Harkness vs Kurunjang

Harkness is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 34 in Kurunjang. In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Harkness tends to suit families with children.

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

Kurunjang

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kurunjang

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($321/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kurunjang

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (39/100 vs 23/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (44 min vs 52 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (45.7 km vs 49.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Kurunjang

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (39/100 vs 23/100)

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

Investors

Kurunjang

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield and unit yield.

Where they sit

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

Harkness Kurunjang
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.

Harkness Kurunjang
Walkability 23 / 39
Harkness — Walkability: 23/100 Kurunjang — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 50 / 45
Harkness — Safety: 50/100 Kurunjang — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 13 / 10
Harkness — Low fire risk: 13/100 Kurunjang — Low fire risk: 10/100
Low flood risk 90 / 100
Harkness — Low flood risk: 90/100 Kurunjang — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Kurunjang skews older (34 vs 30); Harkness has higher household incomes ($91,104 vs $80,600).

Harkness Kurunjang
Population 12,463
+14% vs other
 10,711
Population trend (2016 → 2021) — +6.4%
Median age 30 34
Median household income $91,104/yr
+12% vs other
 $80,600/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+8% vs other
 $321/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Harkness Kurunjang
0-4 10.0% / 7.4%
Harkness — 0-4: 10.0% Kurunjang — 0-4: 7.4%
5-14 18.8% / 15.2%
Harkness — 5-14: 18.8% Kurunjang — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 6.2% / 6.7%
Harkness — 15-19: 6.2% Kurunjang — 15-19: 6.7%
20-24 6.4% / 6.5%
Harkness — 20-24: 6.4% Kurunjang — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 16.5% / 14.9%
Harkness — 25-34: 16.5% Kurunjang — 25-34: 14.9%
35-44 17.2% / 14.3%
Harkness — 35-44: 17.2% Kurunjang — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 11.2% / 12.5%
Harkness — 45-54: 11.2% Kurunjang — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 6.9% / 11.3%
Harkness — 55-64: 6.9% Kurunjang — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 4.8% / 7.5%
Harkness — 65-74: 4.8% Kurunjang — 65-74: 7.5%
75-84 1.8% / 2.9%
Harkness — 75-84: 1.8% Kurunjang — 75-84: 2.9%
85+ 0.2% / 0.9%
Harkness — 85+: 0.2% Kurunjang — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Harkness 53.8% couple families
Harkness — Couple Families: 53.8% Harkness — Lone Person: 20.6% Harkness — One Parent Families: 22.3% Harkness — Group Household: 2.4% Harkness — Other Families: 0.9%
Kurunjang 46.8% couple families
Kurunjang — Couple Families: 46.8% Kurunjang — Lone Person: 25.1% Kurunjang — One Parent Families: 22.6% Kurunjang — Group Household: 3.8% Kurunjang — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Harkness 28.0% renting
Harkness — Owned Outright: 15.9% Harkness — Mortgage: 56.0% Harkness — Renting: 28.0%
Kurunjang 24.1% renting
Kurunjang — Owned Outright: 24.7% Kurunjang — Mortgage: 51.2% Kurunjang — Renting: 24.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Harkness Kurunjang
Certificate III & IV 14.3% / 17.2%
Harkness — Certificate III & IV: 14.3% Kurunjang — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Bachelor Degree 7.8% / 6.5%
Harkness — Bachelor Degree: 7.8% Kurunjang — Bachelor Degree: 6.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 6.8%
Harkness — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Kurunjang — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 1.6%
Harkness — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Kurunjang — Postgraduate Degree: 1.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.0%
Harkness — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Kurunjang — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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.

