Malvern vs Malvern East

Malvern East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 44 in Malvern. In both, most households own their home. In Malvern East, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Malvern: a median of $2.8 million, against $1.95 million in Malvern East, and rent is higher there too. Malvern is closer to the city centre: 12 km, against 14.4 km. On these figures, Malvern tends to suit people living alone, while Malvern East suits 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 East

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (17 vs 7)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 8)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 4)
  • But Malvern carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 87/100)

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 houses ($1,947,500 vs $2,800,000)
  • has cheaper units ($479,000 vs $582,500)

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

Malvern

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (12 km vs 14.4 km)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 88/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Malvern

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 5)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (23% vs 17%)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 87/100)

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 and Malvern East 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 Malvern East
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 Malvern East
Walkability 99 / 88
Malvern — Walkability: 99/100 Malvern East — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 26 / 13
Malvern — Safety: 26/100 Malvern East — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Malvern — Low fire risk: 100/100 Malvern East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 69 / 46
Malvern — Low flood risk: 69/100 Malvern East — Low flood risk: 46/100

Demographics

Malvern East has more residents (22,296 vs 9,929); Malvern skews older (44 vs 38).

Malvern Malvern East
Population 9,929 22,296
+125% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.4% +2.7%
Median age 44 38
Median household income $135,512/yr
+9% vs other
 $123,916/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+6% vs other
 $421/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Malvern Malvern East
0-4 4.0% / 4.6%
Malvern — 0-4: 4.0% Malvern East — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 11.0% / 11.3%
Malvern — 5-14: 11.0% Malvern East — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 6.3% / 6.3%
Malvern — 15-19: 6.3% Malvern East — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.0% / 8.2%
Malvern — 20-24: 6.0% Malvern East — 20-24: 8.2%
25-34 12.1% / 14.7%
Malvern — 25-34: 12.1% Malvern East — 25-34: 14.7%
35-44 11.6% / 12.6%
Malvern — 35-44: 11.6% Malvern East — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 13.9% / 13.8%
Malvern — 45-54: 13.9% Malvern East — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 12.1% / 11.4%
Malvern — 55-64: 12.1% Malvern East — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 10.6% / 8.8%
Malvern — 65-74: 10.6% Malvern East — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 8.6% / 5.3%
Malvern — 75-84: 8.6% Malvern East — 75-84: 5.3%
85+ 3.9% / 3.0%
Malvern — 85+: 3.9% Malvern East — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Malvern 27.6% renting
Malvern — Owned Outright: 43.2% Malvern — Mortgage: 29.2% Malvern — Renting: 27.6%
Malvern East 31.6% renting
Malvern East — Owned Outright: 36.4% Malvern East — Mortgage: 32.0% Malvern East — Renting: 31.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Malvern Malvern East
Bachelor Degree 29.4% / 26.2%
Malvern — Bachelor Degree: 29.4% Malvern East — Bachelor Degree: 26.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.8% / 11.5%
Malvern — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8% Malvern East — Postgraduate Degree: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 7.7%
Malvern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Malvern East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Certificate III & IV 3.4% / 5.1%
Malvern — Certificate III & IV: 3.4% Malvern East — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 3.7%
Malvern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Malvern East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.4%).

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 Malvern East
China 2.2% / 5.2%
Malvern — China: 2.2% Malvern East — China: 5.2%
England 3.5% / 2.5%
Malvern — England: 3.5% Malvern East — England: 2.5%
India 2.0% / 3.3%
Malvern — India: 2.0% Malvern East — India: 3.3%
Greece 1.3% / 1.8%
Malvern — Greece: 1.3% Malvern East — Greece: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.2%
Malvern — New Zealand: 1.6% Malvern East — New Zealand: 1.2%
Malaysia 0.9% / 1.3%
Malvern — Malaysia: 0.9% Malvern East — Malaysia: 1.3%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Malvern 45.8% houses
Malvern — Houses: 45.8% Malvern — Flats / Apartments: 34.8% Malvern — Townhouses: 19.4%
Malvern East 53.2% houses
Malvern East — Houses: 53.2% Malvern East — Flats / Apartments: 23.2% Malvern East — Townhouses: 23.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Malvern Malvern East
Median house price $2,800,000 $1,947,500
Median unit price $582,500 $479,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 69 sales
 25 days
from 164 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 Malvern East
1 bed $421K / $336K
Malvern — 1 bed: $421K (54 sales) Malvern East — 1 bed: $336K (68 sales)

