Gowanbrae vs Glenroy

Glenroy is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 40 in Gowanbrae. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Gowanbrae, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gowanbrae: a median of $1.02 million, against $855,000 in Glenroy, and rent is higher there too. Glenroy is closer to the city centre: 14.6 km, against 17.6 km. On these figures, Gowanbrae tends to suit couples, while Glenroy suits young adults, people living alone, and 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Gowanbrae carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 77/100)
  • Glenroy has more parks and reserves (25 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Glenroy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($595,000 vs $745,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($855,000 vs $1,020,000)
  • But Gowanbrae leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 27%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Glenroy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($369/wk vs $445/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Glenroy

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (11% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 65/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (14.6 km vs 17.6 km)

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)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 65/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 31%)
  • But Gowanbrae carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 77/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Gowanbrae Glenroy
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.

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Walkability 65 / 89
Gowanbrae — Walkability: 65/100 Glenroy — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 76 / 23
Gowanbrae — Safety: 76/100 Glenroy — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Gowanbrae — Low fire risk: 100/100 Glenroy — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 67 / 48
Gowanbrae — Low flood risk: 67/100 Glenroy — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Glenroy has more residents (23,792 vs 2,971); Gowanbrae has higher household incomes ($114,816 vs $86,060).

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Population 2,971 23,792
+701% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.1% +7.0%
Median age 40 34
Median household income $114,816/yr
+25% vs other
 $86,060/yr
Median weekly rent $445/wk
+17% vs other
 $369/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gowanbrae Glenroy
0-4 5.5% / 7.3%
Gowanbrae — 0-4: 5.5% Glenroy — 0-4: 7.3%
5-14 14.3% / 10.1%
Gowanbrae — 5-14: 14.3% Glenroy — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 6.9% / 4.1%
Gowanbrae — 15-19: 6.9% Glenroy — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 5.4% / 7.9%
Gowanbrae — 20-24: 5.4% Glenroy — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 11.1% / 22.0%
Gowanbrae — 25-34: 11.1% Glenroy — 25-34: 22.0%
35-44 14.0% / 15.5%
Gowanbrae — 35-44: 14.0% Glenroy — 35-44: 15.5%
45-54 16.3% / 10.2%
Gowanbrae — 45-54: 16.3% Glenroy — 45-54: 10.2%
55-64 10.1% / 8.7%
Gowanbrae — 55-64: 10.1% Glenroy — 55-64: 8.7%
65-74 7.3% / 5.8%
Gowanbrae — 65-74: 7.3% Glenroy — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 6.7% / 4.8%
Gowanbrae — 75-84: 6.7% Glenroy — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.4% / 3.5%
Gowanbrae — 85+: 2.4% Glenroy — 85+: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gowanbrae 54.4% couple families
Gowanbrae — Couple Families: 54.4% Gowanbrae — Lone Person: 27.6% Gowanbrae — One Parent Families: 15.6% Gowanbrae — Group Household: 1.7% Gowanbrae — Other Families: 0.7%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Gowanbrae 12.8% renting
Gowanbrae — Owned Outright: 33.7% Gowanbrae — Mortgage: 53.5% Gowanbrae — Renting: 12.8%
Glenroy 38.6% renting
Glenroy — Owned Outright: 28.0% Glenroy — Mortgage: 33.4% Glenroy — Renting: 38.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Bachelor Degree 14.6% / 15.3%
Gowanbrae — Bachelor Degree: 14.6% Glenroy — Bachelor Degree: 15.3%
Certificate III & IV 11.5% / 9.2%
Gowanbrae — Certificate III & IV: 11.5% Glenroy — Certificate III & IV: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 7.9%
Gowanbrae — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Glenroy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 4.5% / 7.5%
Gowanbrae — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5% Glenroy — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.0%
Gowanbrae — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Glenroy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

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.

