Glen Iris vs Ashwood

In both, most households own their home. In Glen Iris, about half of households are couple families. In Ashwood, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Glen Iris: a median of $2.27 million, against $1.42 million in Ashwood, and rent is higher there too. Glen Iris is closer to the city centre: 13.6 km, against 16.1 km. On these figures, Ashwood 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

Glen Iris

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 8)

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

First-home buyers

Glen Iris

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($616,500 vs $858,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 31%)
  • But Ashwood has cheaper houses ($1,415,000 vs $2,270,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Ashwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($391/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Glen Iris

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (13.6 km vs 16.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Glen Iris

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 76/100)

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

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

Glen Iris Ashwood
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.

Glen Iris Ashwood
Walkability 82 / 88
Glen Iris — Walkability: 82/100 Ashwood — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 46 / 24
Glen Iris — Safety: 46/100 Ashwood — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Glen Iris — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ashwood — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 54 / 58
Glen Iris — Low flood risk: 54/100 Ashwood — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

Glen Iris has more residents (26,131 vs 7,154); Glen Iris has higher household incomes ($129,532 vs $99,268).

Glen Iris Ashwood
Population 26,131
+73% vs other
 7,154
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.4% +3.9%
Median age 40 39
Median household income $129,532/yr
+23% vs other
 $99,268/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+13% vs other
 $391/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Glen Iris Ashwood
0-4 4.7% / 5.2%
Glen Iris — 0-4: 4.7% Ashwood — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 12.5% / 11.6%
Glen Iris — 5-14: 12.5% Ashwood — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 6.8% / 5.7%
Glen Iris — 15-19: 6.8% Ashwood — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 7.1% / 6.1%
Glen Iris — 20-24: 7.1% Ashwood — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 12.3% / 14.6%
Glen Iris — 25-34: 12.3% Ashwood — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 13.0% / 14.2%
Glen Iris — 35-44: 13.0% Ashwood — 35-44: 14.2%
45-54 14.9% / 13.4%
Glen Iris — 45-54: 14.9% Ashwood — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 12.3% / 11.2%
Glen Iris — 55-64: 12.3% Ashwood — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 8.9% / 8.5%
Glen Iris — 65-74: 8.9% Ashwood — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 5.4% / 5.8%
Glen Iris — 75-84: 5.4% Ashwood — 75-84: 5.8%
85+ 2.1% / 3.6%
Glen Iris — 85+: 2.1% Ashwood — 85+: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Glen Iris 48.6% couple families
Glen Iris — Couple Families: 48.6% Glen Iris — Lone Person: 35.1% Glen Iris — One Parent Families: 10.2% Glen Iris — Group Household: 4.4% Glen Iris — Other Families: 1.7%
Ashwood 41.8% couple families
Ashwood — Couple Families: 41.8% Ashwood — Lone Person: 35.9% Ashwood — One Parent Families: 15.4% Ashwood — Group Household: 5.4% Ashwood — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Glen Iris 28.3% renting
Glen Iris — Owned Outright: 37.9% Glen Iris — Mortgage: 33.8% Glen Iris — Renting: 28.3%
Ashwood 37.8% renting
Ashwood — Owned Outright: 30.1% Ashwood — Mortgage: 32.1% Ashwood — Renting: 37.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Glen Iris Ashwood
Bachelor Degree 27.9% / 21.8%
Glen Iris — Bachelor Degree: 27.9% Ashwood — Bachelor Degree: 21.8%
Postgraduate Degree 12.2% / 10.0%
Glen Iris — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2% Ashwood — Postgraduate Degree: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 7.5%
Glen Iris — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Ashwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.5% / 7.0%
Glen Iris — Certificate III & IV: 4.5% Ashwood — Certificate III & IV: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.1% / 3.0%
Glen Iris — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1% Ashwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.9%).

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.

Glen Iris Ashwood
China 4.7% / 9.7%
Glen Iris — China: 4.7% Ashwood — China: 9.7%
India 2.6% / 3.1%
Glen Iris — India: 2.6% Ashwood — India: 3.1%
England 3.0% / 2.5%
Glen Iris — England: 3.0% Ashwood — England: 2.5%
Malaysia 1.8% / 2.3%
Glen Iris — Malaysia: 1.8% Ashwood — Malaysia: 2.3%
Sri Lanka 0.9% / 2.1%
Glen Iris — Sri Lanka: 0.9% Ashwood — Sri Lanka: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.2%
Glen Iris — New Zealand: 1.5% Ashwood — New Zealand: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Glen Iris 54.6% houses
Glen Iris — Houses: 54.6% Glen Iris — Flats / Apartments: 27.3% Glen Iris — Townhouses: 18.0%
Ashwood 58.1% houses
Ashwood — Houses: 58.1% Ashwood — Flats / Apartments: 29.8% Ashwood — Townhouses: 12.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Glen Iris Ashwood
Median house price $2,270,000 $1,415,000
Median unit price $616,500 $858,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 135 sales
 24 days
from 56 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.

