Briar Hill vs Eltham

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Eltham, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Eltham: a median of $1.23 million, against $995,000 in Briar Hill, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Briar Hill tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Eltham suits 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

Eltham

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (51 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 2)
  • But Briar Hill carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 58/100)

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

First-home buyers

Briar Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($995,000 vs $1,230,000)

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

They split

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

  • Briar Hill sits closer to the CBD (23.3 km vs 25.3 km)
  • Eltham is more walkable (81/100 vs 72/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Eltham

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 72/100)
  • But Briar Hill carries lower crime risk (29/100 vs 58/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Briar Hill Eltham
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.

Briar Hill Eltham
Walkability 72 / 81
Briar Hill — Walkability: 72/100 Eltham — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 71 / 42
Briar Hill — Safety: 71/100 Eltham — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 14
Briar Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Eltham — Low fire risk: 14/100
Low flood risk 67 / 37
Briar Hill — Low flood risk: 67/100 Eltham — Low flood risk: 37/100

Demographics

Eltham has more residents (18,847 vs 3,220); Eltham has higher household incomes ($124,332 vs $100,620).

Briar Hill Eltham
Population 3,220 18,847
+485% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.2% +2.9%
Median age 42 43
Median household income $100,620/yr $124,332/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $411/wk $440/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Briar Hill Eltham
0-4 6.4% / 5.3%
Briar Hill — 0-4: 6.4% Eltham — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 12.7% / 13.4%
Briar Hill — 5-14: 12.7% Eltham — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 4.9% / 7.0%
Briar Hill — 15-19: 4.9% Eltham — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 3.9% / 5.4%
Briar Hill — 20-24: 3.9% Eltham — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 11.1% / 8.0%
Briar Hill — 25-34: 11.1% Eltham — 25-34: 8.0%
35-44 14.6% / 12.5%
Briar Hill — 35-44: 14.6% Eltham — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 14.2% / 15.7%
Briar Hill — 45-54: 14.2% Eltham — 45-54: 15.7%
55-64 11.5% / 14.1%
Briar Hill — 55-64: 11.5% Eltham — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 11.5% / 11.8%
Briar Hill — 65-74: 11.5% Eltham — 65-74: 11.8%
75-84 7.5% / 5.3%
Briar Hill — 75-84: 7.5% Eltham — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 1.6% / 1.5%
Briar Hill — 85+: 1.6% Eltham — 85+: 1.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Briar Hill 43.9% couple families
Briar Hill — Couple Families: 43.9% Briar Hill — Lone Person: 34.5% Briar Hill — One Parent Families: 18.6% Briar Hill — Group Household: 1.9% Briar Hill — Other Families: 1.1%
Eltham 59.1% couple families
Eltham — Couple Families: 59.1% Eltham — Lone Person: 24.4% Eltham — One Parent Families: 14.4% Eltham — Group Household: 1.3% Eltham — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Briar Hill 20.4% renting
Briar Hill — Owned Outright: 39.2% Briar Hill — Mortgage: 40.4% Briar Hill — Renting: 20.4%
Eltham 12.2% renting
Eltham — Owned Outright: 43.1% Eltham — Mortgage: 44.8% Eltham — Renting: 12.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Briar Hill Eltham
Bachelor Degree 17.4% / 18.9%
Briar Hill — Bachelor Degree: 17.4% Eltham — Bachelor Degree: 18.9%
Certificate III & IV 13.3% / 10.7%
Briar Hill — Certificate III & IV: 13.3% Eltham — Certificate III & IV: 10.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 9.0%
Briar Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Eltham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 5.2% / 7.6%
Briar Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2% Eltham — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.9%
Briar Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Eltham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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.

Briar Hill Eltham
England 4.1% / 4.6%
Briar Hill — England: 4.1% Eltham — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.2%
Briar Hill — New Zealand: 1.0% Eltham — New Zealand: 1.2%
China 0.9% / 1.2%
Briar Hill — China: 0.9% Eltham — China: 1.2%
Italy 1.1% / 0.7%
Briar Hill — Italy: 1.1% Eltham — Italy: 0.7%
India 0.6% / 0.7%
Briar Hill — India: 0.6% Eltham — India: 0.7%
South Africa — / 0.7%
Briar Hill — South Africa: not among its largest Eltham — South Africa: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Briar Hill 85.6% houses
Briar Hill — Houses: 85.6% Briar Hill — Townhouses: 14.4% Briar Hill — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Eltham 85.9% houses
Eltham — Houses: 85.9% Eltham — Townhouses: 5.7% Eltham — Flats / Apartments: 8.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Briar Hill Eltham
Median house price $995,000 $1,230,000
Median unit price $715,000 $776,500
Median land price — $867,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 19 sales
 23 days
from 205 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.

