Burwood vs Glen Iris

Burwood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 40 in Glen Iris. In both, most households own their home. In Burwood, most homes are detached houses. In Glen Iris, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Glen Iris: a median of $2.27 million, against $1.45 million in Burwood, and rent is higher there too. Glen Iris is closer to the city centre: 13.6 km, against 15.9 km. On these figures, Burwood tends to suit young adults, share households, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Glen Iris 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

Glen Iris

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 9)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 14)

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

First-home buyers

Glen Iris

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper units ($616,500 vs $688,000)
  • But Burwood has cheaper houses ($1,447,750 vs $2,270,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Burwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($411/wk vs $450/wk)
  • But Glen Iris leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Glen Iris

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (20 min vs 25 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (13.6 km vs 15.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Glen Iris

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Burwood returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.3% vs 2.8%)
  • Glen Iris returns a higher gross yield on units (4.2% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Burwood and Glen Iris 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 Glen Iris
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 Glen Iris
Walkability 77 / 82
Burwood — Walkability: 77/100 Glen Iris — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 36 / 46
Burwood — Safety: 36/100 Glen Iris — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Burwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Glen Iris — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 65 / 54
Burwood — Low flood risk: 65/100 Glen Iris — Low flood risk: 54/100

Demographics

Glen Iris has more residents (26,131 vs 15,147); Glen Iris has higher household incomes ($129,532 vs $87,568).

Burwood Glen Iris
Population 15,147 26,131
+73% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +3.4%
Median age 34 40
Median household income $87,568/yr $129,532/yr
+48% vs other
Median weekly rent $411/wk $450/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burwood Glen Iris
0-4 4.0% / 4.7%
Burwood — 0-4: 4.0% Glen Iris — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 9.4% / 12.5%
Burwood — 5-14: 9.4% Glen Iris — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 6.7% / 6.8%
Burwood — 15-19: 6.7% Glen Iris — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 13.1% / 7.1%
Burwood — 20-24: 13.1% Glen Iris — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 18.3% / 12.3%
Burwood — 25-34: 18.3% Glen Iris — 25-34: 12.3%
35-44 11.9% / 13.0%
Burwood — 35-44: 11.9% Glen Iris — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 11.3% / 14.9%
Burwood — 45-54: 11.3% Glen Iris — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 9.2% / 12.3%
Burwood — 55-64: 9.2% Glen Iris — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 7.0% / 8.9%
Burwood — 65-74: 7.0% Glen Iris — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 5.5% / 5.4%
Burwood — 75-84: 5.5% Glen Iris — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 3.6% / 2.1%
Burwood — 85+: 3.6% Glen Iris — 85+: 2.1%

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%
Glen Iris 48.6% couple families
Glen Iris — Couple Families: 48.6% Glen Iris — Lone Person: 35.1% Glen Iris — One Parent Families: 10.2% Glen Iris — Group Household: 4.4% Glen Iris — Other Families: 1.7%
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%
Glen Iris 28.3% renting
Glen Iris — Owned Outright: 37.9% Glen Iris — Mortgage: 33.8% Glen Iris — Renting: 28.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Burwood Glen Iris
Bachelor Degree 21.9% / 27.9%
Burwood — Bachelor Degree: 21.9% Glen Iris — Bachelor Degree: 27.9%
Postgraduate Degree 12.0% / 12.2%
Burwood — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0% Glen Iris — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.3%
Burwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Glen Iris — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 6.1% / 4.5%
Burwood — Certificate III & IV: 6.1% Glen Iris — Certificate III & IV: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 4.1%
Burwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Glen Iris — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.9%).

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 Glen Iris
China 13.4% / 4.7%
Burwood — China: 13.4% Glen Iris — China: 4.7%
India 6.2% / 2.6%
Burwood — India: 6.2% Glen Iris — India: 2.6%
England 2.0% / 3.0%
Burwood — England: 2.0% Glen Iris — England: 3.0%
Malaysia 3.0% / 1.8%
Burwood — Malaysia: 3.0% Glen Iris — Malaysia: 1.8%
Sri Lanka 3.2% / 0.9%
Burwood — Sri Lanka: 3.2% Glen Iris — Sri Lanka: 0.9%
New Zealand 1.0% / 1.5%
Burwood — New Zealand: 1.0% Glen Iris — New Zealand: 1.5%

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%
Glen Iris 54.6% houses
Glen Iris — Houses: 54.6% Glen Iris — Townhouses: 18.0% Glen Iris — Flats / Apartments: 27.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Burwood Glen Iris
Median house price $1,447,750 $2,270,000
Median unit price $688,000 $616,500
Median land price $1,705,750 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 113 sales
 24 days
from 135 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 Glen Iris
3 bed $1.3M / $1.91M
Burwood — 3 bed: $1.3M (68 sales) Glen Iris — 3 bed: $1.91M (67 sales)