Glen Iris Ashwood
2 bed $650K / $778K
Glen Iris — 2 bed: $650K (175 sales) Ashwood — 2 bed: $778K (20 sales)

175 vs 20 sales

3 bed $1.11M / $1M
Glen Iris — 3 bed: $1.11M (33 sales) Ashwood — 3 bed: $1M (15 sales)

33 vs 15 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.

Glen Iris Ashwood
2 bed $1.32M / $1.25M
Glen Iris — 2 bed: $1.32M (19 sales) Ashwood — 2 bed: $1.25M (8 sales)

19 vs 8 sales

3 bed $1.91M / $1.35M
Glen Iris — 3 bed: $1.91M (67 sales) Ashwood — 3 bed: $1.35M (53 sales)

67 vs 53 sales

4 bed $2.5M / $1.68M
Glen Iris — 4 bed: $2.5M (74 sales) Ashwood — 4 bed: $1.68M (27 sales)

74 vs 27 sales

5 bed $3.2M / $2.02M
Glen Iris — 5 bed: $3.2M (28 sales) Ashwood — 5 bed: $2.02M (13 sales)

28 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Glen Iris Ashwood
Residential 81% 74%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 13%
Parks and recreation 9% 10%
Commercial 2% 3%
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

Glen Iris Ashwood
New dwellings approved 711
across Boroondara
 1,233
across Monash
Approvals change year on year -40% -4%

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.

Glen Iris Ashwood
Houses 2.8%
$1,200/wk on $2.2M
 3.1%
$770/wk on $1.3M
Units 4.2%
$570/wk on $700K
 4.3%
$665/wk on $811K

Ranking within VIC

Glen Iris Ashwood
House price Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Schools Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC

Liveability

Glen Iris scores higher overall (88 vs 68).

Glen Iris Ashwood
Grade A+ A
Score 88/100 68/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Ashwood carries more crime risk (76 vs 54).

Glen Iris Ashwood
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
54/100
 High
76/100
Flood Moderate
46/100
 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
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Glen Iris Ashwood
Inside the suburb 7 5
Rated above peers 5 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.5 km
 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 2.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 3.2%

Schools in Glen Iris

  • Camberwell South Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Glen Iris Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Korowa Anglican Girls' School Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Cecilia's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Roch's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sacre Coeur Catholic · Combined at peers

Schools in Ashwood

  • Ashwood High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Parkhill Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Ashwood School Government · Combined · Special school
  • Berengarra School - Café Education Independent · Secondary · Special school
  • Frank Dando Sports Academy Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Glen Iris Ashwood
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 20 1
Parks & reserves 21 3
Childcare 18 8
GPs 7 2
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 9 1

Mobility

Ashwood sits further from the CBD (16.1 km vs 13.6 km).

Glen Iris Ashwood
Walkability score 82/100 88/100
Distance to Melbourne 13.6 km 16.1 km
+18% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 24 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 361.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 99.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 3146
 3.2%
postcode 3147
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 19
postcode 3146
 28
postcode 3147

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.

Glen Iris Ashwood
Worked from Home 49.9% / 44.5%
Glen Iris — Worked from Home: 49.9% Ashwood — Worked from Home: 44.5%
Car (driver) 39.1% / 45.8%
Glen Iris — Car (driver): 39.1% Ashwood — Car (driver): 45.8%
Train 4.2% / 4.0%
Glen Iris — Train: 4.2% Ashwood — Train: 4.0%
Car (passenger) 2.4% / 2.8%
Glen Iris — Car (passenger): 2.4% Ashwood — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.0%
Glen Iris — Walked Only: 1.9% Ashwood — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 0.2% / 1.5%
Glen Iris — Bus: 0.2% Ashwood — Bus: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.9%).

Setting

Glen Iris Ashwood
Elevation 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.0 km 10.6 km

NBN connectivity

Glen Iris Ashwood
Connectivity score 77/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
12,150 premises
 2%
3,259 premises

Climate

Glen Iris Ashwood
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)

Glen Iris Ashwood
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Glen Iris Ashwood
Average residential rate $2,253/yr $1,697/yr
Council Boroondara Monash

Federal electorate

Glen Iris Ashwood
Division Chisholm
same for both
Member Carina Garland
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Glen Iris Ashwood
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Glen Iris

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

Ashwood

Middle-Ring Multicultural Premium Professionals River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Glen Iris

Glen Iris vs Malvern East Glen Iris vs Camberwell Glen Iris vs Burwood Glen Iris vs Hawthorn East Glen Iris vs Malvern Glen Iris vs Ashburton

Other comparisons with Ashwood

Ashwood vs Mount Waverley Ashwood vs Malvern East Ashwood vs Burwood Ashwood vs Chadstone Ashwood vs Ashburton
Full data on Glen Iris Full data on Ashwood
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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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