Kew vs Hawthorn

Hawthorn is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 41 in Kew. In Kew, most households own their home. In Hawthorn, about half of households rent, most 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 $2.02 million in Hawthorn, and rent is higher there too. Kew is closer to the city centre: 8.4 km, against 9.9 km. On these figures, Hawthorn tends to suit renters, young adults, and 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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (50% vs 24%)
  • has more childcare (24 vs 13)
  • is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

Hawthorn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,019,000 vs $2,450,000)
  • has cheaper units ($558,000 vs $665,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hawthorn

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (47% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $476/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Hawthorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (9% vs 3%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hawthorn

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (12 vs 4)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (76% vs 50%)
  • But Kew has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 14%)

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 5.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Kew and Hawthorn 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
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
Walkability 93 / 97
Kew — Walkability: 93/100 Hawthorn — Walkability: 97/100
Safety 31 / 23
Kew — Safety: 31/100 Hawthorn — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kew — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hawthorn — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 43 / 40
Kew — Low flood risk: 43/100 Hawthorn — Low flood risk: 40/100

Demographics

Kew skews older (41 vs 34); Kew rents higher ($476/wk vs $400/wk).

Kew Hawthorn
Population 24,499
+9% vs other
 22,322
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.4% -5.1%
Median age 41 34
Median household income $129,844/yr
+14% vs other
 $111,540/yr
Median weekly rent $476/wk
+16% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kew Hawthorn
0-4 3.9% / 3.8%
Kew — 0-4: 3.9% Hawthorn — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 11.3% / 8.5%
Kew — 5-14: 11.3% Hawthorn — 5-14: 8.5%
15-19 7.0% / 6.0%
Kew — 15-19: 7.0% Hawthorn — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 7.2% / 9.7%
Kew — 20-24: 7.2% Hawthorn — 20-24: 9.7%
25-34 12.9% / 22.3%
Kew — 25-34: 12.9% Hawthorn — 25-34: 22.3%
35-44 11.5% / 14.3%
Kew — 35-44: 11.5% Hawthorn — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 14.0% / 11.6%
Kew — 45-54: 14.0% Hawthorn — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 12.9% / 9.5%
Kew — 55-64: 12.9% Hawthorn — 55-64: 9.5%
65-74 10.1% / 7.8%
Kew — 65-74: 10.1% Hawthorn — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 6.1% / 4.7%
Kew — 75-84: 6.1% Hawthorn — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 3.2% / 1.8%
Kew — 85+: 3.2% Hawthorn — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.3%).

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 51.5% lone person
Hawthorn — Lone Person: 51.5% Hawthorn — Couple Families: 28.3% Hawthorn — One Parent Families: 7.3% Hawthorn — Group Household: 10.6% Hawthorn — Other Families: 2.2%
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 46.8% renting
Hawthorn — Owned Outright: 27.5% Hawthorn — Mortgage: 25.6% Hawthorn — Renting: 46.8%
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
China 6.6% / 3.1%
Kew — China: 6.6% Hawthorn — China: 3.1%
England 2.9% / 3.1%
Kew — England: 2.9% Hawthorn — England: 3.1%
India 1.8% / 3.5%
Kew — India: 1.8% Hawthorn — India: 3.5%
Malaysia 2.2% / 1.6%
Kew — Malaysia: 2.2% Hawthorn — Malaysia: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.7%
Kew — New Zealand: 1.4% Hawthorn — 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
Bachelor Degree 27.3% / 30.2%
Kew — Bachelor Degree: 27.3% Hawthorn — Bachelor Degree: 30.2%
Postgraduate Degree 13.1% / 14.9%
Kew — Postgraduate Degree: 13.1% Hawthorn — Postgraduate Degree: 14.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.5%
Kew — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Hawthorn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.4% / 4.7%
Kew — Certificate III & IV: 4.4% Hawthorn — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 4.2%
Kew — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Hawthorn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kew 26.0% flats / apartments
Kew — Flats / Apartments: 26.0% Kew — Houses: 50.5% Kew — Townhouses: 23.6%
Hawthorn 59.6% flats / apartments
Hawthorn — Flats / Apartments: 59.6% Hawthorn — Houses: 24.3% Hawthorn — Townhouses: 16.1%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Kew Hawthorn
Median house price $2,450,000 $2,019,000
Median unit price $665,000 $558,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 43 sales
 25 days
from 75 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
1 bed $451K / $395K
Kew — 1 bed: $451K (13 sales) Hawthorn — 1 bed: $395K (183 sales)

