Burnley vs South Yarra

In Burnley, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In South Yarra, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in South Yarra: a median of $1.79 million, against $1.35 million in Burnley, though rent is higher in Burnley. South Yarra is closer to the city centre: 5.6 km, against 13 km. On these figures, Burnley tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while South Yarra suits renters and people living alone.

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

South Yarra

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 14)
  • But Burnley has more separate houses rather than flats (20% vs 7%)

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

First-home buyers

Burnley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,350,000 vs $1,790,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Yarra

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (64% vs 48%)

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

Commuting to the city

South Yarra

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (5.6 km vs 13 km)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 65/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (13 min vs 19 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

South Yarra

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 65/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (93% vs 80%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Burnley South Yarra
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.

Burnley South Yarra
Walkability 65 / 99
Burnley — Walkability: 65/100 South Yarra — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 4 / 13
Burnley — Safety: 4/100 South Yarra — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Burnley — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Yarra — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 12 / 41
Burnley — Low flood risk: 12/100 South Yarra — Low flood risk: 41/100

Demographics

South Yarra has more residents (25,028 vs 794); Burnley has higher household incomes ($125,996 vs $107,276).

Burnley South Yarra
Population 794 25,028
+3052% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% -0.5%
Median age 32 33
Median household income $125,996/yr
+15% vs other
 $107,276/yr
Median weekly rent $440/wk
+6% vs other
 $415/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burnley South Yarra
0-4 5.7% / 2.8%
Burnley — 0-4: 5.7% South Yarra — 0-4: 2.8%
5-14 6.9% / 4.3%
Burnley — 5-14: 6.9% South Yarra — 5-14: 4.3%
15-19 4.0% / 3.0%
Burnley — 15-19: 4.0% South Yarra — 15-19: 3.0%
20-24 8.2% / 8.7%
Burnley — 20-24: 8.2% South Yarra — 20-24: 8.7%
25-34 31.2% / 34.1%
Burnley — 25-34: 31.2% South Yarra — 25-34: 34.1%
35-44 17.9% / 16.7%
Burnley — 35-44: 17.9% South Yarra — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 10.1% / 9.8%
Burnley — 45-54: 10.1% South Yarra — 45-54: 9.8%
55-64 7.8% / 8.4%
Burnley — 55-64: 7.8% South Yarra — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 5.7% / 6.8%
Burnley — 65-74: 5.7% South Yarra — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 2.3% / 4.1%
Burnley — 75-84: 2.3% South Yarra — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.5% / 1.4%
Burnley — 85+: 1.5% South Yarra — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burnley 47.8% lone person
Burnley — Lone Person: 47.8% Burnley — Couple Families: 27.7% Burnley — Group Household: 14.6% Burnley — One Parent Families: 7.5% Burnley — Other Families: 2.4%
South Yarra 67.7% lone person
South Yarra — Lone Person: 67.7% South Yarra — Couple Families: 12.3% South Yarra — Group Household: 11.6% South Yarra — One Parent Families: 6.2% South Yarra — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Burnley 48.4% renting
Burnley — Owned Outright: 22.3% Burnley — Mortgage: 29.3% Burnley — Renting: 48.4%
South Yarra 63.5% renting
South Yarra — Owned Outright: 18.3% South Yarra — Mortgage: 18.2% South Yarra — Renting: 63.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Burnley South Yarra
Bachelor Degree 34.4% / 33.9%
Burnley — Bachelor Degree: 34.4% South Yarra — Bachelor Degree: 33.9%
Postgraduate Degree 10.8% / 15.7%
Burnley — Postgraduate Degree: 10.8% South Yarra — Postgraduate Degree: 15.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.2% / 7.8%
Burnley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2% South Yarra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Certificate III & IV 6.5% / 4.7%
Burnley — Certificate III & IV: 6.5% South Yarra — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.3% / 3.7%
Burnley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.3% South Yarra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (34.4%).

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.

Burnley South Yarra
England 4.7% / 4.4%
Burnley — England: 4.7% South Yarra — England: 4.4%
New Zealand 1.6% / 3.1%
Burnley — New Zealand: 1.6% South Yarra — New Zealand: 3.1%
China — / 4.4%
Burnley — China: not among its largest South Yarra — China: 4.4%
India 0.9% / 2.1%
Burnley — India: 0.9% South Yarra — India: 2.1%
Malaysia 1.1% / 1.5%
Burnley — Malaysia: 1.1% South Yarra — Malaysia: 1.5%
Vietnam 1.0% / 0.8%
Burnley — Vietnam: 1.0% South Yarra — Vietnam: 0.8%
Greece 1.1% / —
Burnley — Greece: 1.1% South Yarra — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burnley 30.1% flats / apartments
Burnley — Flats / Apartments: 30.1% Burnley — Townhouses: 50.0% Burnley — Houses: 19.9%
South Yarra 79.8% flats / apartments
South Yarra — Flats / Apartments: 79.8% South Yarra — Townhouses: 12.8% South Yarra — Houses: 7.4%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Burnley South Yarra
Median house price $1,350,000 $1,790,000
Median unit price $527,000 $542,000
Median land price — $702,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 25 days
from 113 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.

