Kew East vs Balwyn North

In both, the large majority of households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Kew East, about half of households are couple families. In Balwyn North, most households are couple families. Kew East is closer to the city centre: 9.7 km, against 14.1 km.

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

Balwyn North

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (13 vs 4)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (12 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kew East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($471/wk vs $554/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kew East

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (15 min vs 22 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (9.7 km vs 14.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Kew East has more units and townhouses to downsize into (34% vs 17%)
  • Balwyn North has more GPs (6 vs 3)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Kew East and Balwyn North drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Kew East Balwyn North
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.

Kew East Balwyn North
Walkability 85 / 85
Kew East — Walkability: 85/100 Balwyn North — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 51 / 56
Kew East — Safety: 51/100 Balwyn North — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kew East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balwyn North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 12 / 51
Kew East — Low flood risk: 12/100 Balwyn North — Low flood risk: 51/100

Demographics

Balwyn North has more residents (21,302 vs 6,620); Balwyn North rents higher ($554/wk vs $471/wk).

Kew East Balwyn North
Population 6,620 21,302
+222% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.2% +4.4%
Median age 41 42
Median household income $129,480/yr
+6% vs other
 $121,992/yr
Median weekly rent $471/wk $554/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kew East Balwyn North
0-4 4.6% / 3.4%
Kew East — 0-4: 4.6% Balwyn North — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 13.4% / 14.4%
Kew East — 5-14: 13.4% Balwyn North — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 7.3% / 8.9%
Kew East — 15-19: 7.3% Balwyn North — 15-19: 8.9%
20-24 6.6% / 6.9%
Kew East — 20-24: 6.6% Balwyn North — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 10.0% / 8.6%
Kew East — 25-34: 10.0% Balwyn North — 25-34: 8.6%
35-44 12.3% / 10.8%
Kew East — 35-44: 12.3% Balwyn North — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 14.8% / 15.9%
Kew East — 45-54: 14.8% Balwyn North — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 13.5% / 13.7%
Kew East — 55-64: 13.5% Balwyn North — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 9.3% / 9.0%
Kew East — 65-74: 9.3% Balwyn North — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 5.8% / 5.7%
Kew East — 75-84: 5.8% Balwyn North — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 2.5% / 2.9%
Kew East — 85+: 2.5% Balwyn North — 85+: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kew East 52.7% couple families
Kew East — Couple Families: 52.7% Kew East — Lone Person: 25.8% Kew East — One Parent Families: 14.6% Kew East — Group Household: 5.7% Kew East — Other Families: 1.2%
Balwyn North 60.5% couple families
Balwyn North — Couple Families: 60.5% Balwyn North — Lone Person: 21.3% Balwyn North — One Parent Families: 14.8% Balwyn North — Group Household: 2.3% Balwyn North — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kew East 24.0% renting
Kew East — Owned Outright: 41.9% Kew East — Mortgage: 34.0% Kew East — Renting: 24.0%
Balwyn North 20.0% renting
Balwyn North — Owned Outright: 47.0% Balwyn North — Mortgage: 33.1% Balwyn North — Renting: 20.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kew East Balwyn North
Bachelor Degree 25.3% / 25.0%
Kew East — Bachelor Degree: 25.3% Balwyn North — Bachelor Degree: 25.0%
Postgraduate Degree 11.5% / 10.5%
Kew East — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5% Balwyn North — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 7.5%
Kew East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Balwyn North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Certificate III & IV 5.3% / 4.3%
Kew East — Certificate III & IV: 5.3% Balwyn North — Certificate III & IV: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 3.3%
Kew East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Balwyn North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.3%).

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.

Kew East Balwyn North
China 4.8% / 14.4%
Kew East — China: 4.8% Balwyn North — China: 14.4%
Malaysia 1.6% / 3.8%
Kew East — Malaysia: 1.6% Balwyn North — Malaysia: 3.8%
India 2.1% / 2.7%
Kew East — India: 2.1% Balwyn North — India: 2.7%
England 2.5% / 1.9%
Kew East — England: 2.5% Balwyn North — England: 1.9%
Vietnam 1.5% / 1.9%
Kew East — Vietnam: 1.5% Balwyn North — Vietnam: 1.9%
Greece 1.6% / 1.7%
Kew East — Greece: 1.6% Balwyn North — Greece: 1.7%
Italy 1.8% / 1.3%
Kew East — Italy: 1.8% Balwyn North — Italy: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kew East 66.3% houses
Kew East — Houses: 66.3% Kew East — Townhouses: 21.9% Kew East — Flats / Apartments: 11.8%
Balwyn North 83.0% houses
Balwyn North — Houses: 83.0% Balwyn North — Townhouses: 13.5% Balwyn North — Flats / Apartments: 3.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kew East Balwyn North
Median house price $2,225,000 $2,210,000
Median unit price $825,000 $825,500
Median land price — $1,515,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 20 sales
 26 days
from 204 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.