Briar Hill Eltham
2 bed $693K / $678K
Briar Hill — 2 bed: $693K (11 sales) Eltham — 2 bed: $678K (28 sales)

11 vs 28 sales

3 bed $875K / $855K
Briar Hill — 3 bed: $875K (7 sales) Eltham — 3 bed: $855K (36 sales)

7 vs 36 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.

Briar Hill Eltham
2 bed $795K / $918K
Briar Hill — 2 bed: $795K (7 sales) Eltham — 2 bed: $918K (13 sales)

7 vs 13 sales

3 bed $968K / $1.06M
Briar Hill — 3 bed: $968K (44 sales) Eltham — 3 bed: $1.06M (108 sales)

44 vs 108 sales

4 bed $1.17M / $1.3M
Briar Hill — 4 bed: $1.17M (28 sales) Eltham — 4 bed: $1.3M (158 sales)

28 vs 158 sales

5 bed $1.32M / $1.54M
Briar Hill — 5 bed: $1.32M (6 sales) Eltham — 5 bed: $1.54M (40 sales)

6 vs 40 sales

Zoning mix

Eltham has more land zoned for conservation (15% vs 0%).

Briar Hill Eltham
Residential 89% 59%
Parks and recreation 2% 16%
Environmental 0% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 6%
same for both
Commercial 3% 2%
Industrial 0% 1%
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

Briar Hill Eltham
New dwellings approved 722
across Banyule
 98
across Nillumbik
Approvals change year on year -75% +8%

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.

Briar Hill Eltham
Houses 3.4%
$680/wk on $1.05M
 3.5%
$785/wk on $1.15M
Units — 4.0%
$580/wk on $745K

Ranking within VIC

Briar Hill Eltham
House price Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Income Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 48% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 30% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 11% of VIC

Liveability

Briar Hill scores higher overall (80 vs 55); Eltham is more walkable (81 vs 72).

Briar Hill Eltham
Grade A B
Score 80/100 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Eltham carries more bushfire risk (86 vs 0); Eltham carries more crime risk (58 vs 29).

Briar Hill Eltham
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
86/100
Crime Low
29/100
 Moderate
58/100
Flood Low
33/100
 Moderate
63/100
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

Briar Hill Eltham
Inside the suburb 2 5
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 3
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 5.5 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 9.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.5% 2.6%

Schools in Briar Hill

  • Briar Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Sherbourne Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Eltham

  • Our Lady Help of Christians School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Catholic Ladies' College Ltd Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Eltham East Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Eltham High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Eltham Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Briar Hill Eltham
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 1 30
Parks & reserves 6 51
Childcare 2 13
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 1 4
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 0 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 24

Mobility

Eltham sits further from the CBD (25.3 km vs 23.3 km).

Briar Hill Eltham
Walkability score 72/100 81/100
Distance to Melbourne 23.3 km 25.3 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 35 min 36 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 49.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 270.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 3088
 1.8%
postcode 3095
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3088
 34
postcode 3095

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.

Briar Hill Eltham
Car (driver) 55.3% / 50.6%
Briar Hill — Car (driver): 55.3% Eltham — Car (driver): 50.6%
Worked from Home 37.9% / 42.2%
Briar Hill — Worked from Home: 37.9% Eltham — Worked from Home: 42.2%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 3.1%
Briar Hill — Car (passenger): 2.3% Eltham — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Train 2.3% / 2.3%
Briar Hill — Train: 2.3% Eltham — Train: 2.3%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.1%
Briar Hill — Walked Only: 1.0% Eltham — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.3%).

Setting

Briar Hill Eltham
Elevation 88 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.6 km 23.1 km

NBN connectivity

Briar Hill Eltham
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 1%
1,496 premises
 9%
7,841 premises

Climate

Briar Hill Eltham
Annual rainfall 534 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Briar Hill Eltham
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Briar Hill Eltham
Average residential rate $1,787/yr $2,696/yr
Council Banyule Nillumbik

Federal electorate

Briar Hill Eltham
Division Jagajaga
same for both
Member Kate Thwaites
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Briar Hill Eltham
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Briar Hill

Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Quiet

Eltham

Easy Commute Large Blocks Outer Parks Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Briar Hill

Briar Hill vs Greensborough Briar Hill vs Montmorency Briar Hill vs Eltham North

Other comparisons with Eltham

Eltham vs Templestowe Eltham vs Diamond Creek Eltham vs Montmorency Eltham vs Eltham North Eltham vs Warrandyte Eltham vs Lower Plenty
Full data on Briar Hill Full data on Eltham
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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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