Canterbury vs Surrey Hills

Surrey Hills is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Canterbury. In both, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Canterbury: a median of $3.2 million, against $2.12 million in Surrey Hills, and rent is higher there too. Canterbury is closer to the city centre: 10.9 km, against 13 km. On these figures, Surrey Hills tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Canterbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Surrey Hills

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,125,000 vs $3,200,000)
  • has cheaper units ($825,000 vs $964,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Surrey Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($462/wk vs $515/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Canterbury

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (10.9 km vs 13 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Surrey Hills

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)

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

Investors

Surrey Hills

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.6% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Canterbury 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.

Canterbury 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.

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Walkability 87 / 94
Canterbury — Walkability: 87/100 Surrey Hills — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 57 / 49
Canterbury — Safety: 57/100 Surrey Hills — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Canterbury — Low fire risk: 100/100 Surrey Hills — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 75 / 79
Canterbury — Low flood risk: 75/100 Surrey Hills — Low flood risk: 79/100

Demographics

Surrey Hills has more residents (13,655 vs 7,800); Canterbury has higher household incomes ($149,604 vs $130,156).

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Population 7,800 13,655
+75% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.2% +0.4%
Median age 46 42
Median household income $149,604/yr
+13% vs other
 $130,156/yr
Median weekly rent $515/wk
+10% vs other
 $462/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Canterbury Surrey Hills
0-4 3.2% / 3.9%
Canterbury — 0-4: 3.2% Surrey Hills — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 12.6% / 12.6%
Canterbury — 5-14: 12.6% Surrey Hills — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 8.1% / 7.7%
Canterbury — 15-19: 8.1% Surrey Hills — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 6.8% / 6.8%
Canterbury — 20-24: 6.8% Surrey Hills — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 7.7% / 9.8%
Canterbury — 25-34: 7.7% Surrey Hills — 25-34: 9.8%
35-44 10.2% / 11.6%
Canterbury — 35-44: 10.2% Surrey Hills — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 14.1% / 15.7%
Canterbury — 45-54: 14.1% Surrey Hills — 45-54: 15.7%
55-64 13.9% / 13.1%
Canterbury — 55-64: 13.9% Surrey Hills — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 11.9% / 10.9%
Canterbury — 65-74: 11.9% Surrey Hills — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 7.4% / 5.3%
Canterbury — 75-84: 7.4% Surrey Hills — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 4.1% / 2.7%
Canterbury — 85+: 4.1% Surrey Hills — 85+: 2.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Canterbury 53.7% couple families
Canterbury — Couple Families: 53.7% Canterbury — Lone Person: 29.5% Canterbury — One Parent Families: 13.3% Canterbury — Group Household: 2.4% Canterbury — Other Families: 1.1%
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.

Canterbury 19.7% renting
Canterbury — Owned Outright: 49.2% Canterbury — Mortgage: 31.1% Canterbury — Renting: 19.7%
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.

Canterbury Surrey Hills
China 10.4% / 6.0%
Canterbury — China: 10.4% Surrey Hills — China: 6.0%
England 3.3% / 3.6%
Canterbury — England: 3.3% Surrey Hills — England: 3.6%
Malaysia 1.7% / 2.1%
Canterbury — Malaysia: 1.7% Surrey Hills — Malaysia: 2.1%
India 1.7% / 1.5%
Canterbury — India: 1.7% Surrey Hills — India: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.3%
Canterbury — New Zealand: 1.4% Surrey Hills — New Zealand: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.4%).

Qualifications

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

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Bachelor Degree 27.0% / 26.5%
Canterbury — Bachelor Degree: 27.0% Surrey Hills — Bachelor Degree: 26.5%
Postgraduate Degree 13.4% / 12.8%
Canterbury — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4% Surrey Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 12.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 7.5%
Canterbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Surrey Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 4.6%
Canterbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Surrey Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.6%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 4.5%
Canterbury — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Surrey Hills — Certificate III & IV: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Canterbury 64.5% houses
Canterbury — Houses: 64.5% Canterbury — Townhouses: 23.3% Canterbury — Flats / Apartments: 12.2%
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

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Median house price $3,200,000 $2,125,000
Median unit price $964,000 $825,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 62 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.