Burnley South Yarra
2 bed $1.11M / $1.36M
Burnley — 2 bed: $1.11M (9 sales) South Yarra — 2 bed: $1.36M (57 sales)

9 vs 57 sales

3 bed $1.63M / $2.04M
Burnley — 3 bed: $1.63M (8 sales) South Yarra — 3 bed: $2.04M (81 sales)

8 vs 81 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.

Burnley South Yarra
1 bed $348K / $388K
Burnley — 1 bed: $348K (10 sales) South Yarra — 1 bed: $388K (542 sales)

10 vs 542 sales

2 bed $548K / $640K
Burnley — 2 bed: $548K (16 sales) South Yarra — 2 bed: $640K (603 sales)

16 vs 603 sales

Zoning mix

Burnley South Yarra
Residential 9% 55%
Parks and recreation 51% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 33% 10%
Commercial 6% 14%
Other and special use 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

Burnley South Yarra
New dwellings approved 1,675
across Yarra
 818
across Stonnington
Approvals change year on year +646% +67%

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.

Burnley South Yarra
Houses — 2.4%
$910/wk on $1.94M
Units — 5.9%
$630/wk on $555K

Ranking within VIC

Burnley South Yarra
House price — Higher than 96% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Schools Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 2% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 3% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 91% of VIC

Liveability

South Yarra scores higher overall (77 vs 50); South Yarra is more walkable (99 vs 65).

Burnley South Yarra
Grade B A
Score 50/100 77/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Burnley carries more flood risk (88 vs 59).

Burnley South Yarra
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
96/100
 High
87/100
Flood High
88/100
 Moderate
59/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Burnley South Yarra
Inside the suburb 3 8
Rated above peers 0 3
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 1.4 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 3.9%

Schools in Burnley

  • SEDA College (Victoria) - FFV Burnley Independent · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - FFV Burnley 2 Independent · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Netball Burnley Independent · Secondary

Schools in South Yarra

  • Christ Church Grammar School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Melbourne High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • South Yarra Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Melbourne Girls Grammar Independent · Combined at peers
  • Centre for Higher Education Studies Government · Secondary
  • Melbourne Girls Grammar - Morris Hall Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Burnley South Yarra
Supermarkets 0 7
Cafes & restaurants 1 82
Parks & reserves 14 17
Childcare 0 9
GPs 0 7
Pharmacies 0 10
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Burnley sits further from the CBD (13 km vs 5.6 km).

Burnley South Yarra
Walkability score 65/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 13 km
+57% vs other
 5.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 13 min
Public transport score 98/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 54.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 408.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.0%
postcode 3121
 2.4%
postcode 3141
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3121
 3
postcode 3141

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.

Burnley South Yarra
Worked from Home 50.0% / 53.0%
Burnley — Worked from Home: 50.0% South Yarra — Worked from Home: 53.0%
Car (driver) 32.1% / 23.0%
Burnley — Car (driver): 32.1% South Yarra — Car (driver): 23.0%
Train 8.3% / 8.4%
Burnley — Train: 8.3% South Yarra — Train: 8.4%
Walked Only 2.6% / 8.8%
Burnley — Walked Only: 2.6% South Yarra — Walked Only: 8.8%
Bicycle 3.8% / 2.1%
Burnley — Bicycle: 3.8% South Yarra — Bicycle: 2.1%
Tram / Light Rail 2.1% / 2.9%
Burnley — Tram / Light Rail: 2.1% South Yarra — Tram / Light Rail: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.0%).

Setting

Burnley South Yarra
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.5 km 3.1 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Burnley South Yarra
Connectivity score 88/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
586 premises
 23%
20,401 premises

Climate

Burnley South Yarra
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Burnley South Yarra
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Burnley South Yarra
Average residential rate $1,937/yr $1,647/yr
Council Yarra Stonnington

Federal electorate

Burnley South Yarra
Division Melbourne
same for both
Member Sarah Witty
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Burnley South Yarra
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Burnley

Apartments Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals River Townhouses Trains Trams Transport Hub

South Yarra

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burnley

Burnley vs Richmond Burnley vs Hawthorn Burnley vs Toorak

Other comparisons with South Yarra

South Yarra vs Melbourne South Yarra vs Richmond South Yarra vs Toorak South Yarra vs Prahran South Yarra vs Cremorne
Full data on Burnley Full data on South Yarra
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.

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