Kinglake vs Christmas Hills

Kinglake is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 46 in Christmas Hills. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Kinglake, about half of households are couple families. In Christmas Hills, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Christmas Hills: a median of $1.11 million, against $768,000 in Kinglake, and rent is higher there too. Christmas Hills is closer to the city centre: 44.2 km, against 60 km. On these figures, Kinglake tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Christmas Hills 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Kinglake has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • Christmas Hills carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 57/100)

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

First-home buyers

Kinglake

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($768,500 vs $1,115,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kinglake

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $353/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Christmas Hills

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (56 min vs 77 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (44.2 km vs 60 km)
  • But Kinglake is more walkable (30/100 vs 13/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Kinglake is more walkable (30/100 vs 13/100)
  • Christmas Hills carries lower crime risk (38/100 vs 57/100)

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

Investors

Kinglake

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.2% vs 2.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kinglake Christmas Hills
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.

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Walkability 30 / 13
Kinglake — Walkability: 30/100 Christmas Hills — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 43 / 62
Kinglake — Safety: 43/100 Christmas Hills — Safety: 62/100
Low fire risk 4 / 12
Kinglake — Low fire risk: 4/100 Christmas Hills — Low fire risk: 12/100
Low flood risk 88 / 58
Kinglake — Low flood risk: 88/100 Christmas Hills — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

Kinglake has more residents (1,662 vs 365); Christmas Hills has higher household incomes ($118,820 vs $90,324).

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Population 1,662
+78% vs other
 365
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.2% +2.8%
Median age 43 46
Median household income $90,324/yr $118,820/yr
+32% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $353/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kinglake Christmas Hills
0-4 4.9% / 4.4%
Kinglake — 0-4: 4.9% Christmas Hills — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 12.5% / 10.4%
Kinglake — 5-14: 12.5% Christmas Hills — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 6.3% / 6.6%
Kinglake — 15-19: 6.3% Christmas Hills — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.1% / 6.6%
Kinglake — 20-24: 5.1% Christmas Hills — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 11.1% / 8.2%
Kinglake — 25-34: 11.1% Christmas Hills — 25-34: 8.2%
35-44 13.5% / 13.4%
Kinglake — 35-44: 13.5% Christmas Hills — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 17.5% / 15.9%
Kinglake — 45-54: 17.5% Christmas Hills — 45-54: 15.9%
55-64 15.6% / 23.0%
Kinglake — 55-64: 15.6% Christmas Hills — 55-64: 23.0%
65-74 9.7% / 9.9%
Kinglake — 65-74: 9.7% Christmas Hills — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 3.2% / 4.7%
Kinglake — 75-84: 3.2% Christmas Hills — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 0.5% / 1.1%
Kinglake — 85+: 0.5% Christmas Hills — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kinglake 47.4% couple families
Kinglake — Couple Families: 47.4% Kinglake — Lone Person: 34.3% Kinglake — One Parent Families: 13.6% Kinglake — Group Household: 3.8% Kinglake — Other Families: 1.0%
Christmas Hills 61.0% couple families
Christmas Hills — Couple Families: 61.0% Christmas Hills — Lone Person: 25.6% Christmas Hills — One Parent Families: 6.1% Christmas Hills — Group Household: 3.7% Christmas Hills — Other Families: 3.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kinglake 5.3% renting
Kinglake — Owned Outright: 35.4% Kinglake — Mortgage: 59.3% Kinglake — Renting: 5.3%
Christmas Hills 8.9% renting
Christmas Hills — Owned Outright: 40.3% Christmas Hills — Mortgage: 50.8% Christmas Hills — Renting: 8.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Certificate III & IV 22.2% / 15.9%
Kinglake — Certificate III & IV: 22.2% Christmas Hills — Certificate III & IV: 15.9%
Bachelor Degree 8.3% / 14.0%
Kinglake — Bachelor Degree: 8.3% Christmas Hills — Bachelor Degree: 14.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 8.8%
Kinglake — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Christmas Hills — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.1% / 6.6%
Kinglake — Postgraduate Degree: 2.1% Christmas Hills — Postgraduate Degree: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 3.3%
Kinglake — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Christmas Hills — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.2%).

