Glen Waverley vs Mulgrave

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Glen Waverley, most households are couple families. In Mulgrave, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Glen Waverley: a median of $1.7 million, against $1.1 million in Mulgrave, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Mulgrave 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 Waverley

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 5)
  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 10)
  • has more childcare (28 vs 13)

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

First-home buyers

Mulgrave

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,103,500 vs $1,700,500)
  • has cheaper land ($1,492,500 vs $2,028,444)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mulgrave

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($430/wk vs $480/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Glen Waverley

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 62/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (24.9 km vs 27.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Glen Waverley

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (17 vs 4)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 62/100)

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

Investors

Mulgrave

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.7% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Glen Waverley and Mulgrave 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 Waverley Mulgrave
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 Waverley Mulgrave
Walkability 92 / 62
Glen Waverley — Walkability: 92/100 Mulgrave — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 32 / 24
Glen Waverley — Safety: 32/100 Mulgrave — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Glen Waverley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mulgrave — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 49 / 65
Glen Waverley — Low flood risk: 49/100 Mulgrave — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Glen Waverley has more residents (42,642 vs 19,889); Glen Waverley rents higher ($480/wk vs $430/wk).

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Population 42,642
+53% vs other
 19,889
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.7% +2.7%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $99,736/yr $99,476/yr
Median weekly rent $480/wk
+10% vs other
 $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
0-4 3.8% / 5.5%
Glen Waverley — 0-4: 3.8% Mulgrave — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 12.8% / 12.2%
Glen Waverley — 5-14: 12.8% Mulgrave — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 6.4% / 5.3%
Glen Waverley — 15-19: 6.4% Mulgrave — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 7.2% / 5.7%
Glen Waverley — 20-24: 7.2% Mulgrave — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 11.7% / 13.6%
Glen Waverley — 25-34: 11.7% Mulgrave — 25-34: 13.6%
35-44 13.9% / 14.6%
Glen Waverley — 35-44: 13.9% Mulgrave — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 13.0% / 13.1%
Glen Waverley — 45-54: 13.0% Mulgrave — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 11.5% / 10.4%
Glen Waverley — 55-64: 11.5% Mulgrave — 55-64: 10.4%
65-74 9.4% / 9.9%
Glen Waverley — 65-74: 9.4% Mulgrave — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 7.0% / 7.1%
Glen Waverley — 75-84: 7.0% Mulgrave — 75-84: 7.1%
85+ 3.3% / 2.6%
Glen Waverley — 85+: 3.3% Mulgrave — 85+: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Glen Waverley 55.7% couple families
Glen Waverley — Couple Families: 55.7% Glen Waverley — Lone Person: 23.7% Glen Waverley — One Parent Families: 14.4% Glen Waverley — Group Household: 4.7% Glen Waverley — Other Families: 1.5%
Mulgrave 54.5% couple families
Mulgrave — Couple Families: 54.5% Mulgrave — Lone Person: 23.5% Mulgrave — One Parent Families: 15.3% Mulgrave — Group Household: 4.6% Mulgrave — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Glen Waverley 28.1% renting
Glen Waverley — Owned Outright: 42.5% Glen Waverley — Mortgage: 29.4% Glen Waverley — Renting: 28.1%
Mulgrave 23.0% renting
Mulgrave — Owned Outright: 39.1% Mulgrave — Mortgage: 37.9% Mulgrave — Renting: 23.0%
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.

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
China 17.8% / 6.2%
Glen Waverley — China: 17.8% Mulgrave — China: 6.2%
India 8.0% / 5.2%
Glen Waverley — India: 8.0% Mulgrave — India: 5.2%
Sri Lanka 5.3% / 5.0%
Glen Waverley — Sri Lanka: 5.3% Mulgrave — Sri Lanka: 5.0%
Malaysia 5.6% / 3.1%
Glen Waverley — Malaysia: 5.6% Mulgrave — Malaysia: 3.1%
Vietnam 1.8% / 3.0%
Glen Waverley — Vietnam: 1.8% Mulgrave — Vietnam: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Qualifications

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

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Bachelor Degree 22.3% / 17.3%
Glen Waverley — Bachelor Degree: 22.3% Mulgrave — Bachelor Degree: 17.3%
Postgraduate Degree 11.8% / 7.4%
Glen Waverley — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8% Mulgrave — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.2%
Glen Waverley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Mulgrave — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Certificate III & IV 5.2% / 9.3%
Glen Waverley — Certificate III & IV: 5.2% Mulgrave — Certificate III & IV: 9.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 2.2%
Glen Waverley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Mulgrave — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Glen Waverley 79.1% houses
Glen Waverley — Houses: 79.1% Glen Waverley — Townhouses: 10.6% Glen Waverley — Flats / Apartments: 10.3%
Mulgrave 83.0% houses
Mulgrave — Houses: 83.0% Mulgrave — Townhouses: 16.4% Mulgrave — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Median house price $1,700,500 $1,103,500
Median unit price $845,000 $788,800
Median land price $2,028,444 $1,492,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 407 sales
 25 days
from 276 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 Waverley Mulgrave
2 bed $650K / $690K
Glen Waverley — 2 bed: $650K (77 sales) Mulgrave — 2 bed: $690K (13 sales)

