Kew vs Hawthorn East

Hawthorn East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in Kew. In both, most households own their home. In Hawthorn East, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Kew: a median of $2.45 million, against $2.21 million in Hawthorn East, and rent is higher there too. Kew is closer to the city centre: 8.4 km, against 12 km. On these figures, Hawthorn East tends to suit people living alone.

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 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (13 vs 4)
  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 9)
  • has more childcare (24 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Hawthorn East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($570,500 vs $665,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,207,500 vs $2,450,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hawthorn East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($415/wk vs $476/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kew

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (8.4 km vs 12 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hawthorn East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (67% vs 50%)

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 4.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Kew and Hawthorn East 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 Hawthorn East
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 Hawthorn East
Walkability 93 / 99
Kew — Walkability: 93/100 Hawthorn East — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 31 / 28
Kew — Safety: 31/100 Hawthorn East — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kew — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hawthorn East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 43 / 60
Kew — Low flood risk: 43/100 Hawthorn East — Low flood risk: 60/100

Demographics

Kew has more residents (24,499 vs 14,834); Kew rents higher ($476/wk vs $415/wk).

Kew Hawthorn East
Population 24,499
+39% vs other
 14,834
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.4% +3.6%
Median age 41 36
Median household income $129,844/yr
+10% vs other
 $117,156/yr
Median weekly rent $476/wk
+13% vs other
 $415/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kew Hawthorn East
0-4 3.9% / 4.2%
Kew — 0-4: 3.9% Hawthorn East — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 11.3% / 10.7%
Kew — 5-14: 11.3% Hawthorn East — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 7.0% / 5.2%
Kew — 15-19: 7.0% Hawthorn East — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 7.2% / 8.0%
Kew — 20-24: 7.2% Hawthorn East — 20-24: 8.0%
25-34 12.9% / 19.7%
Kew — 25-34: 12.9% Hawthorn East — 25-34: 19.7%
35-44 11.5% / 14.3%
Kew — 35-44: 11.5% Hawthorn East — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 14.0% / 12.7%
Kew — 45-54: 14.0% Hawthorn East — 45-54: 12.7%
55-64 12.9% / 10.2%
Kew — 55-64: 12.9% Hawthorn East — 55-64: 10.2%
65-74 10.1% / 8.0%
Kew — 65-74: 10.1% Hawthorn East — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 6.1% / 5.0%
Kew — 75-84: 6.1% Hawthorn East — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 3.2% / 2.2%
Kew — 85+: 3.2% Hawthorn East — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kew 34.9% lone person
Kew — Lone Person: 34.9% Kew — Couple Families: 43.6% Kew — One Parent Families: 12.7% Kew — Group Household: 7.0% Kew — Other Families: 1.8%
Hawthorn East 45.1% lone person
Hawthorn East — Lone Person: 45.1% Hawthorn East — Couple Families: 35.1% Hawthorn East — One Parent Families: 9.5% Hawthorn East — Group Household: 8.5% Hawthorn East — Other Families: 1.8%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
Hawthorn East 40.8% renting
Hawthorn East — Owned Outright: 30.2% Hawthorn East — Mortgage: 28.9% Hawthorn East — Renting: 40.8%
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.

Kew Hawthorn East
China 6.6% / 5.5%
Kew — China: 6.6% Hawthorn East — China: 5.5%
England 2.9% / 2.9%
Kew — England: 2.9% Hawthorn East — England: 2.9%
India 1.8% / 3.0%
Kew — India: 1.8% Hawthorn East — India: 3.0%
Malaysia 2.2% / 2.0%
Kew — Malaysia: 2.2% Hawthorn East — Malaysia: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.7%
Kew — New Zealand: 1.4% Hawthorn East — New Zealand: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.6%).

Qualifications

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

Kew Hawthorn East
Bachelor Degree 27.3% / 29.9%
Kew — Bachelor Degree: 27.3% Hawthorn East — Bachelor Degree: 29.9%
Postgraduate Degree 13.1% / 14.5%
Kew — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1% Hawthorn East — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.0%
Kew — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Hawthorn East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Certificate III & IV 4.4% / 4.6%
Kew — Certificate III & IV: 4.4% Hawthorn East — Certificate III & IV: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 4.2%
Kew — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Hawthorn East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kew 50.5% houses
Kew — Houses: 50.5% Kew — Flats / Apartments: 26.0% Kew — Townhouses: 23.6%
Hawthorn East 33.1% houses
Hawthorn East — Houses: 33.1% Hawthorn East — Flats / Apartments: 49.0% Hawthorn East — Townhouses: 18.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Kew Hawthorn East
Median house price $2,450,000 $2,207,500
Median unit price $665,000 $570,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 43 sales
 24 days
from 96 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 Hawthorn East
1 bed $451K / $370K
Kew — 1 bed: $451K (13 sales) Hawthorn East — 1 bed: $370K (101 sales)

