Bend Of Islands vs Kangaroo Ground

Kangaroo Ground is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 47 in Bend Of Islands. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bend Of Islands, about half of households are couple families. In Kangaroo Ground, most households are couple families. Kangaroo Ground is closer to the city centre: 34 km, against 40.6 km. On these figures, Kangaroo Ground tends to suit 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

Kangaroo Ground

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (79% vs 70%)
  • But Bend Of Islands carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 56/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Bend Of Islands

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $383/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kangaroo Ground

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (21/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (46 min vs 55 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (34 km vs 40.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Bend Of Islands carries lower crime risk (14/100 vs 56/100)
  • Kangaroo Ground is more walkable (21/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Kangaroo Ground

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.3% vs -9.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Bend Of Islands and Kangaroo Ground drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
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.

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Walkability 0 / 21
Bend Of Islands — Walkability: 0/100 Kangaroo Ground — Walkability: 21/100
Safety 86 / 44
Bend Of Islands — Safety: 86/100 Kangaroo Ground — Safety: 44/100
Low fire risk 7 / 14
Bend Of Islands — Low fire risk: 7/100 Kangaroo Ground — Low fire risk: 14/100
Low flood risk 41 / 68
Bend Of Islands — Low flood risk: 41/100 Kangaroo Ground — Low flood risk: 68/100

Demographics

Kangaroo Ground has more residents (1,208 vs 267); Kangaroo Ground has higher household incomes ($151,268 vs $102,492).

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Population 267 1,208
+352% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -9.5% +10.3%
Median age 47 44
Median household income $102,492/yr $151,268/yr
+48% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $383/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
0-4 3.0% / 3.5%
Bend Of Islands — 0-4: 3.0% Kangaroo Ground — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 13.1% / 13.4%
Bend Of Islands — 5-14: 13.1% Kangaroo Ground — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 5.2% / 10.2%
Bend Of Islands — 15-19: 5.2% Kangaroo Ground — 15-19: 10.2%
20-24 2.6% / 6.5%
Bend Of Islands — 20-24: 2.6% Kangaroo Ground — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 7.1% / 7.0%
Bend Of Islands — 25-34: 7.1% Kangaroo Ground — 25-34: 7.0%
35-44 10.5% / 10.2%
Bend Of Islands — 35-44: 10.5% Kangaroo Ground — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 13.9% / 16.3%
Bend Of Islands — 45-54: 13.9% Kangaroo Ground — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 15.4% / 15.9%
Bend Of Islands — 55-64: 15.4% Kangaroo Ground — 55-64: 15.9%
65-74 18.7% / 10.5%
Bend Of Islands — 65-74: 18.7% Kangaroo Ground — 65-74: 10.5%
75-84 3.0% / 5.5%
Bend Of Islands — 75-84: 3.0% Kangaroo Ground — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ — / 0.9%
Bend Of Islands — 85+: not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bend Of Islands 51.5% couple families
Bend Of Islands — Couple Families: 51.5% Bend Of Islands — Lone Person: 22.7% Bend Of Islands — One Parent Families: 18.2% Bend Of Islands — Group Household: 7.6%
Kangaroo Ground 67.7% couple families
Kangaroo Ground — Couple Families: 67.7% Kangaroo Ground — Lone Person: 18.8% Kangaroo Ground — One Parent Families: 10.9% Kangaroo Ground — Group Household: 2.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bend Of Islands 9.4% renting
Bend Of Islands — Owned Outright: 46.9% Bend Of Islands — Mortgage: 43.8% Bend Of Islands — Renting: 9.4%
Kangaroo Ground 7.0% renting
Kangaroo Ground — Owned Outright: 46.3% Kangaroo Ground — Mortgage: 46.6% Kangaroo Ground — Renting: 7.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Bachelor Degree 21.3% / 19.5%
Bend Of Islands — Bachelor Degree: 21.3% Kangaroo Ground — Bachelor Degree: 19.5%
Certificate III & IV 9.0% / 10.8%
Bend Of Islands — Certificate III & IV: 9.0% Kangaroo Ground — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 7.8%
Bend Of Islands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Kangaroo Ground — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 8.2% / 8.2%
Bend Of Islands — Postgraduate Degree: 8.2% Kangaroo Ground — Postgraduate Degree: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 7.9% / 2.7%
Bend Of Islands — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 7.9% Kangaroo Ground — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.3%).

