Kooyong vs Malvern

In both, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Kooyong: a median of $4.4 million, against $2.8 million in Malvern, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Malvern tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Malvern

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (7 vs 2)
  • But Kooyong is already more of a family suburb (58% vs 50%)

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

First-home buyers

Malvern

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($2,800,000 vs $4,400,000)
  • has cheaper units ($582,500 vs $875,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Malvern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $590/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Malvern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 90/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Malvern

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kooyong Malvern
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.

Kooyong Malvern
Walkability 90 / 99
Kooyong — Walkability: 90/100 Malvern — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 26 / 26
Kooyong — Safety: 26/100 Malvern — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Kooyong — Low fire risk: 100/100 Malvern — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 23 / 69
Kooyong — Low flood risk: 23/100 Malvern — Low flood risk: 69/100

Demographics

Malvern has more residents (9,929 vs 842); Kooyong rents higher ($590/wk vs $450/wk).

Kooyong Malvern
Population 842 9,929
+1079% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.1% -1.4%
Median age 44
same for both
Median household income $167,336/yr
+19% vs other
 $135,512/yr
Median weekly rent $590/wk
+24% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kooyong Malvern
0-4 4.4% / 4.0%
Kooyong — 0-4: 4.4% Malvern — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 10.7% / 11.0%
Kooyong — 5-14: 10.7% Malvern — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 6.4% / 6.3%
Kooyong — 15-19: 6.4% Malvern — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.9% / 6.0%
Kooyong — 20-24: 6.9% Malvern — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 12.8% / 12.1%
Kooyong — 25-34: 12.8% Malvern — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 9.1% / 11.6%
Kooyong — 35-44: 9.1% Malvern — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 12.2% / 13.9%
Kooyong — 45-54: 12.2% Malvern — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 12.7% / 12.1%
Kooyong — 55-64: 12.7% Malvern — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 11.4% / 10.6%
Kooyong — 65-74: 11.4% Malvern — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 8.6% / 8.6%
Kooyong — 75-84: 8.6% Malvern — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 4.5% / 3.9%
Kooyong — 85+: 4.5% Malvern — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kooyong 43.1% couple families
Kooyong — Couple Families: 43.1% Kooyong — Lone Person: 35.3% Kooyong — One Parent Families: 15.1% Kooyong — Group Household: 4.3% Kooyong — Other Families: 2.2%
Malvern 39.7% couple families
Malvern — Couple Families: 39.7% Malvern — Lone Person: 43.4% Malvern — One Parent Families: 10.5% Malvern — Group Household: 4.9% Malvern — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kooyong 24.4% renting
Kooyong — Owned Outright: 44.9% Kooyong — Mortgage: 30.7% Kooyong — Renting: 24.4%
Malvern 27.6% renting
Malvern — Owned Outright: 43.2% Malvern — Mortgage: 29.2% Malvern — Renting: 27.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kooyong Malvern
Bachelor Degree 31.1% / 29.4%
Kooyong — Bachelor Degree: 31.1% Malvern — Bachelor Degree: 29.4%
Postgraduate Degree 14.0% / 11.8%
Kooyong — Postgraduate Degree: 14.0% Malvern — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.8%
Kooyong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Malvern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.5% / 4.0%
Kooyong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.5% Malvern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%
Certificate III & IV 3.3% / 3.4%
Kooyong — Certificate III & IV: 3.3% Malvern — Certificate III & IV: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.1%).

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.

