Harkaway vs Beaconsfield Upper

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Harkaway is closer to the city centre: 46.9 km, against 55.4 km.

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

Beaconsfield Upper

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (4 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 34/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house 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

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Harkaway sits closer to the CBD (46.9 km vs 55.4 km)
  • Beaconsfield Upper is more walkable (32/100 vs 13/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Beaconsfield Upper

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (32/100 vs 13/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 34/100)

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

Investors

Harkaway

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (19.1% vs 4.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
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.

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Walkability 13 / 32
Harkaway — Walkability: 13/100 Beaconsfield Upper — Walkability: 32/100
Safety 66 / 76
Harkaway — Safety: 66/100 Beaconsfield Upper — Safety: 76/100
Low fire risk 23 / 32
Harkaway — Low fire risk: 23/100 Beaconsfield Upper — Low fire risk: 32/100
Low flood risk 65 / 78
Harkaway — Low flood risk: 65/100 Beaconsfield Upper — Low flood risk: 78/100

Demographics

Beaconsfield Upper has more residents (2,997 vs 1,011); Beaconsfield Upper skews older (42 vs 40).

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Population 1,011 2,997
+196% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.1% +4.8%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $145,860/yr
+2% vs other
 $143,260/yr
Median weekly rent $375/wk
+2% vs other
 $368/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
0-4 4.6% / 5.0%
Harkaway — 0-4: 4.6% Beaconsfield Upper — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 16.7% / 15.5%
Harkaway — 5-14: 16.7% Beaconsfield Upper — 5-14: 15.5%
15-19 7.9% / 8.1%
Harkaway — 15-19: 7.9% Beaconsfield Upper — 15-19: 8.1%
20-24 7.4% / 5.4%
Harkaway — 20-24: 7.4% Beaconsfield Upper — 20-24: 5.4%
25-34 7.3% / 6.7%
Harkaway — 25-34: 7.3% Beaconsfield Upper — 25-34: 6.7%
35-44 11.9% / 12.9%
Harkaway — 35-44: 11.9% Beaconsfield Upper — 35-44: 12.9%
45-54 16.0% / 15.3%
Harkaway — 45-54: 16.0% Beaconsfield Upper — 45-54: 15.3%
55-64 13.7% / 15.0%
Harkaway — 55-64: 13.7% Beaconsfield Upper — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 9.2% / 10.0%
Harkaway — 65-74: 9.2% Beaconsfield Upper — 65-74: 10.0%
75-84 4.7% / 4.5%
Harkaway — 75-84: 4.7% Beaconsfield Upper — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 1.0% / 1.3%
Harkaway — 85+: 1.0% Beaconsfield Upper — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Harkaway 72.4% couple families
Harkaway — Couple Families: 72.4% Harkaway — Lone Person: 13.1% Harkaway — One Parent Families: 13.1% Harkaway — Group Household: 1.4% Harkaway — Other Families: 0.0%
Beaconsfield Upper 75.5% couple families
Beaconsfield Upper — Couple Families: 75.5% Beaconsfield Upper — Lone Person: 14.8% Beaconsfield Upper — One Parent Families: 7.7% Beaconsfield Upper — Group Household: 1.1% Beaconsfield Upper — Other Families: 0.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Harkaway 6.3% renting
Harkaway — Owned Outright: 47.9% Harkaway — Mortgage: 45.8% Harkaway — Renting: 6.3%
Beaconsfield Upper 4.0% renting
Beaconsfield Upper — Owned Outright: 39.8% Beaconsfield Upper — Mortgage: 56.3% Beaconsfield Upper — Renting: 4.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Certificate III & IV 13.6% / 16.5%
Harkaway — Certificate III & IV: 13.6% Beaconsfield Upper — Certificate III & IV: 16.5%
Bachelor Degree 15.0% / 12.4%
Harkaway — Bachelor Degree: 15.0% Beaconsfield Upper — Bachelor Degree: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 9.0%
Harkaway — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Beaconsfield Upper — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.2% / 3.5%
Harkaway — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2% Beaconsfield Upper — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 1.8%
Harkaway — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Beaconsfield Upper — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

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.

