Toorak vs Malvern

Malvern is the younger of the two, with a median age of 44 against 47 in Toorak. In both, most households own their home. In Toorak, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Toorak: a median of $3.15 million, against $2.8 million in Malvern, and rent is higher there too. Toorak is closer to the city centre: 7.8 km, against 12 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

Malvern

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (46% vs 30%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (50% vs 40%)
  • But Toorak has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Malvern

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($582,500 vs $815,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($2,800,000 vs $3,150,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Malvern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($450/wk vs $486/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Toorak sits closer to the CBD (7.8 km vs 12 km)
  • Malvern is more walkable (99/100 vs 88/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Malvern

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 4)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 88/100)
  • But Toorak has more units and townhouses to downsize into (70% vs 54%)

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

Investors

Malvern

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Toorak Malvern
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.

Toorak Malvern
Walkability 88 / 99
Toorak — Walkability: 88/100 Malvern — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 27 / 26
Toorak — Safety: 27/100 Malvern — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Toorak — Low fire risk: 100/100 Malvern — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 44 / 69
Toorak — Low flood risk: 44/100 Malvern — Low flood risk: 69/100

Demographics

Toorak has more residents (12,817 vs 9,929); Toorak skews older (47 vs 44).

Toorak Malvern
Population 12,817
+23% vs other
 9,929
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.7% -1.4%
Median age 47 44
Median household income $131,716/yr $135,512/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $486/wk
+7% vs other
 $450/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Toorak Malvern
0-4 3.2% / 4.0%
Toorak — 0-4: 3.2% Malvern — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 7.7% / 11.0%
Toorak — 5-14: 7.7% Malvern — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 4.9% / 6.3%
Toorak — 15-19: 4.9% Malvern — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 6.7% / 6.0%
Toorak — 20-24: 6.7% Malvern — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 14.6% / 12.1%
Toorak — 25-34: 14.6% Malvern — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 10.6% / 11.6%
Toorak — 35-44: 10.6% Malvern — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 11.9% / 13.9%
Toorak — 45-54: 11.9% Malvern — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 13.1% / 12.1%
Toorak — 55-64: 13.1% Malvern — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 13.6% / 10.6%
Toorak — 65-74: 13.6% Malvern — 65-74: 10.6%
75-84 9.6% / 8.6%
Toorak — 75-84: 9.6% Malvern — 75-84: 8.6%
85+ 4.0% / 3.9%
Toorak — 85+: 4.0% Malvern — 85+: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Toorak 51.0% lone person
Toorak — Lone Person: 51.0% Toorak — Couple Families: 30.1% Toorak — One Parent Families: 9.9% Toorak — Group Household: 7.6% Toorak — Other Families: 1.4%
Malvern 43.4% lone person
Malvern — Lone Person: 43.4% Malvern — Couple Families: 39.7% Malvern — One Parent Families: 10.5% Malvern — Group Household: 4.9% Malvern — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Toorak 32.3% renting
Toorak — Owned Outright: 44.2% Toorak — Mortgage: 23.5% Toorak — Renting: 32.3%
Malvern 27.6% renting
Malvern — Owned Outright: 43.2% Malvern — Mortgage: 29.2% Malvern — Renting: 27.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Toorak Malvern
Bachelor Degree 30.4% / 29.4%
Toorak — Bachelor Degree: 30.4% Malvern — Bachelor Degree: 29.4%
Postgraduate Degree 12.4% / 11.8%
Toorak — Postgraduate Degree: 12.4% Malvern — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.8%
Toorak — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Malvern — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 4.0%
Toorak — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Malvern — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 3.4%
Toorak — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Malvern — Certificate III & IV: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.4%).

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.

Toorak Malvern
China 5.0% / 2.2%
Toorak — China: 5.0% Malvern — China: 2.2%
England 3.4% / 3.5%
Toorak — England: 3.4% Malvern — England: 3.5%
India 1.9% / 2.0%
Toorak — India: 1.9% Malvern — India: 2.0%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.6%
Toorak — New Zealand: 2.0% Malvern — New Zealand: 1.6%
Malaysia 1.4% / 0.9%
Toorak — Malaysia: 1.4% Malvern — Malaysia: 0.9%
Greece — / 1.3%
Toorak — Greece: not among its largest Malvern — Greece: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Toorak 49.9% flats / apartments
Toorak — Flats / Apartments: 49.9% Toorak — Houses: 30.4% Toorak — Townhouses: 19.8%
Malvern 34.8% flats / apartments
Malvern — Flats / Apartments: 34.8% Malvern — Houses: 45.8% Malvern — Townhouses: 19.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Toorak Malvern
Median house price $3,150,000 $2,800,000
Median unit price $815,500 $582,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 61 sales
 23 days
from 69 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.

