Hawthorn East vs Malvern

Hawthorn East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 44 in Malvern. 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 Malvern: a median of $2.8 million, against $2.21 million in Hawthorn East, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Hawthorn East tends to suit young adults and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Malvern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (46% vs 33%)

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

First-home buyers

Hawthorn East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,207,500 vs $2,800,000)

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 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Malvern

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 15%)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 5)
  • But Hawthorn East has more units and townhouses to downsize into (67% vs 54%)

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 -1.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.9% vs 4.4%)
  • But Malvern returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Hawthorn East and Malvern 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 Malvern
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 Malvern
Walkability 99 / 99
Hawthorn East — Walkability: 99/100 Malvern — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 28 / 26
Hawthorn East — Safety: 28/100 Malvern — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hawthorn East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Malvern — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 60 / 69
Hawthorn East — Low flood risk: 60/100 Malvern — Low flood risk: 69/100

Demographics

Hawthorn East has more residents (14,834 vs 9,929); Malvern skews older (44 vs 36).

Hawthorn East Malvern
Population 14,834
+33% vs other
 9,929
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% -1.4%
Median age 36 44
Median household income $117,156/yr $135,512/yr
+16% vs other
Median weekly rent $415/wk $450/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn East Malvern
0-4 4.2% / 4.0%
Hawthorn East — 0-4: 4.2% Malvern — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 10.7% / 11.0%
Hawthorn East — 5-14: 10.7% Malvern — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 5.2% / 6.3%
Hawthorn East — 15-19: 5.2% Malvern — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 8.0% / 6.0%
Hawthorn East — 20-24: 8.0% Malvern — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 19.7% / 12.1%
Hawthorn East — 25-34: 19.7% Malvern — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 14.3% / 11.6%
Hawthorn East — 35-44: 14.3% Malvern — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 12.7% / 13.9%
Hawthorn East — 45-54: 12.7% Malvern — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 10.2% / 12.1%
Hawthorn East — 55-64: 10.2% Malvern — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 8.0% / 10.6%
Hawthorn East — 65-74: 8.0% Malvern — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 5.0% / 8.6%
Hawthorn East — 75-84: 5.0% Malvern — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 2.2% / 3.9%
Hawthorn East — 85+: 2.2% Malvern — 85+: 3.9%

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%
Malvern 43.4% lone person
Malvern — Lone Person: 43.4% Malvern — Couple Families: 39.7% Malvern — One Parent Families: 10.5% Malvern — Group Household: 4.9% Malvern — Other Families: 1.5%
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%
Malvern 27.6% renting
Malvern — Owned Outright: 43.2% Malvern — Mortgage: 29.2% Malvern — Renting: 27.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hawthorn East Malvern
Bachelor Degree 29.9% / 29.4%
Hawthorn East — Bachelor Degree: 29.9% Malvern — Bachelor Degree: 29.4%
Postgraduate Degree 14.5% / 11.8%
Hawthorn East — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5% Malvern — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 7.8%
Hawthorn East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Malvern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 4.0%
Hawthorn East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% Malvern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 3.4%
Hawthorn East — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Malvern — Certificate III & IV: 3.4%

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

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 Malvern
China 5.5% / 2.2%
Hawthorn East — China: 5.5% Malvern — China: 2.2%
England 2.9% / 3.5%
Hawthorn East — England: 2.9% Malvern — England: 3.5%
India 3.0% / 2.0%
Hawthorn East — India: 3.0% Malvern — India: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.6%
Hawthorn East — New Zealand: 1.7% Malvern — New Zealand: 1.6%
Malaysia 2.0% / 0.9%
Hawthorn East — Malaysia: 2.0% Malvern — Malaysia: 0.9%
Greece — / 1.3%
Hawthorn East — Greece: not among its largest Malvern — Greece: 1.3%

