Richmond vs Hawthorn

In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Richmond, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Hawthorn, about half of households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. Richmond is closer to the city centre: 4.4 km, against 9.9 km.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Richmond has more schools rated above their peers (4 vs 2)
  • Hawthorn has more parks and reserves (29 vs 24)

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

First-home buyers

Richmond

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,330,000 vs $2,019,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Hawthorn

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $441/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Richmond

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (4.4 km vs 9.9 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (13 min vs 18 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Richmond has more GPs (14 vs 12)
  • Hawthorn carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

Richmond

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (3.2% vs -5.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.2% vs 5.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Richmond Hawthorn
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.

Richmond Hawthorn
Walkability 100 / 97
Richmond — Walkability: 100/100 Hawthorn — Walkability: 97/100
Safety 9 / 23
Richmond — Safety: 9/100 Hawthorn — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Richmond — Low fire risk: 100/100 Hawthorn — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 40
Richmond — Low flood risk: 56/100 Hawthorn — Low flood risk: 40/100

Demographics

Richmond has more residents (28,587 vs 22,322); Richmond rents higher ($441/wk vs $400/wk).

Richmond Hawthorn
Population 28,587
+22% vs other
 22,322
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.2% -5.1%
Median age 34
same for both
Median household income $116,740/yr
+4% vs other
 $111,540/yr
Median weekly rent $441/wk
+9% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Richmond Hawthorn
0-4 3.7% / 3.8%
Richmond — 0-4: 3.7% Hawthorn — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 6.0% / 8.5%
Richmond — 5-14: 6.0% Hawthorn — 5-14: 8.5%
15-19 2.8% / 6.0%
Richmond — 15-19: 2.8% Hawthorn — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 7.7% / 9.7%
Richmond — 20-24: 7.7% Hawthorn — 20-24: 9.7%
25-34 31.5% / 22.3%
Richmond — 25-34: 31.5% Hawthorn — 25-34: 22.3%
35-44 16.4% / 14.3%
Richmond — 35-44: 16.4% Hawthorn — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 11.4% / 11.6%
Richmond — 45-54: 11.4% Hawthorn — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 9.3% / 9.5%
Richmond — 55-64: 9.3% Hawthorn — 55-64: 9.5%
65-74 6.5% / 7.8%
Richmond — 65-74: 6.5% Hawthorn — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 3.4% / 4.7%
Richmond — 75-84: 3.4% Hawthorn — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 1.4% / 1.8%
Richmond — 85+: 1.4% Hawthorn — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Richmond 52.9% lone person
Richmond — Lone Person: 52.9% Richmond — Couple Families: 19.7% Richmond — Group Household: 15.9% Richmond — One Parent Families: 8.9% Richmond — Other Families: 2.5%
Hawthorn 51.5% lone person
Hawthorn — Lone Person: 51.5% Hawthorn — Couple Families: 28.3% Hawthorn — Group Household: 10.6% Hawthorn — One Parent Families: 7.3% Hawthorn — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Richmond 56.0% renting
Richmond — Owned Outright: 19.2% Richmond — Mortgage: 24.8% Richmond — Renting: 56.0%
Hawthorn 46.8% renting
Hawthorn — Owned Outright: 27.5% Hawthorn — Mortgage: 25.6% Hawthorn — Renting: 46.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Richmond Hawthorn
Bachelor Degree 31.8% / 30.2%
Richmond — Bachelor Degree: 31.8% Hawthorn — Bachelor Degree: 30.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.8% / 14.9%
Richmond — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8% Hawthorn — Postgraduate Degree: 14.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.5%
Richmond — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Hawthorn — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Certificate III & IV 6.4% / 4.7%
Richmond — Certificate III & IV: 6.4% Hawthorn — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 4.2%
Richmond — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Hawthorn — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.8%).

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.

Richmond Hawthorn
England 3.7% / 3.1%
Richmond — England: 3.7% Hawthorn — England: 3.1%
Vietnam 4.3% / 1.3%
Richmond — Vietnam: 4.3% Hawthorn — Vietnam: 1.3%
China 1.7% / 3.1%
Richmond — China: 1.7% Hawthorn — China: 3.1%
New Zealand 2.9% / 1.7%
Richmond — New Zealand: 2.9% Hawthorn — New Zealand: 1.7%
India 1.1% / 3.5%
Richmond — India: 1.1% Hawthorn — India: 3.5%
Malaysia 0.9% / 1.6%
Richmond — Malaysia: 0.9% Hawthorn — Malaysia: 1.6%
Greece 1.7% / —
Richmond — Greece: 1.7% Hawthorn — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Richmond 53.7% flats / apartments
Richmond — Flats / Apartments: 53.7% Richmond — Townhouses: 30.7% Richmond — Houses: 15.6%
Hawthorn 59.6% flats / apartments
Hawthorn — Flats / Apartments: 59.6% Hawthorn — Townhouses: 16.1% Hawthorn — Houses: 24.3%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Richmond Hawthorn
Median house price $1,330,000 $2,019,000
Median unit price $520,000 $558,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 181 sales
 25 days
from 75 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.