Kew East Balwyn North
2 bed $760K / $694K
Kew East — 2 bed: $760K (33 sales) Balwyn North — 2 bed: $694K (20 sales)

33 vs 20 sales

3 bed $1.31M / $1.28M
Kew East — 3 bed: $1.31M (19 sales) Balwyn North — 3 bed: $1.28M (11 sales)

19 vs 11 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.

Kew East Balwyn North
2 bed $2.2M / $1.55M
Kew East — 2 bed: $2.2M (5 sales) Balwyn North — 2 bed: $1.55M (11 sales)

5 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.96M / $1.95M
Kew East — 3 bed: $1.96M (32 sales) Balwyn North — 3 bed: $1.95M (106 sales)

32 vs 106 sales

4 bed $2.42M / $2.27M
Kew East — 4 bed: $2.42M (38 sales) Balwyn North — 4 bed: $2.27M (122 sales)

38 vs 122 sales

5 bed $2.88M / $2.93M
Kew East — 5 bed: $2.88M (10 sales) Balwyn North — 5 bed: $2.93M (49 sales)

10 vs 49 sales

Zoning mix

Kew East Balwyn North
Residential 47% 76%
Other and special use 24% 0%
Parks and recreation 14%
same for both
Infrastructure and transport 12% 10%
Commercial 2% 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

Kew East Balwyn North
New dwellings approved 711
across Boroondara
same for both
Approvals change year on year -40%
same for both

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.

Kew East Balwyn North
Houses 2.5%
$1,000/wk on $2.1M
 2.6%
$1,070/wk on $2.1M
Units 4.9%
$717/wk on $755K
 4.6%
$655/wk on $742K

Ranking within VIC

Kew East Balwyn North
House price — Higher than 98% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC
same for both
Affordability — Higher than 4% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC

Liveability

Balwyn North scores higher overall (87 vs 82).

Kew East Balwyn North
Grade A+
same for both
Score 82/100 87/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kew East carries more flood risk (88 vs 49).

Kew East Balwyn North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
49/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood High
88/100
 Moderate
49/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Kew East Balwyn North
Inside the suburb 3 7
Rated above peers 3 4
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 4.2 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 5.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.7% 5.5%

Schools in Kew East

  • Kew East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Kew High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Anne's School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Balwyn North

  • Balwyn High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Belle Vue Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Boroondara Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Greythorn Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Balwyn North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Bede's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kew East Balwyn North
Supermarkets 1 6
Cafes & restaurants 5 22
Parks & reserves 6 12
Childcare 4 13
GPs 3 6
Pharmacies 1 6
Banks & Bank@Post 1 3
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 7
same for both

Mobility

Balwyn North sits further from the CBD (14.1 km vs 9.7 km).

Kew East Balwyn North
Walkability score 85/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 9.7 km 14.1 km
+45% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 22 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 249.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 411.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3102
 3.2%
postcode 3104
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 3102
 26
postcode 3104

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.

Kew East Balwyn North
Car (driver) 44.7% / 48.3%
Kew East — Car (driver): 44.7% Balwyn North — Car (driver): 48.3%
Worked from Home 45.2% / 42.1%
Kew East — Worked from Home: 45.2% Balwyn North — Worked from Home: 42.1%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 4.0%
Kew East — Car (passenger): 2.7% Balwyn North — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Bus 1.8% / 2.2%
Kew East — Bus: 1.8% Balwyn North — Bus: 2.2%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.0%
Kew East — Walked Only: 1.9% Balwyn North — Walked Only: 1.0%
Tram / Light Rail 1.7% / 1.1%
Kew East — Tram / Light Rail: 1.7% Balwyn North — Tram / Light Rail: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (48.3%).

Setting

Kew East Balwyn North
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.7 km 12.7 km

NBN connectivity

Kew East Balwyn North
Connectivity score 89/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
3,012 premises
 8%
8,729 premises

Climate

Kew East Balwyn North
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)

Kew East Balwyn North
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.82 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Kew East Balwyn North
Average residential rate $2,253/yr
same for both
Council Boroondara
same for both

Federal electorate

Kew East Balwyn North
Division Kooyong
same for both
Member Monique Ryan
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kew East Balwyn North
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kew East

Luxury Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Townhouses Trams

Balwyn North

Luxury Middle-Ring Multicultural Professionals Trams

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kew East

Kew East vs Kew Kew East vs Balwyn Kew East vs Ivanhoe Kew East vs Alphington Kew East vs Ivanhoe East

Other comparisons with Balwyn North

Balwyn North vs Doncaster Balwyn North vs Kew Balwyn North vs Balwyn Balwyn North vs Ivanhoe Balwyn North vs Bulleen Balwyn North vs Mont Albert North
Full data on Kew East Full data on Balwyn North
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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