Monbulk vs Silvan

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Monbulk, about half of households are couple families. In Silvan, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Silvan: a median of $928,000, against $831,000 in Monbulk, though rent is higher in Monbulk. On these figures, Silvan tends to suit 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

Monbulk

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Monbulk

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($831,000 vs $927,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Silvan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (16% vs 21%)

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

Commuting to the city

Silvan

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (51.3 km vs 55.8 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Monbulk

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)

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

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

Monbulk Silvan
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.

Monbulk Silvan
Walkability 14 / 17
Monbulk — Walkability: 14/100 Silvan — Walkability: 17/100
Safety 62 / 55
Monbulk — Safety: 62/100 Silvan — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 33 / 1
Monbulk — Low fire risk: 33/100 Silvan — Low fire risk: 1/100
Low flood risk 89 / 80
Monbulk — Low flood risk: 89/100 Silvan — Low flood risk: 80/100

Demographics

Monbulk has more residents (3,651 vs 1,323); Silvan has higher household incomes ($112,216 vs $89,544).

Monbulk Silvan
Population 3,651
+64% vs other
 1,323
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.1% +6.2%
Median age 41
same for both
Median household income $89,544/yr $112,216/yr
+25% vs other
Median weekly rent $369/wk
+5% vs other
 $350/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Monbulk Silvan
0-4 5.1% / 5.3%
Monbulk — 0-4: 5.1% Silvan — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 14.3% / 14.0%
Monbulk — 5-14: 14.3% Silvan — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 7.1% / 5.7%
Monbulk — 15-19: 7.1% Silvan — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 4.9% / 5.6%
Monbulk — 20-24: 4.9% Silvan — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 10.0% / 11.5%
Monbulk — 25-34: 10.0% Silvan — 25-34: 11.5%
35-44 12.7% / 12.5%
Monbulk — 35-44: 12.7% Silvan — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 15.9% / 14.0%
Monbulk — 45-54: 15.9% Silvan — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 12.1% / 14.2%
Monbulk — 55-64: 12.1% Silvan — 55-64: 14.2%
65-74 11.4% / 9.9%
Monbulk — 65-74: 11.4% Silvan — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 5.0% / 6.2%
Monbulk — 75-84: 5.0% Silvan — 75-84: 6.2%
85+ 1.7% / 1.6%
Monbulk — 85+: 1.7% Silvan — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Monbulk 50.3% couple families
Monbulk — Couple Families: 50.3% Monbulk — Lone Person: 28.4% Monbulk — One Parent Families: 16.7% Monbulk — Group Household: 3.1% Monbulk — Other Families: 1.5%
Silvan 63.3% couple families
Silvan — Couple Families: 63.3% Silvan — Lone Person: 23.2% Silvan — One Parent Families: 10.0% Silvan — Group Household: 3.5% Silvan — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Monbulk 14.8% renting
Monbulk — Owned Outright: 38.9% Monbulk — Mortgage: 46.3% Monbulk — Renting: 14.8%
Silvan 10.9% renting
Silvan — Owned Outright: 46.1% Silvan — Mortgage: 43.0% Silvan — Renting: 10.9%
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.

Monbulk Silvan
England 5.8% / 3.4%
Monbulk — England: 5.8% Silvan — England: 3.4%
Netherlands 2.3% / 3.1%
Monbulk — Netherlands: 2.3% Silvan — Netherlands: 3.1%
Italy 0.5% / 2.0%
Monbulk — Italy: 0.5% Silvan — Italy: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.2% / 0.9%
Monbulk — New Zealand: 1.2% Silvan — New Zealand: 0.9%
Germany 0.7% / 0.8%
Monbulk — Germany: 0.7% Silvan — Germany: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

Qualifications

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

Monbulk Silvan
Certificate III & IV 18.1% / 17.2%
Monbulk — Certificate III & IV: 18.1% Silvan — Certificate III & IV: 17.2%
Bachelor Degree 11.1% / 10.2%
Monbulk — Bachelor Degree: 11.1% Silvan — Bachelor Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 8.4%
Monbulk — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Silvan — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 2.6%
Monbulk — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Silvan — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 2.1%
Monbulk — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Silvan — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Monbulk 95.9% houses
Monbulk — Houses: 95.9% Monbulk — Flats / Apartments: 1.1% Monbulk — Townhouses: 3.0%
Silvan 97.8% houses
Silvan — Houses: 97.8% Silvan — Flats / Apartments: 2.2% Silvan — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Monbulk Silvan
Median house price $831,000 $927,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $600,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 18 days
from 23 sales
 10 days
from 3 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.

