Hawthorn East vs Kooyong

Hawthorn East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 44 in Kooyong. 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. Houses cost more in Kooyong: a median of $4.4 million, against $2.21 million in Hawthorn East, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Hawthorn East tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Kooyong suits 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

Hawthorn East

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 2)
  • But Kooyong has more separate houses rather than flats (44% vs 33%)

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 houses ($2,207,500 vs $4,400,000)
  • has cheaper units ($570,500 vs $875,000)

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 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $590/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 90/100)

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 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (67% vs 56%)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Kooyong has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 15%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Hawthorn East and Kooyong 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 Kooyong
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 Kooyong
Walkability 99 / 90
Hawthorn East — Walkability: 99/100 Kooyong — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 28 / 26
Hawthorn East — Safety: 28/100 Kooyong — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hawthorn East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kooyong — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 60 / 23
Hawthorn East — Low flood risk: 60/100 Kooyong — Low flood risk: 23/100

Demographics

Hawthorn East has more residents (14,834 vs 842); Kooyong has higher household incomes ($167,336 vs $117,156).

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Population 14,834
+94% vs other
 842
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% +3.1%
Median age 36 44
Median household income $117,156/yr $167,336/yr
+43% vs other
Median weekly rent $415/wk $590/wk
+42% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East Kooyong
0-4 4.2% / 4.4%
Hawthorn East — 0-4: 4.2% Kooyong — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 10.7% / 10.7%
Hawthorn East — 5-14: 10.7% Kooyong — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 5.2% / 6.4%
Hawthorn East — 15-19: 5.2% Kooyong — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 8.0% / 6.9%
Hawthorn East — 20-24: 8.0% Kooyong — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 19.7% / 12.8%
Hawthorn East — 25-34: 19.7% Kooyong — 25-34: 12.8%
35-44 14.3% / 9.1%
Hawthorn East — 35-44: 14.3% Kooyong — 35-44: 9.1%
45-54 12.7% / 12.2%
Hawthorn East — 45-54: 12.7% Kooyong — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 10.2% / 12.7%
Hawthorn East — 55-64: 10.2% Kooyong — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 8.0% / 11.4%
Hawthorn East — 65-74: 8.0% Kooyong — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 5.0% / 8.6%
Hawthorn East — 75-84: 5.0% Kooyong — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 2.2% / 4.5%
Hawthorn East — 85+: 2.2% Kooyong — 85+: 4.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East 45.1% lone person
Hawthorn East — Lone Person: 45.1% Hawthorn East — Couple Families: 35.1% Hawthorn East — One Parent Families: 9.5% Hawthorn East — Group Household: 8.5% Hawthorn East — Other Families: 1.8%
Kooyong 35.3% lone person
Kooyong — Lone Person: 35.3% Kooyong — Couple Families: 43.1% Kooyong — One Parent Families: 15.1% Kooyong — Group Household: 4.3% Kooyong — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Kooyong 24.4% renting
Kooyong — Owned Outright: 44.9% Kooyong — Mortgage: 30.7% Kooyong — Renting: 24.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Bachelor Degree 29.9% / 31.1%
Hawthorn East — Bachelor Degree: 29.9% Kooyong — Bachelor Degree: 31.1%
Postgraduate Degree 14.5% / 14.0%
Hawthorn East — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5% Kooyong — Postgraduate Degree: 14.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 8.0%
Hawthorn East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Kooyong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 4.5%
Hawthorn East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% Kooyong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 3.3%
Hawthorn East — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Kooyong — Certificate III & IV: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.1%).

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 Kooyong
China 5.5% / 3.2%
Hawthorn East — China: 5.5% Kooyong — China: 3.2%
England 2.9% / 3.2%
Hawthorn East — England: 2.9% Kooyong — England: 3.2%
India 3.0% / 1.1%
Hawthorn East — India: 3.0% Kooyong — India: 1.1%
Malaysia 2.0% / 1.5%
Hawthorn East — Malaysia: 2.0% Kooyong — Malaysia: 1.5%
Sri Lanka 0.8% / 1.0%
Hawthorn East — Sri Lanka: 0.8% Kooyong — Sri Lanka: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.7% / —
Hawthorn East — New Zealand: 1.7% Kooyong — New Zealand: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East 49.0% flats / apartments
Hawthorn East — Flats / Apartments: 49.0% Hawthorn East — Houses: 33.1% Hawthorn East — Townhouses: 18.0%
Kooyong 42.1% flats / apartments
Kooyong — Flats / Apartments: 42.1% Kooyong — Houses: 43.7% Kooyong — Townhouses: 14.1%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Median house price $2,207,500 $4,400,000
Median unit price $570,500 $875,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 96 sales
 62 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Residential 76% 48%
Parks and recreation 5% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 22%
Commercial 9% 1%
Other and special use 0% 3%
Planning zones cover 100% of Hawthorn East and 99% of Kooyong. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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 Kooyong
New dwellings approved 711
across Boroondara
 818
across Stonnington
Approvals change year on year -40% +67%

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 Kooyong
Houses 2.7%
$992/wk on $1.89M
 —
Units 4.9%
$575/wk on $612K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Hawthorn East Kooyong
House price Higher than 98% of VIC —
Income Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Schools Higher than 84% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 2% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 7% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 55% of VIC —

Liveability

Hawthorn East scores higher overall (86 vs 75); Hawthorn East is more walkable (99 vs 90).

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Grade A+ A
Score 86/100 75/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kooyong carries more flood risk (77 vs 40).

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 High
74/100
Flood Moderate
40/100
 High
77/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Inside the suburb 4 0
Rated above peers 2 0
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, 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.5% 5.8%

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 Kooyong

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Walkability score 99/100 90/100
Distance to Melbourne 12 km
+5% vs other
 11.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 17 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram
Peak arrivals per hour 116.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 42.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3123
 3.2%
postcode 3144
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 11
postcode 3123
 13
postcode 3144

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 Kooyong
Worked from Home 50.5% / 49.6%
Hawthorn East — Worked from Home: 50.5% Kooyong — Worked from Home: 49.6%
Car (driver) 35.3% / 40.9%
Hawthorn East — Car (driver): 35.3% Kooyong — Car (driver): 40.9%
Train 5.8% / 4.2%
Hawthorn East — Train: 5.8% Kooyong — Train: 4.2%
Walked Only 3.6% / 0.8%
Hawthorn East — Walked Only: 3.6% Kooyong — Walked Only: 0.8%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 2.1%
Hawthorn East — Car (passenger): 2.0% Kooyong — Car (passenger): 2.1%
Tram / Light Rail 1.2% / 1.3%
Hawthorn East — Tram / Light Rail: 1.2% Kooyong — Tram / Light Rail: 1.3%

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

Setting

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Elevation 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.8 km 6.2 km

NBN connectivity

Hawthorn East Kooyong
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%
430 premises

Climate

Hawthorn East Kooyong
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 Kooyong
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³ 7.9 µg/m³
PM10 17.8 µg/m³ —
NO₂ 0.82 pphm —

Council rates

Hawthorn East Kooyong
Average residential rate $2,253/yr $1,647/yr
Council Boroondara Stonnington

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Hawthorn East Kooyong
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

Kooyong

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals River Trains 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 Canterbury

Other comparisons with Kooyong

Kooyong vs Hawthorn Kooyong vs Toorak Kooyong vs Malvern
Full data on Hawthorn East Full data on Kooyong
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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