Box Hill South vs Blackburn

Comparing Box Hill South and Blackburn, VIC: Blackburn has more residents (14,478 vs 8,491); Box Hill South carries more flood risk (49 vs 35); and Blackburn scores higher overall (84 vs 76).

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 parks and reserves (19 vs 4)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Blackburn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($653,500 vs $774,000)

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 the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)

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

Investors

Box Hill South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (7.9% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Box Hill South Blackburn
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.

Box Hill South Blackburn
Walkability 92 / 89
Box Hill South — Walkability: 92/100 Blackburn — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 29 / 35
Box Hill South — Safety: 29/100 Blackburn — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Box Hill South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Blackburn — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 51 / 65
Box Hill South — Low flood risk: 51/100 Blackburn — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Blackburn has more residents (14,478 vs 8,491); Blackburn skews older (41 vs 39).

Box Hill South Blackburn
Population 8,491 14,478
+71% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.7% +3.9%
Median age 39 41
Median household income $100,256/yr $107,380/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $425/wk
+3% vs other
 $411/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Box Hill South Blackburn
0-4 4.5% / 3.9%
Box Hill South — 0-4: 4.5% Blackburn — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 12.5% / 11.9%
Box Hill South — 5-14: 12.5% Blackburn — 5-14: 11.9%
15-19 6.7% / 6.3%
Box Hill South — 15-19: 6.7% Blackburn — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 7.5% / 7.0%
Box Hill South — 20-24: 7.5% Blackburn — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 13.4% / 12.1%
Box Hill South — 25-34: 13.4% Blackburn — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 13.8% / 13.5%
Box Hill South — 35-44: 13.8% Blackburn — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 14.3% / 14.2%
Box Hill South — 45-54: 14.3% Blackburn — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 12.0% / 12.4%
Box Hill South — 55-64: 12.0% Blackburn — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 8.6% / 9.0%
Box Hill South — 65-74: 8.6% Blackburn — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 4.4% / 5.9%
Box Hill South — 75-84: 4.4% Blackburn — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 2.3% / 3.7%
Box Hill South — 85+: 2.3% Blackburn — 85+: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Box Hill South 46.2% couple families
Box Hill South — Couple Families: 46.2% Box Hill South — Lone Person: 32.3% Box Hill South — One Parent Families: 13.5% Box Hill South — Group Household: 6.3% Box Hill South — Other Families: 1.8%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Box Hill South 28.7% renting
Box Hill South — Owned Outright: 33.8% Box Hill South — Mortgage: 37.5% Box Hill South — Renting: 28.7%
Blackburn 26.5% renting
Blackburn — Owned Outright: 40.3% Blackburn — Mortgage: 33.2% Blackburn — Renting: 26.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Box Hill South Blackburn
Bachelor Degree 22.4% / 24.0%
Box Hill South — Bachelor Degree: 22.4% Blackburn — Bachelor Degree: 24.0%
Postgraduate Degree 11.8% / 11.4%
Box Hill South — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8% Blackburn — Postgraduate Degree: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.8%
Box Hill South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Blackburn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 6.6%
Box Hill South — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Blackburn — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 4.1%
Box Hill South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Blackburn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

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.

Box Hill South Blackburn
China 13.3% / 8.2%
Box Hill South — China: 13.3% Blackburn — China: 8.2%
India 3.8% / 4.3%
Box Hill South — India: 3.8% Blackburn — India: 4.3%
Malaysia 2.6% / 2.5%
Box Hill South — Malaysia: 2.6% Blackburn — Malaysia: 2.5%
England 2.2% / 2.9%
Box Hill South — England: 2.2% Blackburn — England: 2.9%
Vietnam 2.1% / 0.9%
Box Hill South — Vietnam: 2.1% Blackburn — Vietnam: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.1%
Box Hill South — New Zealand: 1.2% Blackburn — New Zealand: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Box Hill South 66.1% houses
Box Hill South — Houses: 66.1% Box Hill South — Townhouses: 22.6% Box Hill South — Flats / Apartments: 11.4%
Blackburn 66.0% houses
Blackburn — Houses: 66.0% Blackburn — Townhouses: 21.3% Blackburn — Flats / Apartments: 12.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Box Hill South Blackburn
Median house price $1,451,000 $1,572,000
Median unit price $774,000 $653,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 70 sales
 24 days
from 141 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.

