Elwood vs Ripponlea

Ripponlea is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 38 in Elwood. In both, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Elwood, most households are people living alone. In Ripponlea, about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Elwood: a median of $622,000, against $476,000 in Ripponlea, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Elwood tends to suit people living alone, while Ripponlea suits 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

Elwood

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Ripponlea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($476,250 vs $621,750)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,825,500 vs $2,090,000)

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

Ripponlea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (12% vs 5%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Elwood

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

Ripponlea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.9% vs 5.1%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Elwood Ripponlea
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.

Elwood Ripponlea
Walkability 96 / 96
Elwood — Walkability: 96/100 Ripponlea — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 30 / 35
Elwood — Safety: 30/100 Ripponlea — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Elwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ripponlea — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 54
Elwood — Low flood risk: 36/100 Ripponlea — Low flood risk: 54/100

Demographics

Elwood has more residents (15,153 vs 1,532); Elwood skews older (38 vs 34).

Elwood Ripponlea
Population 15,153
+90% vs other
 1,532
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.5% -2.8%
Median age 38 34
Median household income $108,992/yr
+3% vs other
 $105,196/yr
Median weekly rent $415/wk
+6% vs other
 $391/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Elwood Ripponlea
0-4 4.6% / 6.0%
Elwood — 0-4: 4.6% Ripponlea — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 8.4% / 11.6%
Elwood — 5-14: 8.4% Ripponlea — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 3.4% / 4.6%
Elwood — 15-19: 3.4% Ripponlea — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 4.8% / 8.2%
Elwood — 20-24: 4.8% Ripponlea — 20-24: 8.2%
25-34 21.8% / 20.9%
Elwood — 25-34: 21.8% Ripponlea — 25-34: 20.9%
35-44 18.7% / 17.4%
Elwood — 35-44: 18.7% Ripponlea — 35-44: 17.4%
45-54 15.8% / 13.9%
Elwood — 45-54: 15.8% Ripponlea — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 11.7% / 9.0%
Elwood — 55-64: 11.7% Ripponlea — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 6.9% / 5.0%
Elwood — 65-74: 6.9% Ripponlea — 65-74: 5.0%
75-84 2.8% / 3.2%
Elwood — 75-84: 2.8% Ripponlea — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 1.0% / 1.0%
Elwood — 85+: 1.0% Ripponlea — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Elwood 57.8% lone person
Elwood — Lone Person: 57.8% Elwood — Couple Families: 23.4% Elwood — Group Household: 8.7% Elwood — One Parent Families: 8.7% Elwood — Other Families: 1.3%
Ripponlea 47.6% lone person
Ripponlea — Lone Person: 47.6% Ripponlea — Couple Families: 27.6% Ripponlea — Group Household: 13.0% Ripponlea — One Parent Families: 9.8% Ripponlea — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Elwood 52.2% renting
Elwood — Owned Outright: 21.2% Elwood — Mortgage: 26.6% Elwood — Renting: 52.2%
Ripponlea 49.2% renting
Ripponlea — Owned Outright: 20.7% Ripponlea — Mortgage: 30.1% Ripponlea — Renting: 49.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Elwood Ripponlea
Bachelor Degree 29.0% / 27.2%
Elwood — Bachelor Degree: 29.0% Ripponlea — Bachelor Degree: 27.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.9% / 10.2%
Elwood — Postgraduate Degree: 11.9% Ripponlea — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 7.7%
Elwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Ripponlea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Certificate III & IV 6.9% / 7.6%
Elwood — Certificate III & IV: 6.9% Ripponlea — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 3.4%
Elwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Ripponlea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.0%).

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.