13 vs 101 sales

2 bed $665K / $641K
Kew — 2 bed: $665K (69 sales) Hawthorn East — 2 bed: $641K (175 sales)

69 vs 175 sales

3 bed $925K / $1.17M
Kew — 3 bed: $925K (13 sales) Hawthorn East — 3 bed: $1.17M (23 sales)

13 vs 23 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 Hawthorn East
2 bed $1.6M / $1.48M
Kew — 2 bed: $1.6M (6 sales) Hawthorn East — 2 bed: $1.48M (21 sales)

6 vs 21 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $2.12M
Kew — 3 bed: $1.8M (22 sales) Hawthorn East — 3 bed: $2.12M (59 sales)

22 vs 59 sales

4 bed $2.88M / $2.73M
Kew — 4 bed: $2.88M (21 sales) Hawthorn East — 4 bed: $2.73M (41 sales)

21 vs 41 sales

5 bed $2.9M / $3.58M
Kew — 5 bed: $2.9M (9 sales) Hawthorn East — 5 bed: $3.58M (16 sales)

9 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Kew Hawthorn East
Residential 68% 76%
Parks and recreation 18% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 9%
Commercial 2% 9%
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 Hawthorn East
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 Hawthorn East
Houses 2.7%
$1,275/wk on $2.49M
 2.7%
$992/wk on $1.89M
Units 5.5%
$682/wk on $650K
 4.9%
$575/wk on $612K

Ranking within VIC

Kew Hawthorn East
House price Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Schools Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 2% of VIC
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC

Liveability

Hawthorn East scores higher overall (86 vs 74).

Kew Hawthorn East
Grade A A+
Score 74/100 86/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kew carries more flood risk (57 vs 40).

Kew Hawthorn East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 High
72/100
Flood Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
40/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Kew Hawthorn East
Inside the suburb 13 4
Rated above peers 3 2
Rated at peers 3 2
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, 1.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 4.5%

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 Hawthorn East

  • Alia College Independent · Secondary above peers
  • Auburn High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Auburn Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Auburn South Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kew Hawthorn East
Supermarkets 4 2
Cafes & restaurants 22 21
Parks & reserves 28 9
Childcare 24 9
GPs 4 5
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 1
Fuel stations 4 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 4 0

Mobility

Hawthorn East sits further from the CBD (12 km vs 8.4 km).

Kew Hawthorn East
Walkability score 93/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 8.4 km 12 km
+43% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 20 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 702.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 116.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.7%
postcode 3101
 2.8%
postcode 3123
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 3101
 11
postcode 3123

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 Hawthorn East
Worked from Home 46.4% / 50.5%
Kew — Worked from Home: 46.4% Hawthorn East — Worked from Home: 50.5%
Car (driver) 41.5% / 35.3%
Kew — Car (driver): 41.5% Hawthorn East — Car (driver): 35.3%
Walked Only 3.4% / 3.6%
Kew — Walked Only: 3.4% Hawthorn East — Walked Only: 3.6%
Train 1.1% / 5.8%
Kew — Train: 1.1% Hawthorn East — Train: 5.8%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 2.0%
Kew — Car (passenger): 2.7% Hawthorn East — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Tram / Light Rail 2.1% / 1.2%
Kew — Tram / Light Rail: 2.1% Hawthorn East — Tram / Light Rail: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.5%).

Setting

Kew Hawthorn East
Elevation 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.4 km 7.8 km

NBN connectivity

Kew Hawthorn East
Connectivity score 79/100 82/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 18%
12,405 premises
 27%
8,547 premises

Climate

Kew Hawthorn East
Annual rainfall 534 mm 644 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C 26.0°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C 6.9°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Kew Hawthorn East
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

Hawthorn East

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kew

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

Other comparisons with Hawthorn East

Hawthorn East vs Glen Iris Hawthorn East vs Hawthorn Hawthorn East vs Camberwell Hawthorn East vs Malvern Hawthorn East vs Canterbury Hawthorn East vs Kooyong
Full data on Kew Full data on Hawthorn East
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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