Burwood vs Blackburn South

Burwood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 42 in Blackburn South. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Blackburn South, about half of households are couple families. Burwood is closer to the city centre: 15.9 km, against 24.3 km. On these figures, Burwood tends to suit young adults and share households, while Blackburn South 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

Blackburn South

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 64/100)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (76% vs 58%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (61% vs 50%)
  • But Burwood has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Blackburn South

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($1,200,000 vs $1,705,750)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 34%)
  • But Burwood has cheaper units ($688,000 vs $815,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Burwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 25%)

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

  • sits closer to the CBD (15.9 km vs 24.3 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (25 min vs 32 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Burwood has more GPs (8 vs 1)
  • Blackburn South carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

Blackburn South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.3% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Burwood and Blackburn South 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 Blackburn South
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 Blackburn South
Walkability 77 / 78
Burwood — Walkability: 77/100 Blackburn South — Walkability: 78/100
Safety 36 / 57
Burwood — Safety: 36/100 Blackburn South — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Burwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Blackburn South — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 65 / 76
Burwood — Low flood risk: 65/100 Blackburn South — Low flood risk: 76/100

Demographics

Burwood has more residents (15,147 vs 10,939); Blackburn South skews older (42 vs 34).

Burwood Blackburn South
Population 15,147
+28% vs other
 10,939
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +1.4%
Median age 34 42
Median household income $87,568/yr $96,772/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $411/wk $410/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burwood Blackburn South
0-4 4.0% / 4.8%
Burwood — 0-4: 4.0% Blackburn South — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 9.4% / 12.6%
Burwood — 5-14: 9.4% Blackburn South — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 6.7% / 6.2%
Burwood — 15-19: 6.7% Blackburn South — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 13.1% / 5.8%
Burwood — 20-24: 13.1% Blackburn South — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 18.3% / 10.4%
Burwood — 25-34: 18.3% Blackburn South — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 11.9% / 13.2%
Burwood — 35-44: 11.9% Blackburn South — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 11.3% / 14.4%
Burwood — 45-54: 11.3% Blackburn South — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 9.2% / 11.4%
Burwood — 55-64: 9.2% Blackburn South — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 7.0% / 9.5%
Burwood — 65-74: 7.0% Blackburn South — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 5.5% / 7.2%
Burwood — 75-84: 5.5% Blackburn South — 75-84: 7.2%
85+ 3.6% / 4.4%
Burwood — 85+: 3.6% Blackburn South — 85+: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Burwood 36.2% couple families
Burwood — Couple Families: 36.2% Burwood — Lone Person: 35.8% Burwood — One Parent Families: 13.5% Burwood — Group Household: 11.8% Burwood — Other Families: 2.6%
Blackburn South 48.2% couple families
Blackburn South — Couple Families: 48.2% Blackburn South — Lone Person: 33.2% Blackburn South — One Parent Families: 12.9% Blackburn South — Group Household: 4.1% Blackburn South — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Burwood 39.4% renting
Burwood — Owned Outright: 32.0% Burwood — Mortgage: 28.6% Burwood — Renting: 39.4%
Blackburn South 24.7% renting
Blackburn South — Owned Outright: 39.3% Blackburn South — Mortgage: 35.9% Blackburn South — Renting: 24.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Burwood Blackburn South
Bachelor Degree 21.9% / 19.8%
Burwood — Bachelor Degree: 21.9% Blackburn South — Bachelor Degree: 19.8%
Postgraduate Degree 12.0% / 8.6%
Burwood — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0% Blackburn South — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.3%
Burwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Blackburn South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Certificate III & IV 6.1% / 7.7%
Burwood — Certificate III & IV: 6.1% Blackburn South — Certificate III & IV: 7.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 3.4%
Burwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Blackburn South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

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.

Burwood Blackburn South
China 13.4% / 10.6%
Burwood — China: 13.4% Blackburn South — China: 10.6%
India 6.2% / 3.1%
Burwood — India: 6.2% Blackburn South — India: 3.1%
Malaysia 3.0% / 2.9%
Burwood — Malaysia: 3.0% Blackburn South — Malaysia: 2.9%
Sri Lanka 3.2% / 1.3%
Burwood — Sri Lanka: 3.2% Blackburn South — Sri Lanka: 1.3%
England 2.0% / 2.0%
Burwood — England: 2.0% Blackburn South — England: 2.0%
Vietnam 1.7% / 2.0%
Burwood — Vietnam: 1.7% Blackburn South — Vietnam: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Burwood 57.9% houses
Burwood — Houses: 57.9% Burwood — Townhouses: 26.6% Burwood — Flats / Apartments: 15.5%
Blackburn South 75.8% houses
Blackburn South — Houses: 75.8% Blackburn South — Townhouses: 16.5% Blackburn South — Flats / Apartments: 7.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Burwood Blackburn South
Median house price $1,447,750 $1,351,000
Median unit price $688,000 $815,000
Median land price $1,705,750 $1,200,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 113 sales
 24 days
from 91 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.

