Hawthorn vs Malvern

Hawthorn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 44 in Malvern. In Hawthorn, about half of households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Malvern, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Malvern: a median of $2.8 million, against $2.02 million in Hawthorn, and rent is higher there too. Hawthorn is closer to the city centre: 9.9 km, against 12 km. On these figures, Hawthorn tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone, while Malvern 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

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 7)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (11 vs 4)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 8)
  • But Malvern has more separate houses rather than flats (46% vs 24%)

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

First-home buyers

Hawthorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($2,019,000 vs $2,800,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hawthorn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hawthorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (9.9 km vs 12 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hawthorn

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (12 vs 7)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 54%)
  • But Malvern has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Hawthorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 4.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Hawthorn 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 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 Malvern
Walkability 97 / 99
Hawthorn — Walkability: 97/100 Malvern — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 23 / 26
Hawthorn — Safety: 23/100 Malvern — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hawthorn — Low fire risk: 100/100 Malvern — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 40 / 69
Hawthorn — Low flood risk: 40/100 Malvern — Low flood risk: 69/100

Demographics

Hawthorn has more residents (22,322 vs 9,929); Malvern skews older (44 vs 34).

Hawthorn Malvern
Population 22,322
+56% vs other
 9,929
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.1% -1.4%
Median age 34 44
Median household income $111,540/yr $135,512/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $450/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn Malvern
0-4 3.8% / 4.0%
Hawthorn — 0-4: 3.8% Malvern — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 8.5% / 11.0%
Hawthorn — 5-14: 8.5% Malvern — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 6.0% / 6.3%
Hawthorn — 15-19: 6.0% Malvern — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 9.7% / 6.0%
Hawthorn — 20-24: 9.7% Malvern — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 22.3% / 12.1%
Hawthorn — 25-34: 22.3% Malvern — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 14.3% / 11.6%
Hawthorn — 35-44: 14.3% Malvern — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 11.6% / 13.9%
Hawthorn — 45-54: 11.6% Malvern — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 9.5% / 12.1%
Hawthorn — 55-64: 9.5% Malvern — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 7.8% / 10.6%
Hawthorn — 65-74: 7.8% Malvern — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 4.7% / 8.6%
Hawthorn — 75-84: 4.7% Malvern — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 1.8% / 3.9%
Hawthorn — 85+: 1.8% Malvern — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn 51.5% lone person
Hawthorn — Lone Person: 51.5% Hawthorn — Couple Families: 28.3% Hawthorn — One Parent Families: 7.3% Hawthorn — Group Household: 10.6% Hawthorn — Other Families: 2.2%
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 46.8% renting
Hawthorn — Owned Outright: 27.5% Hawthorn — Mortgage: 25.6% Hawthorn — Renting: 46.8%
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 Malvern
Bachelor Degree 30.2% / 29.4%
Hawthorn — Bachelor Degree: 30.2% Malvern — Bachelor Degree: 29.4%
Postgraduate Degree 14.9% / 11.8%
Hawthorn — Postgraduate Degree: 14.9% Malvern — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 7.8%
Hawthorn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Malvern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 4.0%
Hawthorn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% Malvern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%
Certificate III & IV 4.7% / 3.4%
Hawthorn — Certificate III & IV: 4.7% Malvern — Certificate III & IV: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.2%).

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.

Hawthorn Malvern
England 3.1% / 3.5%
Hawthorn — England: 3.1% Malvern — England: 3.5%
India 3.5% / 2.0%
Hawthorn — India: 3.5% Malvern — India: 2.0%
China 3.1% / 2.2%
Hawthorn — China: 3.1% Malvern — China: 2.2%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.6%
Hawthorn — New Zealand: 1.7% Malvern — New Zealand: 1.6%
Malaysia 1.6% / 0.9%
Hawthorn — Malaysia: 1.6% Malvern — Malaysia: 0.9%
Greece — / 1.3%
Hawthorn — Greece: not among its largest Malvern — Greece: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn 59.6% flats / apartments
Hawthorn — Flats / Apartments: 59.6% Hawthorn — Houses: 24.3% Hawthorn — Townhouses: 16.1%
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 Malvern
Median house price $2,019,000 $2,800,000
Median unit price $558,000 $582,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 75 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 Malvern
1 bed $395K / $421K
Hawthorn — 1 bed: $395K (183 sales) Malvern — 1 bed: $421K (54 sales)

