Camberwell vs Surrey Hills

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Camberwell: a median of $2.35 million, against $2.12 million in Surrey Hills.

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

Camberwell

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 9)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 4)
  • But Surrey Hills carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 71/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Camberwell has cheaper units ($700,000 vs $825,000)
  • Surrey Hills has cheaper houses ($2,125,000 vs $2,355,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Surrey Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Surrey Hills

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 71/100)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 80/100)
  • But Camberwell has more GPs (10 vs 4)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Camberwell Surrey Hills
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.

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Walkability 80 / 94
Camberwell — Walkability: 80/100 Surrey Hills — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 29 / 49
Camberwell — Safety: 29/100 Surrey Hills — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Camberwell — Low fire risk: 100/100 Surrey Hills — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 76 / 79
Camberwell — Low flood risk: 76/100 Surrey Hills — Low flood risk: 79/100

Demographics

Camberwell has more residents (21,965 vs 13,655).

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Population 21,965
+38% vs other
 13,655
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.5% +0.4%
Median age 43 42
Median household income $127,764/yr $130,156/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $486/wk
+5% vs other
 $462/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Camberwell Surrey Hills
0-4 4.1% / 3.9%
Camberwell — 0-4: 4.1% Surrey Hills — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 11.7% / 12.6%
Camberwell — 5-14: 11.7% Surrey Hills — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 7.0% / 7.7%
Camberwell — 15-19: 7.0% Surrey Hills — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 7.1% / 6.8%
Camberwell — 20-24: 7.1% Surrey Hills — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 10.7% / 9.8%
Camberwell — 25-34: 10.7% Surrey Hills — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 11.3% / 11.6%
Camberwell — 35-44: 11.3% Surrey Hills — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 13.9% / 15.7%
Camberwell — 45-54: 13.9% Surrey Hills — 45-54: 15.7%
55-64 12.6% / 13.1%
Camberwell — 55-64: 12.6% Surrey Hills — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 10.3% / 10.9%
Camberwell — 65-74: 10.3% Surrey Hills — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 6.8% / 5.3%
Camberwell — 75-84: 6.8% Surrey Hills — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 4.6% / 2.7%
Camberwell — 85+: 4.6% Surrey Hills — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Camberwell 49.9% couple families
Camberwell — Couple Families: 49.9% Camberwell — Lone Person: 31.9% Camberwell — One Parent Families: 11.7% Camberwell — Group Household: 4.9% Camberwell — Other Families: 1.6%
Surrey Hills 52.3% couple families
Surrey Hills — Couple Families: 52.3% Surrey Hills — Lone Person: 31.2% Surrey Hills — One Parent Families: 11.6% Surrey Hills — Group Household: 3.7% Surrey Hills — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Camberwell 26.2% renting
Camberwell — Owned Outright: 43.7% Camberwell — Mortgage: 30.1% Camberwell — Renting: 26.2%
Surrey Hills 22.0% renting
Surrey Hills — Owned Outright: 42.6% Surrey Hills — Mortgage: 35.4% Surrey Hills — Renting: 22.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Camberwell Surrey Hills
China 7.0% / 6.0%
Camberwell — China: 7.0% Surrey Hills — China: 6.0%
England 3.3% / 3.6%
Camberwell — England: 3.3% Surrey Hills — England: 3.6%
Malaysia 2.0% / 2.1%
Camberwell — Malaysia: 2.0% Surrey Hills — Malaysia: 2.1%
India 2.0% / 1.5%
Camberwell — India: 2.0% Surrey Hills — India: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.3%
Camberwell — New Zealand: 1.7% Surrey Hills — New Zealand: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.0%).

Qualifications

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

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Bachelor Degree 27.2% / 26.5%
Camberwell — Bachelor Degree: 27.2% Surrey Hills — Bachelor Degree: 26.5%
Postgraduate Degree 12.9% / 12.8%
Camberwell — Postgraduate Degree: 12.9% Surrey Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.5%
Camberwell — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Surrey Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.3% / 4.5%
Camberwell — Certificate III & IV: 4.3% Surrey Hills — Certificate III & IV: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 4.6%
Camberwell — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Surrey Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Camberwell 60.1% houses
Camberwell — Houses: 60.1% Camberwell — Townhouses: 21.7% Camberwell — Flats / Apartments: 18.2%
Surrey Hills 66.9% houses
Surrey Hills — Houses: 66.9% Surrey Hills — Townhouses: 20.5% Surrey Hills — Flats / Apartments: 12.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Median house price $2,355,000 $2,125,000
Median unit price $700,000 $825,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 164 sales
 24 days
from 118 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.