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Nepal — / 7.6%
Gowanbrae — Nepal: not among its largest Glenroy — Nepal: 7.6%
India 2.0% / 5.2%
Gowanbrae — India: 2.0% Glenroy — India: 5.2%
Italy 1.8% / 3.1%
Gowanbrae — Italy: 1.8% Glenroy — Italy: 3.1%
Pakistan — / 3.0%
Gowanbrae — Pakistan: not among its largest Glenroy — Pakistan: 3.0%
China 1.4% / 1.3%
Gowanbrae — China: 1.4% Glenroy — China: 1.3%
Lebanon — / 2.3%
Gowanbrae — Lebanon: not among its largest Glenroy — Lebanon: 2.3%
Fiji 2.0% / —
Gowanbrae — Fiji: 2.0% Glenroy — Fiji: not among its largest
Sri Lanka 1.6% / —
Gowanbrae — Sri Lanka: 1.6% Glenroy — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gowanbrae 69.1% houses
Gowanbrae — Houses: 69.1% Gowanbrae — Townhouses: 28.0% Gowanbrae — Flats / Apartments: 2.9%
Glenroy 58.4% houses
Glenroy — Houses: 58.4% Glenroy — Townhouses: 33.0% Glenroy — Flats / Apartments: 8.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Median house price $1,020,000 $855,000
Median unit price $745,000 $595,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 10 sales
 28 days
from 253 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.

Gowanbrae Glenroy
3 bed $938K / $845K
Gowanbrae — 3 bed: $938K (16 sales) Glenroy — 3 bed: $845K (239 sales)

16 vs 239 sales

4 bed $1.25M / $964K
Gowanbrae — 4 bed: $1.25M (9 sales) Glenroy — 4 bed: $964K (82 sales)

9 vs 82 sales

Zoning mix

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Residential 66% 62%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 23%
Parks and recreation 19% 7%
Other and special use 0% 6%
Commercial 0% 2%
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

Gowanbrae Glenroy
New dwellings approved 1,387
across Merri-bek
same for both
Approvals change year on year +68%
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.

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Houses 3.8%
$695/wk on $945K
 4.1%
$610/wk on $770K
Units — 4.6%
$528/wk on $602K

Ranking within VIC

Gowanbrae Glenroy
House price Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 52% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 36% of VIC

Liveability

Gowanbrae scores higher overall (82 vs 57); Glenroy is more walkable (89 vs 65).

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Grade A+ B
Score 82/100 57/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Glenroy carries more crime risk (77 vs 24); Glenroy carries more flood risk (52 vs 33).

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
24/100
 High
77/100
Flood Low
33/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 16
within 5 km

Schools

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

Schools in Gowanbrae

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

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Gowanbrae sits further from the CBD (17.6 km vs 14.6 km).

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Walkability score 65/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 17.6 km
+17% vs other
 14.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 24 min
Public transport score 69/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 31.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 230.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 3043
 0.8%
postcode 3046
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 3043
 18
postcode 3046

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.

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Car (driver) 59.3% / 53.3%
Gowanbrae — Car (driver): 59.3% Glenroy — Car (driver): 53.3%
Worked from Home 34.0% / 28.7%
Gowanbrae — Worked from Home: 34.0% Glenroy — Worked from Home: 28.7%
Train 2.0% / 11.2%
Gowanbrae — Train: 2.0% Glenroy — Train: 11.2%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 3.7%
Gowanbrae — Car (passenger): 3.5% Glenroy — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.5%
Gowanbrae — Walked Only: 0.7% Glenroy — Walked Only: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.3%).

Setting

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Elevation 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 100 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.3 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Connectivity score 100/100 88/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,155 premises
 44%
11,617 premises

Climate

Gowanbrae Glenroy
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)

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

Council rates

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Average residential rate $1,914/yr
same for both
Council Merri-bek
same for both

Federal electorate

Gowanbrae Glenroy
Division Maribyrnong Wills
Member Jo Briskey Peter Khalil
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Gowanbrae

Middle-Ring Parks River Townhouses

Glenroy

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gowanbrae

Gowanbrae vs Gladstone Park Gowanbrae vs Tullamarine Gowanbrae vs Jacana Gowanbrae vs Strathmore Heights

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
Full data on Gowanbrae Full data on Glenroy
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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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