Balwyn vs Canterbury

Balwyn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 46 in Canterbury. In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Canterbury: a median of $3.2 million, against $2.6 million in Balwyn, and rent is higher there too. Canterbury is closer to the city centre: 10.9 km, against 13.6 km. On these figures, Balwyn tends to suit 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

Canterbury

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 62/100)

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

First-home buyers

Balwyn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($750,000 vs $964,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,600,000 vs $3,200,000)
  • But Canterbury leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 35%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balwyn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($451/wk vs $515/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Canterbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (10.9 km vs 13.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Balwyn has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • Canterbury carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 62/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Balwyn Canterbury
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.

Balwyn Canterbury
Walkability 93 / 87
Balwyn — Walkability: 93/100 Canterbury — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 38 / 57
Balwyn — Safety: 38/100 Canterbury — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balwyn — Low fire risk: 100/100 Canterbury — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 73 / 75
Balwyn — Low flood risk: 73/100 Canterbury — Low flood risk: 75/100

Demographics

Balwyn has more residents (13,495 vs 7,800); Canterbury has higher household incomes ($149,604 vs $102,700).

Balwyn Canterbury
Population 13,495
+42% vs other
 7,800
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% -3.2%
Median age 43 46
Median household income $102,700/yr $149,604/yr
+46% vs other
Median weekly rent $451/wk $515/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balwyn Canterbury
0-4 3.4% / 3.2%
Balwyn — 0-4: 3.4% Canterbury — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 12.8% / 12.6%
Balwyn — 5-14: 12.8% Canterbury — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 7.0% / 8.1%
Balwyn — 15-19: 7.0% Canterbury — 15-19: 8.1%
20-24 6.7% / 6.8%
Balwyn — 20-24: 6.7% Canterbury — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 10.0% / 7.7%
Balwyn — 25-34: 10.0% Canterbury — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 12.4% / 10.2%
Balwyn — 35-44: 12.4% Canterbury — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 14.2% / 14.1%
Balwyn — 45-54: 14.2% Canterbury — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 12.4% / 13.9%
Balwyn — 55-64: 12.4% Canterbury — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 10.4% / 11.9%
Balwyn — 65-74: 10.4% Canterbury — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 6.9% / 7.4%
Balwyn — 75-84: 6.9% Canterbury — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 3.8% / 4.1%
Balwyn — 85+: 3.8% Canterbury — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Balwyn 47.2% couple families
Balwyn — Couple Families: 47.2% Balwyn — Lone Person: 32.8% Balwyn — One Parent Families: 15.4% Balwyn — Group Household: 3.1% Balwyn — Other Families: 1.4%
Canterbury 53.7% couple families
Canterbury — Couple Families: 53.7% Canterbury — Lone Person: 29.5% Canterbury — One Parent Families: 13.3% Canterbury — Group Household: 2.4% Canterbury — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Balwyn 27.8% renting
Balwyn — Owned Outright: 44.0% Balwyn — Mortgage: 28.2% Balwyn — Renting: 27.8%
Canterbury 19.7% renting
Canterbury — Owned Outright: 49.2% Canterbury — Mortgage: 31.1% Canterbury — Renting: 19.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Balwyn Canterbury
Bachelor Degree 25.7% / 27.0%
Balwyn — Bachelor Degree: 25.7% Canterbury — Bachelor Degree: 27.0%
Postgraduate Degree 11.6% / 13.4%
Balwyn — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6% Canterbury — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.9%
Balwyn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Canterbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Certificate III & IV 4.2% / 3.7%
Balwyn — Certificate III & IV: 4.2% Canterbury — Certificate III & IV: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 3.9%
Balwyn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Canterbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.0%).

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.

Balwyn Canterbury
China 17.2% / 10.4%
Balwyn — China: 17.2% Canterbury — China: 10.4%
England 2.4% / 3.3%
Balwyn — England: 2.4% Canterbury — England: 3.3%
India 3.6% / 1.7%
Balwyn — India: 3.6% Canterbury — India: 1.7%
Malaysia 3.3% / 1.7%
Balwyn — Malaysia: 3.3% Canterbury — Malaysia: 1.7%
Vietnam 1.5% / 1.1%
Balwyn — Vietnam: 1.5% Canterbury — Vietnam: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.4%
Balwyn — New Zealand: 1.2% Canterbury — New Zealand: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Balwyn 58.5% houses
Balwyn — Houses: 58.5% Balwyn — Townhouses: 26.0% Balwyn — Flats / Apartments: 15.5%
Canterbury 64.5% houses
Canterbury — Houses: 64.5% Canterbury — Townhouses: 23.3% Canterbury — Flats / Apartments: 12.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balwyn Canterbury
Median house price $2,600,000 $3,200,000
Median unit price $750,000 $964,000
Median land price $3,288,888 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 86 sales
 26 days
from 62 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.

