Malvern vs Unley

Unley is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 46 in Malvern. In both, most households own their home. In Malvern, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Malvern: a median of $2.26 million, against $1.78 million in Unley. Unley is closer to the city centre: 3 km, against 4.6 km. On these figures, Malvern tends to suit couples, while Unley suits 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

They split

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

  • Malvern is already more of a family suburb (69% vs 44%)
  • Unley has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Malvern has cheaper units ($515,000 vs $641,250)
  • Unley has cheaper houses ($1,777,500 vs $2,260,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Unley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 19%)

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

Commuting to the city

Unley

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 73/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Unley

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (48% vs 20%)
  • is more walkable (92/100 vs 73/100)

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

Investors

Unley

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.7% vs 3.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (2.7% vs 2.1%)
  • But Malvern is growing faster (5.4% vs -0.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Malvern and Unley 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 Unley
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 Unley
Walkability 73 / 92
Malvern — Walkability: 73/100 Unley — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 28 / 22
Malvern — Safety: 28/100 Unley — Safety: 22/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Malvern — Low fire risk: 100/100 Unley — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 32 / 15
Malvern — Low flood risk: 32/100 Unley — Low flood risk: 15/100

Demographics

Unley has more residents (3,997 vs 2,713); Malvern has higher household incomes ($138,060 vs $105,924).

Malvern Unley
Population 2,713 3,997
+47% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.4% -0.2%
Median age 46 41
Median household income $138,060/yr
+23% vs other
 $105,924/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+2% vs other
 $372/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Malvern Unley
0-4 3.6% / 4.1%
Malvern — 0-4: 3.6% Unley — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 12.6% / 10.8%
Malvern — 5-14: 12.6% Unley — 5-14: 10.8%
15-19 6.9% / 4.6%
Malvern — 15-19: 6.9% Unley — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 6.0% / 6.3%
Malvern — 20-24: 6.0% Unley — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 7.4% / 14.8%
Malvern — 25-34: 7.4% Unley — 25-34: 14.8%
35-44 10.9% / 13.4%
Malvern — 35-44: 10.9% Unley — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 15.0% / 13.9%
Malvern — 45-54: 15.0% Unley — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 13.7% / 12.1%
Malvern — 55-64: 13.7% Unley — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 13.5% / 11.5%
Malvern — 65-74: 13.5% Unley — 65-74: 11.5%
75-84 6.7% / 6.5%
Malvern — 75-84: 6.7% Unley — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 3.9% / 1.9%
Malvern — 85+: 3.9% Unley — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Malvern 56.6% couple families
Malvern — Couple Families: 56.6% Malvern — Lone Person: 27.8% Malvern — One Parent Families: 12.2% Malvern — Group Household: 1.9% Malvern — Other Families: 1.5%
Unley 34.1% couple families
Unley — Couple Families: 34.1% Unley — Lone Person: 44.8% Unley — One Parent Families: 10.2% Unley — Group Household: 8.3% Unley — Other Families: 2.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Malvern 19.3% renting
Malvern — Owned Outright: 49.4% Malvern — Mortgage: 31.3% Malvern — Renting: 19.3%
Unley 36.5% renting
Unley — Owned Outright: 35.7% Unley — Mortgage: 27.8% Unley — Renting: 36.5%
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.

Malvern Unley
England 3.9% / 4.5%
Malvern — England: 3.9% Unley — England: 4.5%
China 3.4% / 3.3%
Malvern — China: 3.4% Unley — China: 3.3%
Italy 1.4% / 1.9%
Malvern — Italy: 1.4% Unley — Italy: 1.9%
India 1.2% / 2.1%
Malvern — India: 1.2% Unley — India: 2.1%
Greece 1.1% / 2.0%
Malvern — Greece: 1.1% Unley — Greece: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

Qualifications

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

Malvern Unley
Bachelor Degree 26.3% / 25.7%
Malvern — Bachelor Degree: 26.3% Unley — Bachelor Degree: 25.7%
Postgraduate Degree 9.8% / 12.5%
Malvern — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8% Unley — Postgraduate Degree: 12.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.3%
Malvern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Unley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 6.6%
Malvern — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Unley — Certificate III & IV: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 4.1%
Malvern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Unley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Malvern 79.8% houses
Malvern — Houses: 79.8% Malvern — Flats / Apartments: 7.4% Malvern — Townhouses: 12.7%
Unley 52.0% houses
Unley — Houses: 52.0% Unley — Flats / Apartments: 27.8% Unley — Townhouses: 20.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Malvern Unley
Median house price $2,260,000 $1,777,500
Median unit price $515,000 $641,250
Median land price — $1,593,900
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 23 sales
 18 days
from 26 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 Unley
3 bed $2.17M / $1.73M
Malvern — 3 bed: $2.17M (29 sales) Unley — 3 bed: $1.73M (29 sales)