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%
Malvern 34.8% flats / apartments
Malvern — Flats / Apartments: 34.8% Malvern — Houses: 45.8% Malvern — Townhouses: 19.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Hawthorn East Malvern
Median house price $2,207,500 $2,800,000
Median unit price $570,500 $582,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 96 sales
 23 days
from 69 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 Malvern
1 bed $370K / $421K
Hawthorn East — 1 bed: $370K (101 sales) Malvern — 1 bed: $421K (54 sales)

101 vs 54 sales

2 bed $641K / $670K
Hawthorn East — 2 bed: $641K (175 sales) Malvern — 2 bed: $670K (67 sales)

175 vs 67 sales

3 bed $1.17M / $1.33M
Hawthorn East — 3 bed: $1.17M (23 sales) Malvern — 3 bed: $1.33M (12 sales)

23 vs 12 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 Malvern
2 bed $1.48M / $2.17M
Hawthorn East — 2 bed: $1.48M (21 sales) Malvern — 2 bed: $2.17M (11 sales)

21 vs 11 sales

3 bed $2.12M / $2.25M
Hawthorn East — 3 bed: $2.12M (59 sales) Malvern — 3 bed: $2.25M (49 sales)

59 vs 49 sales

4 bed $2.73M / $3.52M
Hawthorn East — 4 bed: $2.73M (41 sales) Malvern — 4 bed: $3.52M (40 sales)

41 vs 40 sales

5 bed $3.58M / $4.77M
Hawthorn East — 5 bed: $3.58M (16 sales) Malvern — 5 bed: $4.77M (11 sales)

16 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Hawthorn East Malvern
Residential 76% 79%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 11%
Commercial 9% 6%
Parks and recreation 5% 4%
Other and special use 0% 1%
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 Malvern
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 Malvern
Houses 2.7%
$992/wk on $1.89M
 3.4%
$1,700/wk on $2.6M
Units 4.9%
$575/wk on $612K
 4.4%
$645/wk on $760K

Ranking within VIC

Hawthorn East Malvern
House price Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Income Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
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 32% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC

Liveability

Hawthorn East Malvern
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 Malvern
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 High
74/100
Flood Moderate
40/100
 Low
31/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Hawthorn East Malvern
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 2
same for both
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, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.5%
same for both

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 Malvern

  • De La Salle College Catholic · Combined above peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Malvern Central School Government · Primary at peers
  • De La Salle College - Kinnoull Campus Catholic · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Hawthorn East Malvern
Supermarkets 2 3
Cafes & restaurants 21 19
Parks & reserves 9 7
Childcare 9 8
GPs 5 7
Pharmacies 2 6
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1
same for both

Mobility

Hawthorn East Malvern
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 12 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 21 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 98/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 116.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 303.0
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 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 Malvern
Worked from Home 50.5% / 49.6%
Hawthorn East — Worked from Home: 50.5% Malvern — Worked from Home: 49.6%
Car (driver) 35.3% / 36.7%
Hawthorn East — Car (driver): 35.3% Malvern — Car (driver): 36.7%
Train 5.8% / 4.6%
Hawthorn East — Train: 5.8% Malvern — Train: 4.6%
Walked Only 3.6% / 4.6%
Hawthorn East — Walked Only: 3.6% Malvern — Walked Only: 4.6%
Car (passenger) 2.0% / 1.9%
Hawthorn East — Car (passenger): 2.0% Malvern — Car (passenger): 1.9%

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

Setting

Hawthorn East Malvern
Elevation 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.8 km 5.4 km

NBN connectivity

Hawthorn East Malvern
Connectivity score 82/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 27%
8,547 premises
 12%
6,062 premises

Climate

Hawthorn East Malvern
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 Malvern
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³ 7.6 µg/m³
PM10 17.8 µg/m³ —
NO₂ 0.82 pphm —

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Hawthorn East Malvern
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

Malvern

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

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 Canterbury Hawthorn East vs Kooyong

Other comparisons with Malvern

Malvern vs Glen Iris Malvern vs Hawthorn Malvern vs Malvern East Malvern vs Caulfield North Malvern vs Toorak Malvern vs Armadale
Full data on Hawthorn East Full data on Malvern
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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