Hawthorn East vs Canterbury

Hawthorn East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 46 in Canterbury. In both, most households own their home. In Hawthorn East, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. In Canterbury, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Canterbury: a median of $3.2 million, against $2.21 million in Hawthorn East, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Hawthorn East tends to suit young adults, people living alone, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Canterbury suits couples and older residents.

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

Canterbury

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (64% vs 33%)
  • carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 72/100)

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

First-home buyers

Hawthorn East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($570,500 vs $964,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,207,500 vs $3,200,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hawthorn East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 20%)
  • has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $515/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hawthorn East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 87/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hawthorn East

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (67% vs 36%)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 87/100)
  • But Canterbury carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 72/100)

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

Investors

Hawthorn East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (3.6% vs -3.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.9% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Hawthorn East Canterbury
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.

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Walkability 99 / 87
Hawthorn East — Walkability: 99/100 Canterbury — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 28 / 57
Hawthorn East — Safety: 28/100 Canterbury — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hawthorn East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Canterbury — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 60 / 75
Hawthorn East — Low flood risk: 60/100 Canterbury — Low flood risk: 75/100

Demographics

Hawthorn East has more residents (14,834 vs 7,800); Canterbury skews older (46 vs 36).

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Population 14,834
+47% vs other
 7,800
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% -3.2%
Median age 36 46
Median household income $117,156/yr $149,604/yr
+28% vs other
Median weekly rent $415/wk $515/wk
+24% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East Canterbury
0-4 4.2% / 3.2%
Hawthorn East — 0-4: 4.2% Canterbury — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 10.7% / 12.6%
Hawthorn East — 5-14: 10.7% Canterbury — 5-14: 12.6%
15-19 5.2% / 8.1%
Hawthorn East — 15-19: 5.2% Canterbury — 15-19: 8.1%
20-24 8.0% / 6.8%
Hawthorn East — 20-24: 8.0% Canterbury — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 19.7% / 7.7%
Hawthorn East — 25-34: 19.7% Canterbury — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 14.3% / 10.2%
Hawthorn East — 35-44: 14.3% Canterbury — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 12.7% / 14.1%
Hawthorn East — 45-54: 12.7% Canterbury — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 10.2% / 13.9%
Hawthorn East — 55-64: 10.2% Canterbury — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 8.0% / 11.9%
Hawthorn East — 65-74: 8.0% Canterbury — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 5.0% / 7.4%
Hawthorn East — 75-84: 5.0% Canterbury — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 2.2% / 4.1%
Hawthorn East — 85+: 2.2% Canterbury — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East 35.1% couple families
Hawthorn East — Couple Families: 35.1% Hawthorn East — Lone Person: 45.1% Hawthorn East — One Parent Families: 9.5% Hawthorn East — Group Household: 8.5% Hawthorn East — Other Families: 1.8%
Canterbury 53.7% couple families
Canterbury — Couple Families: 53.7% Canterbury — Lone Person: 29.5% Canterbury — One Parent Families: 13.3% Canterbury — Group Household: 2.4% Canterbury — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East 40.8% renting
Hawthorn East — Owned Outright: 30.2% Hawthorn East — Mortgage: 28.9% Hawthorn East — Renting: 40.8%
Canterbury 19.7% renting
Canterbury — Owned Outright: 49.2% Canterbury — Mortgage: 31.1% Canterbury — Renting: 19.7%
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.

Hawthorn East Canterbury
China 5.5% / 10.4%
Hawthorn East — China: 5.5% Canterbury — China: 10.4%
England 2.9% / 3.3%
Hawthorn East — England: 2.9% Canterbury — England: 3.3%
India 3.0% / 1.7%
Hawthorn East — India: 3.0% Canterbury — India: 1.7%
Malaysia 2.0% / 1.7%
Hawthorn East — Malaysia: 2.0% Canterbury — Malaysia: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.4%
Hawthorn East — New Zealand: 1.7% Canterbury — New Zealand: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.4%).

Qualifications

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

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Bachelor Degree 29.9% / 27.0%
Hawthorn East — Bachelor Degree: 29.9% Canterbury — Bachelor Degree: 27.0%
Postgraduate Degree 14.5% / 13.4%
Hawthorn East — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5% Canterbury — Postgraduate Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 6.9%
Hawthorn East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Canterbury — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 3.7%
Hawthorn East — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Canterbury — Certificate III & IV: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 3.9%
Hawthorn East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% Canterbury — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East 33.1% houses
Hawthorn East — Houses: 33.1% Hawthorn East — Flats / Apartments: 49.0% Hawthorn East — Townhouses: 18.0%
Canterbury 64.5% houses
Canterbury — Houses: 64.5% Canterbury — Flats / Apartments: 12.2% Canterbury — Townhouses: 23.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Median house price $2,207,500 $3,200,000
Median unit price $570,500 $964,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 96 sales
 26 days
from 62 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.

