Hawthorn vs Toorak

Hawthorn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 47 in Toorak. In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Hawthorn, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Toorak, most households own their home and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Units cost more in Toorak: a median of $816,000, against $558,000 in Hawthorn, and rent is higher there too. Toorak is closer to the city centre: 7.8 km, against 9.9 km. On these figures, Hawthorn tends to suit renters, young adults, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Toorak 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 6)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (11 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (13 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

Hawthorn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,019,000 vs $3,150,000)
  • has cheaper units ($558,000 vs $815,500)

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 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $486/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Hawthorn is more walkable (97/100 vs 88/100)
  • Toorak sits closer to the CBD (7.8 km vs 9.9 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 4)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 88/100)
  • But Toorak has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Hawthorn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.1% vs 2.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Hawthorn and Toorak 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 Toorak
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 Toorak
Walkability 97 / 88
Hawthorn — Walkability: 97/100 Toorak — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 23 / 27
Hawthorn — Safety: 23/100 Toorak — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Hawthorn — Low fire risk: 100/100 Toorak — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 40 / 44
Hawthorn — Low flood risk: 40/100 Toorak — Low flood risk: 44/100

Demographics

Hawthorn has more residents (22,322 vs 12,817); Toorak skews older (47 vs 34).

Hawthorn Toorak
Population 22,322
+43% vs other
 12,817
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.1% -0.7%
Median age 34 47
Median household income $111,540/yr $131,716/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk $486/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hawthorn Toorak
0-4 3.8% / 3.2%
Hawthorn — 0-4: 3.8% Toorak — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 8.5% / 7.7%
Hawthorn — 5-14: 8.5% Toorak — 5-14: 7.7%
15-19 6.0% / 4.9%
Hawthorn — 15-19: 6.0% Toorak — 15-19: 4.9%
20-24 9.7% / 6.7%
Hawthorn — 20-24: 9.7% Toorak — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 22.3% / 14.6%
Hawthorn — 25-34: 22.3% Toorak — 25-34: 14.6%
35-44 14.3% / 10.6%
Hawthorn — 35-44: 14.3% Toorak — 35-44: 10.6%
45-54 11.6% / 11.9%
Hawthorn — 45-54: 11.6% Toorak — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 9.5% / 13.1%
Hawthorn — 55-64: 9.5% Toorak — 55-64: 13.1%
65-74 7.8% / 13.6%
Hawthorn — 65-74: 7.8% Toorak — 65-74: 13.6%
75-84 4.7% / 9.6%
Hawthorn — 75-84: 4.7% Toorak — 75-84: 9.6%
85+ 1.8% / 4.0%
Hawthorn — 85+: 1.8% Toorak — 85+: 4.0%

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 — Group Household: 10.6% Hawthorn — One Parent Families: 7.3% Hawthorn — Other Families: 2.2%
Toorak 51.0% lone person
Toorak — Lone Person: 51.0% Toorak — Couple Families: 30.1% Toorak — Group Household: 7.6% Toorak — One Parent Families: 9.9% Toorak — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families 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%
Toorak 32.3% renting
Toorak — Owned Outright: 44.2% Toorak — Mortgage: 23.5% Toorak — Renting: 32.3%
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 Toorak
China 3.1% / 5.0%
Hawthorn — China: 3.1% Toorak — China: 5.0%
England 3.1% / 3.4%
Hawthorn — England: 3.1% Toorak — England: 3.4%
India 3.5% / 1.9%
Hawthorn — India: 3.5% Toorak — India: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.0%
Hawthorn — New Zealand: 1.7% Toorak — New Zealand: 2.0%
Malaysia 1.6% / 1.4%
Hawthorn — Malaysia: 1.6% Toorak — Malaysia: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

Qualifications

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

Hawthorn Toorak
Bachelor Degree 30.2% / 30.4%
Hawthorn — Bachelor Degree: 30.2% Toorak — Bachelor Degree: 30.4%
Postgraduate Degree 14.9% / 12.4%
Hawthorn — Postgraduate Degree: 14.9% Toorak — Postgraduate Degree: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 8.0%
Hawthorn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Toorak — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 4.7% / 3.7%
Hawthorn — Certificate III & IV: 4.7% Toorak — Certificate III & IV: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 3.2%
Hawthorn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% Toorak — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.4%).