13 vs 183 sales

2 bed $665K / $633K
Kew — 2 bed: $665K (69 sales) Hawthorn — 2 bed: $633K (275 sales)

69 vs 275 sales

3 bed $925K / $995K
Kew — 3 bed: $925K (13 sales) Hawthorn — 3 bed: $995K (21 sales)

13 vs 21 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
2 bed $1.6M / $1.35M
Kew — 2 bed: $1.6M (6 sales) Hawthorn — 2 bed: $1.35M (21 sales)

6 vs 21 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $1.9M
Kew — 3 bed: $1.8M (22 sales) Hawthorn — 3 bed: $1.9M (38 sales)

22 vs 38 sales

4 bed $2.88M / $3.21M
Kew — 4 bed: $2.88M (21 sales) Hawthorn — 4 bed: $3.21M (23 sales)

21 vs 23 sales

5 bed $2.9M / $5.1M
Kew — 5 bed: $2.9M (9 sales) Hawthorn — 5 bed: $5.1M (10 sales)

9 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Kew Hawthorn
Residential 68%
same for both
Parks and recreation 18% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 11%
Commercial 2% 8%
Other and special use 0% 4%
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
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
Houses 2.7%
$1,275/wk on $2.49M
 3.1%
$1,250/wk on $2.1M
Units 5.5%
$682/wk on $650K
 5.0%
$550/wk on $571K

Ranking within VIC

Kew Hawthorn
House price Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Schools Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 1% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC

Liveability

Kew Hawthorn
Grade A
same for both
Score 74/100 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kew Hawthorn
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 High
77/100
Flood Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
60/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Kew Hawthorn
Inside the suburb 13 11
Rated above peers 3 2
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 3 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 2.4 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.9% 6.7%

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

  • Erasmus Primary School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Scotch College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Glenferrie Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Bialik College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Hawthorn West Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kew Hawthorn
Supermarkets 4 3
Cafes & restaurants 22 82
Parks & reserves 28 29
Childcare 24 13
GPs 4 12
Pharmacies 2 7
Hospitals 3 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 7
Fuel stations 4 6
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 4 1

Mobility

Kew Hawthorn
Walkability score 93/100 97/100
Distance to Melbourne 8.4 km 9.9 km
+18% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min
same for both
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 702.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 468.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.7%
postcode 3101
 2.5%
postcode 3122
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 3101
 9
postcode 3122

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
Worked from Home 46.4% / 50.5%
Kew — Worked from Home: 46.4% Hawthorn — Worked from Home: 50.5%
Car (driver) 41.5% / 31.6%
Kew — Car (driver): 41.5% Hawthorn — Car (driver): 31.6%
Walked Only 3.4% / 5.4%
Kew — Walked Only: 3.4% Hawthorn — Walked Only: 5.4%
Train 1.1% / 6.3%
Kew — Train: 1.1% Hawthorn — Train: 6.3%
Tram / Light Rail 2.1% / 2.6%
Kew — Tram / Light Rail: 2.1% Hawthorn — Tram / Light Rail: 2.6%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 1.8%
Kew — Car (passenger): 2.7% Hawthorn — Car (passenger): 1.8%

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

Setting

Kew Hawthorn
Elevation 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.4 km 6.8 km

NBN connectivity

Kew Hawthorn
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%
15,213 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Kew Hawthorn
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

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kew

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

Other comparisons with Hawthorn

Hawthorn vs Richmond Hawthorn vs Hawthorn East Hawthorn vs Toorak Hawthorn vs Malvern Hawthorn vs Abbotsford Hawthorn vs Kooyong
Full data on Kew Full data on Hawthorn
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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