29 vs 29 sales

4 bed $2.65M / $2.13M
Malvern — 4 bed: $2.65M (22 sales) Unley — 4 bed: $2.13M (20 sales)

22 vs 20 sales

5 bed $3.42M / $2.78M
Malvern — 5 bed: $3.42M (6 sales) Unley — 5 bed: $2.78M (5 sales)

6 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Unley has more commercially zoned land (16% vs 4%).

Malvern Unley
Residential 96% 82%
Commercial 4% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 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 Unley
New dwellings approved 273
across Unley
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.

Malvern Unley
Houses 2.1%
$790/wk on $1.95M
 2.7%
$765/wk on $1.5M
Units 3.5%
$450/wk on $672K
 5.7%
$625/wk on $569K

Ranking within SA

Malvern Unley
House price Higher than 97% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Income Higher than 96% of SA Higher than 84% of SA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of SA Higher than 99% of SA
Affordability Higher than 15% of SA Higher than 30% of SA
EV adoption Higher than 98% of SA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of SA Higher than 92% of SA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 2% of SA Higher than 9% of SA
Rental yield (units) Higher than 6% of SA Higher than 90% of SA

Liveability

Unley is more walkable (92 vs 73).

Malvern Unley
Grade A
same for both
Score 72/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Unley carries more flood risk (85 vs 68).

Malvern Unley
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
72/100
 High
78/100
Flood Moderate
68/100
 High
85/100
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

Malvern Unley
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 3.5 km
 3
Adelaide University, Adelaide City Campus, 2.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.3% 3.5%

Schools in Malvern

  • Unley Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Unley

  • Saint Spyridon College Independent · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Malvern Unley
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 3 18
Parks & reserves 1 5
Childcare 2 6
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 0 16

Mobility

Malvern Unley
Walkability score 73/100 92/100
Distance to Adelaide 4.6 km
+35% vs other
 3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 7 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 82.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 88.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.6%
postcode 5061
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 53
postcode 5061
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.

Malvern Unley
Car (driver) 66.4% / 55.6%
Malvern — Car (driver): 66.4% Unley — Car (driver): 55.6%
Worked from Home 18.2% / 16.4%
Malvern — Worked from Home: 18.2% Unley — Worked from Home: 16.4%
Bus 5.5% / 5.4%
Malvern — Bus: 5.5% Unley — Bus: 5.4%
Walked Only 2.1% / 8.4%
Malvern — Walked Only: 2.1% Unley — Walked Only: 8.4%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 5.1%
Malvern — Car (passenger): 4.9% Unley — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Bicycle 2.8% / 6.3%
Malvern — Bicycle: 2.8% Unley — Bicycle: 6.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.4%).

Setting

Malvern Unley
Elevation 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.3 km 9.1 km

NBN connectivity

Malvern Unley
Connectivity score 73/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
1,376 premises
 11%
2,511 premises

Climate

Malvern Unley
Annual rainfall 457 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Malvern Unley
PM2.5 6.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 1.12 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Malvern Unley
Average residential rate $2,288/yr
same for both
Council Unley
same for both

Federal electorate

Malvern Unley
Division Adelaide
same for both
Member Steve Georganas
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Malvern Unley
Grant amount $15,000
same for both
Property price cap —
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Malvern

Inner Luxury Parks Professionals River

Unley

Cafe Culture Inner Parks Premium Professionals River Townhouses Trams

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Malvern

Malvern vs Parkside Malvern vs Fullarton Malvern vs Kingswood Malvern vs Hawthorn Malvern vs Hyde Park Malvern vs Netherby

Other comparisons with Unley

Unley vs Adelaide Unley vs Parkside Unley vs Fullarton Unley vs Goodwood Unley vs Wayville Unley vs Hyde Park
Full data on Malvern Full data on Unley
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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