Blackburn North vs Nunawading

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Blackburn North: a median of $1.4 million, against $1.14 million in Nunawading, and rent is higher there too. Blackburn North is closer to the city centre: 21.2 km, against 23.7 km. On these figures, Nunawading 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

Blackburn North

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 81/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 69%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 58%)
  • But Nunawading 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

Nunawading

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($677,500 vs $855,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,142,500 vs $1,399,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Nunawading

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($391/wk vs $431/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Blackburn North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (21.2 km vs 23.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Nunawading

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% vs 17%)
  • But Blackburn North carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 81/100)

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

Investors

Blackburn North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Blackburn North Nunawading
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.

Blackburn North Nunawading
Walkability 86 / 90
Blackburn North — Walkability: 86/100 Nunawading — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 61 / 19
Blackburn North — Safety: 61/100 Nunawading — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Blackburn North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nunawading — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 89 / 82
Blackburn North — Low flood risk: 89/100 Nunawading — Low flood risk: 82/100

Demographics

Nunawading has more residents (12,413 vs 7,627); Blackburn North rents higher ($431/wk vs $391/wk).

Blackburn North Nunawading
Population 7,627 12,413
+63% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.6% +4.5%
Median age 39
same for both
Median household income $105,092/yr
+4% vs other
 $100,776/yr
Median weekly rent $431/wk
+9% vs other
 $391/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blackburn North Nunawading
0-4 5.3% / 6.0%
Blackburn North — 0-4: 5.3% Nunawading — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 14.5% / 11.6%
Blackburn North — 5-14: 14.5% Nunawading — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 6.3% / 5.2%
Blackburn North — 15-19: 6.3% Nunawading — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 5.9% / 5.7%
Blackburn North — 20-24: 5.9% Nunawading — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 10.9% / 14.6%
Blackburn North — 25-34: 10.9% Nunawading — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 15.4% / 15.7%
Blackburn North — 35-44: 15.4% Nunawading — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 14.5% / 13.4%
Blackburn North — 45-54: 14.5% Nunawading — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 11.3% / 9.9%
Blackburn North — 55-64: 11.3% Nunawading — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 6.9% / 8.3%
Blackburn North — 65-74: 6.9% Nunawading — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 5.8% / 6.2%
Blackburn North — 75-84: 5.8% Nunawading — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 3.0% / 3.5%
Blackburn North — 85+: 3.0% Nunawading — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Blackburn North 54.7% couple families
Blackburn North — Couple Families: 54.7% Blackburn North — Lone Person: 26.6% Blackburn North — One Parent Families: 12.9% Blackburn North — Group Household: 4.5% Blackburn North — Other Families: 1.2%
Nunawading 45.9% couple families
Nunawading — Couple Families: 45.9% Nunawading — Lone Person: 34.5% Nunawading — One Parent Families: 12.4% Nunawading — Group Household: 5.3% Nunawading — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Blackburn North 21.8% renting
Blackburn North — Owned Outright: 38.7% Blackburn North — Mortgage: 39.5% Blackburn North — Renting: 21.8%
Nunawading 30.1% renting
Nunawading — Owned Outright: 33.5% Nunawading — Mortgage: 36.4% Nunawading — Renting: 30.1%
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.

Blackburn North Nunawading
China 10.4% / 8.7%
Blackburn North — China: 10.4% Nunawading — China: 8.7%
India 3.0% / 4.6%
Blackburn North — India: 3.0% Nunawading — India: 4.6%
Malaysia 3.0% / 2.4%
Blackburn North — Malaysia: 3.0% Nunawading — Malaysia: 2.4%
England 1.9% / 2.3%
Blackburn North — England: 1.9% Nunawading — England: 2.3%
Vietnam 1.4% / 1.7%
Blackburn North — Vietnam: 1.4% Nunawading — Vietnam: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.4%).

Qualifications

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

Blackburn North Nunawading
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 20.6%
Blackburn North — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Nunawading — Bachelor Degree: 20.6%
Postgraduate Degree 8.0% / 9.2%
Blackburn North — Postgraduate Degree: 8.0% Nunawading — Postgraduate Degree: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 8.1%
Blackburn North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Nunawading — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 7.6% / 7.8%
Blackburn North — Certificate III & IV: 7.6% Nunawading — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.1%
Blackburn North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Nunawading — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Blackburn North 83.2% houses
Blackburn North — Houses: 83.2% Blackburn North — Townhouses: 15.4% Blackburn North — Flats / Apartments: 1.4%
Nunawading 68.7% houses
Nunawading — Houses: 68.7% Nunawading — Townhouses: 27.8% Nunawading — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Blackburn North Nunawading
Median house price $1,399,000 $1,142,500
Median unit price $855,000 $677,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 43 sales
 23 days
from 74 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.

