Hill End vs Willow Grove

Willow Grove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 46 in Hill End. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Hill End tends to suit people living alone, while Willow Grove suits families with children.

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

Willow Grove

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Willow Grove

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($243/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Willow Grove

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (126.9 km vs 149.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (103 min vs 113 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Hill End has more residents already 65 and over (26% vs 18%)
  • Willow Grove is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Willow Grove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.8% vs 3.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Hill End and Willow Grove drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Hill End Willow Grove
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.

Hill End Willow Grove
Walkability 0 / 13
Hill End — Walkability: 0/100 Willow Grove — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 51 / 58
Hill End — Safety: 51/100 Willow Grove — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 2 / 3
Hill End — Low fire risk: 2/100 Willow Grove — Low fire risk: 3/100
Low flood risk 100 / 48
Hill End — Low flood risk: 100/100 Willow Grove — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Willow Grove has more residents (654 vs 171); Willow Grove has higher household incomes ($93,652 vs $74,256).

Hill End Willow Grove
Population 171 654
+282% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +10.8%
Median age 46 42
Median household income $74,256/yr $93,652/yr
+26% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+19% vs other
 $243/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hill End Willow Grove
0-4 6.4% / 7.2%
Hill End — 0-4: 6.4% Willow Grove — 0-4: 7.2%
5-14 9.9% / 14.8%
Hill End — 5-14: 9.9% Willow Grove — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 8.8% / 5.8%
Hill End — 15-19: 8.8% Willow Grove — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 1.8% / 4.1%
Hill End — 20-24: 1.8% Willow Grove — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 9.4% / 9.2%
Hill End — 25-34: 9.4% Willow Grove — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 14.0% / 11.5%
Hill End — 35-44: 14.0% Willow Grove — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 15.2% / 14.5%
Hill End — 45-54: 15.2% Willow Grove — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 11.7% / 14.5%
Hill End — 55-64: 11.7% Willow Grove — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 17.0% / 12.1%
Hill End — 65-74: 17.0% Willow Grove — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 8.8% / 5.7%
Hill End — 75-84: 8.8% Willow Grove — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ — / 0.6%
Hill End — 85+: not among its largest Willow Grove — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hill End 50.0% couple families
Hill End — Couple Families: 50.0% Hill End — Lone Person: 40.0% Hill End — One Parent Families: 10.0% Hill End — Other Families: 0.0% Hill End — Group Household: 0.0%
Willow Grove 53.3% couple families
Willow Grove — Couple Families: 53.3% Willow Grove — Lone Person: 29.6% Willow Grove — One Parent Families: 13.2% Willow Grove — Other Families: 2.0% Willow Grove — Group Household: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hill End 5.5% renting
Hill End — Owned Outright: 52.7% Hill End — Mortgage: 41.8% Hill End — Renting: 5.5%
Willow Grove 11.9% renting
Willow Grove — Owned Outright: 48.4% Willow Grove — Mortgage: 39.7% Willow Grove — Renting: 11.9%
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.

Hill End Willow Grove
England 5.3% / 2.1%
Hill End — England: 5.3% Willow Grove — England: 2.1%
Netherlands 3.5% / 0.8%
Hill End — Netherlands: 3.5% Willow Grove — Netherlands: 0.8%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.2%
Hill End — New Zealand: 2.3% Willow Grove — New Zealand: 1.2%
Indonesia — / 0.6%
Hill End — Indonesia: not among its largest Willow Grove — Indonesia: 0.6%
Ireland — / 0.6%
Hill End — Ireland: not among its largest Willow Grove — Ireland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

Qualifications

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

Hill End Willow Grove
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 18.7%
Hill End — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Willow Grove — Certificate III & IV: 18.7%
Bachelor Degree 8.8% / 9.2%
Hill End — Bachelor Degree: 8.8% Willow Grove — Bachelor Degree: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 7.0%
Hill End — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Willow Grove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 1.5%
Hill End — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Willow Grove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%
Postgraduate Degree — / 2.0%
Hill End — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Willow Grove — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hill End 100.0% houses
Hill End — Houses: 100.0%
Willow Grove 100.0% houses
Willow Grove — Houses: 100.0%
Houses

Property market

Hill End Willow Grove
Median house price — $627,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 30 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Hill End Willow Grove
Rural and farming 76% 68%
Parks and recreation 24% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 23%
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

Hill End Willow Grove
New dwellings approved 619
across Baw Baw
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Hill End Willow Grove
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC

Liveability

Willow Grove is more walkable (13 vs 0).

Hill End Willow Grove
Grade — D
Score — 30/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Willow Grove carries more flood risk (52 vs 0).

Hill End Willow Grove
Bushfire High
98/100
 High
97/100
Crime Moderate
49/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood None
0/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Hill End Willow Grove
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Hill End

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

Schools in Willow Grove

  • Willow Grove Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Hill End Willow Grove
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 4
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 1
Waterways 110 75

Mobility

Hill End sits further from the CBD (149.2 km vs 126.9 km).

Hill End Willow Grove
Walkability score 0/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 149.2 km
+15% vs other
 126.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 113 min 103 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3825
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 3825
same for both

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.

Hill End Willow Grove
Car (driver) 67.9% / 70.3%
Hill End — Car (driver): 67.9% Willow Grove — Car (driver): 70.3%
Worked from Home 24.4% / 23.6%
Hill End — Worked from Home: 24.4% Willow Grove — Worked from Home: 23.6%
Car (passenger) 3.8% / 3.1%
Hill End — Car (passenger): 3.8% Willow Grove — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Walked Only 3.8% / 3.1%
Hill End — Walked Only: 3.8% Willow Grove — Walked Only: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.3%).

Setting

Hill End Willow Grove
Elevation 252 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 164 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Hill End Willow Grove
Connectivity score 27/100 30/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
78 premises
 0%
264 premises

Climate

Hill End Willow Grove
Annual rainfall 1,090 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

Hill End Willow Grove
Average residential rate $2,138/yr
same for both
Council Baw Baw
same for both

Federal electorate

Hill End Willow Grove
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hill End Willow Grove
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hill End

Retirees Rural

Willow Grove

Family Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hill End

Hill End vs Neerim East Hill End vs Fumina South

Other comparisons with Willow Grove

Willow Grove vs Trafalgar Willow Grove vs Tanjil South Willow Grove vs Neerim East Willow Grove vs Shady Creek Willow Grove vs Westbury
Full data on Hill End Full data on Willow Grove
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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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