Mount Waverley vs Burwood East

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mount Waverley: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.3 million in Burwood East, and rent is higher there too. Burwood East is closer to the city centre: 19.5 km, against 22.4 km. On these figures, Burwood East tends to suit 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

Mount Waverley

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (10 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (25 vs 8)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 76/100)

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

First-home buyers

Burwood East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($635,000 vs $905,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,300,000 vs $1,600,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Burwood East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($439/wk vs $476/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Burwood East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (19.5 km vs 22.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Waverley

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 76/100)

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

Investors

Burwood East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.8% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Mount Waverley and Burwood 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.

Mount Waverley Burwood 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.

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Walkability 91 / 93
Mount Waverley — Walkability: 91/100 Burwood East — Walkability: 93/100
Safety 43 / 24
Mount Waverley — Safety: 43/100 Burwood East — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Mount Waverley — Low fire risk: 100/100 Burwood East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 74 / 81
Mount Waverley — Low flood risk: 74/100 Burwood East — Low flood risk: 81/100

Demographics

Mount Waverley has more residents (35,340 vs 10,675); Mount Waverley has higher household incomes ($107,432 vs $83,720).

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Population 35,340
+70% vs other
 10,675
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.1% +3.9%
Median age 40 41
Median household income $107,432/yr
+22% vs other
 $83,720/yr
Median weekly rent $476/wk
+8% vs other
 $439/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Waverley Burwood East
0-4 4.4% / 4.0%
Mount Waverley — 0-4: 4.4% Burwood East — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 12.6% / 9.7%
Mount Waverley — 5-14: 12.6% Burwood East — 5-14: 9.7%
15-19 6.5% / 4.8%
Mount Waverley — 15-19: 6.5% Burwood East — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 6.9% / 7.7%
Mount Waverley — 20-24: 6.9% Burwood East — 20-24: 7.7%
25-34 12.1% / 14.9%
Mount Waverley — 25-34: 12.1% Burwood East — 25-34: 14.9%
35-44 13.6% / 12.7%
Mount Waverley — 35-44: 13.6% Burwood East — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 13.7% / 12.8%
Mount Waverley — 45-54: 13.7% Burwood East — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 11.6% / 11.1%
Mount Waverley — 55-64: 11.6% Burwood East — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 8.5% / 9.5%
Mount Waverley — 65-74: 8.5% Burwood East — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 6.8% / 9.3%
Mount Waverley — 75-84: 6.8% Burwood East — 75-84: 9.3%
85+ 3.4% / 3.5%
Mount Waverley — 85+: 3.4% Burwood East — 85+: 3.5%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Waverley 54.2% couple families
Mount Waverley — Couple Families: 54.2% Mount Waverley — Lone Person: 25.2% Mount Waverley — One Parent Families: 13.9% Mount Waverley — Group Household: 4.9% Mount Waverley — Other Families: 1.7%
Burwood East 45.8% couple families
Burwood East — Couple Families: 45.8% Burwood East — Lone Person: 30.7% Burwood East — One Parent Families: 14.9% Burwood East — Group Household: 6.9% Burwood East — 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.

Mount Waverley 24.8% renting
Mount Waverley — Owned Outright: 42.9% Mount Waverley — Mortgage: 32.3% Mount Waverley — Renting: 24.8%
Burwood East 26.7% renting
Burwood East — Owned Outright: 44.2% Burwood East — Mortgage: 29.1% Burwood East — Renting: 26.7%
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.

Mount Waverley Burwood East
China 13.0% / 16.2%
Mount Waverley — China: 13.0% Burwood East — China: 16.2%
India 6.1% / 5.0%
Mount Waverley — India: 6.1% Burwood East — India: 5.0%
Sri Lanka 4.2% / 3.8%
Mount Waverley — Sri Lanka: 4.2% Burwood East — Sri Lanka: 3.8%
Malaysia 3.0% / 3.5%
Mount Waverley — Malaysia: 3.0% Burwood East — Malaysia: 3.5%
Greece 2.0% / 3.8%
Mount Waverley — Greece: 2.0% Burwood East — Greece: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

Qualifications

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

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Bachelor Degree 22.0% / 21.2%
Mount Waverley — Bachelor Degree: 22.0% Burwood East — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.9% / 10.4%
Mount Waverley — Postgraduate Degree: 11.9% Burwood East — Postgraduate Degree: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.6%
Mount Waverley — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Burwood East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Certificate III & IV 6.2% / 7.6%
Mount Waverley — Certificate III & IV: 6.2% Burwood East — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 2.2%
Mount Waverley — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Burwood East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Waverley 68.6% houses
Mount Waverley — Houses: 68.6% Mount Waverley — Flats / Apartments: 21.6% Mount Waverley — Townhouses: 9.8%
Burwood East 73.8% houses
Burwood East — Houses: 73.8% Burwood East — Flats / Apartments: 8.2% Burwood East — Townhouses: 18.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Median house price $1,600,000 $1,300,000
Median unit price $905,000 $635,000
Median land price $1,692,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 408 sales
 25 days
from 105 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.

