Glenroy vs Jacana

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Glenroy: a median of $855,000, against $628,000 in Jacana, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Jacana 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

Glenroy

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (18 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (25 vs 3)
  • But Jacana has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 58%)

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

First-home buyers

Jacana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($627,500 vs $855,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Jacana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($335/wk vs $369/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Glenroy

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Glenroy

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (9 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 18%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Jacana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.6% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Glenroy Jacana
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.

Glenroy Jacana
Walkability 89 / 80
Glenroy — Walkability: 89/100 Jacana — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 23 / 30
Glenroy — Safety: 23/100 Jacana — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Glenroy — Low fire risk: 100/100 Jacana — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 48 / 68
Glenroy — Low flood risk: 48/100 Jacana — Low flood risk: 68/100

Demographics

Glenroy has more residents (23,792 vs 2,187); Glenroy has higher household incomes ($86,060 vs $72,124).

Glenroy Jacana
Population 23,792
+91% vs other
 2,187
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.0% +2.8%
Median age 34 35
Median household income $86,060/yr
+16% vs other
 $72,124/yr
Median weekly rent $369/wk
+9% vs other
 $335/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Glenroy Jacana
0-4 7.3% / 6.1%
Glenroy — 0-4: 7.3% Jacana — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 10.1% / 9.0%
Glenroy — 5-14: 10.1% Jacana — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 4.1% / 4.1%
Glenroy — 15-19: 4.1% Jacana — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 7.9% / 7.5%
Glenroy — 20-24: 7.9% Jacana — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 22.0% / 22.3%
Glenroy — 25-34: 22.0% Jacana — 25-34: 22.3%
35-44 15.5% / 14.5%
Glenroy — 35-44: 15.5% Jacana — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 10.2% / 9.1%
Glenroy — 45-54: 10.2% Jacana — 45-54: 9.1%
55-64 8.7% / 11.7%
Glenroy — 55-64: 8.7% Jacana — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 5.8% / 8.2%
Glenroy — 65-74: 5.8% Jacana — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 4.8% / 5.6%
Glenroy — 75-84: 4.8% Jacana — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 3.5% / 2.1%
Glenroy — 85+: 3.5% Jacana — 85+: 2.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Glenroy 39.3% couple families
Glenroy — Couple Families: 39.3% Glenroy — Lone Person: 35.9% Glenroy — One Parent Families: 15.4% Glenroy — Group Household: 6.6% Glenroy — Other Families: 2.7%
Jacana 38.0% couple families
Jacana — Couple Families: 38.0% Jacana — Lone Person: 31.1% Jacana — One Parent Families: 19.5% Jacana — Group Household: 7.5% Jacana — Other Families: 3.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Glenroy 38.6% renting
Glenroy — Owned Outright: 28.0% Glenroy — Mortgage: 33.4% Glenroy — Renting: 38.6%
Jacana 38.4% renting
Jacana — Owned Outright: 30.4% Jacana — Mortgage: 31.2% Jacana — Renting: 38.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Glenroy Jacana
Bachelor Degree 15.3% / 11.7%
Glenroy — Bachelor Degree: 15.3% Jacana — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Certificate III & IV 9.2% / 10.6%
Glenroy — Certificate III & IV: 9.2% Jacana — Certificate III & IV: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 7.2%
Glenroy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Jacana — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 7.5% / 6.4%
Glenroy — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5% Jacana — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.3%
Glenroy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Jacana — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

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.

Glenroy Jacana
Nepal 7.6% / 6.1%
Glenroy — Nepal: 7.6% Jacana — Nepal: 6.1%
India 5.2% / 4.8%
Glenroy — India: 5.2% Jacana — India: 4.8%
Pakistan 3.0% / 4.7%
Glenroy — Pakistan: 3.0% Jacana — Pakistan: 4.7%
Lebanon 2.3% / 1.6%
Glenroy — Lebanon: 2.3% Jacana — Lebanon: 1.6%
Italy 3.1% / —
Glenroy — Italy: 3.1% Jacana — Italy: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 2.7%
Glenroy — Vietnam: not among its largest Jacana — Vietnam: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Glenroy 58.4% houses
Glenroy — Houses: 58.4% Glenroy — Townhouses: 33.0% Glenroy — Flats / Apartments: 8.5%
Jacana 82.3% houses
Jacana — Houses: 82.3% Jacana — Townhouses: 10.0% Jacana — Flats / Apartments: 7.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Glenroy Jacana
Median house price $855,000 $627,500
Median unit price $595,000 $596,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 253 sales
 22 days
from 9 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.

