Kew East vs Balwyn

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Balwyn: a median of $2.6 million, against $2.23 million in Kew East. Kew East is closer to the city centre: 9.7 km, against 13.6 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

Kew East

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 62/100)
  • But Balwyn has more childcare (11 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Kew East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 35%)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,225,000 vs $2,600,000)
  • But Balwyn has cheaper units ($750,000 vs $825,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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 24 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (9.7 km vs 13.6 km)
  • But Balwyn is more walkable (93/100 vs 85/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Balwyn

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 85/100)
  • But Kew East carries lower crime risk (49/100 vs 62/100)

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

Investors

Kew East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.9% vs 4.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Kew East and Balwyn 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
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
Walkability 85 / 93
Kew East — Walkability: 85/100 Balwyn — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 51 / 38
Kew East — Safety: 51/100 Balwyn — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kew East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balwyn — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 12 / 73
Kew East — Low flood risk: 12/100 Balwyn — Low flood risk: 73/100

Demographics

Balwyn has more residents (13,495 vs 6,620); Kew East has higher household incomes ($129,480 vs $102,700).

Kew East Balwyn
Population 6,620 13,495
+104% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.2% +1.4%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $129,480/yr
+21% vs other
 $102,700/yr
Median weekly rent $471/wk
+4% vs other
 $451/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kew East Balwyn
0-4 4.6% / 3.4%
Kew East — 0-4: 4.6% Balwyn — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 13.4% / 12.8%
Kew East — 5-14: 13.4% Balwyn — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 7.3% / 7.0%
Kew East — 15-19: 7.3% Balwyn — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 6.6% / 6.7%
Kew East — 20-24: 6.6% Balwyn — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 10.0% / 10.0%
Kew East — 25-34: 10.0% Balwyn — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 12.3% / 12.4%
Kew East — 35-44: 12.3% Balwyn — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 14.8% / 14.2%
Kew East — 45-54: 14.8% Balwyn — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 13.5% / 12.4%
Kew East — 55-64: 13.5% Balwyn — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 9.3% / 10.4%
Kew East — 65-74: 9.3% Balwyn — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 5.8% / 6.9%
Kew East — 75-84: 5.8% Balwyn — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ 2.5% / 3.8%
Kew East — 85+: 2.5% Balwyn — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

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 47.2% couple families
Balwyn — Couple Families: 47.2% Balwyn — Lone Person: 32.8% Balwyn — One Parent Families: 15.4% Balwyn — Group Household: 3.1% Balwyn — Other Families: 1.4%
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 27.8% renting
Balwyn — Owned Outright: 44.0% Balwyn — Mortgage: 28.2% Balwyn — Renting: 27.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kew East Balwyn
Bachelor Degree 25.3% / 25.7%
Kew East — Bachelor Degree: 25.3% Balwyn — Bachelor Degree: 25.7%
Postgraduate Degree 11.5% / 11.6%
Kew East — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5% Balwyn — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.9% / 8.1%
Kew East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9% Balwyn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 5.3% / 4.2%
Kew East — Certificate III & IV: 5.3% Balwyn — Certificate III & IV: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 3.4%
Kew East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Balwyn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.7%).

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
China 4.8% / 17.2%
Kew East — China: 4.8% Balwyn — China: 17.2%
India 2.1% / 3.6%
Kew East — India: 2.1% Balwyn — India: 3.6%
England 2.5% / 2.4%
Kew East — England: 2.5% Balwyn — England: 2.4%
Malaysia 1.6% / 3.3%
Kew East — Malaysia: 1.6% Balwyn — Malaysia: 3.3%
Vietnam 1.5% / 1.5%
Kew East — Vietnam: 1.5% Balwyn — Vietnam: 1.5%
Greece 1.6% / 1.0%
Kew East — Greece: 1.6% Balwyn — Greece: 1.0%
Italy 1.8% / —
Kew East — Italy: 1.8% Balwyn — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