Harkness Kurunjang
India 6.5% / 2.7%
Harkness — India: 6.5% Kurunjang — India: 2.7%
New Zealand 3.0% / 2.4%
Harkness — New Zealand: 3.0% Kurunjang — New Zealand: 2.4%
Philippines 2.4% / 1.3%
Harkness — Philippines: 2.4% Kurunjang — Philippines: 1.3%
England 1.4% / 2.1%
Harkness — England: 1.4% Kurunjang — England: 2.1%
Vietnam 0.8% / 0.6%
Harkness — Vietnam: 0.8% Kurunjang — Vietnam: 0.6%
Sri Lanka 0.8% / —
Harkness — Sri Lanka: 0.8% Kurunjang — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Harkness 94.2% houses
Harkness — Houses: 94.2% Harkness — Townhouses: 4.3% Harkness — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Kurunjang 94.0% houses
Kurunjang — Houses: 94.0% Kurunjang — Townhouses: 5.7% Kurunjang — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Harkness Kurunjang
Median house price $650,000 $600,000
Median unit price $432,500 $445,000
Median land price — $502,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 4 days
from 3 sales
 26 days
from 121 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.

Harkness Kurunjang
3 bed $560K / $570K
Harkness — 3 bed: $560K (40 sales) Kurunjang — 3 bed: $570K (168 sales)

40 vs 168 sales

4 bed $660K / $630K
Harkness — 4 bed: $660K (71 sales) Kurunjang — 4 bed: $630K (113 sales)

71 vs 113 sales

5 bed $765K / $850K
Harkness — 5 bed: $765K (7 sales) Kurunjang — 5 bed: $850K (15 sales)

7 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Harkness has more rural and farming land (46% vs 24%).

Harkness Kurunjang
Residential 36% 67%
Rural and farming 46% 24%
Environmental 8% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 4%
Parks and recreation 1% 4%
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

Harkness Kurunjang
New dwellings approved 4,602
across Melton
same for both
Approvals change year on year +5%
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.

Harkness Kurunjang
Houses 3.8%
$470/wk on $650K
 3.5%
$450/wk on $674K
Units 4.3%
$432/wk on $519K
 5.0%
$400/wk on $420K

Ranking within VIC

Harkness Kurunjang
House price Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
Income Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 30% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 45% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 35% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 23% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC

Liveability

Kurunjang is more walkable (39 vs 23).

Harkness Kurunjang
Grade C D
Score 35/100 31/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Harkness carries more flood risk (10 vs 0).

Harkness Kurunjang
Bushfire High
87/100
 High
90/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Low
10/100
 None
0/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Harkness Kurunjang
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Harkness

  • Arnolds Creek Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Kurunjang

  • Kurunjang Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kurunjang Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Heathdale Christian College - Melton Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Harkness Kurunjang
Parks & reserves 5 4
Childcare 6
same for both
GPs 1 0
Waterways 5 8

Mobility

Harkness sits further from the CBD (49.7 km vs 45.7 km).

Harkness Kurunjang
Walkability score 23/100 39/100
Distance to Melbourne 49.7 km
+8% vs other
 45.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 52 min 44 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 44.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 63.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3337
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 3337
same for both

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.

Harkness Kurunjang
Car (driver) 74.2% / 73.6%
Harkness — Car (driver): 74.2% Kurunjang — Car (driver): 73.6%
Worked from Home 17.0% / 17.5%
Harkness — Worked from Home: 17.0% Kurunjang — Worked from Home: 17.5%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 5.6%
Harkness — Car (passenger): 5.8% Kurunjang — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Train 2.1% / 2.1%
Harkness — Train: 2.1% Kurunjang — Train: 2.1%
Bus 0.5% / 0.8%
Harkness — Bus: 0.5% Kurunjang — Bus: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.2%).

Setting

Harkness Kurunjang
Elevation 171 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 159 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 34.1 km 30.9 km

NBN connectivity

Harkness Kurunjang
Connectivity score 94/100 99/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 86%
4,569 premises
 96%
4,157 premises

Climate

Harkness Kurunjang
Annual rainfall 518 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Harkness Kurunjang
PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Harkness Kurunjang
Average residential rate $1,779/yr
same for both
Council Melton
same for both

Federal electorate

Harkness Kurunjang
Division Hawke
same for both
Member Sam Rae
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Harkness Kurunjang
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Harkness

Affordable Family Large Blocks Outer Young Families

Kurunjang

Affordable Family Large Blocks Outer River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Harkness

Harkness vs Melton West Harkness vs Melton Harkness vs Toolern Vale Harkness vs Long Forest

Other comparisons with Kurunjang

Kurunjang vs Melton West Kurunjang vs Melton Kurunjang vs Toolern Vale
Full data on Harkness Full data on Kurunjang
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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