Balwyn Canterbury
2 bed $730K / $855K
Balwyn — 2 bed: $730K (85 sales) Canterbury — 2 bed: $855K (21 sales)

85 vs 21 sales

3 bed $1.36M / $1.47M
Balwyn — 3 bed: $1.36M (17 sales) Canterbury — 3 bed: $1.47M (6 sales)

17 vs 6 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.

Balwyn Canterbury
3 bed $2.08M / $2.57M
Balwyn — 3 bed: $2.08M (33 sales) Canterbury — 3 bed: $2.57M (24 sales)

33 vs 24 sales

4 bed $2.62M / $3.2M
Balwyn — 4 bed: $2.62M (50 sales) Canterbury — 4 bed: $3.2M (51 sales)

50 vs 51 sales

5 bed $3.83M / $4.03M
Balwyn — 5 bed: $3.83M (36 sales) Canterbury — 5 bed: $4.03M (32 sales)

36 vs 32 sales

Zoning mix

Balwyn Canterbury
Residential 90% 87%
Parks and recreation 4% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 5%
Commercial 2% 3%
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

Balwyn Canterbury
New dwellings approved 711
across Boroondara
same for both
Approvals change year on year -40%
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.

Balwyn Canterbury
Houses 2.5%
$1,250/wk on $2.6M
 2.3%
$1,400/wk on $3.2M
Units 4.1%
$600/wk on $760K
 3.8%
$645/wk on $875K

Ranking within VIC

Balwyn Canterbury
House price Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Income Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Schools Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 1% of VIC
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 13% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC

Liveability

Canterbury scores higher overall (93 vs 87).

Balwyn Canterbury
Grade A+
same for both
Score 87/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balwyn carries more crime risk (62 vs 43).

Balwyn Canterbury
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood Low
27/100
 Low
25/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Balwyn Canterbury
Inside the suburb 4 7
Rated above peers 2 5
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 4.8 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 3.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 5.4%

Schools in Balwyn

  • Balwyn Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Fintona Girls' School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Belmore School Government · Combined · Special school
  • St Paul's College Independent · Combined · Special school

Schools in Canterbury

  • Camberwell Girls Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Camberwell Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Canterbury Girls Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Canterbury Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Strathcona Baptist Girls' Grammar Independent · Combined above peers
  • Camberwell Girls Grammar School - Junior Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Balwyn Canterbury
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 27 9
Parks & reserves 8 9
Childcare 11 10
GPs 5 1
Pharmacies 4 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 6 2
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Balwyn sits further from the CBD (13.6 km vs 10.9 km).

Balwyn Canterbury
Walkability score 93/100 87/100
Distance to Melbourne 13.6 km
+20% vs other
 10.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min
same for both
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 182.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 79.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 3103
 3.8%
postcode 3126
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 3103
 20
postcode 3126

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.

Balwyn Canterbury
Worked from Home 43.7% / 49.6%
Balwyn — Worked from Home: 43.7% Canterbury — Worked from Home: 49.6%
Car (driver) 44.7% / 40.0%
Balwyn — Car (driver): 44.7% Canterbury — Car (driver): 40.0%
Train 2.3% / 4.0%
Balwyn — Train: 2.3% Canterbury — Train: 4.0%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 2.3%
Balwyn — Car (passenger): 3.5% Canterbury — Car (passenger): 2.3%
Walked Only 2.4% / 2.4%
Balwyn — Walked Only: 2.4% Canterbury — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.6%).

Setting

Balwyn Canterbury
Elevation 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.5 km 10.2 km

NBN connectivity

Balwyn Canterbury
Connectivity score 78/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
6,773 premises
 5%
3,618 premises

Climate

Balwyn Canterbury
Annual rainfall 777 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Balwyn Canterbury
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Balwyn Canterbury
Average residential rate $2,253/yr
same for both
Council Boroondara
same for both

Federal electorate

Balwyn Canterbury
Division Kooyong
same for both
Member Monique Ryan
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Balwyn Canterbury
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Balwyn

Luxury Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Canterbury

Easy Commute Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balwyn

Balwyn vs Kew Balwyn vs Balwyn North Balwyn vs Surrey Hills Balwyn vs Kew East Balwyn vs Mont Albert North Balwyn vs Mont Albert

Other comparisons with Canterbury

Canterbury vs Kew Canterbury vs Camberwell Canterbury vs Hawthorn East Canterbury vs Surrey Hills Canterbury vs Deepdene
Full data on Balwyn Full data on Canterbury
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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