Burwood vs Burwood Heights

Burwood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 38 in Burwood Heights. In Burwood, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Burwood Heights, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Burwood tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Burwood Heights 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Burwood has more parks and reserves (7 vs 0)
  • Burwood Heights carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 85/100)

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

First-home buyers

Burwood Heights

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper units ($750,000 vs $890,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Burwood has a bigger rental market to choose from (62% vs 34%)
  • Burwood Heights leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 30%)

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

Commuting to the city

Burwood

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (23% vs 5%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 83/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Burwood

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (79% vs 52%)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 83/100)
  • But Burwood Heights carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 85/100)

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

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

Burwood Burwood Heights
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.

Burwood Burwood Heights
Walkability 96 / 83
Burwood — Walkability: 96/100 Burwood Heights — Walkability: 83/100
Safety 15 / 64
Burwood — Safety: 15/100 Burwood Heights — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Burwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Burwood Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Burwood has more residents (18,224 vs 1,134); Burwood Heights has higher household incomes ($108,524 vs $86,892).

Burwood Burwood Heights
Population 18,224
+94% vs other
 1,134
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.7% +14.7%
Median age 32 38
Median household income $86,892/yr $108,524/yr
+25% vs other
Median weekly rent $500/wk
+5% vs other
 $475/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burwood Burwood Heights
0-4 3.5% / 4.6%
Burwood — 0-4: 3.5% Burwood Heights — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 6.0% / 10.1%
Burwood — 5-14: 6.0% Burwood Heights — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 3.5% / 5.6%
Burwood — 15-19: 3.5% Burwood Heights — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 14.9% / 6.2%
Burwood — 20-24: 14.9% Burwood Heights — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 28.1% / 17.5%
Burwood — 25-34: 28.1% Burwood Heights — 25-34: 17.5%
35-44 12.7% / 14.6%
Burwood — 35-44: 12.7% Burwood Heights — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 9.6% / 10.5%
Burwood — 45-54: 9.6% Burwood Heights — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 9.1% / 11.7%
Burwood — 55-64: 9.1% Burwood Heights — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 6.5% / 7.1%
Burwood — 65-74: 6.5% Burwood Heights — 65-74: 7.1%
75-84 3.7% / 7.1%
Burwood — 75-84: 3.7% Burwood Heights — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 2.3% / 4.7%
Burwood — 85+: 2.3% Burwood Heights — 85+: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burwood 30.1% couple families
Burwood — Couple Families: 30.1% Burwood — Lone Person: 32.8% Burwood — One Parent Families: 12.8% Burwood — Group Household: 20.0% Burwood — Other Families: 4.3%
Burwood Heights 48.8% couple families
Burwood Heights — Couple Families: 48.8% Burwood Heights — Lone Person: 29.5% Burwood Heights — One Parent Families: 15.4% Burwood Heights — Group Household: 5.3% Burwood Heights — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Burwood 61.6% renting
Burwood — Owned Outright: 20.8% Burwood — Mortgage: 17.7% Burwood — Renting: 61.6%
Burwood Heights 34.3% renting
Burwood Heights — Owned Outright: 35.7% Burwood Heights — Mortgage: 30.0% Burwood Heights — Renting: 34.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Burwood Burwood Heights
Bachelor Degree 22.8% / 20.0%
Burwood — Bachelor Degree: 22.8% Burwood Heights — Bachelor Degree: 20.0%
Postgraduate Degree 11.7% / 9.0%
Burwood — Postgraduate Degree: 11.7% Burwood Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 6.8%
Burwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Burwood Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 7.8%
Burwood — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Burwood Heights — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.3%
Burwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Burwood Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.8%).

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.