Hawthorn East Canterbury
2 bed $641K / $855K
Hawthorn East — 2 bed: $641K (175 sales) Canterbury — 2 bed: $855K (21 sales)

175 vs 21 sales

3 bed $1.17M / $1.47M
Hawthorn East — 3 bed: $1.17M (23 sales) Canterbury — 3 bed: $1.47M (6 sales)

23 vs 6 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.

Hawthorn East Canterbury
3 bed $2.12M / $2.57M
Hawthorn East — 3 bed: $2.12M (59 sales) Canterbury — 3 bed: $2.57M (24 sales)

59 vs 24 sales

4 bed $2.73M / $3.2M
Hawthorn East — 4 bed: $2.73M (41 sales) Canterbury — 4 bed: $3.2M (51 sales)

41 vs 51 sales

5 bed $3.58M / $4.03M
Hawthorn East — 5 bed: $3.58M (16 sales) Canterbury — 5 bed: $4.03M (32 sales)

16 vs 32 sales

Zoning mix

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Residential 76% 87%
Commercial 9% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 5%
Parks and recreation 5% 6%
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

Hawthorn East Canterbury
New dwellings approved 711
across Boroondara
same for both
Approvals change year on year -40%
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.

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Houses 2.7%
$992/wk on $1.89M
 2.3%
$1,400/wk on $3.2M
Units 4.9%
$575/wk on $612K
 3.8%
$645/wk on $875K

Ranking within VIC

Hawthorn East Canterbury
House price Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Income Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Schools Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 1% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 2% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC

Liveability

Hawthorn East is more walkable (99 vs 87); Canterbury scores higher overall (93 vs 86).

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Grade A+
same for both
Score 86/100 93/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hawthorn East carries more crime risk (72 vs 43); Hawthorn East carries more flood risk (40 vs 25).

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood Moderate
40/100
 Low
25/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Inside the suburb 4 7
Rated above peers 2 5
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 1.7 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 3.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.5% 5.4%

Schools in Hawthorn East

  • Alia College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Auburn High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Auburn Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Auburn South Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Canterbury

  • Camberwell Girls Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Camberwell Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Canterbury Girls Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Canterbury Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Strathcona Baptist Girls' Grammar Independent · Combined above peers
  • Camberwell Girls Grammar School - Junior Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 21 9
Parks & reserves 9
same for both
Childcare 9 10
GPs 5 1
Pharmacies 2 1
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Walkability score 99/100 87/100
Distance to Melbourne 12 km
+9% vs other
 10.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 24 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 116.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 79.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3123
 3.8%
postcode 3126
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 11
postcode 3123
 20
postcode 3126

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.

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Worked from Home 50.5% / 49.6%
Hawthorn East — Worked from Home: 50.5% Canterbury — Worked from Home: 49.6%
Car (driver) 35.3% / 40.0%
Hawthorn East — Car (driver): 35.3% Canterbury — Car (driver): 40.0%
Train 5.8% / 4.0%
Hawthorn East — Train: 5.8% Canterbury — Train: 4.0%
Walked Only 3.6% / 2.4%
Hawthorn East — Walked Only: 3.6% Canterbury — Walked Only: 2.4%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 2.3%
Hawthorn East — Car (passenger): 2.0% Canterbury — Car (passenger): 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.5%).

Setting

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Elevation 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.8 km 10.2 km

NBN connectivity

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Connectivity score 82/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 27%
8,547 premises
 5%
3,618 premises

Climate

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Annual rainfall 644 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Hawthorn East Canterbury
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³ 4.3 µg/m³
PM10 17.8 µg/m³ —
NO₂ 0.82 pphm —

Council rates

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Average residential rate $2,253/yr
same for both
Council Boroondara
same for both

Federal electorate

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Division Kooyong
same for both
Member Monique Ryan
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hawthorn East Canterbury
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hawthorn East

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Canterbury

Easy Commute Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hawthorn East

Hawthorn East vs Glen Iris Hawthorn East vs Kew Hawthorn East vs Hawthorn Hawthorn East vs Camberwell Hawthorn East vs Malvern Hawthorn East vs Kooyong

Other comparisons with Canterbury

Canterbury vs Kew Canterbury vs Camberwell Canterbury vs Surrey Hills Canterbury vs Balwyn Canterbury vs Deepdene
Full data on Hawthorn East Full data on Canterbury
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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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