Monbulk Silvan
3 bed $775K / $855K
Monbulk — 3 bed: $775K (59 sales) Silvan — 3 bed: $855K (14 sales)

59 vs 14 sales

4 bed $1.03M / $1.56M
Monbulk — 4 bed: $1.03M (18 sales) Silvan — 4 bed: $1.56M (7 sales)

18 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Monbulk has more rural and farming land (79% vs 64%).

Monbulk Silvan
Rural and farming 79% 64%
Infrastructure and transport 3% 34%
Residential 8% 1%
Parks and recreation 8% 1%
Industrial 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

Monbulk Silvan
New dwellings approved 416
across Yarra Ranges
same for both
Approvals change year on year -57%
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.

Monbulk Silvan
Houses 4.3%
$670/wk on $802K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Monbulk Silvan
House price Higher than 44% of VIC —
Income Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Schools Higher than 57% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 66% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 86% of VIC —

Liveability

Monbulk scores higher overall (54 vs 45).

Monbulk Silvan
Grade B C
Score 54/100 45/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Silvan carries more bushfire risk (99 vs 67).

Monbulk Silvan
Bushfire Moderate
67/100
 High
99/100
Crime Low
38/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood Low
11/100
 Low
20/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Monbulk Silvan
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Monbulk

  • St Paul's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Monbulk College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Monbulk Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Cire Community School - Monbulk Campus Independent · Combined · Special school

Schools in Silvan

  • Silvan Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Monbulk Silvan
Supermarkets 2 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 1
Parks & reserves 5 3
Childcare 3 1
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 1 2
Waterways 7 8

Mobility

Monbulk sits further from the CBD (55.8 km vs 51.3 km).

Monbulk Silvan
Walkability score 14/100 17/100
Distance to Melbourne 55.8 km
+8% vs other
 51.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 63 min 59 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 31.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 40.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3793
 0.5%
postcode 3795
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 3793
 59
postcode 3795

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.

Monbulk Silvan
Car (driver) 66.4% / 63.5%
Monbulk — Car (driver): 66.4% Silvan — Car (driver): 63.5%
Worked from Home 25.0% / 26.2%
Monbulk — Worked from Home: 25.0% Silvan — Worked from Home: 26.2%
Walked Only 3.9% / 6.3%
Monbulk — Walked Only: 3.9% Silvan — Walked Only: 6.3%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 3.5%
Monbulk — Car (passenger): 3.2% Silvan — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Train 0.9% / 0.5%
Monbulk — Train: 0.9% Silvan — Train: 0.5%

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

Setting

Monbulk Silvan
Elevation 263 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 259 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 33.4 km 36.0 km

NBN connectivity

Monbulk Silvan
Connectivity score 62/100 43/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
1,599 premises
 12%
515 premises

Climate

Monbulk Silvan
Annual rainfall 777 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Monbulk Silvan
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Monbulk Silvan
Average residential rate $2,161/yr
same for both
Council Yarra Ranges
same for both

Federal electorate

Monbulk Silvan
Division Casey
same for both
Member Aaron Violi
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Monbulk Silvan
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Monbulk

Acreage Outer River

Silvan

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Monbulk

Monbulk vs Emerald Monbulk vs Olinda Monbulk vs Kallista Monbulk vs The Patch Monbulk vs Macclesfield

Other comparisons with Silvan

Silvan vs Mount Evelyn Silvan vs Wandin North Silvan vs Seville Silvan vs Olinda Silvan vs Kalorama Silvan vs Macclesfield
Full data on Monbulk Full data on Silvan
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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