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
England 3.6% / 4.2%
Harkaway — England: 3.6% Beaconsfield Upper — England: 4.2%
South Africa 0.9% / 0.6%
Harkaway — South Africa: 0.9% Beaconsfield Upper — South Africa: 0.6%
India 0.7% / 0.3%
Harkaway — India: 0.7% Beaconsfield Upper — India: 0.3%
Afghanistan 0.9% / —
Harkaway — Afghanistan: 0.9% Beaconsfield Upper — Afghanistan: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 0.9%
Harkaway — New Zealand: not among its largest Beaconsfield Upper — New Zealand: 0.9%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.4%
Harkaway — Scotland: 0.5% Beaconsfield Upper — Scotland: 0.4%
Singapore 0.8% / —
Harkaway — Singapore: 0.8% Beaconsfield Upper — Singapore: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.6%
Harkaway — Netherlands: not among its largest Beaconsfield Upper — Netherlands: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Harkaway 100.3% houses
Harkaway — Houses: 100.3% Harkaway — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Beaconsfield Upper 99.9% houses
Beaconsfield Upper — Houses: 99.9% Beaconsfield Upper — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Median house price $1,322,500
same for both
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price — $1,155,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 70 days
from 4 sales
 37 days
from 14 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.

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
3 bed $1.12M / $980K
Harkaway — 3 bed: $1.12M (9 sales) Beaconsfield Upper — 3 bed: $980K (16 sales)

9 vs 16 sales

5 bed $2.85M / $1.54M
Harkaway — 5 bed: $2.85M (5 sales) Beaconsfield Upper — 5 bed: $1.54M (6 sales)

5 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Harkaway has more rural and farming land (93% vs 31%); Beaconsfield Upper has more land zoned for conservation (58% vs 0%).

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Rural and farming 93% 31%
Environmental 0% 58%
Residential 4%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 2% 4%
Parks and recreation 1% 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

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
New dwellings approved 3,412
across Casey
 1,323
across Cardinia
Approvals change year on year -15% +13%

Ranking within VIC

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
House price — Higher than 73% of VIC
Income Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 71% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC

Liveability

Beaconsfield Upper is more walkable (32 vs 13); Beaconsfield Upper scores higher overall (67 vs 56).

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Harkaway carries more flood risk (35 vs 22); Harkaway carries more crime risk (34 vs 24).

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Bushfire High
77/100
 Moderate
68/100
Crime Low
34/100
 Low
24/100
Flood Low
35/100
 Low
22/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Berwick, 5.2 km
 1
Federation University Berwick, 8.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 2.2%

Schools in Harkaway

  • Harkaway Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Beaconsfield Upper

  • Beaconsfield Upper Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 3
Parks & reserves 4 9
Childcare 1 4
GPs 0 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Waterways 6 22

Mobility

Beaconsfield Upper sits further from the CBD (55.4 km vs 46.9 km).

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Walkability score 13/100 32/100
Distance to Melbourne 46.9 km 55.4 km
+18% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 50 min 54 min
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 3806
 1.2%
postcode 3808
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 50
postcode 3806
 56
postcode 3808

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.

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Car (driver) 63.5% / 64.4%
Harkaway — Car (driver): 63.5% Beaconsfield Upper — Car (driver): 64.4%
Worked from Home 29.3% / 29.9%
Harkaway — Worked from Home: 29.3% Beaconsfield Upper — Worked from Home: 29.9%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.1%
Harkaway — Car (passenger): 4.7% Beaconsfield Upper — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Train 1.1% / 0.6%
Harkaway — Train: 1.1% Beaconsfield Upper — Train: 0.6%
Walked Only 0.6% / 1.0%
Harkaway — Walked Only: 0.6% Beaconsfield Upper — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 0.9% / —
Harkaway — Bus: 0.9% Beaconsfield Upper — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.4%).

Setting

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Elevation 199 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 206 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 22.6 km 24.3 km

NBN connectivity

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Connectivity score 34/100 70/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
269 premises
 50%
982 premises

Climate

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Annual rainfall 781 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.98 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Average residential rate $1,767/yr $1,880/yr
Council Casey Cardinia

Federal electorate

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Division Bruce La Trobe
Member Julian Hill Jason Wood
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Harkaway

Acreage Outer Premium

Beaconsfield Upper

Acreage Outer Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Harkaway

Harkaway vs Berwick Harkaway vs Narre Warren North Harkaway vs Narre Warren East Harkaway vs Guys Hill

Other comparisons with Beaconsfield Upper

Beaconsfield Upper vs Pakenham Beaconsfield Upper vs Officer Beaconsfield Upper vs Beaconsfield Beaconsfield Upper vs Emerald Beaconsfield Upper vs Pakenham Upper Beaconsfield Upper vs Narre Warren East
Full data on Harkaway Full data on Beaconsfield Upper
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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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