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.

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
England 3.4% / 4.1%
Bend Of Islands — England: 3.4% Kangaroo Ground — England: 4.1%
Germany 1.9% / 0.5%
Bend Of Islands — Germany: 1.9% Kangaroo Ground — Germany: 0.5%
Canada 1.9% / —
Bend Of Islands — Canada: 1.9% Kangaroo Ground — Canada: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.7%
Bend Of Islands — New Zealand: 1.1% Kangaroo Ground — New Zealand: 0.7%
China — / 0.7%
Bend Of Islands — China: not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — China: 0.7%
Italy — / 0.7%
Bend Of Islands — Italy: not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — Italy: 0.7%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Bend Of Islands — South Africa: not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — South Africa: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bend Of Islands 96.8% houses
Bend Of Islands — Houses: 96.8% Bend Of Islands — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Kangaroo Ground 100.0% houses
Kangaroo Ground — Houses: 100.0% Kangaroo Ground — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Median house price — $1,970,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both

Zoning mix

Kangaroo Ground has more land zoned for conservation (92% vs 1%).

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Environmental 1% 92%
Other and special use 81% 0%
Parks and recreation 18% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 4%
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

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
New dwellings approved 98
across Nillumbik
same for both
Approvals change year on year +8%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 15% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 89% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC

Liveability

Kangaroo Ground is more walkable (21 vs 0).

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Grade — B
Score — 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kangaroo Ground carries more crime risk (56 vs 14); Bend Of Islands carries more flood risk (59 vs 32).

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Bushfire High
93/100
 High
86/100
Crime Low
14/100
 Moderate
56/100
Flood Moderate
59/100
 Low
32/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bend Of Islands

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Kangaroo Ground

  • Kangaroo Ground Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 3 6
Childcare 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 2 4

Mobility

Bend Of Islands sits further from the CBD (40.6 km vs 34 km).

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Walkability score 0/100 21/100
Distance to Melbourne 40.6 km
+16% vs other
 34 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 55 min 46 min
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 3097
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 3097
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.

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Car (driver) 58.6% / 47.9%
Bend Of Islands — Car (driver): 58.6% Kangaroo Ground — Car (driver): 47.9%
Worked from Home 41.4% / 42.3%
Bend Of Islands — Worked from Home: 41.4% Kangaroo Ground — Worked from Home: 42.3%
Walked Only — / 4.5%
Bend Of Islands — Walked Only: not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — Walked Only: 4.5%
Car (passenger) — / 3.2%
Bend Of Islands — Car (passenger): not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Train — / 1.5%
Bend Of Islands — Train: not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — Train: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.6%).

Setting

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Elevation 147 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 197 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 33.1 km 29.9 km

NBN connectivity

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Connectivity score 29/100 32/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
95 premises
 2%
381 premises

Climate

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
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)

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Average residential rate $2,696/yr
same for both
Council Nillumbik
same for both

Federal electorate

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Division Casey Jagajaga
Member Aaron Violi Kate Thwaites
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Bend Of Islands Kangaroo Ground
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bend Of Islands

Outer Professionals

Kangaroo Ground

Acreage Outer Premium Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bend Of Islands

Bend Of Islands vs Wonga Park Bend Of Islands vs Christmas Hills

Other comparisons with Kangaroo Ground

Kangaroo Ground vs Wonga Park Kangaroo Ground vs Hurstbridge Kangaroo Ground vs North Warrandyte Kangaroo Ground vs Research Kangaroo Ground vs Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground vs Panton Hill
Full data on Bend Of Islands Full data on Kangaroo Ground
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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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