Burwood Burwood Heights
China 28.8% / 11.7%
Burwood — China: 28.8% Burwood Heights — China: 11.7%
Nepal 8.2% / —
Burwood — Nepal: 8.2% Burwood Heights — Nepal: not among its largest
India 2.8% / 2.9%
Burwood — India: 2.8% Burwood Heights — India: 2.9%
Vietnam 3.3% / 1.6%
Burwood — Vietnam: 3.3% Burwood Heights — Vietnam: 1.6%
Italy — / 4.4%
Burwood — Italy: not among its largest Burwood Heights — Italy: 4.4%
Philippines 1.7% / 1.9%
Burwood — Philippines: 1.7% Burwood Heights — Philippines: 1.9%
Malaysia 3.1% / —
Burwood — Malaysia: 3.1% Burwood Heights — Malaysia: not among its largest
England — / 1.7%
Burwood — England: not among its largest Burwood Heights — England: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burwood 69.4% flats / apartments
Burwood — Flats / Apartments: 69.4% Burwood — Houses: 21.2% Burwood — Townhouses: 9.4%
Burwood Heights 36.8% flats / apartments
Burwood Heights — Flats / Apartments: 36.8% Burwood Heights — Houses: 48.1% Burwood Heights — Townhouses: 15.1%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Burwood Burwood Heights
Median house price $3,100,000 $3,325,000
Median unit price $890,000 $750,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 67 sales
 26 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Burwood Burwood Heights
Residential 92% 95%
Parks and recreation 3% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 3%
Industrial 2% 0%
Commercial 0% 2%
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

Burwood Burwood Heights
New dwellings approved 295
across Burwood
same for both
Approvals change year on year +765%
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.

Burwood Burwood Heights
Houses 2.2%
$1,195/wk on $2.8M
 —
Units 5.2%
$850/wk on $845K
 —

Ranking within NSW

Burwood Burwood Heights
House price Higher than 93% of NSW Higher than 95% of NSW
Income Higher than 55% of NSW Higher than 74% of NSW
Schools Higher than 46% of NSW —
Walkability Higher than 99% of NSW Higher than 93% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 4% of NSW Higher than 6% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of NSW Higher than 87% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 3% of NSW —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of NSW —

Liveability

Burwood Heights scores higher overall (83 vs 63); Burwood is more walkable (96 vs 83).

Burwood Burwood Heights
Grade B A
Score 63/100 83/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Burwood carries more crime risk (85 vs 36).

Burwood Burwood Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
85/100
 Low
36/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Burwood Burwood Heights
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Strathfield Campus, 2.0 km
 3
Strathfield Campus, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 7.4% 4.4%

Schools in Burwood

  • MLC School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Burwood Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • Southern Cross Catholic College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • MLC School, Art and Design Centre Independent · Combined
  • MLC School, Music Centre Independent · Combined

Schools in Burwood Heights

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Burwood Burwood Heights
Supermarkets 5 0
Cafes & restaurants 42 0
Parks & reserves 7 0
Childcare 12 2
GPs 10 0
Pharmacies 9 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 11 0
Fuel stations 2 0

Mobility

Burwood Burwood Heights
Walkability score 96/100 83/100
Distance to Sydney 12.7 km
+2% vs other
 12.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 19 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 546.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 30.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.3%
postcode 2134
 1.4%
postcode 2136
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 2134
 21
postcode 2136

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.

Burwood Burwood Heights
Worked from Home 40.4% / 47.5%
Burwood — Worked from Home: 40.4% Burwood Heights — Worked from Home: 47.5%
Car (driver) 25.6% / 40.4%
Burwood — Car (driver): 25.6% Burwood Heights — Car (driver): 40.4%
Train 22.6% / 4.6%
Burwood — Train: 22.6% Burwood Heights — Train: 4.6%
Walked Only 5.6% / 1.8%
Burwood — Walked Only: 5.6% Burwood Heights — Walked Only: 1.8%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 3.4%
Burwood — Car (passenger): 2.8% Burwood Heights — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Bus 2.6% / 2.3%
Burwood — Bus: 2.6% Burwood Heights — Bus: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.5%).

Setting

Burwood Burwood Heights
Elevation 33 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.7 km 8.6 km

NBN connectivity

Burwood Burwood Heights
Connectivity score 78/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 24%
9,518 premises
 10%
409 premises

Climate

Burwood Burwood Heights
Annual rainfall 1,129 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 27.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 9.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Burwood Burwood Heights
PM2.5 6.5 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 16.1 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.79 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Burwood Burwood Heights
Average residential rate $1,663/yr
same for both
Council Burwood
same for both

Federal electorate

Burwood Burwood Heights
Division Reid Grayndler
Member Sally Sitou Anthony Albanese
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Burwood Burwood Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Burwood

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Transport Hub Urban

Burwood Heights

Apartments Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Urban

More comparisons

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Burwood vs Strathfield Burwood vs Concord Burwood vs Croydon Burwood vs Five Dock Burwood vs Enfield

Other comparisons with Burwood Heights

Burwood Heights vs Croydon Park Burwood Heights vs Croydon Burwood Heights vs Enfield
Full data on Burwood Full data on Burwood Heights
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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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