Malvern East vs Glen Iris

In both, most households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Glen Iris: a median of $2.27 million, against $1.95 million in Malvern East, and rent is higher there too.

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

Glen Iris

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (5 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 87/100)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 14)

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

First-home buyers

Malvern East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($479,000 vs $616,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,947,500 vs $2,270,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Glen Iris

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (54/100 vs 87/100)
  • has more GPs (7 vs 5)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Malvern East Glen Iris
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.

Malvern East Glen Iris
Walkability 88 / 82
Malvern East — Walkability: 88/100 Glen Iris — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 13 / 46
Malvern East — Safety: 13/100 Glen Iris — Safety: 46/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Malvern East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Glen Iris — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 46 / 54
Malvern East — Low flood risk: 46/100 Glen Iris — Low flood risk: 54/100

Demographics

Glen Iris skews older (40 vs 38).

Malvern East Glen Iris
Population 22,296 26,131
+17% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +3.4%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $123,916/yr $129,532/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $421/wk $450/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Malvern East Glen Iris
0-4 4.6% / 4.7%
Malvern East — 0-4: 4.6% Glen Iris — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 11.3% / 12.5%
Malvern East — 5-14: 11.3% Glen Iris — 5-14: 12.5%
15-19 6.3% / 6.8%
Malvern East — 15-19: 6.3% Glen Iris — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 8.2% / 7.1%
Malvern East — 20-24: 8.2% Glen Iris — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 14.7% / 12.3%
Malvern East — 25-34: 14.7% Glen Iris — 25-34: 12.3%
35-44 12.6% / 13.0%
Malvern East — 35-44: 12.6% Glen Iris — 35-44: 13.0%
45-54 13.8% / 14.9%
Malvern East — 45-54: 13.8% Glen Iris — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 11.4% / 12.3%
Malvern East — 55-64: 11.4% Glen Iris — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 8.8% / 8.9%
Malvern East — 65-74: 8.8% Glen Iris — 65-74: 8.9%
75-84 5.3% / 5.4%
Malvern East — 75-84: 5.3% Glen Iris — 75-84: 5.4%
85+ 3.0% / 2.1%
Malvern East — 85+: 3.0% Glen Iris — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Malvern East 45.2% couple families
Malvern East — Couple Families: 45.2% Malvern East — Lone Person: 34.8% Malvern East — One Parent Families: 10.5% Malvern East — Group Household: 7.8% Malvern East — Other Families: 1.8%
Glen Iris 48.6% couple families
Glen Iris — Couple Families: 48.6% Glen Iris — Lone Person: 35.1% Glen Iris — One Parent Families: 10.2% Glen Iris — Group Household: 4.4% Glen Iris — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Malvern East 31.6% renting
Malvern East — Owned Outright: 36.4% Malvern East — Mortgage: 32.0% Malvern East — Renting: 31.6%
Glen Iris 28.3% renting
Glen Iris — Owned Outright: 37.9% Glen Iris — Mortgage: 33.8% Glen Iris — Renting: 28.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Malvern East Glen Iris
Bachelor Degree 26.2% / 27.9%
Malvern East — Bachelor Degree: 26.2% Glen Iris — Bachelor Degree: 27.9%
Postgraduate Degree 11.5% / 12.2%
Malvern East — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5% Glen Iris — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.3%
Malvern East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Glen Iris — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 5.1% / 4.5%
Malvern East — Certificate III & IV: 5.1% Glen Iris — Certificate III & IV: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 4.1%
Malvern East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Glen Iris — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.9%).

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.

Malvern East Glen Iris
China 5.2% / 4.7%
Malvern East — China: 5.2% Glen Iris — China: 4.7%
India 3.3% / 2.6%
Malvern East — India: 3.3% Glen Iris — India: 2.6%
England 2.5% / 3.0%
Malvern East — England: 2.5% Glen Iris — England: 3.0%
Malaysia 1.3% / 1.8%
Malvern East — Malaysia: 1.3% Glen Iris — Malaysia: 1.8%
Greece 1.8% / 1.1%
Malvern East — Greece: 1.8% Glen Iris — Greece: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.5%
Malvern East — New Zealand: 1.2% Glen Iris — New Zealand: 1.5%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Malvern East 53.2% houses
Malvern East — Houses: 53.2% Malvern East — Flats / Apartments: 23.2% Malvern East — Townhouses: 23.5%
Glen Iris 54.6% houses
Glen Iris — Houses: 54.6% Glen Iris — Flats / Apartments: 27.3% Glen Iris — Townhouses: 18.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Malvern East Glen Iris
Median house price $1,947,500 $2,270,000
Median unit price $479,000 $616,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 164 sales
 24 days
from 135 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.

