Kew vs Balwyn North

In both, most households own their home. In Balwyn North, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Kew: a median of $2.45 million, against $2.21 million in Balwyn North, though rent is higher in Balwyn North. Kew is closer to the city centre: 8.4 km, against 14.1 km. On these figures, Kew tends to suit people living alone, while Balwyn North suits couples.

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (83% vs 50%)
  • carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 69/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (75% vs 56%)
  • But Kew has more parks and reserves (28 vs 12)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Kew has cheaper units ($665,000 vs $825,500)
  • Balwyn North has cheaper houses ($2,210,000 vs $2,450,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kew

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($476/wk vs $554/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kew

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (8.4 km vs 14.1 km)
  • is more walkable (93/100 vs 85/100)

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 has more units and townhouses to downsize into (50% vs 17%)
  • Balwyn North carries lower crime risk (44/100 vs 69/100)

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

Investors

Kew

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Kew 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 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 Balwyn North
Walkability 93 / 85
Kew — Walkability: 93/100 Balwyn North — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 31 / 56
Kew — Safety: 31/100 Balwyn North — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kew — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balwyn North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 43 / 51
Kew — Low flood risk: 43/100 Balwyn North — Low flood risk: 51/100

Demographics

Balwyn North rents higher ($554/wk vs $476/wk).

Kew Balwyn North
Population 24,499
+13% vs other
 21,302
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.4% +4.4%
Median age 41 42
Median household income $129,844/yr
+6% vs other
 $121,992/yr
Median weekly rent $476/wk $554/wk
+16% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kew Balwyn North
0-4 3.9% / 3.4%
Kew — 0-4: 3.9% Balwyn North — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 11.3% / 14.4%
Kew — 5-14: 11.3% Balwyn North — 5-14: 14.4%
15-19 7.0% / 8.9%
Kew — 15-19: 7.0% Balwyn North — 15-19: 8.9%
20-24 7.2% / 6.9%
Kew — 20-24: 7.2% Balwyn North — 20-24: 6.9%
25-34 12.9% / 8.6%
Kew — 25-34: 12.9% Balwyn North — 25-34: 8.6%
35-44 11.5% / 10.8%
Kew — 35-44: 11.5% Balwyn North — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 14.0% / 15.9%
Kew — 45-54: 14.0% Balwyn North — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 12.9% / 13.7%
Kew — 55-64: 12.9% Balwyn North — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 10.1% / 9.0%
Kew — 65-74: 10.1% Balwyn North — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 6.1% / 5.7%
Kew — 75-84: 6.1% Balwyn North — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 3.2% / 2.9%
Kew — 85+: 3.2% Balwyn North — 85+: 2.9%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kew 43.6% couple families
Kew — Couple Families: 43.6% Kew — Lone Person: 34.9% Kew — One Parent Families: 12.7% Kew — Group Household: 7.0% Kew — Other Families: 1.8%
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 29.4% renting
Kew — Owned Outright: 40.7% Kew — Mortgage: 29.9% Kew — Renting: 29.4%
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 Balwyn North
Bachelor Degree 27.3% / 25.0%
Kew — Bachelor Degree: 27.3% Balwyn North — Bachelor Degree: 25.0%
Postgraduate Degree 13.1% / 10.5%
Kew — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1% Balwyn North — Postgraduate Degree: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.5%
Kew — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Balwyn North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.4% / 4.3%
Kew — Certificate III & IV: 4.4% Balwyn North — Certificate III & IV: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.3%
Kew — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Balwyn North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.3%).

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 Balwyn North
China 6.6% / 14.4%
Kew — China: 6.6% Balwyn North — China: 14.4%
Malaysia 2.2% / 3.8%
Kew — Malaysia: 2.2% Balwyn North — Malaysia: 3.8%
England 2.9% / 1.9%
Kew — England: 2.9% Balwyn North — England: 1.9%
India 1.8% / 2.7%
Kew — India: 1.8% Balwyn North — India: 2.7%
Vietnam 1.3% / 1.9%
Kew — Vietnam: 1.3% Balwyn North — Vietnam: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.4% / —
Kew — New Zealand: 1.4% Balwyn North — New Zealand: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kew 50.5% houses
Kew — Houses: 50.5% Kew — Townhouses: 23.6% Kew — Flats / Apartments: 26.0%
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 Balwyn North
Median house price $2,450,000 $2,210,000
Median unit price $665,000 $825,500
Median land price — $1,515,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 43 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 Balwyn North
1 bed $451K / $420K
Kew — 1 bed: $451K (13 sales) Balwyn North — 1 bed: $420K (5 sales)