Camberwell Surrey Hills
2 bed $702K / $808K
Camberwell — 2 bed: $702K (102 sales) Surrey Hills — 2 bed: $808K (88 sales)

102 vs 88 sales

3 bed $1.2M / $995K
Camberwell — 3 bed: $1.2M (28 sales) Surrey Hills — 3 bed: $995K (21 sales)

28 vs 21 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.

Camberwell Surrey Hills
2 bed $1.3M / $1.36M
Camberwell — 2 bed: $1.3M (19 sales) Surrey Hills — 2 bed: $1.36M (18 sales)

19 vs 18 sales

3 bed $1.98M / $1.88M
Camberwell — 3 bed: $1.98M (85 sales) Surrey Hills — 3 bed: $1.88M (58 sales)

85 vs 58 sales

4 bed $2.48M / $2.28M
Camberwell — 4 bed: $2.48M (80 sales) Surrey Hills — 4 bed: $2.28M (76 sales)

80 vs 76 sales

5 bed $3.35M / $2.94M
Camberwell — 5 bed: $3.35M (40 sales) Surrey Hills — 5 bed: $2.94M (23 sales)

40 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Residential 82% 87%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 5%
Parks and recreation 6% 3%
Commercial 5% 4%
Planning zones cover 100% of Camberwell and 99% of Surrey Hills. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Camberwell Surrey Hills
New dwellings approved 711
across Boroondara
same for both
Approvals change year on year -40%
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.

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Houses 2.9%
$1,100/wk on $2M
 3.2%
$1,200/wk on $1.97M
Units 4.5%
$650/wk on $758K
 4.6%
$700/wk on $788K

Ranking within VIC

Camberwell Surrey Hills
House price Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC —
Schools Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 4% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 9% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 30% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC

Liveability

Surrey Hills is more walkable (94 vs 80); Surrey Hills scores higher overall (92 vs 83).

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Grade A+
same for both
Score 83/100 92/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Camberwell carries more crime risk (71 vs 51).

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
71/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Low
24/100
 Low
21/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Inside the suburb 6 4
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 3.5 km
 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.1%
same for both

Schools in Camberwell

  • Camberwell Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Hartwell Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Camberwell High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Siena College Ltd Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Dominic's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) Independent · Secondary

Schools in Surrey Hills

  • Chatham Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Holy Redeemer School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Surrey Hills Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of Perpetual Succour School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Supermarkets 7 1
Cafes & restaurants 58 13
Parks & reserves 18 9
Childcare 13 12
GPs 10 4
Pharmacies 7 4
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 12 3
Fuel stations 3 1
Waterways 3 11

Mobility

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Walkability score 80/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 13.6 km
+4% vs other
 13 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 27 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 620.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 201.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.5%
postcode 3124
 2.8%
postcode 3127
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 3124
 22
postcode 3127

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.

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Worked from Home 50.7% / 51.7%
Camberwell — Worked from Home: 50.7% Surrey Hills — Worked from Home: 51.7%
Car (driver) 37.6% / 37.2%
Camberwell — Car (driver): 37.6% Surrey Hills — Car (driver): 37.2%
Train 4.3% / 4.5%
Camberwell — Train: 4.3% Surrey Hills — Train: 4.5%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.7%
Camberwell — Car (passenger): 2.7% Surrey Hills — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Walked Only 2.5% / 2.3%
Camberwell — Walked Only: 2.5% Surrey Hills — Walked Only: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.7%).

Setting

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 110 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.3 km 11.8 km

NBN connectivity

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Connectivity score 78/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 14%
11,177 premises
 3%
6,292 premises

Climate

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Annual rainfall 644 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Camberwell Surrey Hills
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Average residential rate $2,253/yr
same for both
Council Boroondara
same for both

Federal electorate

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Division Kooyong
same for both
Member Monique Ryan
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Camberwell Surrey Hills
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Camberwell

Easy Commute Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Surrey Hills

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Camberwell

Camberwell vs Glen Iris Camberwell vs Burwood Camberwell vs Hawthorn East Camberwell vs Canterbury

Other comparisons with Surrey Hills

Surrey Hills vs Burwood Surrey Hills vs Box Hill Surrey Hills vs Balwyn Surrey Hills vs Box Hill South Surrey Hills vs Canterbury Surrey Hills vs Mont Albert
Full data on Camberwell Full data on Surrey Hills
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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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