Burwood vs Mount Waverley

Burwood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 40 in Mount Waverley. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Mount Waverley, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mount Waverley: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.45 million in Burwood, and rent is higher there too. Burwood is closer to the city centre: 15.9 km, against 22.4 km. On these figures, Burwood tends to suit young adults, people living alone, and share households, while Mount Waverley 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

Mount Waverley

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (10 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (25 vs 9)
  • has more parks and reserves (32 vs 14)

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

First-home buyers

Burwood

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($688,000 vs $905,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,447,750 vs $1,600,000)
  • But Mount Waverley leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 34%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($411/wk vs $476/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Burwood sits closer to the CBD (15.9 km vs 22.4 km)
  • Mount Waverley is more walkable (91/100 vs 77/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Waverley

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 8)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 77/100)
  • But Burwood has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 31%)

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

Investors

Mount Waverley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (3.8% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Burwood and Mount Waverley 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 Mount Waverley
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 Mount Waverley
Walkability 77 / 91
Burwood — Walkability: 77/100 Mount Waverley — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 36 / 43
Burwood — Safety: 36/100 Mount Waverley — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Burwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mount Waverley — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 65 / 74
Burwood — Low flood risk: 65/100 Mount Waverley — Low flood risk: 74/100

Demographics

Mount Waverley has more residents (35,340 vs 15,147); Mount Waverley has higher household incomes ($107,432 vs $87,568).

Burwood Mount Waverley
Population 15,147 35,340
+133% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +5.1%
Median age 34 40
Median household income $87,568/yr $107,432/yr
+23% vs other
Median weekly rent $411/wk $476/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Burwood Mount Waverley
0-4 4.0% / 4.4%
Burwood — 0-4: 4.0% Mount Waverley — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 9.4% / 12.6%
Burwood — 5-14: 9.4% Mount Waverley — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 6.7% / 6.5%
Burwood — 15-19: 6.7% Mount Waverley — 15-19: 6.5%
20-24 13.1% / 6.9%
Burwood — 20-24: 13.1% Mount Waverley — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 18.3% / 12.1%
Burwood — 25-34: 18.3% Mount Waverley — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 11.9% / 13.6%
Burwood — 35-44: 11.9% Mount Waverley — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 11.3% / 13.7%
Burwood — 45-54: 11.3% Mount Waverley — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 9.2% / 11.6%
Burwood — 55-64: 9.2% Mount Waverley — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 7.0% / 8.5%
Burwood — 65-74: 7.0% Mount Waverley — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 5.5% / 6.8%
Burwood — 75-84: 5.5% Mount Waverley — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 3.6% / 3.4%
Burwood — 85+: 3.6% Mount Waverley — 85+: 3.4%

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%
Mount Waverley 54.2% couple families
Mount Waverley — Couple Families: 54.2% Mount Waverley — Lone Person: 25.2% Mount Waverley — One Parent Families: 13.9% Mount Waverley — Group Household: 4.9% Mount Waverley — 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%
Mount Waverley 24.8% renting
Mount Waverley — Owned Outright: 42.9% Mount Waverley — Mortgage: 32.3% Mount Waverley — Renting: 24.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Burwood Mount Waverley
Bachelor Degree 21.9% / 22.0%
Burwood — Bachelor Degree: 21.9% Mount Waverley — Bachelor Degree: 22.0%
Postgraduate Degree 12.0% / 11.9%
Burwood — Postgraduate Degree: 12.0% Mount Waverley — Postgraduate Degree: 11.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.1%
Burwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Mount Waverley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 6.1% / 6.2%
Burwood — Certificate III & IV: 6.1% Mount Waverley — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 2.9%
Burwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Mount Waverley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

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 Mount Waverley
China 13.4% / 13.0%
Burwood — China: 13.4% Mount Waverley — China: 13.0%
India 6.2% / 6.1%
Burwood — India: 6.2% Mount Waverley — India: 6.1%
Sri Lanka 3.2% / 4.2%
Burwood — Sri Lanka: 3.2% Mount Waverley — Sri Lanka: 4.2%
Malaysia 3.0% / 3.0%
Burwood — Malaysia: 3.0% Mount Waverley — Malaysia: 3.0%
England 2.0% / 1.9%
Burwood — England: 2.0% Mount Waverley — England: 1.9%
Greece 1.4% / 2.0%
Burwood — Greece: 1.4% Mount Waverley — Greece: 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 — Flats / Apartments: 15.5% Burwood — Townhouses: 26.6%
Mount Waverley 68.6% houses
Mount Waverley — Houses: 68.6% Mount Waverley — Flats / Apartments: 21.6% Mount Waverley — Townhouses: 9.8%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Burwood Mount Waverley
Median house price $1,447,750 $1,600,000
Median unit price $688,000 $905,000
Median land price $1,705,750 $1,692,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 113 sales
 26 days
from 408 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 Mount Waverley
3 bed $1.3M / $1.48M
Burwood — 3 bed: $1.3M (68 sales) Mount Waverley — 3 bed: $1.48M (205 sales)

