Blackburn 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: a median of $1.57 million, against $1.14 million in Nunawading. 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

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (14 vs 8)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 81/100)

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

First-home buyers

Nunawading

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,142,500 vs $1,572,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Blackburn

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 81/100)

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

Investors

Nunawading

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Blackburn 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 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 Nunawading
Walkability 89 / 90
Blackburn — Walkability: 89/100 Nunawading — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 35 / 19
Blackburn — Safety: 35/100 Nunawading — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Blackburn — Low fire risk: 100/100 Nunawading — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 65 / 82
Blackburn — Low flood risk: 65/100 Nunawading — Low flood risk: 82/100

Demographics

Blackburn skews older (41 vs 39).

Blackburn Nunawading
Population 14,478
+14% vs other
 12,413
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.9% +4.5%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $107,380/yr
+6% vs other
 $100,776/yr
Median weekly rent $411/wk
+5% vs other
 $391/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Blackburn Nunawading
0-4 3.9% / 6.0%
Blackburn — 0-4: 3.9% Nunawading — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 11.9% / 11.6%
Blackburn — 5-14: 11.9% Nunawading — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 6.3% / 5.2%
Blackburn — 15-19: 6.3% Nunawading — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 7.0% / 5.7%
Blackburn — 20-24: 7.0% Nunawading — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 12.1% / 14.6%
Blackburn — 25-34: 12.1% Nunawading — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 13.5% / 15.7%
Blackburn — 35-44: 13.5% Nunawading — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 14.2% / 13.4%
Blackburn — 45-54: 14.2% Nunawading — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 12.4% / 9.9%
Blackburn — 55-64: 12.4% Nunawading — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 9.0% / 8.3%
Blackburn — 65-74: 9.0% Nunawading — 65-74: 8.3%
75-84 5.9% / 6.2%
Blackburn — 75-84: 5.9% Nunawading — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 3.7% / 3.5%
Blackburn — 85+: 3.7% Nunawading — 85+: 3.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Blackburn 45.5% couple families
Blackburn — Couple Families: 45.5% Blackburn — Lone Person: 36.5% Blackburn — One Parent Families: 11.8% Blackburn — Group Household: 4.8% Blackburn — Other Families: 1.4%
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 26.5% renting
Blackburn — Owned Outright: 40.3% Blackburn — Mortgage: 33.2% Blackburn — Renting: 26.5%
Nunawading 30.1% renting
Nunawading — Owned Outright: 33.5% Nunawading — Mortgage: 36.4% Nunawading — Renting: 30.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Blackburn Nunawading
Bachelor Degree 24.0% / 20.6%
Blackburn — Bachelor Degree: 24.0% Nunawading — Bachelor Degree: 20.6%
Postgraduate Degree 11.4% / 9.2%
Blackburn — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4% Nunawading — Postgraduate Degree: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 8.1%
Blackburn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Nunawading — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 6.6% / 7.8%
Blackburn — Certificate III & IV: 6.6% Nunawading — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.1% / 3.1%
Blackburn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1% Nunawading — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.0%).

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.

Blackburn Nunawading
China 8.2% / 8.7%
Blackburn — China: 8.2% Nunawading — China: 8.7%
India 4.3% / 4.6%
Blackburn — India: 4.3% Nunawading — India: 4.6%
England 2.9% / 2.3%
Blackburn — England: 2.9% Nunawading — England: 2.3%
Malaysia 2.5% / 2.4%
Blackburn — Malaysia: 2.5% Nunawading — Malaysia: 2.4%
Vietnam 0.9% / 1.7%
Blackburn — Vietnam: 0.9% Nunawading — Vietnam: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.1%
Blackburn — New Zealand: 1.1% Nunawading — New Zealand: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Blackburn 66.0% houses
Blackburn — Houses: 66.0% Blackburn — Townhouses: 21.3% Blackburn — Flats / Apartments: 12.7%
Nunawading 68.7% houses
Nunawading — Houses: 68.7% Nunawading — Townhouses: 27.8% Nunawading — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Blackburn Nunawading
Median house price $1,572,000 $1,142,500
Median unit price $653,500 $677,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 141 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 Nunawading
1 bed $365K / $342K
Blackburn — 1 bed: $365K (38 sales) Nunawading — 1 bed: $342K (14 sales)

38 vs 14 sales

2 bed $644K / $642K
Blackburn — 2 bed: $644K (86 sales) Nunawading — 2 bed: $642K (46 sales)

86 vs 46 sales

3 bed $1.1M / $920K
Blackburn — 3 bed: $1.1M (47 sales) Nunawading — 3 bed: $920K (21 sales)

47 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 Nunawading
2 bed $1M / $980K
Blackburn — 2 bed: $1M (19 sales) Nunawading — 2 bed: $980K (11 sales)

19 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.35M / $1.08M
Blackburn — 3 bed: $1.35M (72 sales) Nunawading — 3 bed: $1.08M (75 sales)

72 vs 75 sales

4 bed $1.68M / $1.4M
Blackburn — 4 bed: $1.68M (75 sales) Nunawading — 4 bed: $1.4M (34 sales)

75 vs 34 sales

5 bed $2.1M / $1.68M
Blackburn — 5 bed: $2.1M (25 sales) Nunawading — 5 bed: $1.68M (13 sales)

25 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Blackburn Nunawading
Residential 72% 67%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 11%
Parks and recreation 11% 6%
Industrial 3% 10%
Commercial 6%
same for both
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 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 Nunawading
Houses 3.0%
$800/wk on $1.39M
 3.2%
$680/wk on $1.1M
Units 4.6%
$550/wk on $618K
 5.1%
$580/wk on $586K

Ranking within VIC

Blackburn Nunawading
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC
Income Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Schools Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 41% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC

Liveability

Blackburn Nunawading
Grade A+
same for both
Score 84/100 82/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Blackburn carries more flood risk (35 vs 18); Nunawading carries more crime risk (81 vs 65).

Blackburn Nunawading
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
81/100
Flood Low
35/100
 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 Nunawading
Inside the suburb 5 3
Rated above peers 3 2
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 4.7 km
 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 6.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.0% 3.0%

Schools in Blackburn

  • Blackburn Lake Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Blackburn Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Laburnum Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Blackburn High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Thomas the Apostle 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 Nunawading
Supermarkets 5 2
Cafes & restaurants 19 15
Parks & reserves 19 18
Childcare 14 8
GPs 6 4
Pharmacies 4 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 3 1
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Blackburn Nunawading
Walkability score 89/100 90/100
Distance to Melbourne 22.9 km 23.7 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 360.2
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 Nunawading
Car (driver) 40.4% / 47.8%
Blackburn — Car (driver): 40.4% Nunawading — Car (driver): 47.8%
Worked from Home 47.4% / 40.4%
Blackburn — Worked from Home: 47.4% Nunawading — Worked from Home: 40.4%
Train 5.7% / 5.4%
Blackburn — Train: 5.7% Nunawading — Train: 5.4%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 3.6%
Blackburn — Car (passenger): 3.1% Nunawading — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.3%
Blackburn — Walked Only: 1.9% Nunawading — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.8%).

Setting

Blackburn Nunawading
Elevation 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 136 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.4 km 18.6 km

NBN connectivity

Blackburn Nunawading
Connectivity score 78/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
7,295 premises
 15%
6,170 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Blackburn

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

Nunawading

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Blackburn

Blackburn vs Box Hill Blackburn vs Box Hill North Blackburn vs Blackburn South Blackburn vs Forest Hill Blackburn vs Box Hill South Blackburn vs Blackburn North

Other comparisons with Nunawading

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

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or