54 vs 68 sales

2 bed $670K / $606K
Malvern — 2 bed: $670K (67 sales) Malvern East — 2 bed: $606K (110 sales)

67 vs 110 sales

3 bed $1.33M / $859K
Malvern — 3 bed: $1.33M (12 sales) Malvern East — 3 bed: $859K (11 sales)

12 vs 11 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 Malvern East
2 bed $2.17M / $1.34M
Malvern — 2 bed: $2.17M (11 sales) Malvern East — 2 bed: $1.34M (21 sales)

11 vs 21 sales

3 bed $2.25M / $1.73M
Malvern — 3 bed: $2.25M (49 sales) Malvern East — 3 bed: $1.73M (91 sales)

49 vs 91 sales

4 bed $3.52M / $2.35M
Malvern — 4 bed: $3.52M (40 sales) Malvern East — 4 bed: $2.35M (78 sales)

40 vs 78 sales

5 bed $4.77M / $2.79M
Malvern — 5 bed: $4.77M (11 sales) Malvern East — 5 bed: $2.79M (26 sales)

11 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Malvern Malvern East
Residential 79% 70%
Parks and recreation 4% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 11% 12%
Commercial 6%
same for both
Other and special use 1% 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

Malvern Malvern East
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.

Malvern Malvern East
Houses 3.4%
$1,700/wk on $2.6M
 3.1%
$1,035/wk on $1.76M
Units 4.4%
$645/wk on $760K
 4.2%
$435/wk on $542K

Ranking within VIC

Malvern Malvern East
House price Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Income Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 32% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC

Liveability

Malvern scores higher overall (88 vs 74); Malvern is more walkable (99 vs 88).

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

Risk profile

Malvern East carries more flood risk (54 vs 31); Malvern East carries more crime risk (87 vs 74).

Malvern Malvern East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 High
87/100
Flood Low
31/100
 Moderate
54/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Malvern Malvern East
Inside the suburb 4 6
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.8 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.5% 5.7%

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

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

Amenities in the suburb

Malvern Malvern East
Supermarkets 3 4
Cafes & restaurants 19 61
Parks & reserves 7 17
Childcare 8 14
GPs 7 5
Pharmacies 6 4
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 10
Fuel stations 1 5
EV chargers 1 3
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Malvern East sits further from the CBD (14.4 km vs 12 km).

Malvern Malvern East
Walkability score 99/100 88/100
Distance to Melbourne 12 km 14.4 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min
same for both
Public transport score 98/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 303.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 410.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.2%
postcode 3144
 2.6%
postcode 3145
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 13
postcode 3144
 17
postcode 3145

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 Malvern East
Worked from Home 49.6% / 47.0%
Malvern — Worked from Home: 49.6% Malvern East — Worked from Home: 47.0%
Car (driver) 36.7% / 40.3%
Malvern — Car (driver): 36.7% Malvern East — Car (driver): 40.3%
Train 4.6% / 5.6%
Malvern — Train: 4.6% Malvern East — Train: 5.6%
Walked Only 4.6% / 2.4%
Malvern — Walked Only: 4.6% Malvern East — Walked Only: 2.4%
Car (passenger) 1.9% / 2.5%
Malvern — Car (passenger): 1.9% Malvern East — Car (passenger): 2.5%

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

Setting

Malvern Malvern East
Elevation 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.4 km 7.2 km

NBN connectivity

Malvern Malvern East
Connectivity score 78/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
6,062 premises
 10%
11,575 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Malvern Malvern East
Division Kooyong Chisholm
Member Monique Ryan Carina Garland
Party Independent Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Malvern

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Malvern East

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Malvern

Malvern vs Glen Iris Malvern vs Hawthorn Malvern vs Caulfield North Malvern vs Hawthorn East Malvern vs Toorak Malvern vs Armadale

Other comparisons with Malvern East

Malvern East vs Glen Iris Malvern East vs Carnegie Malvern East vs Caulfield North Malvern East vs Murrumbeena Malvern East vs Chadstone Malvern East vs Oakleigh
Full data on Malvern Full data on Malvern East
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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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