Kooyong Malvern
England 3.2% / 3.5%
Kooyong — England: 3.2% Malvern — England: 3.5%
China 3.2% / 2.2%
Kooyong — China: 3.2% Malvern — China: 2.2%
India 1.1% / 2.0%
Kooyong — India: 1.1% Malvern — India: 2.0%
Malaysia 1.5% / 0.9%
Kooyong — Malaysia: 1.5% Malvern — Malaysia: 0.9%
New Zealand — / 1.6%
Kooyong — New Zealand: not among its largest Malvern — New Zealand: 1.6%
Greece — / 1.3%
Kooyong — Greece: not among its largest Malvern — Greece: 1.3%
Sri Lanka 1.0% / —
Kooyong — Sri Lanka: 1.0% Malvern — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kooyong 43.7% houses
Kooyong — Houses: 43.7% Kooyong — Flats / Apartments: 42.1% Kooyong — Townhouses: 14.1%
Malvern 45.8% houses
Malvern — Houses: 45.8% Malvern — Flats / Apartments: 34.8% Malvern — Townhouses: 19.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Kooyong Malvern
Median house price $4,400,000 $2,800,000
Median unit price $875,000 $582,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 62 days
from 4 sales
 23 days
from 69 sales

Zoning mix

Kooyong Malvern
Residential 48% 79%
Parks and recreation 26% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 22% 11%
Commercial 1% 6%
Other and special use 3% 1%
Planning zones cover 99% of Kooyong and 100% of Malvern. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Kooyong Malvern
New dwellings approved 818
across Stonnington
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Kooyong Malvern
Houses — 3.4%
$1,700/wk on $2.6M
Units — 4.4%
$645/wk on $760K

Ranking within VIC

Kooyong Malvern
House price — Higher than 99% of VIC
Income Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 85% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 32% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 27% of VIC

Liveability

Malvern scores higher overall (88 vs 75); Malvern is more walkable (99 vs 90).

Kooyong Malvern
Grade A A+
Score 75/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kooyong carries more flood risk (77 vs 31).

Kooyong Malvern
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
same for both
Flood High
77/100
 Low
31/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Kooyong Malvern
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 1.9 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.8% 4.5%

Schools in Kooyong

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Malvern

  • De La Salle College Catholic · Combined above peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Malvern Central School Government · Primary at peers
  • De La Salle College - Kinnoull Campus Catholic · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Kooyong Malvern
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 1 19
Parks & reserves 2 7
Childcare 0 8
GPs 0 7
Pharmacies 1 6
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Kooyong Malvern
Walkability score 90/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 11.4 km 12 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 21 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram
 98/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 42.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 303.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 3144
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 13
postcode 3144
same for both

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.

Kooyong Malvern
Worked from Home 49.6% / 49.6%
Kooyong — Worked from Home: 49.6% Malvern — Worked from Home: 49.6%
Car (driver) 40.9% / 36.7%
Kooyong — Car (driver): 40.9% Malvern — Car (driver): 36.7%
Train 4.2% / 4.6%
Kooyong — Train: 4.2% Malvern — Train: 4.6%
Walked Only 0.8% / 4.6%
Kooyong — Walked Only: 0.8% Malvern — Walked Only: 4.6%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 1.9%
Kooyong — Car (passenger): 2.1% Malvern — Car (passenger): 1.9%
Tram / Light Rail 1.3% / 1.6%
Kooyong — Tram / Light Rail: 1.3% Malvern — Tram / Light Rail: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.6%).

Setting

Kooyong Malvern
Elevation 20 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.2 km 5.4 km

NBN connectivity

Kooyong Malvern
Connectivity score 76/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
430 premises
 12%
6,062 premises

Climate

Kooyong Malvern
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Kooyong Malvern
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³ 7.6 µg/m³
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Kooyong Malvern
Average residential rate $1,647/yr
same for both
Council Stonnington
same for both

Federal electorate

Kooyong Malvern
Division Kooyong
same for both
Member Monique Ryan
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kooyong Malvern
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kooyong

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals River Trains Trams Transport Hub

Malvern

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kooyong

Kooyong vs Hawthorn Kooyong vs Hawthorn East Kooyong vs Toorak

Other comparisons with Malvern

Malvern vs Glen Iris Malvern vs Hawthorn Malvern vs Malvern East Malvern vs Caulfield North Malvern vs Hawthorn East Malvern vs Toorak
Full data on Kooyong Full data on Malvern
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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