Canterbury Surrey Hills
2 bed $855K / $808K
Canterbury — 2 bed: $855K (21 sales) Surrey Hills — 2 bed: $808K (88 sales)

21 vs 88 sales

3 bed $1.47M / $995K
Canterbury — 3 bed: $1.47M (6 sales) Surrey Hills — 3 bed: $995K (21 sales)

6 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.

Canterbury Surrey Hills
3 bed $2.57M / $1.88M
Canterbury — 3 bed: $2.57M (24 sales) Surrey Hills — 3 bed: $1.88M (58 sales)

24 vs 58 sales

4 bed $3.2M / $2.28M
Canterbury — 4 bed: $3.2M (51 sales) Surrey Hills — 4 bed: $2.28M (76 sales)

51 vs 76 sales

5 bed $4.03M / $2.94M
Canterbury — 5 bed: $4.03M (32 sales) Surrey Hills — 5 bed: $2.94M (23 sales)

32 vs 23 sales

Zoning mix

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Residential 87%
same for both
Parks and recreation 6% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 5%
same for both
Commercial 3% 4%
Planning zones cover 100% of Canterbury 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

Canterbury 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.

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Houses 2.3%
$1,400/wk on $3.2M
 3.2%
$1,200/wk on $1.97M
Units 3.8%
$645/wk on $875K
 4.6%
$700/wk on $788K

Ranking within VIC

Canterbury Surrey Hills
House price Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Income Higher than 98% of VIC —
Schools Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 1% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC

Liveability

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Grade A+
same for both
Score 93/100 92/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Low
25/100
 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

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Inside the suburb 7 4
Rated above peers 5 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 3.8 km
 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.4% 5.1%

Schools in Canterbury

  • Camberwell Girls Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Camberwell Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Canterbury Girls Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Canterbury Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Strathcona Baptist Girls' Grammar Independent · Combined above peers
  • Camberwell Girls Grammar School - Junior Campus Independent · Combined

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

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 9 13
Parks & reserves 9
same for both
Childcare 10 12
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 1 4
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 11

Mobility

Surrey Hills sits further from the CBD (13 km vs 10.9 km).

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Walkability score 87/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.9 km 13 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 27 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 79.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 201.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.8%
postcode 3126
 2.8%
postcode 3127
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 20
postcode 3126
 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.

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Worked from Home 49.6% / 51.7%
Canterbury — Worked from Home: 49.6% Surrey Hills — Worked from Home: 51.7%
Car (driver) 40.0% / 37.2%
Canterbury — Car (driver): 40.0% Surrey Hills — Car (driver): 37.2%
Train 4.0% / 4.5%
Canterbury — Train: 4.0% Surrey Hills — Train: 4.5%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 2.7%
Canterbury — Car (passenger): 2.3% Surrey Hills — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Walked Only 2.4% / 2.3%
Canterbury — Walked Only: 2.4% Surrey Hills — Walked Only: 2.3%

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

Setting

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Elevation 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 110 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.2 km 11.8 km

NBN connectivity

Canterbury Surrey Hills
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
3,618 premises
 3%
6,292 premises

Climate

Canterbury Surrey Hills
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Canterbury

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 Canterbury

Canterbury vs Kew Canterbury vs Camberwell Canterbury vs Hawthorn East Canterbury vs Balwyn Canterbury vs Deepdene

Other comparisons with Surrey Hills

Surrey Hills vs Camberwell Surrey Hills vs Burwood Surrey Hills vs Box Hill Surrey Hills vs Balwyn Surrey Hills vs Box Hill South Surrey Hills vs Mont Albert
Full data on Canterbury Full data on Surrey Hills
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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