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.

Kinglake Christmas Hills
England 2.9% / 4.9%
Kinglake — England: 2.9% Christmas Hills — England: 4.9%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.8%
Kinglake — New Zealand: 1.1% Christmas Hills — New Zealand: 0.8%
China — / 1.9%
Kinglake — China: not among its largest Christmas Hills — China: 1.9%
Scotland 0.2% / 0.8%
Kinglake — Scotland: 0.2% Christmas Hills — Scotland: 0.8%
South Africa 0.4% / —
Kinglake — South Africa: 0.4% Christmas Hills — South Africa: not among its largest
Italy 0.4% / —
Kinglake — Italy: 0.4% Christmas Hills — Italy: not among its largest
Canada 0.4% / —
Kinglake — Canada: 0.4% Christmas Hills — Canada: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kinglake 98.8% houses
Kinglake — Houses: 98.8% Kinglake — Townhouses: 0.8% Kinglake — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Christmas Hills 100.0% houses
Christmas Hills — Houses: 100.0% Christmas Hills — Townhouses: 0.0% Christmas Hills — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Median house price $768,500 $1,115,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $685,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 58 days
from 30 sales
 84 days
from 3 sales

Zoning mix

Christmas Hills has more land zoned for conservation (46% vs 2%); Kinglake has more rural and farming land (20% vs 0%).

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Parks and recreation 75% 16%
Environmental 2% 46%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 36%
Rural and farming 20% 0%
Other and special use 0% 2%
Residential 2% 0%
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

Kinglake Christmas Hills
New dwellings approved 82
across Murrindindi
 98
across Nillumbik
Approvals change year on year +83% +8%

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.

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Houses 3.1%
$550/wk on $925K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Kinglake Christmas Hills
House price Higher than 45% of VIC —
Income Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 67% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of VIC —

Liveability

Kinglake is more walkable (30 vs 13).

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Grade C —
Score 38/100 —
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Christmas Hills carries more flood risk (42 vs 12); Kinglake carries more crime risk (57 vs 38).

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Bushfire High
96/100
 High
88/100
Crime Moderate
57/100
 Low
38/100
Flood Low
12/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Kinglake

  • Kinglake Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Christmas Hills

  • Christmas Hills Primary School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 2 3
Childcare 1 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 34 10

Mobility

Kinglake sits further from the CBD (60 km vs 44.2 km).

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Walkability score 30/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 60 km
+26% vs other
 44.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 77 min 56 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 3763
 0.8%
postcode 3775
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 61
postcode 3763
 48
postcode 3775

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.

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Car (driver) 72.8% / 70.2%
Kinglake — Car (driver): 72.8% Christmas Hills — Car (driver): 70.2%
Worked from Home 22.4% / 24.2%
Kinglake — Worked from Home: 22.4% Christmas Hills — Worked from Home: 24.2%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 5.6%
Kinglake — Car (passenger): 3.3% Christmas Hills — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Train 0.6% / —
Kinglake — Train: 0.6% Christmas Hills — Train: not among its largest
Bus 0.6% / —
Kinglake — Bus: 0.6% Christmas Hills — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.8%).

Setting

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Elevation 557 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 167 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Connectivity score 73/100 27/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 55%
783 premises
 0%
120 premises

Climate

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Annual rainfall 1,215 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 22.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Kinglake Christmas Hills
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Average residential rate $1,973/yr $2,696/yr
Council Murrindindi Nillumbik

Federal electorate

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Division Indi Casey
Member Helen Haines Aaron Violi
Party Independent Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Kinglake Christmas Hills
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kinglake

Outer

Christmas Hills

Outer Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kinglake

Kinglake vs Kinglake West Kinglake vs St Andrews Kinglake vs Glenburn Kinglake vs Kinglake Central Kinglake vs Toolangi Kinglake vs Pheasant Creek

Other comparisons with Christmas Hills

Christmas Hills vs Chirnside Park Christmas Hills vs Wonga Park Christmas Hills vs Yarra Glen Christmas Hills vs Coldstream Christmas Hills vs Kangaroo Ground Christmas Hills vs St Andrews
Full data on Kinglake Full data on Christmas Hills
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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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