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 58.5% houses
Balwyn — Houses: 58.5% Balwyn — Townhouses: 26.0% Balwyn — Flats / Apartments: 15.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kew East Balwyn
Median house price $2,225,000 $2,600,000
Median unit price $825,000 $750,000
Median land price — $3,288,888
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 20 sales
 26 days
from 86 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
2 bed $760K / $730K
Kew East — 2 bed: $760K (33 sales) Balwyn — 2 bed: $730K (85 sales)

33 vs 85 sales

3 bed $1.31M / $1.36M
Kew East — 3 bed: $1.31M (19 sales) Balwyn — 3 bed: $1.36M (17 sales)

19 vs 17 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
2 bed $2.2M / $1.66M
Kew East — 2 bed: $2.2M (5 sales) Balwyn — 2 bed: $1.66M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

3 bed $1.96M / $2.08M
Kew East — 3 bed: $1.96M (32 sales) Balwyn — 3 bed: $2.08M (33 sales)

32 vs 33 sales

4 bed $2.42M / $2.62M
Kew East — 4 bed: $2.42M (38 sales) Balwyn — 4 bed: $2.62M (50 sales)

38 vs 50 sales

5 bed $2.88M / $3.83M
Kew East — 5 bed: $2.88M (10 sales) Balwyn — 5 bed: $3.83M (36 sales)

10 vs 36 sales

Zoning mix

Kew East Balwyn
Residential 47% 90%
Other and special use 24% 0%
Parks and recreation 14% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 4%
Commercial 2%
same for both
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
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
Houses 2.5%
$1,000/wk on $2.1M
 2.5%
$1,250/wk on $2.6M
Units 4.9%
$717/wk on $755K
 4.1%
$600/wk on $760K

Ranking within VIC

Kew East Balwyn
House price — Higher than 99% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Schools Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 1% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (units) Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC

Liveability

Balwyn is more walkable (93 vs 85); Balwyn scores higher overall (87 vs 82).

Kew East Balwyn
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 27); Balwyn carries more crime risk (62 vs 49).

Kew East Balwyn
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
49/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood High
88/100
 Low
27/100
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
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 3 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 4.2 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.7% 4.9%

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

  • Balwyn Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Fintona Girls' School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Belmore School Government · Combined · Special school
  • St Paul's College Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Kew East Balwyn
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 5 27
Parks & reserves 6 8
Childcare 4 11
GPs 3 5
Pharmacies 1 4
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 7 1

Mobility

Balwyn sits further from the CBD (13.6 km vs 9.7 km).

Kew East Balwyn
Walkability score 85/100 93/100
Distance to Melbourne 9.7 km 13.6 km
+40% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 15 min 24 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 249.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 182.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3102
 3.1%
postcode 3103
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 3102
 20
postcode 3103

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
Car (driver) 44.7% / 44.7%
Kew East — Car (driver): 44.7% Balwyn — Car (driver): 44.7%
Worked from Home 45.2% / 43.7%
Kew East — Worked from Home: 45.2% Balwyn — Worked from Home: 43.7%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 3.5%
Kew East — Car (passenger): 2.7% Balwyn — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 1.9% / 2.4%
Kew East — Walked Only: 1.9% Balwyn — Walked Only: 2.4%
Bus 1.8% / 1.4%
Kew East — Bus: 1.8% Balwyn — Bus: 1.4%
Train 0.6% / 2.3%
Kew East — Train: 0.6% Balwyn — Train: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (45.2%).

Setting

Kew East Balwyn
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.7 km 11.5 km

NBN connectivity

Kew East Balwyn
Connectivity score 89/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
3,012 premises
 12%
6,773 premises

Climate

Kew East Balwyn
Annual rainfall 534 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Kew East Balwyn
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³ 4.3 µg/m³
PM10 17.8 µg/m³ —
NO₂ 0.82 pphm —

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Kew East Balwyn
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

Luxury Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kew East

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

Other comparisons with Balwyn

Balwyn vs Kew Balwyn vs Balwyn North Balwyn vs Surrey Hills Balwyn vs Canterbury Balwyn vs Mont Albert North Balwyn vs Mont Albert
Full data on Kew East Full data on Balwyn
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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