Hawthorn East vs Glen Iris

Hawthorn East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 40 in Glen Iris. 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 Glen Iris, about half of households are couple families. Hawthorn East is closer to the city centre: 12 km, against 13.6 km. On these figures, Hawthorn East tends to suit young adults and people living alone, while Glen Iris suits couples.

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

Glen Iris

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 9)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 9)

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

Hawthorn East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $450/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 82/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Hawthorn East has more units and townhouses to downsize into (67% vs 45%)
  • Glen Iris has more GPs (7 vs 5)

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

Investors

Hawthorn East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.9% vs 4.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Hawthorn East and Glen Iris 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 Glen Iris
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 Glen Iris
Walkability 99 / 82
Hawthorn East — Walkability: 99/100 Glen Iris — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 28 / 46
Hawthorn East — Safety: 28/100 Glen Iris — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hawthorn East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Glen Iris — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 60 / 54
Hawthorn East — Low flood risk: 60/100 Glen Iris — Low flood risk: 54/100

Demographics

Glen Iris has more residents (26,131 vs 14,834); Glen Iris skews older (40 vs 36).

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Population 14,834 26,131
+76% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% +3.4%
Median age 36 40
Median household income $117,156/yr $129,532/yr
+11% vs other
Median weekly rent $415/wk $450/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
0-4 4.2% / 4.7%
Hawthorn East — 0-4: 4.2% Glen Iris — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 10.7% / 12.5%
Hawthorn East — 5-14: 10.7% Glen Iris — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 5.2% / 6.8%
Hawthorn East — 15-19: 5.2% Glen Iris — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 8.0% / 7.1%
Hawthorn East — 20-24: 8.0% Glen Iris — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 19.7% / 12.3%
Hawthorn East — 25-34: 19.7% Glen Iris — 25-34: 12.3%
35-44 14.3% / 13.0%
Hawthorn East — 35-44: 14.3% Glen Iris — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 12.7% / 14.9%
Hawthorn East — 45-54: 12.7% Glen Iris — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 10.2% / 12.3%
Hawthorn East — 55-64: 10.2% Glen Iris — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 8.0% / 8.9%
Hawthorn East — 65-74: 8.0% Glen Iris — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 5.0% / 5.4%
Hawthorn East — 75-84: 5.0% Glen Iris — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 2.2% / 2.1%
Hawthorn East — 85+: 2.2% Glen Iris — 85+: 2.1%

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%
Glen Iris 48.6% couple families
Glen Iris — Couple Families: 48.6% Glen Iris — Lone Person: 35.1% Glen Iris — One Parent Families: 10.2% Glen Iris — Group Household: 4.4% Glen Iris — 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.

Hawthorn East 40.8% renting
Hawthorn East — Owned Outright: 30.2% Hawthorn East — Mortgage: 28.9% Hawthorn East — Renting: 40.8%
Glen Iris 28.3% renting
Glen Iris — Owned Outright: 37.9% Glen Iris — Mortgage: 33.8% Glen Iris — Renting: 28.3%
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 Glen Iris
China 5.5% / 4.7%
Hawthorn East — China: 5.5% Glen Iris — China: 4.7%
England 2.9% / 3.0%
Hawthorn East — England: 2.9% Glen Iris — England: 3.0%
India 3.0% / 2.6%
Hawthorn East — India: 3.0% Glen Iris — India: 2.6%
Malaysia 2.0% / 1.8%
Hawthorn East — Malaysia: 2.0% Glen Iris — Malaysia: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.5%
Hawthorn East — New Zealand: 1.7% Glen Iris — New Zealand: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.5%).

Qualifications

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

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Bachelor Degree 29.9% / 27.9%
Hawthorn East — Bachelor Degree: 29.9% Glen Iris — Bachelor Degree: 27.9%
Postgraduate Degree 14.5% / 12.2%
Hawthorn East — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5% Glen Iris — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.3%
Hawthorn East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Glen Iris — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 4.5%
Hawthorn East — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Glen Iris — Certificate III & IV: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 4.1%
Hawthorn East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% Glen Iris — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

