Toorak vs Prahran

Prahran is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 47 in Toorak. In Toorak, most households own their home, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Prahran, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Toorak: a median of $816,000, against $472,000 in Prahran, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Toorak tends to suit older residents, while Prahran suits renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

Toorak

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (10 vs 5)
  • is already more of a family suburb (40% vs 23%)
  • But Prahran has more parks and reserves (9 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

Prahran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,600,000 vs $3,150,000)
  • has cheaper units ($472,000 vs $815,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Prahran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (55% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($421/wk vs $486/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Prahran

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 88/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Prahran

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 4)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (82% vs 70%)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 88/100)
  • But Toorak has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Prahran

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.0% vs 4.1%)
  • But Toorak is growing faster (-0.7% vs -6.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Toorak and Prahran 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 Prahran
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 Prahran
Walkability 88 / 99
Toorak — Walkability: 88/100 Prahran — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 27 / 6
Toorak — Safety: 27/100 Prahran — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Toorak — Low fire risk: 100/100 Prahran — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 44 / 58
Toorak — Low flood risk: 44/100 Prahran — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

Toorak skews older (47 vs 34); Toorak has higher household incomes ($131,716 vs $110,292).

Toorak Prahran
Population 12,817
+5% vs other
 12,203
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.7% -6.0%
Median age 47 34
Median household income $131,716/yr
+16% vs other
 $110,292/yr
Median weekly rent $486/wk
+13% vs other
 $421/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Toorak Prahran
0-4 3.2% / 4.0%
Toorak — 0-4: 3.2% Prahran — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 7.7% / 4.6%
Toorak — 5-14: 7.7% Prahran — 5-14: 4.6%
15-19 4.9% / 2.4%
Toorak — 15-19: 4.9% Prahran — 15-19: 2.4%
20-24 6.7% / 7.9%
Toorak — 20-24: 6.7% Prahran — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 14.6% / 31.2%
Toorak — 25-34: 14.6% Prahran — 25-34: 31.2%
35-44 10.6% / 18.1%
Toorak — 35-44: 10.6% Prahran — 35-44: 18.1%
45-54 11.9% / 10.9%
Toorak — 45-54: 11.9% Prahran — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 13.1% / 8.4%
Toorak — 55-64: 13.1% Prahran — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 13.6% / 6.2%
Toorak — 65-74: 13.6% Prahran — 65-74: 6.2%
75-84 9.6% / 4.2%
Toorak — 75-84: 9.6% Prahran — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 4.0% / 2.1%
Toorak — 85+: 4.0% Prahran — 85+: 2.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Toorak 51.0% lone person
Toorak — Lone Person: 51.0% Toorak — Couple Families: 30.1% Toorak — Group Household: 7.6% Toorak — One Parent Families: 9.9% Toorak — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families 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%
Prahran 55.4% renting
Prahran — Owned Outright: 20.1% Prahran — Mortgage: 24.4% Prahran — Renting: 55.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Toorak Prahran
Bachelor Degree 30.4% / 33.4%
Toorak — Bachelor Degree: 30.4% Prahran — Bachelor Degree: 33.4%
Postgraduate Degree 12.4% / 12.2%
Toorak — Postgraduate Degree: 12.4% Prahran — Postgraduate Degree: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.1%
Toorak — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Prahran — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 5.9%
Toorak — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Prahran — Certificate III & IV: 5.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 3.8%
Toorak — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Prahran — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

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.