Burwood Blackburn South
2 bed $615K / $665K
Burwood — 2 bed: $615K (69 sales) Blackburn South — 2 bed: $665K (14 sales)

69 vs 14 sales

3 bed $990K / $985K
Burwood — 3 bed: $990K (31 sales) Blackburn South — 3 bed: $985K (8 sales)

31 vs 8 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.

Burwood Blackburn South
3 bed $1.3M / $1.25M
Burwood — 3 bed: $1.3M (68 sales) Blackburn South — 3 bed: $1.25M (67 sales)

68 vs 67 sales

4 bed $1.57M / $1.39M
Burwood — 4 bed: $1.57M (68 sales) Blackburn South — 4 bed: $1.39M (62 sales)

68 vs 62 sales

5 bed $1.64M / $1.77M
Burwood — 5 bed: $1.64M (20 sales) Blackburn South — 5 bed: $1.77M (26 sales)

20 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Burwood has more commercially zoned land (28% vs 1%).

Burwood Blackburn South
Residential 42% 84%
Commercial 28% 1%
Parks and recreation 15% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 6%
Other and special use 2% 0%
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 Blackburn South
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.

Burwood Blackburn South
Houses 3.3%
$805/wk on $1.25M
 2.9%
$750/wk on $1.32M
Units 2.7%
$320/wk on $614K
 4.3%
$630/wk on $764K

Ranking within VIC

Burwood Blackburn South
House price Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Income Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Schools Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC

Liveability

Burwood scores higher overall (77 vs 66).

Burwood Blackburn South
Grade A B
Score 77/100 66/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Burwood carries more crime risk (64 vs 43); Burwood carries more flood risk (35 vs 24).

Burwood Blackburn South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood Low
35/100
 Low
24/100
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

Burwood Blackburn South
Inside the suburb 5 3
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 0.0 km
 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 3.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 9.3% 3.5%

Schools in Burwood

  • Presbyterian Ladies' College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Wattle Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount Scopus Memorial College Independent · Combined below peers
  • St Scholastica's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Emmaus College - Burwood Campus Catholic · Combined

Schools in Blackburn South

  • Orchard Grove Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Luke the Evangelist School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Aurora School Government · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Burwood Blackburn South
Cafes & restaurants 20 2
Parks & reserves 14 5
Childcare 9
same for both
GPs 8 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 4 2
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Blackburn South sits further from the CBD (24.3 km vs 15.9 km).

Burwood Blackburn South
Walkability score 77/100 78/100
Distance to Melbourne 15.9 km 24.3 km
+53% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 32 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 401.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 153.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 3125
 2.1%
postcode 3130
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 3125
 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.

Burwood Blackburn South
Car (driver) 49.3% / 50.0%
Burwood — Car (driver): 49.3% Blackburn South — Car (driver): 50.0%
Worked from Home 36.7% / 40.6%
Burwood — Worked from Home: 36.7% Blackburn South — Worked from Home: 40.6%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 3.4%
Burwood — Car (passenger): 3.6% Blackburn South — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Train 3.0% / 2.6%
Burwood — Train: 3.0% Blackburn South — Train: 2.6%
Bus 2.8% / 1.3%
Burwood — Bus: 2.8% Blackburn South — Bus: 1.3%
Walked Only 2.2% / 1.8%
Burwood — Walked Only: 2.2% Blackburn South — Walked Only: 1.8%

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

Setting

Burwood Blackburn South
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 104 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.0 km 15.3 km

NBN connectivity

Burwood Blackburn South
Connectivity score 81/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 26%
7,810 premises
 3%
4,722 premises

Climate

Burwood Blackburn South
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Burwood Blackburn South
Division Chisholm Menzies
Member Carina Garland Gabriel Ng
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Burwood

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals River Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Blackburn South

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burwood

Burwood vs Mount Waverley Burwood vs Glen Iris Burwood vs Camberwell Burwood vs Surrey Hills Burwood vs Burwood East Burwood vs Box Hill South

Other comparisons with Blackburn South

Blackburn South vs Blackburn Blackburn South vs Box Hill Blackburn South vs Forest Hill Blackburn South vs Burwood East Blackburn South vs Box Hill South
Full data on Burwood Full data on Blackburn South
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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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