Kilsyth vs Montrose

Kilsyth is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Montrose. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Montrose, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Montrose: a median of $980,000, against $850,000 in Kilsyth, though rent is higher in Kilsyth. On these figures, Kilsyth tends to suit people living alone, while Montrose 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

Montrose

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 55/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 58%)
  • But Kilsyth has more parks and reserves (22 vs 18)

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

First-home buyers

Montrose

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($455,000 vs $936,250)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 28%)
  • But Kilsyth has cheaper houses ($850,000 vs $980,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Kilsyth has a bigger rental market to choose from (21% vs 9%)
  • Montrose leaves renters under less rental stress (18% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Montrose

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 55/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Montrose

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (39/100 vs 55/100)
  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 55/100)
  • But Kilsyth has more GPs (4 vs 1)

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

Investors

Kilsyth

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.4% vs 2.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Kilsyth and Montrose drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Kilsyth Montrose
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.

Kilsyth Montrose
Walkability 55 / 69
Kilsyth — Walkability: 55/100 Montrose — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 45 / 61
Kilsyth — Safety: 45/100 Montrose — Safety: 61/100
Low fire risk 100 / 26
Kilsyth — Low fire risk: 100/100 Montrose — Low fire risk: 26/100
Low flood risk 71 / 75
Kilsyth — Low flood risk: 71/100 Montrose — Low flood risk: 75/100

Demographics

Kilsyth has more residents (11,699 vs 6,900); Montrose has higher household incomes ($108,576 vs $85,748).

Kilsyth Montrose
Population 11,699
+41% vs other
 6,900
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.4% +2.1%
Median age 38 41
Median household income $85,748/yr $108,576/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $391/wk
+7% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kilsyth Montrose
0-4 6.9% / 6.5%
Kilsyth — 0-4: 6.9% Montrose — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 11.7% / 13.1%
Kilsyth — 5-14: 11.7% Montrose — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 5.0% / 5.9%
Kilsyth — 15-19: 5.0% Montrose — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.2% / 5.2%
Kilsyth — 20-24: 5.2% Montrose — 20-24: 5.2%
25-34 15.4% / 11.2%
Kilsyth — 25-34: 15.4% Montrose — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 14.3% / 13.2%
Kilsyth — 35-44: 14.3% Montrose — 35-44: 13.2%
45-54 10.9% / 13.7%
Kilsyth — 45-54: 10.9% Montrose — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 11.1% / 11.6%
Kilsyth — 55-64: 11.1% Montrose — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 9.7% / 10.2%
Kilsyth — 65-74: 9.7% Montrose — 65-74: 10.2%
75-84 7.0% / 6.2%
Kilsyth — 75-84: 7.0% Montrose — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 2.8% / 3.1%
Kilsyth — 85+: 2.8% Montrose — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kilsyth 40.0% couple families
Kilsyth — Couple Families: 40.0% Kilsyth — Lone Person: 37.1% Kilsyth — One Parent Families: 18.1% Kilsyth — Group Household: 3.3% Kilsyth — Other Families: 1.5%
Montrose 58.5% couple families
Montrose — Couple Families: 58.5% Montrose — Lone Person: 26.1% Montrose — One Parent Families: 12.7% Montrose — Group Household: 1.8% Montrose — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kilsyth 20.7% renting
Kilsyth — Owned Outright: 33.9% Kilsyth — Mortgage: 45.4% Kilsyth — Renting: 20.7%
Montrose 8.9% renting
Montrose — Owned Outright: 37.7% Montrose — Mortgage: 53.5% Montrose — Renting: 8.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kilsyth Montrose
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 17.8%
Kilsyth — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Montrose — Certificate III & IV: 17.8%
Bachelor Degree 10.8% / 12.0%
Kilsyth — Bachelor Degree: 10.8% Montrose — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 8.9%
Kilsyth — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Montrose — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.0% / 2.8%
Kilsyth — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0% Montrose — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.3%
Kilsyth — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Montrose — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

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.

Kilsyth Montrose
England 4.3% / 5.2%
Kilsyth — England: 4.3% Montrose — England: 5.2%
Myanmar 3.2% / —
Kilsyth — Myanmar: 3.2% Montrose — Myanmar: not among its largest
Netherlands 1.1% / 1.4%
Kilsyth — Netherlands: 1.1% Montrose — Netherlands: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.0%
Kilsyth — New Zealand: 1.2% Montrose — New Zealand: 1.0%
India 1.1% / 0.4%
Kilsyth — India: 1.1% Montrose — India: 0.4%
Germany 0.8% / 0.6%
Kilsyth — Germany: 0.8% Montrose — Germany: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.4%
Kilsyth — South Africa: not among its largest Montrose — South Africa: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kilsyth 84.7% houses
Kilsyth — Houses: 84.7% Kilsyth — Townhouses: 14.1% Kilsyth — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Montrose 92.0% houses
Montrose — Houses: 92.0% Montrose — Townhouses: 4.0% Montrose — Flats / Apartments: 4.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kilsyth Montrose
Median house price $850,000 $980,000
Median unit price $690,000 $640,000
Median land price $936,250 $455,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 20 days
from 133 sales
 15 days
from 65 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.