Box Hill South Blackburn
1 bed $350K / $365K
Box Hill South — 1 bed: $350K (7 sales) Blackburn — 1 bed: $365K (38 sales)

7 vs 38 sales

2 bed $685K / $644K
Box Hill South — 2 bed: $685K (21 sales) Blackburn — 2 bed: $644K (86 sales)

21 vs 86 sales

3 bed $920K / $1.1M
Box Hill South — 3 bed: $920K (18 sales) Blackburn — 3 bed: $1.1M (47 sales)

18 vs 47 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.

Box Hill South Blackburn
2 bed $1.28M / $1M
Box Hill South — 2 bed: $1.28M (13 sales) Blackburn — 2 bed: $1M (19 sales)

13 vs 19 sales

3 bed $1.33M / $1.35M
Box Hill South — 3 bed: $1.33M (60 sales) Blackburn — 3 bed: $1.35M (72 sales)

60 vs 72 sales

4 bed $1.54M / $1.68M
Box Hill South — 4 bed: $1.54M (43 sales) Blackburn — 4 bed: $1.68M (75 sales)

43 vs 75 sales

5 bed $2.25M / $2.1M
Box Hill South — 5 bed: $2.25M (21 sales) Blackburn — 5 bed: $2.1M (25 sales)

21 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Box Hill South Blackburn
Residential 68% 72%
Parks and recreation 3% 11%
Industrial 10% 3%
Other and special use 10% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 9%
Commercial 2% 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

Box Hill South Blackburn
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.

Box Hill South Blackburn
Houses 3.0%
$780/wk on $1.35M
 3.0%
$800/wk on $1.39M
Units 7.9%
$650/wk on $430K
 4.6%
$550/wk on $618K

Ranking within VIC

Box Hill South Blackburn
House price Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Income Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 88% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 13% of VIC Higher than 12% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 13% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (units) Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC

Liveability

Blackburn scores higher overall (84 vs 76).

Box Hill South Blackburn
Grade A A+
Score 76/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Box Hill South carries more flood risk (49 vs 35).

Box Hill South Blackburn
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Moderate
49/100
 Low
35/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Box Hill South Blackburn
Inside the suburb 2 5
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 1.8 km
 1
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 4.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.7% 4.0%

Schools in Box Hill South

  • Kingswood College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Roberts McCubbin Primary School Government · Primary at peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Box Hill South Blackburn
Supermarkets 2 5
Cafes & restaurants 5 19
Parks & reserves 4 19
Childcare 3 14
GPs 2 6
Pharmacies 2 4
Banks & Bank@Post 3
same for both
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 4

Mobility

Box Hill South Blackburn
Walkability score 92/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 22.2 km 22.9 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 29 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 247.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 360.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 3128
 2.1%
postcode 3130
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 14
postcode 3128
 27
postcode 3130

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.

Box Hill South Blackburn
Worked from Home 40.8% / 47.4%
Box Hill South — Worked from Home: 40.8% Blackburn — Worked from Home: 47.4%
Car (driver) 46.7% / 40.4%
Box Hill South — Car (driver): 46.7% Blackburn — Car (driver): 40.4%
Train 4.0% / 5.7%
Box Hill South — Train: 4.0% Blackburn — Train: 5.7%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 3.1%
Box Hill South — Car (passenger): 3.6% Blackburn — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Walked Only 1.6% / 1.9%
Box Hill South — Walked Only: 1.6% Blackburn — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 2.2% / 0.7%
Box Hill South — Bus: 2.2% Blackburn — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.4%).

Setting

Box Hill South Blackburn
Elevation 95 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 13.5 km 16.4 km

NBN connectivity

Box Hill South Blackburn
Connectivity score 76/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
4,010 premises
 12%
7,295 premises

Climate

Box Hill South Blackburn
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)

Box Hill South Blackburn
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Box Hill South Blackburn
Average residential rate $1,516/yr
same for both
Council Whitehorse
same for both

Federal electorate

Box Hill South Blackburn
Division Menzies
same for both
Member Gabriel Ng
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Box Hill South

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses

Blackburn

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Box Hill South

Box Hill South vs Burwood Box Hill South vs Box Hill Box Hill South vs Surrey Hills Box Hill South vs Blackburn South

Other comparisons with Blackburn

Blackburn vs Box Hill Blackburn vs Nunawading Blackburn vs Box Hill North Blackburn vs Blackburn South Blackburn vs Forest Hill Blackburn vs Blackburn North
Full data on Box Hill South Full data on Blackburn
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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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