Glenroy Jacana
2 bed $670K / $566K
Glenroy — 2 bed: $670K (57 sales) Jacana — 2 bed: $566K (5 sales)

57 vs 5 sales

3 bed $845K / $618K
Glenroy — 3 bed: $845K (239 sales) Jacana — 3 bed: $618K (22 sales)

239 vs 22 sales

Zoning mix

Glenroy Jacana
Residential 62% 61%
Parks and recreation 7% 24%
Infrastructure and transport 23% 15%
Other and special use 6% 0%
Commercial 2% 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

Glenroy Jacana
New dwellings approved 1,387
across Merri-bek
 3,063
across Hume
Approvals change year on year +68% +0%

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.

Glenroy Jacana
Houses 4.1%
$610/wk on $770K
 4.6%
$520/wk on $585K
Units 4.6%
$528/wk on $602K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Glenroy Jacana
House price Higher than 58% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Schools Higher than 52% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 36% of VIC —

Liveability

Glenroy is more walkable (89 vs 80).

Glenroy Jacana
Grade B
same for both
Score 57/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Glenroy carries more flood risk (52 vs 32).

Glenroy Jacana
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
77/100
 High
70/100
Flood Moderate
52/100
 Low
32/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 16
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Glenroy Jacana
Inside the suburb 9 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 3 0
Universities within 10 km 1
The University of Melbourne, 9.6 km
 None

Schools in Glenroy

  • Glenroy Central Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Glenroy West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Corpus Christi School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Belle Vue Park Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Glenroy College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Glenroy Private Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Jacana

  • Jacana School for Autism Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Glenroy Jacana
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 1
Parks & reserves 25 3
Childcare 18 1
GPs 9 1
Pharmacies 4 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 1
Waterways 18 0

Mobility

Glenroy Jacana
Walkability score 89/100 80/100
Distance to Melbourne 14.6 km 15.9 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 26 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 230.0
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 0.8%
postcode 3046
 0.3%
postcode 3047
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 3046
 26
postcode 3047

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.

Glenroy Jacana
Car (driver) 53.3% / 64.8%
Glenroy — Car (driver): 53.3% Jacana — Car (driver): 64.8%
Worked from Home 28.7% / 17.5%
Glenroy — Worked from Home: 28.7% Jacana — Worked from Home: 17.5%
Train 11.2% / 8.4%
Glenroy — Train: 11.2% Jacana — Train: 8.4%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 4.5%
Glenroy — Car (passenger): 3.7% Jacana — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bus 1.0% / 2.9%
Glenroy — Bus: 1.0% Jacana — Bus: 2.9%
Walked Only 1.5% / 1.5%
Glenroy — Walked Only: 1.5% Jacana — Walked Only: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Glenroy Jacana
Elevation 100 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 115 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.3 km 17.0 km

NBN connectivity

Glenroy Jacana
Connectivity score 88/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 44%
11,617 premises
 53%
975 premises

Climate

Glenroy Jacana
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Glenroy Jacana
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³ —
PM10 — 18.9 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Glenroy Jacana
Average residential rate $1,914/yr $1,715/yr
Council Merri-bek Hume

Federal electorate

Glenroy Jacana
Division Wills Calwell
Member Peter Khalil Basem Abdo
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Glenroy Jacana
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Glenroy

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

Jacana

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Glenroy

Glenroy vs Pascoe Vale Glenroy vs Fawkner Glenroy vs Broadmeadows Glenroy vs Gladstone Park Glenroy vs Oak Park Glenroy vs Hadfield

Other comparisons with Jacana

Jacana vs Broadmeadows Jacana vs Gladstone Park Jacana vs Westmeadows Jacana vs Gowanbrae
Full data on Glenroy Full data on Jacana
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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