Chirnside Park vs Christmas Hills

Chirnside Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 46 in Christmas Hills. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Christmas Hills: a median of $1.11 million, against $950,000 in Chirnside Park, though rent is higher in Chirnside Park. On these figures, Chirnside Park tends to suit families with children.

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

Chirnside Park

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • But Christmas Hills carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 70/100)

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

First-home buyers

Chirnside Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,115,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Christmas Hills

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (15% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($353/wk vs $443/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Chirnside Park

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 13/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (44 min vs 56 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (40.5 km vs 44.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Chirnside Park

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (22/100 vs 13/100)
  • But Christmas Hills carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 70/100)

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

Investors

Chirnside Park

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (19.3% vs 2.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Chirnside Park and Christmas 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.

Chirnside Park Christmas 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.

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Walkability 22 / 13
Chirnside Park — Walkability: 22/100 Christmas Hills — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 30 / 62
Chirnside Park — Safety: 30/100 Christmas Hills — Safety: 62/100
Low fire risk 14 / 12
Chirnside Park — Low fire risk: 14/100 Christmas Hills — Low fire risk: 12/100
Low flood risk 44 / 58
Chirnside Park — Low flood risk: 44/100 Christmas Hills — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

Chirnside Park has more residents (11,779 vs 365); Chirnside Park rents higher ($443/wk vs $353/wk).

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Population 11,779
+97% vs other
 365
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.3% +2.8%
Median age 38 46
Median household income $108,368/yr $118,820/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $443/wk
+20% vs other
 $353/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
0-4 6.8% / 4.4%
Chirnside Park — 0-4: 6.8% Christmas Hills — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 12.8% / 10.4%
Chirnside Park — 5-14: 12.8% Christmas Hills — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 6.2% / 6.6%
Chirnside Park — 15-19: 6.2% Christmas Hills — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.9% / 6.6%
Chirnside Park — 20-24: 5.9% Christmas Hills — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 13.0% / 8.2%
Chirnside Park — 25-34: 13.0% Christmas Hills — 25-34: 8.2%
35-44 13.8% / 13.4%
Chirnside Park — 35-44: 13.8% Christmas Hills — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 12.8% / 15.9%
Chirnside Park — 45-54: 12.8% Christmas Hills — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 11.6% / 23.0%
Chirnside Park — 55-64: 11.6% Christmas Hills — 55-64: 23.0%
65-74 10.0% / 9.9%
Chirnside Park — 65-74: 10.0% Christmas Hills — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 5.9% / 4.7%
Chirnside Park — 75-84: 5.9% Christmas Hills — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 1.4% / 1.1%
Chirnside Park — 85+: 1.4% Christmas Hills — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Chirnside Park 56.6% couple families
Chirnside Park — Couple Families: 56.6% Chirnside Park — Lone Person: 24.1% Chirnside Park — One Parent Families: 15.9% Chirnside Park — Group Household: 2.4% Chirnside Park — Other Families: 1.0%
Christmas Hills 61.0% couple families
Christmas Hills — Couple Families: 61.0% Christmas Hills — Lone Person: 25.6% Christmas Hills — One Parent Families: 6.1% Christmas Hills — Group Household: 3.7% Christmas Hills — Other Families: 3.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chirnside Park 15.1% renting
Chirnside Park — Owned Outright: 37.1% Chirnside Park — Mortgage: 47.8% Chirnside Park — Renting: 15.1%
Christmas Hills 8.9% renting
Christmas Hills — Owned Outright: 40.3% Christmas Hills — Mortgage: 50.8% Christmas Hills — Renting: 8.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Certificate III & IV 16.0% / 15.9%
Chirnside Park — Certificate III & IV: 16.0% Christmas Hills — Certificate III & IV: 15.9%
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 14.0%
Chirnside Park — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Christmas Hills — Bachelor Degree: 14.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.1% / 8.8%
Chirnside Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1% Christmas Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 6.6%
Chirnside Park — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Christmas Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.3%
Chirnside Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Christmas Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

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.

