Coldstream vs Tarrawarra

Coldstream is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 54 in Tarrawarra. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Coldstream, about half of households are couple families. In Tarrawarra, most households are couple families. Coldstream is closer to the city centre: 49.9 km, against 59.9 km. On these figures, Coldstream tends to suit families with children, while Tarrawarra suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Coldstream

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 56%)
  • But Tarrawarra carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 56/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Tarrawarra

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (4% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($96/wk vs $371/wk)

Weighs rent and rental stress.

Commuting to the city

Coldstream

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (49.9 km vs 59.9 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (54 min vs 63 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Tarrawarra

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (21/100 vs 56/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (41% vs 17%)
  • But Coldstream has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Coldstream Tarrawarra
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.

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Walkability 0 / 6
Coldstream — Walkability: 0/100 Tarrawarra — Walkability: 6/100
Safety 44 / 79
Coldstream — Safety: 44/100 Tarrawarra — Safety: 79/100
Low fire risk 2 / 1
Coldstream — Low fire risk: 2/100 Tarrawarra — Low fire risk: 1/100
Low flood risk 20 / 16
Coldstream — Low flood risk: 20/100 Tarrawarra — Low flood risk: 16/100

Demographics

Coldstream has more residents (2,199 vs 81); Coldstream rents higher ($371/wk vs $96/wk).

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Population 2,199
+96% vs other
 81
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% +3.8%
Median age 37 54
Median household income $99,476/yr $140,400/yr
+41% vs other
Median weekly rent $371/wk
+74% vs other
 $96/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coldstream Tarrawarra
0-4 7.0% / —
Coldstream — 0-4: 7.0% Tarrawarra — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 13.1% / 12.3%
Coldstream — 5-14: 13.1% Tarrawarra — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 6.5% / 4.9%
Coldstream — 15-19: 6.5% Tarrawarra — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 5.2% / —
Coldstream — 20-24: 5.2% Tarrawarra — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 14.5% / 3.7%
Coldstream — 25-34: 14.5% Tarrawarra — 25-34: 3.7%
35-44 13.1% / 4.9%
Coldstream — 35-44: 13.1% Tarrawarra — 35-44: 4.9%
45-54 11.1% / 21.0%
Coldstream — 45-54: 11.1% Tarrawarra — 45-54: 21.0%
55-64 13.3% / 11.1%
Coldstream — 55-64: 13.3% Tarrawarra — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 10.6% / 18.5%
Coldstream — 65-74: 10.6% Tarrawarra — 65-74: 18.5%
75-84 5.0% / 22.2%
Coldstream — 75-84: 5.0% Tarrawarra — 75-84: 22.2%
85+ 1.0% / —
Coldstream — 85+: 1.0% Tarrawarra — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coldstream 54.2% couple families
Coldstream — Couple Families: 54.2% Coldstream — Lone Person: 24.7% Coldstream — One Parent Families: 16.9% Coldstream — Group Household: 3.0% Coldstream — Other Families: 1.1%
Tarrawarra 55.6% couple families
Tarrawarra — Couple Families: 55.6% Tarrawarra — Lone Person: 44.4% Tarrawarra — One Parent Families: 0.0% Tarrawarra — Group Household: 0.0% Tarrawarra — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coldstream 13.4% renting
Coldstream — Owned Outright: 35.5% Coldstream — Mortgage: 51.1% Coldstream — Renting: 13.4%
Tarrawarra 0.0% renting
Tarrawarra — Owned Outright: 81.0% Tarrawarra — Mortgage: 19.0% Tarrawarra — Renting: 0.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Certificate III & IV 21.4% / 8.6%
Coldstream — Certificate III & IV: 21.4% Tarrawarra — Certificate III & IV: 8.6%
Bachelor Degree 7.3% / 18.5%
Coldstream — Bachelor Degree: 7.3% Tarrawarra — Bachelor Degree: 18.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 8.6%
Coldstream — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Tarrawarra — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 9.9%
Coldstream — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Tarrawarra — Postgraduate Degree: 9.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.3% / —
Coldstream — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3% Tarrawarra — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

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.

