Narre Warren North vs Harkaway

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Narre Warren North: a median of $1.62 million, against $1.32 million in Harkaway, and rent is higher there too. Narre Warren North is closer to the city centre: 40 km, against 46.9 km. On these figures, Harkaway 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

Narre Warren North

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 4)
  • But Harkaway carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 49/100)

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

First-home buyers

Harkaway

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,322,500 vs $1,620,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Harkaway

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($375/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Narre Warren North

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (60/100 vs 13/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (40 min vs 50 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (40 km vs 46.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Narre Warren North is more walkable (60/100 vs 13/100)
  • Harkaway carries lower crime risk (34/100 vs 49/100)

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

Investors

Harkaway

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (19.1% vs 4.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Narre Warren North Harkaway
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.

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Walkability 60 / 13
Narre Warren North — Walkability: 60/100 Harkaway — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 51 / 66
Narre Warren North — Safety: 51/100 Harkaway — Safety: 66/100
Low fire risk 29 / 23
Narre Warren North — Low fire risk: 29/100 Harkaway — Low fire risk: 23/100
Low flood risk 48 / 65
Narre Warren North — Low flood risk: 48/100 Harkaway — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Narre Warren North has more residents (8,033 vs 1,011); Narre Warren North skews older (42 vs 40).

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Population 8,033
+87% vs other
 1,011
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.7% +19.1%
Median age 42 40
Median household income $136,968/yr $145,860/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $410/wk
+9% vs other
 $375/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Narre Warren North Harkaway
0-4 4.3% / 4.6%
Narre Warren North — 0-4: 4.3% Harkaway — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 13.2% / 16.7%
Narre Warren North — 5-14: 13.2% Harkaway — 5-14: 16.7%
15-19 8.0% / 7.9%
Narre Warren North — 15-19: 8.0% Harkaway — 15-19: 7.9%
20-24 7.9% / 7.4%
Narre Warren North — 20-24: 7.9% Harkaway — 20-24: 7.4%
25-34 9.1% / 7.3%
Narre Warren North — 25-34: 9.1% Harkaway — 25-34: 7.3%
35-44 10.2% / 11.9%
Narre Warren North — 35-44: 10.2% Harkaway — 35-44: 11.9%
45-54 15.4% / 16.0%
Narre Warren North — 45-54: 15.4% Harkaway — 45-54: 16.0%
55-64 15.1% / 13.7%
Narre Warren North — 55-64: 15.1% Harkaway — 55-64: 13.7%
65-74 9.8% / 9.2%
Narre Warren North — 65-74: 9.8% Harkaway — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 4.6% / 4.7%
Narre Warren North — 75-84: 4.6% Harkaway — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 2.2% / 1.0%
Narre Warren North — 85+: 2.2% Harkaway — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Narre Warren North 76.4% couple families
Narre Warren North — Couple Families: 76.4% Narre Warren North — Lone Person: 10.6% Narre Warren North — One Parent Families: 10.1% Narre Warren North — Group Household: 1.6% Narre Warren North — Other Families: 1.3%
Harkaway 72.4% couple families
Harkaway — Couple Families: 72.4% Harkaway — Lone Person: 13.1% Harkaway — One Parent Families: 13.1% Harkaway — Group Household: 1.4% Harkaway — 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.

Narre Warren North 4.1% renting
Narre Warren North — Owned Outright: 42.2% Narre Warren North — Mortgage: 53.7% Narre Warren North — Renting: 4.1%
Harkaway 6.3% renting
Harkaway — Owned Outright: 47.9% Harkaway — Mortgage: 45.8% Harkaway — Renting: 6.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Certificate III & IV 14.4% / 13.6%
Narre Warren North — Certificate III & IV: 14.4% Harkaway — Certificate III & IV: 13.6%
Bachelor Degree 12.7% / 15.0%
Narre Warren North — Bachelor Degree: 12.7% Harkaway — Bachelor Degree: 15.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.7%
Narre Warren North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Harkaway — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.3% / 4.2%
Narre Warren North — Postgraduate Degree: 3.3% Harkaway — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 2.4%
Narre Warren North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Harkaway — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

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

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.