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%
Glen Iris 54.6% houses
Glen Iris — Houses: 54.6% Glen Iris — Flats / Apartments: 27.3% Glen Iris — Townhouses: 18.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Median house price $2,207,500 $2,270,000
Median unit price $570,500 $616,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 96 sales
 24 days
from 135 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 Glen Iris
1 bed $370K / $361K
Hawthorn East — 1 bed: $370K (101 sales) Glen Iris — 1 bed: $361K (56 sales)

101 vs 56 sales

2 bed $641K / $650K
Hawthorn East — 2 bed: $641K (175 sales) Glen Iris — 2 bed: $650K (175 sales)

175 vs 175 sales

3 bed $1.17M / $1.11M
Hawthorn East — 3 bed: $1.17M (23 sales) Glen Iris — 3 bed: $1.11M (33 sales)

23 vs 33 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 Glen Iris
2 bed $1.48M / $1.32M
Hawthorn East — 2 bed: $1.48M (21 sales) Glen Iris — 2 bed: $1.32M (19 sales)

21 vs 19 sales

3 bed $2.12M / $1.91M
Hawthorn East — 3 bed: $2.12M (59 sales) Glen Iris — 3 bed: $1.91M (67 sales)

59 vs 67 sales

4 bed $2.73M / $2.5M
Hawthorn East — 4 bed: $2.73M (41 sales) Glen Iris — 4 bed: $2.5M (74 sales)

41 vs 74 sales

5 bed $3.58M / $3.2M
Hawthorn East — 5 bed: $3.58M (16 sales) Glen Iris — 5 bed: $3.2M (28 sales)

16 vs 28 sales

Zoning mix

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Residential 76% 81%
Commercial 9% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 7%
Parks and recreation 5% 9%
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 Glen Iris
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 Glen Iris
Houses 2.7%
$992/wk on $1.89M
 2.8%
$1,200/wk on $2.2M
Units 4.9%
$575/wk on $612K
 4.2%
$570/wk on $700K

Ranking within VIC

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
House price Higher than 98% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Schools Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC

Liveability

Hawthorn East is more walkable (99 vs 82).

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Grade A+
same for both
Score 86/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hawthorn East carries more crime risk (72 vs 54).

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 Moderate
54/100
Flood Moderate
40/100
 Moderate
46/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Inside the suburb 4 7
Rated above peers 2 5
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 1.7 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.5% 4.9%

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 Glen Iris

  • Camberwell South Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Glen Iris Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Korowa Anglican Girls' School Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Cecilia's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Roch's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sacre Coeur Catholic · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Supermarkets 2
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 21 20
Parks & reserves 9 21
Childcare 9 18
GPs 5 7
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 0 9

Mobility

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Walkability score 99/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 12 km 13.6 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min
same for both
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 116.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 361.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3123
 3.2%
postcode 3146
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 11
postcode 3123
 19
postcode 3146

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 Glen Iris
Worked from Home 50.5% / 49.9%
Hawthorn East — Worked from Home: 50.5% Glen Iris — Worked from Home: 49.9%
Car (driver) 35.3% / 39.1%
Hawthorn East — Car (driver): 35.3% Glen Iris — Car (driver): 39.1%
Train 5.8% / 4.2%
Hawthorn East — Train: 5.8% Glen Iris — Train: 4.2%
Walked Only 3.6% / 1.9%
Hawthorn East — Walked Only: 3.6% Glen Iris — Walked Only: 1.9%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 2.4%
Hawthorn East — Car (passenger): 2.0% Glen Iris — Car (passenger): 2.4%

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

Setting

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Elevation 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.8 km 8.0 km

NBN connectivity

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Connectivity score 82/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 27%
8,547 premises
 7%
12,150 premises

Climate

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
Division Kooyong Chisholm
Member Monique Ryan Carina Garland
Party Independent Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Hawthorn East Glen Iris
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

Glen Iris

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hawthorn East

Hawthorn East vs Kew Hawthorn East vs Hawthorn Hawthorn East vs Camberwell Hawthorn East vs Malvern Hawthorn East vs Canterbury Hawthorn East vs Kooyong

Other comparisons with Glen Iris

Glen Iris vs Malvern East Glen Iris vs Camberwell Glen Iris vs Burwood Glen Iris vs Malvern Glen Iris vs Ashburton Glen Iris vs Ashwood
Full data on Hawthorn East Full data on Glen Iris
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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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