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
England 4.1% / 4.9%
Chirnside Park — England: 4.1% Christmas Hills — England: 4.9%
China 2.0% / 1.9%
Chirnside Park — China: 2.0% Christmas Hills — China: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.8%
Chirnside Park — New Zealand: 1.1% Christmas Hills — New Zealand: 0.8%
India 1.7% / —
Chirnside Park — India: 1.7% Christmas Hills — India: not among its largest
Scotland 0.7% / 0.8%
Chirnside Park — Scotland: 0.7% Christmas Hills — Scotland: 0.8%
Italy 1.4% / —
Chirnside Park — Italy: 1.4% Christmas Hills — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chirnside Park 97.9% houses
Chirnside Park — Houses: 97.9% Chirnside Park — Townhouses: 1.6% Chirnside Park — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Christmas Hills 100.0% houses
Christmas Hills — Houses: 100.0% Christmas Hills — Townhouses: 0.0% Christmas Hills — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Median house price $950,000 $1,115,000
Median unit price $690,000 —
Median land price $1,132,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 136 sales
 84 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Chirnside Park has more rural and farming land (66% vs 0%); Christmas Hills has more land zoned for conservation (46% vs 0%).

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Rural and farming 66% 0%
Environmental 0% 46%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 36%
Residential 19% 0%
Parks and recreation 1% 16%
Other and special use 8% 2%
Commercial 2% 0%
Industrial 1% 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

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
New dwellings approved 416
across Yarra Ranges
 98
across Nillumbik
Approvals change year on year -57% +8%

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.

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Houses 4.5%
$750/wk on $858K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
House price Higher than 64% of VIC —
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 60% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 92% of VIC —

Liveability

Chirnside Park is more walkable (22 vs 13).

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Grade C —
Score 39/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Chirnside Park carries more crime risk (70 vs 38); Chirnside Park carries more flood risk (56 vs 42).

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Bushfire High
86/100
 High
88/100
Crime High
70/100
 Low
38/100
Flood Moderate
56/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Chirnside Park

  • Chirnside Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Oxley Christian College Independent · Combined above peers

Schools in Christmas Hills

  • Christmas Hills Primary School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 11 3
Childcare 7 0
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 4 10

Mobility

Christmas Hills sits further from the CBD (44.2 km vs 40.5 km).

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Walkability score 22/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 40.5 km 44.2 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 44 min 56 min
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3116
 0.8%
postcode 3775
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 3116
 48
postcode 3775

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.

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Car (driver) 66.4% / 70.2%
Chirnside Park — Car (driver): 66.4% Christmas Hills — Car (driver): 70.2%
Worked from Home 26.5% / 24.2%
Chirnside Park — Worked from Home: 26.5% Christmas Hills — Worked from Home: 24.2%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 5.6%
Chirnside Park — Car (passenger): 4.0% Christmas Hills — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Train 1.6% / —
Chirnside Park — Train: 1.6% Christmas Hills — Train: not among its largest
Walked Only 0.9% / —
Chirnside Park — Walked Only: 0.9% Christmas Hills — Walked Only: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.2%).

Setting

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Elevation 100 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 167 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 33.2 km 37.8 km

NBN connectivity

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Connectivity score 90/100 27/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
4,929 premises
 0%
120 premises

Climate

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Annual rainfall 777 mm 1,215 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C 22.9°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C 3.8°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Average residential rate $2,161/yr $2,696/yr
Council Yarra Ranges Nillumbik

Federal electorate

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Division Casey
same for both
Member Aaron Violi
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Chirnside Park Christmas Hills
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Chirnside Park

Large Blocks Outer

Christmas Hills

Outer Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chirnside Park

Chirnside Park vs Croydon Chirnside Park vs Mooroolbark Chirnside Park vs Lilydale Chirnside Park vs Croydon North Chirnside Park vs Wonga Park Chirnside Park vs Coldstream

Other comparisons with Christmas Hills

Christmas Hills vs Wonga Park Christmas Hills vs Yarra Glen Christmas Hills vs Coldstream Christmas Hills vs Kinglake Christmas Hills vs Kangaroo Ground Christmas Hills vs St Andrews
Full data on Chirnside Park Full data on Christmas 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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