Rowville vs Knoxfield

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Rowville, most households are couple families. In Knoxfield, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Rowville: a median of $1.11 million, against $1 million in Knoxfield. On these figures, Rowville 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

Rowville

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (22 vs 6)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

Rowville

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($645,000 vs $805,000)
  • has cheaper land ($946,327 vs $1,133,000)
  • But Knoxfield has cheaper houses ($1,000,050 vs $1,115,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

Rowville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 79/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Rowville

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (12 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (87/100 vs 79/100)
  • But Knoxfield has more units and townhouses to downsize into (21% vs 8%)

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

Investors

Rowville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (7.5% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Rowville Knoxfield
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.

Rowville Knoxfield
Walkability 87 / 79
Rowville — Walkability: 87/100 Knoxfield — Walkability: 79/100
Safety 48 / 45
Rowville — Safety: 48/100 Knoxfield — Safety: 45/100
Low fire risk 47 / 100
Rowville — Low fire risk: 47/100 Knoxfield — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 31 / 46
Rowville — Low flood risk: 31/100 Knoxfield — Low flood risk: 46/100

Demographics

Rowville has more residents (33,571 vs 7,645); Rowville has higher household incomes ($114,660 vs $91,624).

Rowville Knoxfield
Population 33,571
+77% vs other
 7,645
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.3% +2.5%
Median age 41
same for both
Median household income $114,660/yr
+20% vs other
 $91,624/yr
Median weekly rent $441/wk
+5% vs other
 $421/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Rowville Knoxfield
0-4 4.7% / 5.2%
Rowville — 0-4: 4.7% Knoxfield — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 12.0% / 11.6%
Rowville — 5-14: 12.0% Knoxfield — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 6.6% / 6.0%
Rowville — 15-19: 6.6% Knoxfield — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 7.0% / 5.9%
Rowville — 20-24: 7.0% Knoxfield — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 11.3% / 12.2%
Rowville — 25-34: 11.3% Knoxfield — 25-34: 12.2%
35-44 12.4% / 14.7%
Rowville — 35-44: 12.4% Knoxfield — 35-44: 14.7%
45-54 14.9% / 13.0%
Rowville — 45-54: 14.9% Knoxfield — 45-54: 13.0%
55-64 15.3% / 11.8%
Rowville — 55-64: 15.3% Knoxfield — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 9.2% / 10.5%
Rowville — 65-74: 9.2% Knoxfield — 65-74: 10.5%
75-84 4.9% / 7.4%
Rowville — 75-84: 4.9% Knoxfield — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 1.7% / 1.7%
Rowville — 85+: 1.7% Knoxfield — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Rowville 62.3% couple families
Rowville — Couple Families: 62.3% Rowville — Lone Person: 20.2% Rowville — One Parent Families: 14.0% Rowville — Group Household: 2.2% Rowville — Other Families: 1.3%
Knoxfield 50.1% couple families
Knoxfield — Couple Families: 50.1% Knoxfield — Lone Person: 28.6% Knoxfield — One Parent Families: 16.3% Knoxfield — Group Household: 3.4% Knoxfield — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Rowville 15.7% renting
Rowville — Owned Outright: 37.5% Rowville — Mortgage: 46.8% Rowville — Renting: 15.7%
Knoxfield 23.3% renting
Knoxfield — Owned Outright: 37.8% Knoxfield — Mortgage: 39.0% Knoxfield — Renting: 23.3%
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.

Rowville Knoxfield
China 4.8% / 6.9%
Rowville — China: 4.8% Knoxfield — China: 6.9%
India 3.2% / 3.6%
Rowville — India: 3.2% Knoxfield — India: 3.6%
Sri Lanka 3.5% / 2.4%
Rowville — Sri Lanka: 3.5% Knoxfield — Sri Lanka: 2.4%
England 2.7% / 3.1%
Rowville — England: 2.7% Knoxfield — England: 3.1%
Malaysia 2.4% / 3.0%
Rowville — Malaysia: 2.4% Knoxfield — Malaysia: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

Qualifications

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

Rowville Knoxfield
Bachelor Degree 16.2% / 16.4%
Rowville — Bachelor Degree: 16.2% Knoxfield — Bachelor Degree: 16.4%
Certificate III & IV 12.2% / 12.4%
Rowville — Certificate III & IV: 12.2% Knoxfield — Certificate III & IV: 12.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 9.2%
Rowville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Knoxfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2%
Postgraduate Degree 5.7% / 5.8%
Rowville — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7% Knoxfield — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.3%
Rowville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Knoxfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Rowville 91.8% houses
Rowville — Houses: 91.8% Rowville — Townhouses: 7.2% Rowville — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Knoxfield 79.4% houses
Knoxfield — Houses: 79.4% Knoxfield — Townhouses: 20.4% Knoxfield — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Rowville Knoxfield
Median house price $1,115,000 $1,000,050
Median unit price $645,000 $805,000
Median land price $946,327 $1,133,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 350 sales
 24 days
from 40 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.