13 vs 5 sales

2 bed $665K / $694K
Kew — 2 bed: $665K (69 sales) Balwyn North — 2 bed: $694K (20 sales)

69 vs 20 sales

3 bed $925K / $1.28M
Kew — 3 bed: $925K (13 sales) Balwyn North — 3 bed: $1.28M (11 sales)

13 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 Balwyn North
2 bed $1.6M / $1.55M
Kew — 2 bed: $1.6M (6 sales) Balwyn North — 2 bed: $1.55M (11 sales)

6 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $1.95M
Kew — 3 bed: $1.8M (22 sales) Balwyn North — 3 bed: $1.95M (106 sales)

22 vs 106 sales

4 bed $2.88M / $2.27M
Kew — 4 bed: $2.88M (21 sales) Balwyn North — 4 bed: $2.27M (122 sales)

21 vs 122 sales

5 bed $2.9M / $2.93M
Kew — 5 bed: $2.9M (9 sales) Balwyn North — 5 bed: $2.93M (49 sales)

9 vs 49 sales

Zoning mix

Kew Balwyn North
Residential 68% 76%
Parks and recreation 18% 14%
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 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 Balwyn North
Houses 2.7%
$1,275/wk on $2.49M
 2.6%
$1,070/wk on $2.1M
Units 5.5%
$682/wk on $650K
 4.6%
$655/wk on $742K

Ranking within VIC

Kew Balwyn North
House price Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC

Liveability

Balwyn North scores higher overall (87 vs 74); Kew is more walkable (93 vs 85).

Kew Balwyn North
Grade A A+
Score 74/100 87/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kew carries more crime risk (69 vs 44).

Kew Balwyn North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
49/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Kew Balwyn North
Inside the suburb 13 7
Rated above peers 3 4
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 3 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 2.4 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 5.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 5.5%

Schools in Kew

  • Genazzano FCJ College Catholic · Combined above peers
  • Methodist Ladies' College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Trinity Grammar School Kew Independent · Combined above peers
  • Carey Baptist Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Kew Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Ruyton Girls' School Independent · Combined at 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 Balwyn North
Supermarkets 4 6
Cafes & restaurants 22
same for both
Parks & reserves 28 12
Childcare 24 13
GPs 4 6
Pharmacies 2 6
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 3
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 4 7

Mobility

Balwyn North sits further from the CBD (14.1 km vs 8.4 km).

Kew Balwyn North
Walkability score 93/100 85/100
Distance to Melbourne 8.4 km 14.1 km
+68% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 22 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 702.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 411.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.7%
postcode 3101
 3.2%
postcode 3104
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 3101
 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 Balwyn North
Car (driver) 41.5% / 48.3%
Kew — Car (driver): 41.5% Balwyn North — Car (driver): 48.3%
Worked from Home 46.4% / 42.1%
Kew — Worked from Home: 46.4% Balwyn North — Worked from Home: 42.1%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 4.0%
Kew — Car (passenger): 2.7% Balwyn North — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 3.4% / 1.0%
Kew — Walked Only: 3.4% Balwyn North — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 1.4% / 2.2%
Kew — Bus: 1.4% Balwyn North — Bus: 2.2%
Tram / Light Rail 2.1% / 1.1%
Kew — Tram / Light Rail: 2.1% Balwyn North — Tram / Light Rail: 1.1%

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

Setting

Kew Balwyn North
Elevation 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.4 km 12.7 km

NBN connectivity

Kew Balwyn North
Connectivity score 79/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
12,405 premises
 8%
8,729 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Kew

Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Balwyn North

Luxury Middle-Ring Multicultural Professionals Trams

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kew

Kew vs Richmond Kew vs Hawthorn Kew vs Hawthorn East Kew vs Balwyn Kew vs Abbotsford Kew vs Canterbury

Other comparisons with Balwyn North

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