Mount Waverley Burwood East
3 bed $1.48M / $1.23M
Mount Waverley — 3 bed: $1.48M (205 sales) Burwood East — 3 bed: $1.23M (70 sales)

205 vs 70 sales

4 bed $1.6M / $1.33M
Mount Waverley — 4 bed: $1.6M (182 sales) Burwood East — 4 bed: $1.33M (59 sales)

182 vs 59 sales

5 bed $1.86M / $1.46M
Mount Waverley — 5 bed: $1.86M (60 sales) Burwood East — 5 bed: $1.46M (21 sales)

60 vs 21 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.

Mount Waverley Burwood East
1 bed $782K / $415K
Mount Waverley — 1 bed: $782K (7 sales) Burwood East — 1 bed: $415K (9 sales)

7 vs 9 sales

2 bed $792K / $640K
Mount Waverley — 2 bed: $792K (62 sales) Burwood East — 2 bed: $640K (47 sales)

62 vs 47 sales

3 bed $1.09M / $830K
Mount Waverley — 3 bed: $1.09M (60 sales) Burwood East — 3 bed: $830K (8 sales)

60 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Residential 74% 73%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 11%
Commercial 2% 9%
Parks and recreation 7%
same for both
Other and special use 6% 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

Mount Waverley Burwood East
New dwellings approved 1,233
across Monash
 879
across Whitehorse
Approvals change year on year -4% +17%

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.

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Houses 3.1%
$850/wk on $1.44M
 3.1%
$700/wk on $1.18M
Units 3.8%
$620/wk on $840K
 4.8%
$605/wk on $650K

Ranking within VIC

Mount Waverley Burwood East
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC
Schools Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 61% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC

Liveability

Mount Waverley scores higher overall (90 vs 75).

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Grade A+ A
Score 90/100 75/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Burwood East carries more crime risk (76 vs 57).

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
57/100
 High
76/100
Flood Low
26/100
 Low
19/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Inside the suburb 11 7
Rated above peers 10 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 3.5 km
 2
Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood Campus, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.6% 4.2%

Schools in Mount Waverley

  • Avila College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Essex Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Holy Family School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Huntingtower School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Mount Waverley Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount Waverley North Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Burwood East

  • Burwood East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Burwood Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Forest Hill College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Forest Hill College-Forest Hill Deaf Facility Government · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Basketball Burwood Independent · Secondary
  • Blackburn English Language School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Supermarkets 5 7
Cafes & restaurants 34 21
Parks & reserves 32 25
Childcare 25 8
GPs 10 3
Pharmacies 8 4
Hospitals 0 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 7 2
Fuel stations 5 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 17 0

Mobility

Mount Waverley sits further from the CBD (22.4 km vs 19.5 km).

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Walkability score 91/100 93/100
Distance to Melbourne 22.4 km
+13% vs other
 19.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 31 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 471.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 260.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.7%
postcode 3149
 1.9%
postcode 3151
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 3149
 31
postcode 3151

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.

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Car (driver) 49.0% / 52.8%
Mount Waverley — Car (driver): 49.0% Burwood East — Car (driver): 52.8%
Worked from Home 40.9% / 35.3%
Mount Waverley — Worked from Home: 40.9% Burwood East — Worked from Home: 35.3%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 4.3%
Mount Waverley — Car (passenger): 3.5% Burwood East — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Train 4.2% / 2.9%
Mount Waverley — Train: 4.2% Burwood East — Train: 2.9%
Bus 0.9% / 1.9%
Mount Waverley — Bus: 0.9% Burwood East — Bus: 1.9%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.0%
Mount Waverley — Walked Only: 1.0% Burwood East — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.8%).

Setting

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Elevation 121 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 129 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.6 km 15.1 km

NBN connectivity

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Connectivity score 77/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
15,814 premises
 15%
4,943 premises

Climate

Mount Waverley Burwood East
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)

Mount Waverley Burwood East
PM2.5 4.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Average residential rate $1,697/yr $1,516/yr
Council Monash Whitehorse

Federal electorate

Mount Waverley Burwood East
Division Chisholm
same for both
Member Carina Garland
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Mount Waverley

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Premium Professionals Transport Hub

Burwood East

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Professionals Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Waverley

Mount Waverley vs Glen Waverley Mount Waverley vs Clayton Mount Waverley vs Burwood Mount Waverley vs Chadstone Mount Waverley vs Oakleigh Mount Waverley vs Ashwood

Other comparisons with Burwood East

Burwood East vs Glen Waverley Burwood East vs Burwood Burwood East vs Vermont South Burwood East vs Blackburn South Burwood East vs Forest Hill
Full data on Mount Waverley Full data on Burwood 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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