Burnley vs Toorak

Burnley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 47 in Toorak. In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Burnley, about half of households rent. In Toorak, most households own their home and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Toorak: a median of $3.15 million, against $1.35 million in Burnley, and rent is higher there too. Toorak is closer to the city centre: 7.8 km, against 13 km. On these figures, Burnley tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Toorak suits older residents.

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

Toorak

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (30% vs 20%)
  • But Burnley has more parks and reserves (14 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Burnley

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,350,000 vs $3,150,000)
  • has cheaper units ($527,000 vs $815,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Burnley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (48% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($440/wk vs $486/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Toorak

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (7.8 km vs 13 km)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 65/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Toorak

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 10%)
  • is more walkable (88/100 vs 65/100)
  • But Burnley has more units and townhouses to downsize into (80% vs 70%)

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 Toorak 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 Toorak
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 Toorak
Walkability 65 / 88
Burnley — Walkability: 65/100 Toorak — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 4 / 27
Burnley — Safety: 4/100 Toorak — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Burnley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Toorak — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 12 / 44
Burnley — Low flood risk: 12/100 Toorak — Low flood risk: 44/100

Demographics

Toorak has more residents (12,817 vs 794); Toorak skews older (47 vs 32).

Burnley Toorak
Population 794 12,817
+1514% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% -0.7%
Median age 32 47
Median household income $125,996/yr $131,716/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $440/wk $486/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burnley Toorak
0-4 5.7% / 3.2%
Burnley — 0-4: 5.7% Toorak — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 6.9% / 7.7%
Burnley — 5-14: 6.9% Toorak — 5-14: 7.7%
15-19 4.0% / 4.9%
Burnley — 15-19: 4.0% Toorak — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 8.2% / 6.7%
Burnley — 20-24: 8.2% Toorak — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 31.2% / 14.6%
Burnley — 25-34: 31.2% Toorak — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 17.9% / 10.6%
Burnley — 35-44: 17.9% Toorak — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 10.1% / 11.9%
Burnley — 45-54: 10.1% Toorak — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 7.8% / 13.1%
Burnley — 55-64: 7.8% Toorak — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 5.7% / 13.6%
Burnley — 65-74: 5.7% Toorak — 65-74: 13.6%
75-84 2.3% / 9.6%
Burnley — 75-84: 2.3% Toorak — 75-84: 9.6%
85+ 1.5% / 4.0%
Burnley — 85+: 1.5% Toorak — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.2%).

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%
Toorak 51.0% lone person
Toorak — Lone Person: 51.0% Toorak — Couple Families: 30.1% Toorak — Group Household: 7.6% Toorak — One Parent Families: 9.9% Toorak — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Toorak 32.3% renting
Toorak — Owned Outright: 44.2% Toorak — Mortgage: 23.5% Toorak — Renting: 32.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Burnley Toorak
Bachelor Degree 34.4% / 30.4%
Burnley — Bachelor Degree: 34.4% Toorak — Bachelor Degree: 30.4%
Postgraduate Degree 10.8% / 12.4%
Burnley — Postgraduate Degree: 10.8% Toorak — Postgraduate Degree: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.2% / 8.0%
Burnley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.2% Toorak — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 6.5% / 3.7%
Burnley — Certificate III & IV: 6.5% Toorak — Certificate III & IV: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.3% / 3.2%
Burnley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.3% Toorak — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

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 Toorak
England 4.7% / 3.4%
Burnley — England: 4.7% Toorak — England: 3.4%
China — / 5.0%
Burnley — China: not among its largest Toorak — China: 5.0%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.0%
Burnley — New Zealand: 1.6% Toorak — New Zealand: 2.0%
India 0.9% / 1.9%
Burnley — India: 0.9% Toorak — India: 1.9%
Malaysia 1.1% / 1.4%
Burnley — Malaysia: 1.1% Toorak — Malaysia: 1.4%
Greece 1.1% / —
Burnley — Greece: 1.1% Toorak — Greece: not among its largest
Vietnam 1.0% / —
Burnley — Vietnam: 1.0% Toorak — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

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%
Toorak 49.9% flats / apartments
Toorak — Flats / Apartments: 49.9% Toorak — Townhouses: 19.8% Toorak — Houses: 30.4%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Burnley Toorak
Median house price $1,350,000 $3,150,000
Median unit price $527,000 $815,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 28 days
from 61 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 Toorak
1 bed $348K / $462K
Burnley — 1 bed: $348K (10 sales) Toorak — 1 bed: $462K (48 sales)

10 vs 48 sales

2 bed $548K / $808K
Burnley — 2 bed: $548K (16 sales) Toorak — 2 bed: $808K (156 sales)

16 vs 156 sales

Zoning mix

Burnley Toorak
Residential 9% 88%
Parks and recreation 51% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 33% 5%
Commercial 6% 2%
Other and special use 0% 3%
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 Toorak
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 Toorak
Houses — 2.4%
$1,550/wk on $3.29M
Units — 4.1%
$700/wk on $890K

Ranking within VIC

Burnley Toorak
House price — Higher than 100% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 1% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 4% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 12% of VIC

Liveability

Toorak scores higher overall (77 vs 50); Toorak is more walkable (88 vs 65).

Burnley Toorak
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 56); Burnley carries more crime risk (96 vs 73).

Burnley Toorak
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
96/100
 High
73/100
Flood High
88/100
 Moderate
56/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Burnley Toorak
Inside the suburb 3 6
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 1.4 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 2.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 4.3%

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 Toorak

  • St Catherine's School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Toorak Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Kevin's College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Loreto Mandeville Hall Catholic · Combined below peers
  • Geelong Grammar School - Toorak campus Independent · Combined
  • St Kevin's College - Glendalough Catholic · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Burnley Toorak
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 3
Parks & reserves 14 6
Childcare 0 10
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Burnley sits further from the CBD (13 km vs 7.8 km).

Burnley Toorak
Walkability score 65/100 88/100
Distance to Melbourne 13 km
+40% vs other
 7.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 18 min
Public transport score 98/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 54.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 298.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.0%
postcode 3121
 3.5%
postcode 3142
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3121
 7
postcode 3142

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 Toorak
Worked from Home 50.0% / 48.7%
Burnley — Worked from Home: 50.0% Toorak — Worked from Home: 48.7%
Car (driver) 32.1% / 38.0%
Burnley — Car (driver): 32.1% Toorak — Car (driver): 38.0%
Train 8.3% / 3.7%
Burnley — Train: 8.3% Toorak — Train: 3.7%
Walked Only 2.6% / 3.3%
Burnley — Walked Only: 2.6% Toorak — Walked Only: 3.3%
Bicycle 3.8% / 1.6%
Burnley — Bicycle: 3.8% Toorak — Bicycle: 1.6%
Tram / Light Rail 2.1% / 2.4%
Burnley — Tram / Light Rail: 2.1% Toorak — Tram / Light Rail: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.0%).

Setting

Burnley Toorak
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.5 km 4.7 km
4.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Burnley Toorak
Connectivity score 88/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
586 premises
 4%
8,025 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Burnley Toorak
Division Melbourne Kooyong
Member Sarah Witty Monique Ryan
Party Australian Labor Party Independent

First Home Owner Grant

Burnley Toorak
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

Toorak

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Retirees Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burnley

Burnley vs Richmond Burnley vs South Yarra Burnley vs Hawthorn

Other comparisons with Toorak

Toorak vs South Yarra Toorak vs Hawthorn Toorak vs Prahran Toorak vs Malvern Toorak vs Armadale Toorak vs Kooyong
Full data on Burnley Full data on Toorak
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