Chadstone Mount Waverley vs Oakleigh
Full data on Ashwood Full data on Mount Waverley
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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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