Blackburn North Nunawading
2 bed $760K / $642K
Blackburn North — 2 bed: $760K (11 sales) Nunawading — 2 bed: $642K (46 sales)

11 vs 46 sales

3 bed $900K / $920K
Blackburn North — 3 bed: $900K (15 sales) Nunawading — 3 bed: $920K (21 sales)

15 vs 21 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.

Blackburn North Nunawading
3 bed $1.2M / $1.08M
Blackburn North — 3 bed: $1.2M (58 sales) Nunawading — 3 bed: $1.08M (75 sales)

58 vs 75 sales

4 bed $1.61M / $1.4M
Blackburn North — 4 bed: $1.61M (42 sales) Nunawading — 4 bed: $1.4M (34 sales)

42 vs 34 sales

5 bed $2.1M / $1.68M
Blackburn North — 5 bed: $2.1M (16 sales) Nunawading — 5 bed: $1.68M (13 sales)

16 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Blackburn North Nunawading
Residential 77% 67%
Infrastructure and transport 11%
same for both
Industrial 3% 10%
Parks and recreation 8% 6%
Commercial 0% 6%
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

Blackburn North Nunawading
New dwellings approved 879
across Whitehorse
same for both
Approvals change year on year +17%
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.

Blackburn North Nunawading
Houses 3.7%
$825/wk on $1.15M
 3.2%
$680/wk on $1.1M
Units — 5.1%
$580/wk on $586K

Ranking within VIC

Blackburn North Nunawading
House price Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Income Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Schools Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 69% of VIC

Liveability

Blackburn North Nunawading
Grade A+
same for both
Score 82/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Nunawading carries more crime risk (81 vs 39).

Blackburn North Nunawading
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
39/100
 High
81/100
Flood Low
11/100
 Low
18/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Blackburn North Nunawading
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 6.2 km
 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 6.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.4% 3.0%

Schools in Blackburn North

  • Whitehorse Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Old Orchard Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Philip's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Nunawading

  • Nunawading Christian College - Primary Independent · Primary above peers
  • Nunawading Christian College - Secondary Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Mount Pleasant Road Nunawading Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Blackburn North Nunawading
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 3 15
Parks & reserves 10 18
Childcare 8
same for both
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 6 2

Mobility

Nunawading sits further from the CBD (23.7 km vs 21.2 km).

Blackburn North Nunawading
Walkability score 86/100 90/100
Distance to Melbourne 21.2 km 23.7 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 29 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 173.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 314.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 3130
 2.5%
postcode 3131
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 3130
 28
postcode 3131

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.

Blackburn North Nunawading
Car (driver) 50.3% / 47.8%
Blackburn North — Car (driver): 50.3% Nunawading — Car (driver): 47.8%
Worked from Home 39.1% / 40.4%
Blackburn North — Worked from Home: 39.1% Nunawading — Worked from Home: 40.4%
Train 2.7% / 5.4%
Blackburn North — Train: 2.7% Nunawading — Train: 5.4%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 3.6%
Blackburn North — Car (passenger): 4.2% Nunawading — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Bus 2.3% / 1.2%
Blackburn North — Bus: 2.3% Nunawading — Bus: 1.2%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.3%
Blackburn North — Walked Only: 1.2% Nunawading — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.3%).

Setting

Blackburn North Nunawading
Elevation 91 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 136 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.3 km 18.6 km

NBN connectivity

Blackburn North Nunawading
Connectivity score 75/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
3,096 premises
 15%
6,170 premises

Climate

Blackburn North Nunawading
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)

Blackburn North Nunawading
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Blackburn North Nunawading
Average residential rate $1,516/yr
same for both
Council Whitehorse
same for both

Federal electorate

Blackburn North Nunawading
Division Menzies Deakin
Member Gabriel Ng Matt Gregg
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Blackburn North Nunawading
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Blackburn North

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Quiet River

Nunawading

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Blackburn North

Blackburn North vs Doncaster East Blackburn North vs Doncaster Blackburn North vs Blackburn Blackburn North vs Donvale Blackburn North vs Box Hill North

Other comparisons with Nunawading

Nunawading vs Mitcham Nunawading vs Blackburn Nunawading vs Donvale Nunawading vs Vermont Nunawading vs Forest Hill
Full data on Blackburn North Full data on Nunawading
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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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