183 vs 54 sales

2 bed $633K / $670K
Hawthorn — 2 bed: $633K (275 sales) Malvern — 2 bed: $670K (67 sales)

275 vs 67 sales

3 bed $995K / $1.33M
Hawthorn — 3 bed: $995K (21 sales) Malvern — 3 bed: $1.33M (12 sales)

21 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 Malvern
2 bed $1.35M / $2.17M
Hawthorn — 2 bed: $1.35M (21 sales) Malvern — 2 bed: $2.17M (11 sales)

21 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.9M / $2.25M
Hawthorn — 3 bed: $1.9M (38 sales) Malvern — 3 bed: $2.25M (49 sales)

38 vs 49 sales

4 bed $3.21M / $3.52M
Hawthorn — 4 bed: $3.21M (23 sales) Malvern — 4 bed: $3.52M (40 sales)

23 vs 40 sales

5 bed $5.1M / $4.77M
Hawthorn — 5 bed: $5.1M (10 sales) Malvern — 5 bed: $4.77M (11 sales)

10 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Hawthorn Malvern
Residential 68% 79%
Infrastructure and transport 11%
same for both
Parks and recreation 9% 4%
Commercial 8% 6%
Other and special use 4% 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 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 Malvern
Houses 3.1%
$1,250/wk on $2.1M
 3.4%
$1,700/wk on $2.6M
Units 5.0%
$550/wk on $571K
 4.4%
$645/wk on $760K

Ranking within VIC

Hawthorn Malvern
House price Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC

Liveability

Malvern scores higher overall (88 vs 71).

Hawthorn Malvern
Grade A A+
Score 71/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hawthorn carries more flood risk (60 vs 31).

Hawthorn Malvern
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
77/100
 High
74/100
Flood Moderate
60/100
 Low
31/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Hawthorn Malvern
Inside the suburb 11 4
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 0.0 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.7% 4.5%

Schools in Hawthorn

  • Erasmus Primary School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Scotch College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Glenferrie Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Bialik College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Hawthorn West Primary School Government · Primary below 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 Malvern
Supermarkets 3
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 82 19
Parks & reserves 29 7
Childcare 13 8
GPs 12 7
Pharmacies 7 6
Hospitals 1
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 7 6
Fuel stations 6 1
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Malvern sits further from the CBD (12 km vs 9.9 km).

Hawthorn Malvern
Walkability score 97/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 9.9 km 12 km
+21% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 21 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 98/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 468.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 303.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3122
 3.2%
postcode 3144
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 9
postcode 3122
 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 Malvern
Worked from Home 50.5% / 49.6%
Hawthorn — Worked from Home: 50.5% Malvern — Worked from Home: 49.6%
Car (driver) 31.6% / 36.7%
Hawthorn — Car (driver): 31.6% Malvern — Car (driver): 36.7%
Train 6.3% / 4.6%
Hawthorn — Train: 6.3% Malvern — Train: 4.6%
Walked Only 5.4% / 4.6%
Hawthorn — Walked Only: 5.4% Malvern — Walked Only: 4.6%
Tram / Light Rail 2.6% / 1.6%
Hawthorn — Tram / Light Rail: 2.6% Malvern — Tram / Light Rail: 1.6%
Car (passenger) 1.8% / 1.9%
Hawthorn — Car (passenger): 1.8% Malvern — Car (passenger): 1.9%

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

Setting

Hawthorn Malvern
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.8 km 5.4 km

NBN connectivity

Hawthorn Malvern
Connectivity score 82/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 27%
15,213 premises
 12%
6,062 premises

Climate

Hawthorn Malvern
Annual rainfall 534 mm 644 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C 26.0°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C 6.9°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Hawthorn

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

Hawthorn vs Richmond Hawthorn vs Kew Hawthorn vs Hawthorn East Hawthorn vs Toorak Hawthorn vs Abbotsford Hawthorn vs Kooyong

Other comparisons with Malvern

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