Prahran vs St Kilda East

In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In Prahran, most households rent and most households are people living alone. In St Kilda East, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in St Kilda East: a median of $565,000, against $472,000 in Prahran, though rent is higher in Prahran. Prahran is closer to the city centre: 7.6 km, against 9 km. On these figures, Prahran tends to suit young adults, 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

St Kilda East

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 5)
  • carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 94/100)
  • But Prahran has more parks and reserves (9 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Prahran

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($472,000 vs $565,000)

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Prahran has more GPs (10 vs 4)
  • St Kilda East carries lower crime risk (60/100 vs 94/100)

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

Prahran and St Kilda 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.

Prahran St Kilda 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.

Prahran St Kilda East
Walkability 99 / 99
Prahran — Walkability: 99/100 St Kilda East — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 6 / 40
Prahran — Safety: 6/100 St Kilda East — Safety: 40/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Prahran — Low fire risk: 100/100 St Kilda East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 58 / 52
Prahran — Low flood risk: 58/100 St Kilda East — Low flood risk: 52/100

Demographics

Prahran St Kilda East
Population 12,203 12,571
+3% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -6.0% -4.0%
Median age 34
same for both
Median household income $110,292/yr
+5% vs other
 $105,040/yr
Median weekly rent $421/wk
+6% vs other
 $396/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Prahran St Kilda East
0-4 4.0% / 5.8%
Prahran — 0-4: 4.0% St Kilda East — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 4.6% / 10.6%
Prahran — 5-14: 4.6% St Kilda East — 5-14: 10.6%
15-19 2.4% / 4.3%
Prahran — 15-19: 2.4% St Kilda East — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 7.9% / 6.5%
Prahran — 20-24: 7.9% St Kilda East — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 31.2% / 24.6%
Prahran — 25-34: 31.2% St Kilda East — 25-34: 24.6%
35-44 18.1% / 17.2%
Prahran — 35-44: 18.1% St Kilda East — 35-44: 17.2%
45-54 10.9% / 11.8%
Prahran — 45-54: 10.9% St Kilda East — 45-54: 11.8%
55-64 8.4% / 8.6%
Prahran — 55-64: 8.4% St Kilda East — 55-64: 8.6%
65-74 6.2% / 6.3%
Prahran — 65-74: 6.2% St Kilda East — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 4.2% / 2.9%
Prahran — 75-84: 4.2% St Kilda East — 75-84: 2.9%
85+ 2.1% / 1.3%
Prahran — 85+: 2.1% St Kilda East — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Prahran 61.4% lone person
Prahran — Lone Person: 61.4% Prahran — Couple Families: 16.9% Prahran — Group Household: 13.8% Prahran — One Parent Families: 6.0% Prahran — Other Families: 1.9%
St Kilda East 53.4% lone person
St Kilda East — Lone Person: 53.4% St Kilda East — Couple Families: 26.1% St Kilda East — Group Household: 11.7% St Kilda East — One Parent Families: 7.4% St Kilda East — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Prahran 55.4% renting
Prahran — Owned Outright: 20.1% Prahran — Mortgage: 24.4% Prahran — Renting: 55.4%
St Kilda East 49.9% renting
St Kilda East — Owned Outright: 21.0% St Kilda East — Mortgage: 29.1% St Kilda East — Renting: 49.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Prahran St Kilda East
Bachelor Degree 33.4% / 26.2%
Prahran — Bachelor Degree: 33.4% St Kilda East — Bachelor Degree: 26.2%
Postgraduate Degree 12.2% / 11.0%
Prahran — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2% St Kilda East — Postgraduate Degree: 11.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 8.1%
Prahran — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% St Kilda East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 5.9% / 7.0%
Prahran — Certificate III & IV: 5.9% St Kilda East — Certificate III & IV: 7.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.5%
Prahran — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% St Kilda East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.4%).

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.

Prahran St Kilda East
England 4.6% / 3.9%
Prahran — England: 4.6% St Kilda East — England: 3.9%
New Zealand 3.2% / 2.2%
Prahran — New Zealand: 3.2% St Kilda East — New Zealand: 2.2%
India 1.4% / 2.3%
Prahran — India: 1.4% St Kilda East — India: 2.3%
Greece 2.7% / —
Prahran — Greece: 2.7% St Kilda East — Greece: not among its largest
South Africa 0.9% / 1.5%
Prahran — South Africa: 0.9% St Kilda East — South Africa: 1.5%
China 1.5% / 0.8%
Prahran — China: 1.5% St Kilda East — China: 0.8%
Ireland 1.2% / 1.1%
Prahran — Ireland: 1.2% St Kilda East — Ireland: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Prahran 60.1% flats / apartments
Prahran — Flats / Apartments: 60.1% Prahran — Houses: 18.3% Prahran — Townhouses: 21.6%
St Kilda East 66.6% flats / apartments
St Kilda East — Flats / Apartments: 66.6% St Kilda East — Houses: 19.0% St Kilda East — Townhouses: 14.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Prahran St Kilda East
Median house price $1,600,000
same for both
Median unit price $472,000 $565,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 78 sales
 25 days
from 41 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.