Toorak Prahran
England 3.4% / 4.6%
Toorak — England: 3.4% Prahran — England: 4.6%
China 5.0% / 1.5%
Toorak — China: 5.0% Prahran — China: 1.5%
New Zealand 2.0% / 3.2%
Toorak — New Zealand: 2.0% Prahran — New Zealand: 3.2%
India 1.9% / 1.4%
Toorak — India: 1.9% Prahran — India: 1.4%
Greece — / 2.7%
Toorak — Greece: not among its largest Prahran — Greece: 2.7%
Malaysia 1.4% / 1.0%
Toorak — Malaysia: 1.4% Prahran — Malaysia: 1.0%

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%
Prahran 60.1% flats / apartments
Prahran — Flats / Apartments: 60.1% Prahran — Houses: 18.3% Prahran — Townhouses: 21.6%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Toorak Prahran
Median house price $3,150,000 $1,600,000
Median unit price $815,500 $472,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 61 sales
 24 days
from 78 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 Prahran
3 bed $2.55M / $1.74M
Toorak — 3 bed: $2.55M (37 sales) Prahran — 3 bed: $1.74M (65 sales)

37 vs 65 sales

4 bed $4.75M / $2.77M
Toorak — 4 bed: $4.75M (23 sales) Prahran — 4 bed: $2.77M (11 sales)

23 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 Prahran
1 bed $462K / $375K
Toorak — 1 bed: $462K (48 sales) Prahran — 1 bed: $375K (184 sales)

48 vs 184 sales

2 bed $808K / $605K
Toorak — 2 bed: $808K (156 sales) Prahran — 2 bed: $605K (175 sales)

156 vs 175 sales

3 bed $1.69M / $900K
Toorak — 3 bed: $1.69M (54 sales) Prahran — 3 bed: $900K (19 sales)

54 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Prahran has more commercially zoned land (18% vs 2%).

Toorak Prahran
Residential 88% 67%
Commercial 2% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 9%
Parks and recreation 2% 5%
Other and special use 3% 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

Toorak Prahran
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 Prahran
Houses 2.4%
$1,550/wk on $3.29M
 3.2%
$1,000/wk on $1.6M
Units 4.1%
$700/wk on $890K
 5.0%
$550/wk on $575K

Ranking within VIC

Toorak Prahran
House price Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Income Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools Higher than 64% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 12% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 60% of VIC

Liveability

Prahran is more walkable (99 vs 88).

Toorak Prahran
Grade A
same for both
Score 77/100 80/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Toorak carries more flood risk (56 vs 42); Prahran carries more crime risk (94 vs 73).

Toorak Prahran
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
73/100
 High
94/100
Flood Moderate
56/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Toorak Prahran
Inside the suburb 6 1
Rated above peers 2 0
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
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 3.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.3% 3.3%

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 Prahran

  • Our Lady of Lourdes School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Toorak Prahran
Supermarkets 3
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 3 29
Parks & reserves 6 9
Childcare 10 5
GPs 4 10
Pharmacies 4 5
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Toorak Prahran
Walkability score 88/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 7.8 km
+3% vs other
 7.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min
same for both
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 298.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 262.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.5%
postcode 3142
 2.2%
postcode 3181
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3142
 5
postcode 3181

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 Prahran
Worked from Home 48.7% / 51.9%
Toorak — Worked from Home: 48.7% Prahran — Worked from Home: 51.9%
Car (driver) 38.0% / 27.4%
Toorak — Car (driver): 38.0% Prahran — Car (driver): 27.4%
Walked Only 3.3% / 7.4%
Toorak — Walked Only: 3.3% Prahran — Walked Only: 7.4%
Train 3.7% / 5.3%
Toorak — Train: 3.7% Prahran — Train: 5.3%
Tram / Light Rail 2.4% / 4.4%
Toorak — Tram / Light Rail: 2.4% Prahran — Tram / Light Rail: 4.4%

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

Setting

Toorak Prahran
Elevation 52 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.7 km
4.8 km to a named beach
 2.8 km
3.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Toorak Prahran
Connectivity score 76/100 78/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
8,025 premises
 19%
9,581 premises

Climate

Toorak Prahran
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Toorak Prahran
Division Kooyong Melbourne
Member Monique Ryan Sarah Witty
Party Independent Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Toorak Prahran
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

Prahran

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Toorak

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

Other comparisons with Prahran

Prahran vs Melbourne Prahran vs South Yarra Prahran vs St Kilda East Prahran vs Armadale Prahran vs Windsor
Full data on Toorak Full data on Prahran
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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