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%
Toorak 49.9% flats / apartments
Toorak — Flats / Apartments: 49.9% Toorak — Houses: 30.4% Toorak — Townhouses: 19.8%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Hawthorn Toorak
Median house price $2,019,000 $3,150,000
Median unit price $558,000 $815,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 75 sales
 28 days
from 61 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 Toorak
3 bed $1.9M / $2.55M
Hawthorn — 3 bed: $1.9M (38 sales) Toorak — 3 bed: $2.55M (37 sales)

38 vs 37 sales

4 bed $3.21M / $4.75M
Hawthorn — 4 bed: $3.21M (23 sales) Toorak — 4 bed: $4.75M (23 sales)

23 vs 23 sales

5 bed $5.1M / $7.85M
Hawthorn — 5 bed: $5.1M (10 sales) Toorak — 5 bed: $7.85M (7 sales)

10 vs 7 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 Toorak
1 bed $395K / $462K
Hawthorn — 1 bed: $395K (183 sales) Toorak — 1 bed: $462K (48 sales)

183 vs 48 sales

2 bed $633K / $808K
Hawthorn — 2 bed: $633K (275 sales) Toorak — 2 bed: $808K (156 sales)

275 vs 156 sales

3 bed $995K / $1.69M
Hawthorn — 3 bed: $995K (21 sales) Toorak — 3 bed: $1.69M (54 sales)

21 vs 54 sales

Zoning mix

Hawthorn Toorak
Residential 68% 88%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 5%
Parks and recreation 9% 2%
Commercial 8% 2%
Other and special use 4% 3%
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 Toorak
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 Toorak
Houses 3.1%
$1,250/wk on $2.1M
 2.4%
$1,550/wk on $3.29M
Units 5.0%
$550/wk on $571K
 4.1%
$700/wk on $890K

Ranking within VIC

Hawthorn Toorak
House price Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Income Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 1% of VIC
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 12% of VIC

Liveability

Hawthorn is more walkable (97 vs 88); Toorak scores higher overall (77 vs 71).

Hawthorn Toorak
Grade A
same for both
Score 71/100 77/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hawthorn Toorak
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
77/100
 High
73/100
Flood Moderate
60/100
 Moderate
56/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Hawthorn Toorak
Inside the suburb 11 6
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 0.0 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 2.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.7% 4.3%

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 Toorak

  • St Catherine's School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Toorak Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Kevin's College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Loreto Mandeville Hall Catholic · Combined below peers
  • Geelong Grammar School - Toorak campus Independent · Combined
  • St Kevin's College - Glendalough Catholic · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Hawthorn Toorak
Supermarkets 3
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 82 3
Parks & reserves 29 6
Childcare 13 10
GPs 12 4
Pharmacies 7 4
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 4
Fuel stations 6 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Hawthorn sits further from the CBD (9.9 km vs 7.8 km).

Hawthorn Toorak
Walkability score 97/100 88/100
Distance to Melbourne 9.9 km
+21% vs other
 7.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min
same for both
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 468.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 298.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3122
 3.5%
postcode 3142
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 9
postcode 3122
 7
postcode 3142

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 Toorak
Worked from Home 50.5% / 48.7%
Hawthorn — Worked from Home: 50.5% Toorak — Worked from Home: 48.7%
Car (driver) 31.6% / 38.0%
Hawthorn — Car (driver): 31.6% Toorak — Car (driver): 38.0%
Train 6.3% / 3.7%
Hawthorn — Train: 6.3% Toorak — Train: 3.7%
Walked Only 5.4% / 3.3%
Hawthorn — Walked Only: 5.4% Toorak — Walked Only: 3.3%
Tram / Light Rail 2.6% / 2.4%
Hawthorn — Tram / Light Rail: 2.6% Toorak — Tram / Light Rail: 2.4%

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

Setting

Hawthorn Toorak
Elevation 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.8 km 4.7 km
4.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Hawthorn Toorak
Connectivity score 82/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 27%
15,213 premises
 4%
8,025 premises

Climate

Hawthorn Toorak
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Hawthorn Toorak
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

Toorak

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Retirees Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hawthorn

Hawthorn vs Richmond Hawthorn vs Kew Hawthorn vs Hawthorn East Hawthorn vs Malvern Hawthorn vs Abbotsford Hawthorn vs Kooyong

Other comparisons with Toorak

Toorak vs South Yarra Toorak vs Prahran Toorak vs Malvern Toorak vs Armadale Toorak vs Kooyong Toorak vs Burnley
Full data on Hawthorn Full data on Toorak
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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