68 vs 67 sales

4 bed $1.57M / $2.5M
Burwood — 4 bed: $1.57M (68 sales) Glen Iris — 4 bed: $2.5M (74 sales)

68 vs 74 sales

5 bed $1.64M / $3.2M
Burwood — 5 bed: $1.64M (20 sales) Glen Iris — 5 bed: $3.2M (28 sales)

20 vs 28 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 Glen Iris
1 bed $175K / $361K
Burwood — 1 bed: $175K (31 sales) Glen Iris — 1 bed: $361K (56 sales)

31 vs 56 sales

2 bed $615K / $650K
Burwood — 2 bed: $615K (69 sales) Glen Iris — 2 bed: $650K (175 sales)

69 vs 175 sales

3 bed $990K / $1.11M
Burwood — 3 bed: $990K (31 sales) Glen Iris — 3 bed: $1.11M (33 sales)

31 vs 33 sales

Zoning mix

Burwood has more commercially zoned land (28% vs 2%).

Burwood Glen Iris
Residential 42% 81%
Commercial 28% 2%
Parks and recreation 15% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 7%
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 Glen Iris
New dwellings approved 879
across Whitehorse
 711
across Boroondara
Approvals change year on year +17% -40%

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 Glen Iris
Houses 3.3%
$805/wk on $1.25M
 2.8%
$1,200/wk on $2.2M
Units 2.7%
$320/wk on $614K
 4.2%
$570/wk on $700K

Ranking within VIC

Burwood Glen Iris
House price Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Income Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Schools Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC

Liveability

Glen Iris scores higher overall (88 vs 77).

Burwood Glen Iris
Grade A A+
Score 77/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Glen Iris carries more flood risk (46 vs 35); Burwood carries more crime risk (64 vs 54).

Burwood Glen Iris
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
54/100
Flood Low
35/100
 Moderate
46/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Burwood Glen Iris
Inside the suburb 5 7
Rated above peers 2 5
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 9.3% 4.9%

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 Glen Iris

  • Camberwell South Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Glen Iris Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Korowa Anglican Girls' School Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Cecilia's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Roch's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sacre Coeur Catholic · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Burwood Glen Iris
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 20
same for both
Parks & reserves 14 21
Childcare 9 18
GPs 8 7
Pharmacies 1 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 4 1
Waterways 5 9

Mobility

Burwood sits further from the CBD (15.9 km vs 13.6 km).

Burwood Glen Iris
Walkability score 77/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 15.9 km
+14% vs other
 13.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 20 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 401.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 361.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 3125
 3.2%
postcode 3146
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 3125
 19
postcode 3146

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 Glen Iris
Car (driver) 49.3% / 39.1%
Burwood — Car (driver): 49.3% Glen Iris — Car (driver): 39.1%
Worked from Home 36.7% / 49.9%
Burwood — Worked from Home: 36.7% Glen Iris — Worked from Home: 49.9%
Train 3.0% / 4.2%
Burwood — Train: 3.0% Glen Iris — Train: 4.2%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 2.4%
Burwood — Car (passenger): 3.6% Glen Iris — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Walked Only 2.2% / 1.9%
Burwood — Walked Only: 2.2% Glen Iris — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 2.8% / 0.2%
Burwood — Bus: 2.8% Glen Iris — Bus: 0.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.9%).

Setting

Burwood Glen Iris
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.0 km 8.0 km

NBN connectivity

Burwood Glen Iris
Connectivity score 81/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 26%
7,810 premises
 7%
12,150 premises

Climate

Burwood Glen Iris
Annual rainfall 777 mm 644 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C 26.0°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C 6.9°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Burwood Glen Iris
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Burwood Glen Iris
Average residential rate $1,516/yr $2,253/yr
Council Whitehorse Boroondara

Federal electorate

Burwood Glen Iris
Division Chisholm
same for both
Member Carina Garland
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Burwood Glen Iris
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

Glen Iris

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burwood

Burwood vs Mount Waverley Burwood vs Camberwell Burwood vs Surrey Hills Burwood vs Blackburn South Burwood vs Burwood East Burwood vs Box Hill South

Other comparisons with Glen Iris

Glen Iris vs Malvern East Glen Iris vs Camberwell Glen Iris vs Hawthorn East Glen Iris vs Malvern Glen Iris vs Ashburton Glen Iris vs Ashwood
Full data on Burwood Full data on Glen Iris
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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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