Rowville Knoxfield
3 bed $960K / $920K
Rowville — 3 bed: $960K (195 sales) Knoxfield — 3 bed: $920K (63 sales)

195 vs 63 sales

4 bed $1.21M / $1.19M
Rowville — 4 bed: $1.21M (250 sales) Knoxfield — 4 bed: $1.19M (35 sales)

250 vs 35 sales

5 bed $1.35M / $1.4M
Rowville — 5 bed: $1.35M (60 sales) Knoxfield — 5 bed: $1.4M (9 sales)

60 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Knoxfield has more industrially zoned land (26% vs 4%).

Rowville Knoxfield
Residential 52% 42%
Industrial 4% 26%
Other and special use 16% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 13%
Parks and recreation 7%
same for both
Commercial 3% 2%
Rural and farming 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

Rowville Knoxfield
New dwellings approved 577
across Knox
same for both
Approvals change year on year -14%
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.

Rowville Knoxfield
Houses 3.6%
$720/wk on $1.05M
 3.6%
$650/wk on $930K
Units 7.5%
$685/wk on $472K
 4.3%
$575/wk on $688K

Ranking within VIC

Rowville Knoxfield
House price Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 61% of VIC
Schools Higher than 81% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 30% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC

Liveability

Rowville is more walkable (87 vs 79); Knoxfield scores higher overall (68 vs 63).

Rowville Knoxfield
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 68/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Rowville carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0); Rowville carries more flood risk (69 vs 54).

Rowville Knoxfield
Bushfire Moderate
53/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
52/100
 Moderate
55/100
Flood Moderate
69/100
 Moderate
54/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Rowville Knoxfield
Inside the suburb 7 2
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Monash Clayton, 10.0 km
 None

Schools in Rowville

  • Karoo Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Park Ridge Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Rowville Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Heany Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rowville Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Simon's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Schools in Knoxfield

  • Knox Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Carrington Primary School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Rowville Knoxfield
Supermarkets 5 1
Cafes & restaurants 18 7
Parks & reserves 22 10
Childcare 22 6
GPs 12 1
Pharmacies 6 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 5 2
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 9 5

Mobility

Rowville Knoxfield
Walkability score 87/100 79/100
Distance to Melbourne 31.7 km 32.1 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 34 min 37 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 372.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 114.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 3178
 1.4%
postcode 3180
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3178
 42
postcode 3180

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.

Rowville Knoxfield
Car (driver) 64.1% / 63.3%
Rowville — Car (driver): 64.1% Knoxfield — Car (driver): 63.3%
Worked from Home 29.3% / 28.6%
Rowville — Worked from Home: 29.3% Knoxfield — Worked from Home: 28.6%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 4.0%
Rowville — Car (passenger): 4.0% Knoxfield — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Train 1.4% / 1.6%
Rowville — Train: 1.4% Knoxfield — Train: 1.6%
Bus 0.7% / 1.0%
Rowville — Bus: 0.7% Knoxfield — Bus: 1.0%
Walked Only 0.4% / 1.2%
Rowville — Walked Only: 0.4% Knoxfield — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.1%).

Setting

Rowville Knoxfield
Elevation 86 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 87 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.8 km 19.5 km

NBN connectivity

Rowville Knoxfield
Connectivity score 86/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 40%
13,198 premises
 37%
3,841 premises

Climate

Rowville Knoxfield
Annual rainfall 781 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) — 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Rowville Knoxfield
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

Rowville Knoxfield
Average residential rate $1,732/yr
same for both
Council Knox
same for both

Federal electorate

Rowville Knoxfield
Division Aston
same for both
Member Mary Doyle
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Rowville Knoxfield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Rowville

Large Blocks Outer

Knoxfield

Outer Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Rowville

Rowville vs Ferntree Gully Rowville vs Endeavour Hills Rowville vs Dandenong North Rowville vs Wheelers Hill Rowville vs Mulgrave Rowville vs Lysterfield

Other comparisons with Knoxfield

Knoxfield vs Ferntree Gully Knoxfield vs Boronia Knoxfield vs Wantirna South Knoxfield vs Scoresby
Full data on Rowville Full data on Knoxfield
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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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