St Kilda East vs Ripponlea

In both, about half of households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in St Kilda East: a median of $565,000, against $476,000 in Ripponlea. On these figures, Ripponlea 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

St Kilda East

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • St Kilda East has cheaper houses ($1,600,000 vs $1,825,500)
  • Ripponlea has cheaper units ($476,250 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

St Kilda East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)

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

Investors

Ripponlea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.9% vs 5.4%)

Weighs unit yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

St Kilda East Ripponlea
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.

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Walkability 99 / 96
St Kilda East — Walkability: 99/100 Ripponlea — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 40 / 35
St Kilda East — Safety: 40/100 Ripponlea — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
St Kilda East — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ripponlea — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 52 / 54
St Kilda East — Low flood risk: 52/100 Ripponlea — Low flood risk: 54/100

Demographics

St Kilda East has more residents (12,571 vs 1,532).

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Population 12,571
+88% vs other
 1,532
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.0% -2.8%
Median age 34
same for both
Median household income $105,040/yr $105,196/yr
Median weekly rent $396/wk
+1% vs other
 $391/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

St Kilda East Ripponlea
0-4 5.8% / 6.0%
St Kilda East — 0-4: 5.8% Ripponlea — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 10.6% / 11.6%
St Kilda East — 5-14: 10.6% Ripponlea — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 4.3% / 4.6%
St Kilda East — 15-19: 4.3% Ripponlea — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 6.5% / 8.2%
St Kilda East — 20-24: 6.5% Ripponlea — 20-24: 8.2%
25-34 24.6% / 20.9%
St Kilda East — 25-34: 24.6% Ripponlea — 25-34: 20.9%
35-44 17.2% / 17.4%
St Kilda East — 35-44: 17.2% Ripponlea — 35-44: 17.4%
45-54 11.8% / 13.9%
St Kilda East — 45-54: 11.8% Ripponlea — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 8.6% / 9.0%
St Kilda East — 55-64: 8.6% Ripponlea — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 6.3% / 5.0%
St Kilda East — 65-74: 6.3% Ripponlea — 65-74: 5.0%
75-84 2.9% / 3.2%
St Kilda East — 75-84: 2.9% Ripponlea — 75-84: 3.2%
85+ 1.3% / 1.0%
St Kilda East — 85+: 1.3% Ripponlea — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Ripponlea 47.6% lone person
Ripponlea — Lone Person: 47.6% Ripponlea — Couple Families: 27.6% Ripponlea — Group Household: 13.0% Ripponlea — One Parent Families: 9.8% Ripponlea — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

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%
Ripponlea 49.2% renting
Ripponlea — Owned Outright: 20.7% Ripponlea — Mortgage: 30.1% Ripponlea — Renting: 49.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Bachelor Degree 26.2% / 27.2%
St Kilda East — Bachelor Degree: 26.2% Ripponlea — Bachelor Degree: 27.2%
Postgraduate Degree 11.0% / 10.2%
St Kilda East — Postgraduate Degree: 11.0% Ripponlea — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 7.7%
St Kilda East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Ripponlea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Certificate III & IV 7.0% / 7.6%
St Kilda East — Certificate III & IV: 7.0% Ripponlea — Certificate III & IV: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 3.4%
St Kilda East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Ripponlea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.2%).

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.

St Kilda East Ripponlea
England 3.9% / 4.5%
St Kilda East — England: 3.9% Ripponlea — England: 4.5%
India 2.3% / 2.3%
St Kilda East — India: 2.3% Ripponlea — India: 2.3%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.3%
St Kilda East — New Zealand: 2.2% Ripponlea — New Zealand: 2.3%
Ireland 1.1% / 1.6%
St Kilda East — Ireland: 1.1% Ripponlea — Ireland: 1.6%
South Africa 1.5% / 0.7%
St Kilda East — South Africa: 1.5% Ripponlea — South Africa: 0.7%
Nepal — / 1.7%
St Kilda East — Nepal: not among its largest Ripponlea — Nepal: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

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%
Ripponlea 64.8% flats / apartments
Ripponlea — Flats / Apartments: 64.8% Ripponlea — Houses: 20.6% Ripponlea — Townhouses: 14.6%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Median house price $1,600,000 $1,825,500
Median unit price $565,000 $476,250
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 41 sales
 26 days
from 6 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.

St Kilda East Ripponlea
1 bed $356K / $330K
St Kilda East — 1 bed: $356K (102 sales) Ripponlea — 1 bed: $330K (18 sales)

102 vs 18 sales

2 bed $600K / $575K
St Kilda East — 2 bed: $600K (222 sales) Ripponlea — 2 bed: $575K (29 sales)

222 vs 29 sales

Zoning mix

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Residential 85% 70%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 22%
Commercial 0% 7%
Parks and recreation 5% 2%
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

St Kilda East Ripponlea
New dwellings approved 617
across Glen Eira
 891
across Port Phillip
Approvals change year on year -69% +4175%

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.

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Houses 3.5%
$925/wk on $1.38M
 —
Units 5.4%
$620/wk on $600K
 6.9%
$600/wk on $450K

Ranking within VIC

St Kilda East Ripponlea
House price Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Income Higher than 77% of VIC
same for both
Schools Higher than 36% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 9% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 36% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC

Liveability

Ripponlea scores higher overall (84 vs 74).

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Grade A A+
Score 74/100 84/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
60/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
46/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Inside the suburb 9 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Monash Caulfield, 3.9 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 4.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 3.2%

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

Schools in Ripponlea

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Amenities in the suburb

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 7
Parks & reserves 4 1
Childcare 10 0
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1

Mobility

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Walkability score 99/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 9 km 9.2 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 18 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 181.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 3183
 2.6%
postcode 3185
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3183
 13
postcode 3185

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.

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Worked from Home 47.1% / 48.8%
St Kilda East — Worked from Home: 47.1% Ripponlea — Worked from Home: 48.8%
Car (driver) 36.8% / 30.8%
St Kilda East — Car (driver): 36.8% Ripponlea — Car (driver): 30.8%
Train 3.6% / 9.6%
St Kilda East — Train: 3.6% Ripponlea — Train: 9.6%
Walked Only 4.1% / 3.0%
St Kilda East — Walked Only: 4.1% Ripponlea — Walked Only: 3.0%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 3.5%
St Kilda East — Car (passenger): 2.3% Ripponlea — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Tram / Light Rail 3.4% / 1.9%
St Kilda East — Tram / Light Rail: 3.4% Ripponlea — Tram / Light Rail: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (48.8%).

Setting

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Elevation 24 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
2.5 km to a named beach
 1.6 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
7,114 premises
 0%
883 premises

Climate

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Average residential rate $1,577/yr $1,765/yr
Council Glen Eira Port Phillip

Federal electorate

St Kilda East Ripponlea
Division Macnamara
same for both
Member Josh Burns
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

St Kilda East

Apartments Coastal Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Ripponlea

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with St Kilda East

St Kilda East vs St Kilda St Kilda East vs Caulfield North St Kilda East vs Prahran St Kilda East vs Elsternwick St Kilda East vs Armadale St Kilda East vs Windsor

Other comparisons with Ripponlea

Ripponlea vs Elwood Ripponlea vs Elsternwick Ripponlea vs Balaclava
Full data on St Kilda East Full data on Ripponlea
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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