Kilsyth Montrose
2 bed $718K / $798K
Kilsyth — 2 bed: $718K (20 sales) Montrose — 2 bed: $798K (10 sales)

20 vs 10 sales

3 bed $820K / $892K
Kilsyth — 3 bed: $820K (153 sales) Montrose — 3 bed: $892K (51 sales)

153 vs 51 sales

4 bed $935K / $1.06M
Kilsyth — 4 bed: $935K (58 sales) Montrose — 4 bed: $1.06M (63 sales)

58 vs 63 sales

5 bed $1.22M / $1.05M
Kilsyth — 5 bed: $1.22M (9 sales) Montrose — 5 bed: $1.05M (14 sales)

9 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Kilsyth has more industrially zoned land (18% vs 1%); Montrose has more rural and farming land (36% vs 25%).

Kilsyth Montrose
Residential 45% 31%
Rural and farming 25% 36%
Industrial 18% 1%
Parks and recreation 4% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 8%
Other and special use 0% 7%
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

Kilsyth Montrose
New dwellings approved 416
across Yarra Ranges
same for both
Approvals change year on year -57%
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.

Kilsyth Montrose
Houses 4.3%
$670/wk on $808K
 3.9%
$700/wk on $930K
Units 4.7%
$600/wk on $671K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Kilsyth Montrose
House price Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Income Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 43% of VIC —

Liveability

Montrose is more walkable (69 vs 55); Montrose scores higher overall (66 vs 61).

Kilsyth Montrose
Grade B
same for both
Score 61/100 66/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Montrose carries more bushfire risk (74 vs 0); Kilsyth carries more crime risk (55 vs 39).

Kilsyth Montrose
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
74/100
Crime Moderate
55/100
 Low
39/100
Flood Low
29/100
 Low
25/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 13
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Kilsyth Montrose
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Kilsyth

  • Gladesville Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Kilsyth Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Richard's Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Ghilgai School Independent · Primary

Schools in Montrose

  • Billanook Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Montrose Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount Evelyn Christian School Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kilsyth Montrose
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 7
same for both
Parks & reserves 22 18
Childcare 9 8
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 4 1
Waterways 2 7

Mobility

Kilsyth Montrose
Walkability score 55/100 69/100
Distance to Melbourne 37.1 km 38.9 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 45 min 46 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 133.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 99.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3137
 0.8%
postcode 3765
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 35
postcode 3137
 35
postcode 3765

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.

Kilsyth Montrose
Car (driver) 69.3% / 66.3%
Kilsyth — Car (driver): 69.3% Montrose — Car (driver): 66.3%
Worked from Home 23.2% / 27.0%
Kilsyth — Worked from Home: 23.2% Montrose — Worked from Home: 27.0%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.2%
Kilsyth — Car (passenger): 4.1% Montrose — Car (passenger): 4.2%
Train 1.6% / 1.1%
Kilsyth — Train: 1.6% Montrose — Train: 1.1%
Walked Only 0.9% / 0.7%
Kilsyth — Walked Only: 0.9% Montrose — Walked Only: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.3%).

Setting

Kilsyth Montrose
Elevation 122 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 193 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 29.7 km 31.7 km

NBN connectivity

Kilsyth Montrose
Connectivity score 89/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 49%
5,842 premises
 52%
2,716 premises

Climate

Kilsyth Montrose
Annual rainfall 777 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Kilsyth Montrose
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Kilsyth Montrose
Average residential rate $2,161/yr
same for both
Council Yarra Ranges
same for both

Federal electorate

Kilsyth Montrose
Division Casey
same for both
Member Aaron Violi
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kilsyth Montrose
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kilsyth

Outer Parks

Montrose

Large Blocks Outer Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kilsyth

Kilsyth vs Croydon Kilsyth vs Boronia Kilsyth vs Mooroolbark Kilsyth vs Bayswater North Kilsyth vs Croydon South Kilsyth vs The Basin

Other comparisons with Montrose

Montrose vs Mooroolbark Montrose vs Lilydale Montrose vs Mount Evelyn Montrose vs The Basin Montrose vs Kalorama Montrose vs Mount Dandenong
Full data on Kilsyth Full data on Montrose
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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