68 vs 205 sales

4 bed $1.57M / $1.6M
Burwood — 4 bed: $1.57M (68 sales) Mount Waverley — 4 bed: $1.6M (182 sales)

68 vs 182 sales

5 bed $1.64M / $1.86M
Burwood — 5 bed: $1.64M (20 sales) Mount Waverley — 5 bed: $1.86M (60 sales)

20 vs 60 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 Mount Waverley
1 bed $175K / $782K
Burwood — 1 bed: $175K (31 sales) Mount Waverley — 1 bed: $782K (7 sales)

31 vs 7 sales

2 bed $615K / $792K
Burwood — 2 bed: $615K (69 sales) Mount Waverley — 2 bed: $792K (62 sales)

69 vs 62 sales

3 bed $990K / $1.09M
Burwood — 3 bed: $990K (31 sales) Mount Waverley — 3 bed: $1.09M (60 sales)

31 vs 60 sales

4 bed $1.2M / $1.34M
Burwood — 4 bed: $1.2M (13 sales) Mount Waverley — 4 bed: $1.34M (7 sales)

13 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

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

Burwood Mount Waverley
Residential 42% 74%
Commercial 28% 2%
Parks and recreation 15% 7%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 10%
Other and special use 2% 6%
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 Mount Waverley
New dwellings approved 879
across Whitehorse
 1,233
across Monash
Approvals change year on year +17% -4%

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 Mount Waverley
Houses 3.3%
$805/wk on $1.25M
 3.1%
$850/wk on $1.44M
Units 2.7%
$320/wk on $614K
 3.8%
$620/wk on $840K

Ranking within VIC

Burwood Mount Waverley
House price Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Income Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Schools Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC

Liveability

Mount Waverley is more walkable (91 vs 77); Mount Waverley scores higher overall (90 vs 77).

Burwood Mount Waverley
Grade A A+
Score 77/100 90/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Burwood Mount Waverley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood Low
35/100
 Low
26/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Burwood Mount Waverley
Inside the suburb 5 11
Rated above peers 2 10
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 9.3% 4.6%

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 Mount Waverley

  • Avila College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Essex Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Holy Family School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Huntingtower School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Mount Waverley Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount Waverley North Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Burwood Mount Waverley
Supermarkets 0 5
Cafes & restaurants 20 34
Parks & reserves 14 32
Childcare 9 25
GPs 8 10
Pharmacies 1 8
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 7
Fuel stations 4 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 5 17

Mobility

Mount Waverley sits further from the CBD (22.4 km vs 15.9 km).

Burwood Mount Waverley
Walkability score 77/100 91/100
Distance to Melbourne 15.9 km 22.4 km
+41% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 27 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 401.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 471.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 3125
 2.7%
postcode 3149
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 3125
 31
postcode 3149

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 Mount Waverley
Car (driver) 49.3% / 49.0%
Burwood — Car (driver): 49.3% Mount Waverley — Car (driver): 49.0%
Worked from Home 36.7% / 40.9%
Burwood — Worked from Home: 36.7% Mount Waverley — Worked from Home: 40.9%
Train 3.0% / 4.2%
Burwood — Train: 3.0% Mount Waverley — Train: 4.2%
Car (passenger) 3.6% / 3.5%
Burwood — Car (passenger): 3.6% Mount Waverley — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Bus 2.8% / 0.9%
Burwood — Bus: 2.8% Mount Waverley — Bus: 0.9%
Walked Only 2.2% / 1.0%
Burwood — Walked Only: 2.2% Mount Waverley — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.3%).

Setting

Burwood Mount Waverley
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 121 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.0 km 12.6 km

NBN connectivity

Burwood Mount Waverley
Connectivity score 81/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 26%
7,810 premises
 7%
15,814 premises

Climate

Burwood Mount Waverley
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 Mount Waverley
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Burwood Mount Waverley
Average residential rate $1,516/yr $1,697/yr
Council Whitehorse Monash

Federal electorate

Burwood Mount Waverley
Division Chisholm
same for both
Member Carina Garland
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Burwood Mount Waverley
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

Mount Waverley

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Premium Professionals Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Burwood

Burwood vs Glen Iris Burwood vs Camberwell Burwood vs Surrey Hills Burwood vs Blackburn South Burwood vs Burwood East Burwood vs Box Hill South

Other comparisons with Mount Waverley

Mount Waverley vs Glen Waverley Mount Waverley vs Clayton Mount Waverley vs Burwood East Mount Waverley vs Chadstone Mount Waverley vs Oakleigh Mount Waverley vs Ashwood
Full data on Burwood Full data on Mount Waverley
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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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