Toorak Malvern
3 bed $2.55M / $2.25M
Toorak — 3 bed: $2.55M (37 sales) Malvern — 3 bed: $2.25M (49 sales)

37 vs 49 sales

4 bed $4.75M / $3.52M
Toorak — 4 bed: $4.75M (23 sales) Malvern — 4 bed: $3.52M (40 sales)

23 vs 40 sales

5 bed $7.85M / $4.77M
Toorak — 5 bed: $7.85M (7 sales) Malvern — 5 bed: $4.77M (11 sales)

7 vs 11 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.

Toorak Malvern
1 bed $462K / $421K
Toorak — 1 bed: $462K (48 sales) Malvern — 1 bed: $421K (54 sales)

48 vs 54 sales

2 bed $808K / $670K
Toorak — 2 bed: $808K (156 sales) Malvern — 2 bed: $670K (67 sales)

156 vs 67 sales

3 bed $1.69M / $1.33M
Toorak — 3 bed: $1.69M (54 sales) Malvern — 3 bed: $1.33M (12 sales)

54 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Toorak Malvern
Residential 88% 79%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 11%
Commercial 2% 6%
Parks and recreation 2% 4%
Other and special use 3% 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

Toorak Malvern
New dwellings approved 818
across Stonnington
same for both
Approvals change year on year +67%
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.

Toorak Malvern
Houses 2.4%
$1,550/wk on $3.29M
 3.4%
$1,700/wk on $2.6M
Units 4.1%
$700/wk on $890K
 4.4%
$645/wk on $760K

Ranking within VIC

Toorak Malvern
House price Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Income Higher than 95% of VIC
same for both
Schools Higher than 64% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC

Liveability

Malvern scores higher overall (88 vs 77); Malvern is more walkable (99 vs 88).

Toorak Malvern
Grade A A+
Score 77/100 88/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Toorak carries more flood risk (56 vs 31).

Toorak Malvern
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
73/100
 High
74/100
Flood Moderate
56/100
 Low
31/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Toorak Malvern
Inside the suburb 6 4
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 2.3 km
 3
Monash Caulfield, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.3% 4.5%

Schools in Toorak

  • St Catherine's School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Toorak Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Kevin's College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Loreto Mandeville Hall Catholic · Combined below peers
  • Geelong Grammar School - Toorak campus Independent · Combined
  • St Kevin's College - Glendalough Catholic · Combined

Schools in Malvern

  • De La Salle College Catholic · Combined above peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Malvern Central School Government · Primary at peers
  • De La Salle College - Kinnoull Campus Catholic · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Toorak Malvern
Supermarkets 3
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 3 19
Parks & reserves 6 7
Childcare 10 8
GPs 4 7
Pharmacies 4 6
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 6
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Malvern sits further from the CBD (12 km vs 7.8 km).

Toorak Malvern
Walkability score 88/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 7.8 km 12 km
+54% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 21 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 98/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 298.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 303.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.5%
postcode 3142
 3.2%
postcode 3144
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3142
 13
postcode 3144

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.

Toorak Malvern
Worked from Home 48.7% / 49.6%
Toorak — Worked from Home: 48.7% Malvern — Worked from Home: 49.6%
Car (driver) 38.0% / 36.7%
Toorak — Car (driver): 38.0% Malvern — Car (driver): 36.7%
Train 3.7% / 4.6%
Toorak — Train: 3.7% Malvern — Train: 4.6%
Walked Only 3.3% / 4.6%
Toorak — Walked Only: 3.3% Malvern — Walked Only: 4.6%
Tram / Light Rail 2.4% / 1.6%
Toorak — Tram / Light Rail: 2.4% Malvern — Tram / Light Rail: 1.6%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 1.9%
Toorak — Car (passenger): 2.1% Malvern — Car (passenger): 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.6%).

Setting

Toorak Malvern
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 55 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.7 km
4.8 km to a named beach
 5.4 km

NBN connectivity

Toorak Malvern
Connectivity score 76/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
8,025 premises
 12%
6,062 premises

Climate

Toorak Malvern
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)

Toorak Malvern
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³ 7.6 µg/m³
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Toorak Malvern
Average residential rate $1,647/yr
same for both
Council Stonnington
same for both

Federal electorate

Toorak Malvern
Division Kooyong
same for both
Member Monique Ryan
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Toorak Malvern
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Toorak

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Retirees Trams Transport Hub

Malvern

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Toorak

Toorak vs South Yarra Toorak vs Hawthorn Toorak vs Prahran Toorak vs Armadale Toorak vs Kooyong Toorak vs Burnley

Other comparisons with Malvern

Malvern vs Glen Iris Malvern vs Hawthorn Malvern vs Malvern East Malvern vs Caulfield North Malvern vs Hawthorn East Malvern vs Armadale
Full data on Toorak Full data on Malvern
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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