Narre Warren North Harkaway
England 2.8% / 3.6%
Narre Warren North — England: 2.8% Harkaway — England: 3.6%
Afghanistan 2.5% / 0.9%
Narre Warren North — Afghanistan: 2.5% Harkaway — Afghanistan: 0.9%
China 2.6% / 0.7%
Narre Warren North — China: 2.6% Harkaway — China: 0.7%
India 2.3% / 0.7%
Narre Warren North — India: 2.3% Harkaway — India: 0.7%
Sri Lanka 1.9% / —
Narre Warren North — Sri Lanka: 1.9% Harkaway — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.9%
Narre Warren North — South Africa: not among its largest Harkaway — South Africa: 0.9%
Singapore — / 0.8%
Narre Warren North — Singapore: not among its largest Harkaway — Singapore: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Narre Warren North 99.0% houses
Narre Warren North — Houses: 99.0% Narre Warren North — Townhouses: 0.8% Narre Warren North — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Harkaway 100.3% houses
Harkaway — Houses: 100.3% Harkaway — Townhouses: 0.0% Harkaway — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Median house price $1,620,000 $1,322,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,070,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 36 days
from 59 sales
 70 days
from 4 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.

Narre Warren North Harkaway
3 bed $1.27M / $1.12M
Narre Warren North — 3 bed: $1.27M (8 sales) Harkaway — 3 bed: $1.12M (9 sales)

8 vs 9 sales

5 bed $1.93M / $2.85M
Narre Warren North — 5 bed: $1.93M (22 sales) Harkaway — 5 bed: $2.85M (5 sales)

22 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Harkaway has more rural and farming land (93% vs 41%).

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Rural and farming 41% 93%
Residential 45% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 2%
Parks and recreation 6% 1%
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

Narre Warren North Harkaway
New dwellings approved 3,412
across Casey
same for both
Approvals change year on year -15%
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.

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Houses 3.1%
$1,100/wk on $1.87M
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Narre Warren North Harkaway
House price Higher than 87% of VIC —
Income Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Schools Higher than 50% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 35% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of VIC —

Liveability

Narre Warren North is more walkable (60 vs 13); Harkaway scores higher overall (56 vs 51).

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Grade B
same for both
Score 51/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Narre Warren North carries more flood risk (52 vs 35); Narre Warren North carries more crime risk (49 vs 34).

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Bushfire High
71/100
 High
77/100
Crime Moderate
49/100
 Low
34/100
Flood Moderate
52/100
 Low
35/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Berwick, 7.1 km
 1
Federation University Berwick, 5.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 2.9%

Schools in Narre Warren North

  • Narre Warren North Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Harkaway Hills College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Lysterfield Lake College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Mary MacKillop School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Sidrah Gardens School Independent · Primary below peers

Schools in Harkaway

  • Harkaway Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 3 0
Parks & reserves 18 4
Childcare 9 1
GPs 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 18 6

Mobility

Harkaway sits further from the CBD (46.9 km vs 40 km).

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Walkability score 60/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 40 km 46.9 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 40 min 50 min
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 3804
 1.8%
postcode 3806
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 61
postcode 3804
 50
postcode 3806

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.

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Car (driver) 68.2% / 63.5%
Narre Warren North — Car (driver): 68.2% Harkaway — Car (driver): 63.5%
Worked from Home 26.2% / 29.3%
Narre Warren North — Worked from Home: 26.2% Harkaway — Worked from Home: 29.3%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.7%
Narre Warren North — Car (passenger): 4.1% Harkaway — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Train 0.9% / 1.1%
Narre Warren North — Train: 0.9% Harkaway — Train: 1.1%
Walked Only 0.5% / 0.6%
Narre Warren North — Walked Only: 0.5% Harkaway — Walked Only: 0.6%
Bus 0.1% / 0.9%
Narre Warren North — Bus: 0.1% Harkaway — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.2%).

Setting

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Elevation 80 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 199 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.2 km 22.6 km

NBN connectivity

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Connectivity score 84/100 34/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 58%
2,802 premises
 7%
269 premises

Climate

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Annual rainfall 781 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Narre Warren North Harkaway
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.98 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Average residential rate $1,767/yr
same for both
Council Casey
same for both

Federal electorate

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Division Bruce
same for both
Member Julian Hill
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Narre Warren North Harkaway
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Narre Warren North

Acreage Outer Parks Premium Quiet

Harkaway

Acreage Outer Premium

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Narre Warren North

Narre Warren North vs Berwick Narre Warren North vs Narre Warren Narre Warren North vs Endeavour Hills Narre Warren North vs Hallam Narre Warren North vs Lysterfield Narre Warren North vs Lysterfield South

Other comparisons with Harkaway

Harkaway vs Berwick Harkaway vs Beaconsfield Upper Harkaway vs Narre Warren East Harkaway vs Guys Hill
Full data on Narre Warren North Full data on Harkaway
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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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