Kew vs Balwyn

In both, most households own their home. In Balwyn, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Kew is closer to the city centre: 8.4 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

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 8)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (13 vs 4)
  • has more childcare (24 vs 11)

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

First-home buyers

Kew

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 35%)
  • has cheaper units ($665,000 vs $750,000)

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

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (8.4 km vs 13.6 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (18 min vs 24 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 4.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Kew 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 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 Balwyn
Walkability 93 / 93
Kew — Walkability: 93/100 Balwyn — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 31 / 38
Kew — Safety: 31/100 Balwyn — Safety: 38/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kew — Low fire risk: 100/100 Balwyn — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 43 / 73
Kew — Low flood risk: 43/100 Balwyn — Low flood risk: 73/100

Demographics

Kew has more residents (24,499 vs 13,495); Kew has higher household incomes ($129,844 vs $102,700).

Kew Balwyn
Population 24,499
+45% vs other
 13,495
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.4% +1.4%
Median age 41 43
Median household income $129,844/yr
+21% vs other
 $102,700/yr
Median weekly rent $476/wk
+5% vs other
 $451/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kew Balwyn
0-4 3.9% / 3.4%
Kew — 0-4: 3.9% Balwyn — 0-4: 3.4%
5-14 11.3% / 12.8%
Kew — 5-14: 11.3% Balwyn — 5-14: 12.8%
15-19 7.0% / 7.0%
Kew — 15-19: 7.0% Balwyn — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 7.2% / 6.7%
Kew — 20-24: 7.2% Balwyn — 20-24: 6.7%
25-34 12.9% / 10.0%
Kew — 25-34: 12.9% Balwyn — 25-34: 10.0%
35-44 11.5% / 12.4%
Kew — 35-44: 11.5% Balwyn — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 14.0% / 14.2%
Kew — 45-54: 14.0% Balwyn — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 12.9% / 12.4%
Kew — 55-64: 12.9% Balwyn — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 10.1% / 10.4%
Kew — 65-74: 10.1% Balwyn — 65-74: 10.4%
75-84 6.1% / 6.9%
Kew — 75-84: 6.1% Balwyn — 75-84: 6.9%
85+ 3.2% / 3.8%
Kew — 85+: 3.2% Balwyn — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.2%).

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 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 29.4% renting
Kew — Owned Outright: 40.7% Kew — Mortgage: 29.9% Kew — Renting: 29.4%
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 Balwyn
Bachelor Degree 27.3% / 25.7%
Kew — Bachelor Degree: 27.3% Balwyn — Bachelor Degree: 25.7%
Postgraduate Degree 13.1% / 11.6%
Kew — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1% Balwyn — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 8.1%
Kew — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Balwyn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 4.4% / 4.2%
Kew — Certificate III & IV: 4.4% Balwyn — Certificate III & IV: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.4%
Kew — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Balwyn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

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
China 6.6% / 17.2%
Kew — China: 6.6% Balwyn — China: 17.2%
Malaysia 2.2% / 3.3%
Kew — Malaysia: 2.2% Balwyn — Malaysia: 3.3%
India 1.8% / 3.6%
Kew — India: 1.8% Balwyn — India: 3.6%
England 2.9% / 2.4%
Kew — England: 2.9% Balwyn — England: 2.4%
Vietnam 1.3% / 1.5%
Kew — Vietnam: 1.3% Balwyn — Vietnam: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.2%
Kew — New Zealand: 1.4% Balwyn — New Zealand: 1.2%

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

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

Property market

Kew Balwyn
Median house price $2,450,000 $2,600,000
Median unit price $665,000 $750,000
Median land price — $3,288,888
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 43 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 Balwyn
1 bed $451K / $396K
Kew — 1 bed: $451K (13 sales) Balwyn — 1 bed: $396K (13 sales)

13 vs 13 sales

2 bed $665K / $730K
Kew — 2 bed: $665K (69 sales) Balwyn — 2 bed: $730K (85 sales)

69 vs 85 sales

3 bed $925K / $1.36M
Kew — 3 bed: $925K (13 sales) Balwyn — 3 bed: $1.36M (17 sales)

13 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 Balwyn
2 bed $1.6M / $1.66M
Kew — 2 bed: $1.6M (6 sales) Balwyn — 2 bed: $1.66M (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $2.08M
Kew — 3 bed: $1.8M (22 sales) Balwyn — 3 bed: $2.08M (33 sales)

22 vs 33 sales

4 bed $2.88M / $2.62M
Kew — 4 bed: $2.88M (21 sales) Balwyn — 4 bed: $2.62M (50 sales)

21 vs 50 sales

5 bed $2.9M / $3.83M
Kew — 5 bed: $2.9M (9 sales) Balwyn — 5 bed: $3.83M (36 sales)

9 vs 36 sales

Zoning mix

Kew Balwyn
Residential 68% 90%
Parks and recreation 18% 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 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 Balwyn
Houses 2.7%
$1,275/wk on $2.49M
 2.5%
$1,250/wk on $2.6M
Units 5.5%
$682/wk on $650K
 4.1%
$600/wk on $760K

Ranking within VIC

Kew Balwyn
House price Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Schools Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 1% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC

Liveability

Balwyn scores higher overall (87 vs 74).

Kew Balwyn
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 flood risk (57 vs 27).

Kew Balwyn
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
62/100
Flood Moderate
57/100
 Low
27/100
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
Inside the suburb 13 4
Rated above peers 3 2
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 3 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 2.4 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9%
same for both

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

  • 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 Balwyn
Supermarkets 4 3
Cafes & restaurants 22 27
Parks & reserves 28 8
Childcare 24 11
GPs 4 5
Pharmacies 2 4
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6
same for both
Fuel stations 4 3
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Balwyn sits further from the CBD (13.6 km vs 8.4 km).

Kew Balwyn
Walkability score 93/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 8.4 km 13.6 km
+62% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 24 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 702.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 182.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.7%
postcode 3101
 3.1%
postcode 3103
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 3101
 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 Balwyn
Worked from Home 46.4% / 43.7%
Kew — Worked from Home: 46.4% Balwyn — Worked from Home: 43.7%
Car (driver) 41.5% / 44.7%
Kew — Car (driver): 41.5% Balwyn — Car (driver): 44.7%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 3.5%
Kew — Car (passenger): 2.7% Balwyn — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Walked Only 3.4% / 2.4%
Kew — Walked Only: 3.4% Balwyn — Walked Only: 2.4%
Tram / Light Rail 2.1% / 1.6%
Kew — Tram / Light Rail: 2.1% Balwyn — Tram / Light Rail: 1.6%
Train 1.1% / 2.3%
Kew — Train: 1.1% Balwyn — Train: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.4%).

Setting

Kew Balwyn
Elevation 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.4 km 11.5 km

NBN connectivity

Kew Balwyn
Connectivity score 79/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
12,405 premises
 12%
6,773 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Kew Balwyn
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

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kew

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

Other comparisons with Balwyn

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