Elwood Ripponlea
England 5.1% / 4.5%
Elwood — England: 5.1% Ripponlea — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 2.3% / 2.3%
Elwood — New Zealand: 2.3% Ripponlea — New Zealand: 2.3%
India 1.0% / 2.3%
Elwood — India: 1.0% Ripponlea — India: 2.3%
Ireland 1.2% / 1.6%
Elwood — Ireland: 1.2% Ripponlea — Ireland: 1.6%
Nepal — / 1.7%
Elwood — Nepal: not among its largest Ripponlea — Nepal: 1.7%
Italy 0.9% / —
Elwood — Italy: 0.9% Ripponlea — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Elwood 72.2% flats / apartments
Elwood — Flats / Apartments: 72.2% Elwood — Houses: 14.2% Elwood — Townhouses: 13.6%
Ripponlea 64.8% flats / apartments
Ripponlea — Flats / Apartments: 64.8% Ripponlea — Houses: 20.6% Ripponlea — Townhouses: 14.6%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Elwood Ripponlea
Median house price $2,090,000 $1,825,500
Median unit price $621,750 $476,250
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 58 sales
 26 days
from 6 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.

Elwood Ripponlea
1 bed $428K / $330K
Elwood — 1 bed: $428K (135 sales) Ripponlea — 1 bed: $330K (18 sales)

135 vs 18 sales

2 bed $680K / $575K
Elwood — 2 bed: $680K (287 sales) Ripponlea — 2 bed: $575K (29 sales)

287 vs 29 sales

Zoning mix

Elwood Ripponlea
Residential 74% 70%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 22%
Parks and recreation 13% 2%
Commercial 2% 7%
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

Elwood Ripponlea
New dwellings approved 891
across Port Phillip
same for both
Approvals change year on year +4175%
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.

Elwood Ripponlea
Houses 3.1%
$1,325/wk on $2.19M
 —
Units 5.1%
$635/wk on $649K
 6.9%
$600/wk on $450K

Ranking within VIC

Elwood Ripponlea
House price Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools Higher than 19% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC

Liveability

Ripponlea scores higher overall (84 vs 63).

Elwood Ripponlea
Grade B A+
Score 63/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Elwood carries more flood risk (64 vs 46).

Elwood Ripponlea
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
70/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
46/100
Coastal erosion Low
33/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Elwood Ripponlea
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 3 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 5.0 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 3.2%

Schools in Elwood

  • Yesodei HaTorah College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Elwood College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Elwood Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Columba's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Ripponlea

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

Amenities in the suburb

Elwood Ripponlea
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 23 7
Parks & reserves 11 1
Childcare 8 0
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 3 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Elwood Ripponlea
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 10 km
+8% vs other
 9.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 22 min 18 min
Public transport score 79/100
Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 232.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 3184
 2.6%
postcode 3185
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 8
postcode 3184
 13
postcode 3185

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.

Elwood Ripponlea
Worked from Home 51.5% / 48.8%
Elwood — Worked from Home: 51.5% Ripponlea — Worked from Home: 48.8%
Car (driver) 35.4% / 30.8%
Elwood — Car (driver): 35.4% Ripponlea — Car (driver): 30.8%
Train 3.2% / 9.6%
Elwood — Train: 3.2% Ripponlea — Train: 9.6%
Walked Only 2.9% / 3.0%
Elwood — Walked Only: 2.9% Ripponlea — Walked Only: 3.0%
Car (passenger) 1.5% / 3.5%
Elwood — Car (passenger): 1.5% Ripponlea — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Bicycle 2.6% / 1.8%
Elwood — Bicycle: 2.6% Ripponlea — Bicycle: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.5%).

Setting

Elwood Ripponlea
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 721 m
1.7 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Elwood Ripponlea
Connectivity score 76/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
9,418 premises
 0%
883 premises

Climate

Elwood Ripponlea
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Elwood Ripponlea
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Elwood Ripponlea
Average residential rate $1,765/yr
same for both
Council Port Phillip
same for both

Federal electorate

Elwood Ripponlea
Division Macnamara
same for both
Member Josh Burns
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Elwood Ripponlea
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Elwood

Apartments Coastal Inner Parks Professionals River Trams Urban

Ripponlea

Affordable Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trains Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Elwood

Elwood vs Brighton Elwood vs St Kilda Elwood vs Elsternwick Elwood vs Balaclava

Other comparisons with Ripponlea

Ripponlea vs St Kilda East Ripponlea vs Elsternwick Ripponlea vs Balaclava
Full data on Elwood Full data on Ripponlea
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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