Richmond Hawthorn
2 bed $1.2M / $1.35M
Richmond — 2 bed: $1.2M (120 sales) Hawthorn — 2 bed: $1.35M (21 sales)

120 vs 21 sales

3 bed $1.5M / $1.9M
Richmond — 3 bed: $1.5M (132 sales) Hawthorn — 3 bed: $1.9M (38 sales)

132 vs 38 sales

4 bed $2M / $3.21M
Richmond — 4 bed: $2M (25 sales) Hawthorn — 4 bed: $3.21M (23 sales)

25 vs 23 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.

Richmond Hawthorn
1 bed $410K / $395K
Richmond — 1 bed: $410K (251 sales) Hawthorn — 1 bed: $395K (183 sales)

251 vs 183 sales

2 bed $640K / $633K
Richmond — 2 bed: $640K (266 sales) Hawthorn — 2 bed: $633K (275 sales)

266 vs 275 sales

3 bed $1.13M / $995K
Richmond — 3 bed: $1.13M (27 sales) Hawthorn — 3 bed: $995K (21 sales)

27 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Richmond Hawthorn
Residential 62% 68%
Commercial 13% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 11%
Parks and recreation 6% 9%
Industrial 5% 0%
Other and special use 3% 4%
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

Richmond Hawthorn
New dwellings approved 1,675
across Yarra
 711
across Boroondara
Approvals change year on year +646% -40%

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.

Richmond Hawthorn
Houses 3.9%
$980/wk on $1.31M
 3.1%
$1,250/wk on $2.1M
Units 6.2%
$672/wk on $560K
 5.0%
$550/wk on $571K

Ranking within VIC

Richmond Hawthorn
House price Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Schools Higher than 64% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 1% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC

Liveability

Richmond Hawthorn
Grade A
same for both
Score 75/100 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hawthorn carries more flood risk (60 vs 44); Richmond carries more crime risk (91 vs 77).

Richmond Hawthorn
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 High
77/100
Flood Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
60/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 17
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Richmond Hawthorn
Inside the suburb 13 11
Rated above peers 4 2
Rated at peers 2
same for both
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 2.6 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.0% 6.7%

Schools in Richmond

  • Bindjiroo Yaluk Community School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Melbourne Girls College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Richmond West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Yarra Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Richmond High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Trinity Catholic School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Hawthorn

  • Erasmus Primary School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Scotch College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Glenferrie Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Bialik College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Hawthorn West Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Richmond Hawthorn
Supermarkets 6 3
Cafes & restaurants 104 82
Parks & reserves 24 29
Childcare 19 13
GPs 14 12
Pharmacies 8 7
Hospitals 3 1
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 7
Fuel stations 4 6
EV chargers 2 1
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Hawthorn sits further from the CBD (9.9 km vs 4.4 km).

Richmond Hawthorn
Walkability score 100/100 97/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.4 km 9.9 km
+125% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 13 min 18 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 678.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 468.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.0%
postcode 3121
 2.5%
postcode 3122
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3121
 9
postcode 3122

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.

Richmond Hawthorn
Worked from Home 51.8% / 50.5%
Richmond — Worked from Home: 51.8% Hawthorn — Worked from Home: 50.5%
Car (driver) 27.4% / 31.6%
Richmond — Car (driver): 27.4% Hawthorn — Car (driver): 31.6%
Walked Only 7.4% / 5.4%
Richmond — Walked Only: 7.4% Hawthorn — Walked Only: 5.4%
Train 4.2% / 6.3%
Richmond — Train: 4.2% Hawthorn — Train: 6.3%
Tram / Light Rail 4.6% / 2.6%
Richmond — Tram / Light Rail: 4.6% Hawthorn — Tram / Light Rail: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (51.8%).

Setting

Richmond Hawthorn
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 38 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.2 km 6.8 km

NBN connectivity

Richmond Hawthorn
Connectivity score 83/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 36%
20,694 premises
 27%
15,213 premises

Climate

Richmond Hawthorn
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Richmond Hawthorn
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 — 17.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.82 pphm

Council rates

Richmond Hawthorn
Average residential rate $1,937/yr $2,253/yr
Council Yarra Boroondara

Federal electorate

Richmond Hawthorn
Division Melbourne Kooyong
Member Sarah Witty Monique Ryan
Party Australian Labor Party Independent

First Home Owner Grant

Richmond Hawthorn
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Richmond

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Trains Trams Transport Hub Urban

Hawthorn

Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Richmond

Richmond vs Melbourne Richmond vs South Yarra Richmond vs Kew Richmond vs Collingwood Richmond vs Abbotsford Richmond vs East Melbourne

Other comparisons with Hawthorn

Hawthorn vs Kew Hawthorn vs Hawthorn East Hawthorn vs Toorak Hawthorn vs Malvern Hawthorn vs Abbotsford Hawthorn vs Kooyong
Full data on Richmond Full data on Hawthorn
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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