Balwyn vs Deepdene

Balwyn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 46 in Deepdene. In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Deepdene: a median of $2.85 million, against $2.6 million in Balwyn, and rent is higher there too. Deepdene is closer to the city centre: 10.7 km, against 13.6 km.

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

Balwyn

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Balwyn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($750,000 vs $838,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Balwyn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($451/wk vs $501/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Balwyn is more walkable (93/100 vs 77/100)
  • Deepdene sits closer to the CBD (10.7 km vs 13.6 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balwyn

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 77/100)
  • But Deepdene has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 21%)

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

Investors

Balwyn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.5% vs 1.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Balwyn and Deepdene 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 Deepdene
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 Deepdene
Walkability 93 / 77
Balwyn — Walkability: 93/100 Deepdene — Walkability: 77/100
Safety 38 / 46
Balwyn — Safety: 38/100 Deepdene — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Balwyn — Low fire risk: 100/100 Deepdene — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 73 / 86
Balwyn — Low flood risk: 73/100 Deepdene — Low flood risk: 86/100

Demographics

Balwyn has more residents (13,495 vs 2,101); Deepdene has higher household incomes ($116,636 vs $102,700).

Balwyn Deepdene
Population 13,495
+84% vs other
 2,101
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.4% +3.2%
Median age 43 46
Median household income $102,700/yr $116,636/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $451/wk $501/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Balwyn Deepdene
0-4 3.4% / 3.3%
Balwyn — 0-4: 3.4% Deepdene — 0-4: 3.3%
5-14 12.8% / 11.2%
Balwyn — 5-14: 12.8% Deepdene — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 7.0% / 7.6%
Balwyn — 15-19: 7.0% Deepdene — 15-19: 7.6%
20-24 6.7% / 6.8%
Balwyn — 20-24: 6.7% Deepdene — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 10.0% / 8.7%
Balwyn — 25-34: 10.0% Deepdene — 25-34: 8.7%
35-44 12.4% / 11.1%
Balwyn — 35-44: 12.4% Deepdene — 35-44: 11.1%
45-54 14.2% / 11.9%
Balwyn — 45-54: 14.2% Deepdene — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 12.4% / 12.7%
Balwyn — 55-64: 12.4% Deepdene — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 10.4% / 11.3%
Balwyn — 65-74: 10.4% Deepdene — 65-74: 11.3%
75-84 6.9% / 9.3%
Balwyn — 75-84: 6.9% Deepdene — 75-84: 9.3%
85+ 3.8% / 5.5%
Balwyn — 85+: 3.8% Deepdene — 85+: 5.5%

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%
Deepdene 47.3% couple families
Deepdene — Couple Families: 47.3% Deepdene — Lone Person: 35.0% Deepdene — One Parent Families: 11.9% Deepdene — Group Household: 3.2% Deepdene — Other Families: 2.7%
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%
Deepdene 21.5% renting
Deepdene — Owned Outright: 50.6% Deepdene — Mortgage: 27.9% Deepdene — Renting: 21.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Deepdene
China 17.2% / 15.3%
Balwyn — China: 17.2% Deepdene — China: 15.3%
India 3.6% / 2.2%
Balwyn — India: 3.6% Deepdene — India: 2.2%
Malaysia 3.3% / 2.5%
Balwyn — Malaysia: 3.3% Deepdene — Malaysia: 2.5%
England 2.4% / 2.5%
Balwyn — England: 2.4% Deepdene — England: 2.5%
Vietnam 1.5% / 1.5%
Balwyn — Vietnam: 1.5% Deepdene — Vietnam: 1.5%

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

Qualifications

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

Balwyn Deepdene
Bachelor Degree 25.7% / 26.9%
Balwyn — Bachelor Degree: 25.7% Deepdene — Bachelor Degree: 26.9%
Postgraduate Degree 11.6% / 12.7%
Balwyn — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6% Deepdene — Postgraduate Degree: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.4%
Balwyn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Deepdene — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Certificate III & IV 4.2% / 4.4%
Balwyn — Certificate III & IV: 4.2% Deepdene — Certificate III & IV: 4.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 3.0%
Balwyn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Deepdene — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.9%).

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%
Deepdene 66.2% houses
Deepdene — Houses: 66.2% Deepdene — Townhouses: 23.7% Deepdene — Flats / Apartments: 10.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Balwyn Deepdene
Median house price $2,600,000 $2,850,000
Median unit price $750,000 $838,000
Median land price $3,288,888 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 86 sales
 30 days
from 9 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 Deepdene
3 bed $2.08M / $2.85M
Balwyn — 3 bed: $2.08M (33 sales) Deepdene — 3 bed: $2.85M (7 sales)

33 vs 7 sales

4 bed $2.62M / $2.97M
Balwyn — 4 bed: $2.62M (50 sales) Deepdene — 4 bed: $2.97M (10 sales)

50 vs 10 sales

5 bed $3.83M / $3.3M
Balwyn — 5 bed: $3.83M (36 sales) Deepdene — 5 bed: $3.3M (5 sales)

36 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Balwyn Deepdene
Residential 90% 83%
Parks and recreation 4% 8%
Commercial 2% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 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

Balwyn Deepdene
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 Deepdene
Houses 2.5%
$1,250/wk on $2.6M
 1.4%
$800/wk on $2.88M
Units 4.1%
$600/wk on $760K
 3.9%
$638/wk on $840K

Ranking within VIC

Balwyn Deepdene
House price Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Income Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools Higher than 85% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 1% of VIC
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 1% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 13% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC

Liveability

Balwyn is more walkable (93 vs 77).

Balwyn Deepdene
Grade A+
same for both
Score 87/100 90/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Balwyn carries more flood risk (27 vs 14).

Balwyn Deepdene
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
62/100
 Moderate
54/100
Flood Low
27/100
 Low
14/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Balwyn Deepdene
Inside the suburb 4 2
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 0 1
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, 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 5.7%

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 Deepdene

  • Deepdene Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady of Good Counsel School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Balwyn sits further from the CBD (13.6 km vs 10.7 km).

Balwyn Deepdene
Walkability score 93/100 77/100
Distance to Melbourne 13.6 km
+21% vs other
 10.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 22 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 82/100
Tram
Peak arrivals per hour 182.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.1%
postcode 3103
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 3103
same for both

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 Deepdene
Worked from Home 43.7% / 45.8%
Balwyn — Worked from Home: 43.7% Deepdene — Worked from Home: 45.8%
Car (driver) 44.7% / 43.2%
Balwyn — Car (driver): 44.7% Deepdene — Car (driver): 43.2%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.3%
Balwyn — Car (passenger): 3.5% Deepdene — Car (passenger): 3.3%
Walked Only 2.4% / 3.0%
Balwyn — Walked Only: 2.4% Deepdene — Walked Only: 3.0%
Train 2.3% / 2.4%
Balwyn — Train: 2.3% Deepdene — Train: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (45.8%).

Setting

Balwyn Deepdene
Elevation 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.5 km 10.1 km

NBN connectivity

Balwyn Deepdene
Connectivity score 78/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
6,773 premises
 13%
1,040 premises

Climate

Balwyn Deepdene
Annual rainfall 777 mm 534 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C 26.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C 6.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Balwyn Deepdene
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 — 17.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.82 pphm

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Balwyn Deepdene
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

Deepdene

Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Retirees Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Balwyn

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

Other comparisons with Deepdene

Deepdene vs Kew Deepdene vs Canterbury
Full data on Balwyn Full data on Deepdene
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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