Prahran St Kilda East
2 bed $1.37M / $1.11M
Prahran — 2 bed: $1.37M (44 sales) St Kilda East — 2 bed: $1.11M (27 sales)

44 vs 27 sales

3 bed $1.74M / $1.66M
Prahran — 3 bed: $1.74M (65 sales) St Kilda East — 3 bed: $1.66M (37 sales)

65 vs 37 sales

4 bed $2.77M / $2.02M
Prahran — 4 bed: $2.77M (11 sales) St Kilda East — 4 bed: $2.02M (13 sales)

11 vs 13 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.

Prahran St Kilda East
1 bed $375K / $356K
Prahran — 1 bed: $375K (184 sales) St Kilda East — 1 bed: $356K (102 sales)

184 vs 102 sales

2 bed $605K / $600K
Prahran — 2 bed: $605K (175 sales) St Kilda East — 2 bed: $600K (222 sales)

175 vs 222 sales

3 bed $900K / $1.02M
Prahran — 3 bed: $900K (19 sales) St Kilda East — 3 bed: $1.02M (30 sales)

19 vs 30 sales

Zoning mix

Prahran has more commercially zoned land (18% vs 0%).

Prahran St Kilda East
Residential 67% 85%
Commercial 18% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 10%
Parks and recreation 5%
same for both
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

Prahran St Kilda East
New dwellings approved 818
across Stonnington
 617
across Glen Eira
Approvals change year on year +67% -69%

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.

Prahran St Kilda East
Houses 3.2%
$1,000/wk on $1.6M
 3.5%
$925/wk on $1.38M
Units 5.0%
$550/wk on $575K
 5.4%
$620/wk on $600K

Ranking within VIC

Prahran St Kilda East
House price Higher than 91% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 36% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC

Liveability

Prahran scores higher overall (80 vs 74).

Prahran St Kilda East
Grade A
same for both
Score 80/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Prahran carries more crime risk (94 vs 60).

Prahran St Kilda East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
94/100
 Moderate
60/100
Flood Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
48/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Prahran St Kilda East
Inside the suburb 1 9
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 3.9 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 2.7%

Schools in Prahran

  • Our Lady of Lourdes School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in St Kilda East

  • Caulfield Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Beth Rivkah Ladies College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Yeshivah College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Ripponlea Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Adass Israel School - Glen Eira Road Campus Independent · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Prahran St Kilda East
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 29 1
Parks & reserves 9 4
Childcare 5 10
GPs 10 4
Pharmacies 5 0
Hospitals 1
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 3 0

Mobility

Prahran St Kilda East
Walkability score 99/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 7.6 km 9 km
+18% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 17 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 81/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 262.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 181.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 3181
 1.8%
postcode 3183
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 5
postcode 3181
 7
postcode 3183

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.

Prahran St Kilda East
Worked from Home 51.9% / 47.1%
Prahran — Worked from Home: 51.9% St Kilda East — Worked from Home: 47.1%
Car (driver) 27.4% / 36.8%
Prahran — Car (driver): 27.4% St Kilda East — Car (driver): 36.8%
Walked Only 7.4% / 4.1%
Prahran — Walked Only: 7.4% St Kilda East — Walked Only: 4.1%
Train 5.3% / 3.6%
Prahran — Train: 5.3% St Kilda East — Train: 3.6%
Tram / Light Rail 4.4% / 3.4%
Prahran — Tram / Light Rail: 4.4% St Kilda East — Tram / Light Rail: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.9%).

Setting

Prahran St Kilda East
Elevation 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.8 km
3.0 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Prahran St Kilda East
Connectivity score 78/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
9,581 premises
 3%
7,114 premises

Climate

Prahran St Kilda East
Annual rainfall 534 mm 644 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C 26.0°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C 6.9°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Prahran St Kilda East
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³ 7.6 µg/m³
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Prahran St Kilda East
Average residential rate $1,647/yr $1,577/yr
Council Stonnington Glen Eira

Federal electorate

Prahran St Kilda East
Division Melbourne Macnamara
Member Sarah Witty Josh Burns
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Prahran

Affordable Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

St Kilda East

Apartments Coastal Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Prahran

Prahran vs Melbourne Prahran vs South Yarra Prahran vs Toorak Prahran vs Armadale Prahran vs Windsor

Other comparisons with St Kilda East

St Kilda East vs St Kilda St Kilda East vs Caulfield North St Kilda East vs Elsternwick St Kilda East vs Armadale St Kilda East vs Windsor St Kilda East vs Balaclava
Full data on Prahran Full data on St Kilda East
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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