77 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.17M / $823K
Glen Waverley — 3 bed: $1.17M (52 sales) Mulgrave — 3 bed: $823K (20 sales)

52 vs 20 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 Waverley Mulgrave
2 bed $1.21M / $750K
Glen Waverley — 2 bed: $1.21M (13 sales) Mulgrave — 2 bed: $750K (7 sales)

13 vs 7 sales

3 bed $1.61M / $1.01M
Glen Waverley — 3 bed: $1.61M (158 sales) Mulgrave — 3 bed: $1.01M (210 sales)

158 vs 210 sales

4 bed $1.68M / $1.2M
Glen Waverley — 4 bed: $1.68M (181 sales) Mulgrave — 4 bed: $1.2M (146 sales)

181 vs 146 sales

5 bed $2.16M / $1.36M
Glen Waverley — 5 bed: $2.16M (89 sales) Mulgrave — 5 bed: $1.36M (35 sales)

89 vs 35 sales

Zoning mix

Glen Waverley has more commercially zoned land (13% vs 2%).

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Residential 65% 57%
Other and special use 0% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 14%
Commercial 13% 2%
Parks and recreation 13% 5%
Industrial 0% 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 Waverley Mulgrave
New dwellings approved 1,233
across Monash
same for both
Approvals change year on year -4%
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.

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Houses 3.0%
$875/wk on $1.5M
 3.7%
$730/wk on $1.01M
Units 4.6%
$710/wk on $798K
 4.2%
$570/wk on $702K

Ranking within VIC

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
House price Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Income Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
Schools Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 31% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC

Liveability

Glen Waverley is more walkable (92 vs 62); Glen Waverley scores higher overall (81 vs 74).

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Grade A
same for both
Score 81/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Glen Waverley carries more flood risk (51 vs 35).

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
68/100
 High
76/100
Flood Moderate
51/100
 Low
35/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 17
within 5 km

Schools

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Inside the suburb 15 5
Rated above peers 11 4
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Monash Clayton, 5.2 km
 1
Monash Clayton, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.8% 3.3%

Schools in Glen Waverley

  • Brentwood Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Camelot Rise Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Glen Waverley Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Glen Waverley Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Glen Waverley South Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Glendal Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Mulgrave

  • Mazenod College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Mulgrave Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St John Vianney's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Wellington Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Albany Rise Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Supermarkets 4
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 96 18
Parks & reserves 29 10
Childcare 28 13
GPs 17 4
Pharmacies 10 5
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 10 5
Fuel stations 9 3
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 2 5

Mobility

Mulgrave sits further from the CBD (27.2 km vs 24.9 km).

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Walkability score 92/100 62/100
Distance to Melbourne 24.9 km 27.2 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 33 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 799.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 439.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3150
 3.7%
postcode 3170
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 3150
 35
postcode 3170

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 Waverley Mulgrave
Car (driver) 50.4% / 60.3%
Glen Waverley — Car (driver): 50.4% Mulgrave — Car (driver): 60.3%
Worked from Home 37.3% / 31.0%
Glen Waverley — Worked from Home: 37.3% Mulgrave — Worked from Home: 31.0%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 3.6%
Glen Waverley — Car (passenger): 4.0% Mulgrave — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 4.5% / 2.4%
Glen Waverley — Train: 4.5% Mulgrave — Train: 2.4%
Bus 1.5% / 1.5%
Glen Waverley — Bus: 1.5% Mulgrave — Bus: 1.5%
Walked Only 2.0% / 0.9%
Glen Waverley — Walked Only: 2.0% Mulgrave — Walked Only: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.3%).

Setting

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Elevation 121 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 92 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.3 km 12.1 km

NBN connectivity

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Connectivity score 77/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
18,343 premises
 15%
8,782 premises

Climate

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Annual rainfall 777 mm 781 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C —
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³ 6.3 µg/m³
PM10 — 20.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.98 pphm

Council rates

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Average residential rate $1,697/yr
same for both
Council Monash
same for both

Federal electorate

Glen Waverley Mulgrave
Division Chisholm Hotham
Member Carina Garland Clare O'Neil
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Glen Waverley

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Premium Professionals Transport Hub

Mulgrave

Multicultural Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Glen Waverley

Glen Waverley vs Mount Waverley Glen Waverley vs Wantirna South Glen Waverley vs Wheelers Hill Glen Waverley vs Vermont South Glen Waverley vs Burwood East Glen Waverley vs Scoresby

Other comparisons with Mulgrave

Mulgrave vs Rowville Mulgrave vs Dandenong North Mulgrave vs Springvale Mulgrave vs Wheelers Hill Mulgrave vs Clayton Mulgrave vs Noble Park North
Full data on Glen Waverley Full data on Mulgrave
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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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