Coldstream Tarrawarra
England 4.7% / 7.4%
Coldstream — England: 4.7% Tarrawarra — England: 7.4%
Malaysia — / 3.7%
Coldstream — Malaysia: not among its largest Tarrawarra — Malaysia: 3.7%
Germany — / 3.7%
Coldstream — Germany: not among its largest Tarrawarra — Germany: 3.7%
New Zealand 0.9% / —
Coldstream — New Zealand: 0.9% Tarrawarra — New Zealand: not among its largest
Scotland 0.8% / —
Coldstream — Scotland: 0.8% Tarrawarra — Scotland: not among its largest
Italy 0.7% / —
Coldstream — Italy: 0.7% Tarrawarra — Italy: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.7% / —
Coldstream — Netherlands: 0.7% Tarrawarra — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coldstream 98.9% houses
Coldstream — Houses: 98.9% Coldstream — Flats / Apartments: 0.7% Coldstream — Townhouses: 0.4%
Tarrawarra 100.0% houses
Tarrawarra — Houses: 100.0% Tarrawarra — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Tarrawarra — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Median house price $870,000 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 17 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Rural and farming 95% 97%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 2%
Residential 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

Coldstream Tarrawarra
New dwellings approved 416
across Yarra Ranges
same for both
Approvals change year on year -57%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Coldstream Tarrawarra
House price Higher than 60% of VIC —
Income Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 68% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 58% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 68% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC

Liveability

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Grade D —
Score 26/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Coldstream carries more crime risk (56 vs 21).

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Bushfire High
98/100
 High
99/100
Crime Moderate
56/100
 Low
21/100
Flood High
80/100
 High
84/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Coldstream

  • Coldstream Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Lyrebird College Independent · Combined · Special school

Schools in Tarrawarra

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 13 0
Parks & reserves 11 1
Childcare 2 0
GPs 2 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Tarrawarra sits further from the CBD (59.9 km vs 49.9 km).

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Walkability score 0/100 6/100
Distance to Melbourne 49.9 km 59.9 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 54 min 63 min
Public transport score 42/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 7.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 3.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 19 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3770
 0.8%
postcode 3775
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 3770
 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.

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Car (driver) 69.5% / 45.0%
Coldstream — Car (driver): 69.5% Tarrawarra — Car (driver): 45.0%
Worked from Home 21.9% / 55.0%
Coldstream — Worked from Home: 21.9% Tarrawarra — Worked from Home: 55.0%
Car (passenger) 4.4% / —
Coldstream — Car (passenger): 4.4% Tarrawarra — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 2.6% / —
Coldstream — Walked Only: 2.6% Tarrawarra — Walked Only: not among its largest
Train 0.9% / —
Coldstream — Train: 0.9% Tarrawarra — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.5%).

Setting

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Elevation 76 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 93 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 42.3 km 47.5 km

NBN connectivity

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Connectivity score 77/100 20/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
962 premises
 0%
30 premises

Climate

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Annual rainfall 1,215 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 22.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Coldstream Tarrawarra
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Average residential rate $2,161/yr
same for both
Council Yarra Ranges
same for both

Federal electorate

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Division Casey
same for both
Member Aaron Violi
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Coldstream Tarrawarra
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Coldstream

Acreage Outer

Tarrawarra

Outer Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coldstream

Coldstream vs Lilydale Coldstream vs Chirnside Park Coldstream vs Healesville Coldstream vs Wandin North Coldstream vs Yarra Glen Coldstream vs Gruyere

Other comparisons with Tarrawarra

Tarrawarra vs Healesville Tarrawarra vs Yarra Glen Tarrawarra vs Dixons Creek
Full data on Coldstream Full data on Tarrawarra
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or