Malvern East Glen Iris
1 bed $336K / $361K
Malvern East — 1 bed: $336K (68 sales) Glen Iris — 1 bed: $361K (56 sales)

68 vs 56 sales

2 bed $606K / $650K
Malvern East — 2 bed: $606K (110 sales) Glen Iris — 2 bed: $650K (175 sales)

110 vs 175 sales

3 bed $859K / $1.11M
Malvern East — 3 bed: $859K (11 sales) Glen Iris — 3 bed: $1.11M (33 sales)

11 vs 33 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.

Malvern East Glen Iris
2 bed $1.34M / $1.32M
Malvern East — 2 bed: $1.34M (21 sales) Glen Iris — 2 bed: $1.32M (19 sales)

21 vs 19 sales

3 bed $1.73M / $1.91M
Malvern East — 3 bed: $1.73M (91 sales) Glen Iris — 3 bed: $1.91M (67 sales)

91 vs 67 sales

4 bed $2.35M / $2.5M
Malvern East — 4 bed: $2.35M (78 sales) Glen Iris — 4 bed: $2.5M (74 sales)

78 vs 74 sales

5 bed $2.79M / $3.2M
Malvern East — 5 bed: $2.79M (26 sales) Glen Iris — 5 bed: $3.2M (28 sales)

26 vs 28 sales

Zoning mix

Malvern East Glen Iris
Residential 70% 81%
Parks and recreation 12% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 7%
Commercial 6% 2%
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

Malvern East Glen Iris
New dwellings approved 818
across Stonnington
 711
across Boroondara
Approvals change year on year +67% -40%

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.

Malvern East Glen Iris
Houses 3.1%
$1,035/wk on $1.76M
 2.8%
$1,200/wk on $2.2M
Units 4.2%
$435/wk on $542K
 4.2%
$570/wk on $700K

Ranking within VIC

Malvern East Glen Iris
House price Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Schools Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 15% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 15% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC

Liveability

Glen Iris scores higher overall (88 vs 74).

Malvern East Glen Iris
Grade A A+
Score 74/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Malvern East carries more crime risk (87 vs 54).

Malvern East Glen Iris
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
87/100
 Moderate
54/100
Flood Moderate
54/100
 Moderate
46/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Malvern East Glen Iris
Inside the suburb 6 7
Rated above peers 2 5
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.1 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.7% 4.9%

Schools in Malvern East

  • Malvern Valley Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Lloyd Street Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Malvern Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • De La Salle College - Holy Eucharist Campus Catholic · Combined
  • The Currajong School Independent · Combined · Special school

Schools in Glen Iris

  • Camberwell South Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Glen Iris Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Korowa Anglican Girls' School Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Cecilia's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Roch's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sacre Coeur Catholic · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Malvern East Glen Iris
Supermarkets 4 2
Cafes & restaurants 61 20
Parks & reserves 17 21
Childcare 14 18
GPs 5 7
Pharmacies 4 2
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 10 2
Fuel stations 5 1
EV chargers 3 0
Waterways 1 9

Mobility

Malvern East Glen Iris
Walkability score 88/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 14.4 km
+6% vs other
 13.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 20 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 410.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 361.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 3145
 3.2%
postcode 3146
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 3145
 19
postcode 3146

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.

Malvern East Glen Iris
Worked from Home 47.0% / 49.9%
Malvern East — Worked from Home: 47.0% Glen Iris — Worked from Home: 49.9%
Car (driver) 40.3% / 39.1%
Malvern East — Car (driver): 40.3% Glen Iris — Car (driver): 39.1%
Train 5.6% / 4.2%
Malvern East — Train: 5.6% Glen Iris — Train: 4.2%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 2.4%
Malvern East — Car (passenger): 2.5% Glen Iris — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Walked Only 2.4% / 1.9%
Malvern East — Walked Only: 2.4% Glen Iris — Walked Only: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.9%).

Setting

Malvern East Glen Iris
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.2 km 8.0 km

NBN connectivity

Malvern East Glen Iris
Connectivity score 77/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 10%
11,575 premises
 7%
12,150 premises

Climate

Malvern East Glen Iris
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)

Malvern East Glen Iris
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³ 4.3 µg/m³
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Malvern East Glen Iris
Average residential rate $1,647/yr $2,253/yr
Council Stonnington Boroondara

Federal electorate

Malvern East Glen Iris
Division Chisholm
same for both
Member Carina Garland
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Malvern East

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Glen Iris

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Malvern East

Malvern East vs Carnegie Malvern East vs Caulfield North Malvern East vs Murrumbeena Malvern East vs Malvern Malvern East vs Chadstone Malvern East vs Oakleigh

Other comparisons with Glen Iris

Glen Iris vs Camberwell Glen Iris vs Burwood Glen Iris vs Hawthorn East Glen Iris vs Malvern Glen Iris vs Ashburton Glen Iris vs Ashwood
Full data on Malvern East Full data on Glen Iris
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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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