Trafalgar vs Willow Grove

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Willow Grove, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Trafalgar tends to suit people living alone, while Willow Grove suits 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

Willow Grove

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 64/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 56%)
  • But Trafalgar has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Willow Grove

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (14% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($243/wk vs $300/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Willow Grove

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (126.9 km vs 129.3 km)
  • But Trafalgar has a shorter drive in (95 min vs 103 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Willow Grove

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (42/100 vs 64/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Trafalgar Willow Grove
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.

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Walkability 0 / 13
Trafalgar — Walkability: 0/100 Willow Grove — Walkability: 13/100
Safety 36 / 58
Trafalgar — Safety: 36/100 Willow Grove — Safety: 58/100
Low fire risk 3 / 3
Trafalgar — Low fire risk: 3/100 Willow Grove — Low fire risk: 3/100
Low flood risk 20 / 48
Trafalgar — Low flood risk: 20/100 Willow Grove — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Trafalgar has more residents (4,349 vs 654); Willow Grove has higher household incomes ($93,652 vs $75,296).

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Population 4,349
+85% vs other
 654
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.2% +10.8%
Median age 41 42
Median household income $75,296/yr $93,652/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+19% vs other
 $243/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Trafalgar Willow Grove
0-4 6.1% / 7.2%
Trafalgar — 0-4: 6.1% Willow Grove — 0-4: 7.2%
5-14 14.0% / 14.8%
Trafalgar — 5-14: 14.0% Willow Grove — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 5.6% / 5.8%
Trafalgar — 15-19: 5.6% Willow Grove — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 4.5% / 4.1%
Trafalgar — 20-24: 4.5% Willow Grove — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 11.3% / 9.2%
Trafalgar — 25-34: 11.3% Willow Grove — 25-34: 9.2%
35-44 12.3% / 11.5%
Trafalgar — 35-44: 12.3% Willow Grove — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 12.2% / 14.5%
Trafalgar — 45-54: 12.2% Willow Grove — 45-54: 14.5%
55-64 10.9% / 14.5%
Trafalgar — 55-64: 10.9% Willow Grove — 55-64: 14.5%
65-74 12.9% / 12.1%
Trafalgar — 65-74: 12.9% Willow Grove — 65-74: 12.1%
75-84 7.3% / 5.7%
Trafalgar — 75-84: 7.3% Willow Grove — 75-84: 5.7%
85+ 3.0% / 0.6%
Trafalgar — 85+: 3.0% Willow Grove — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Trafalgar 38.2% couple families
Trafalgar — Couple Families: 38.2% Trafalgar — Lone Person: 39.2% Trafalgar — One Parent Families: 18.0% Trafalgar — Group Household: 3.2% Trafalgar — Other Families: 1.5%
Willow Grove 53.3% couple families
Willow Grove — Couple Families: 53.3% Willow Grove — Lone Person: 29.6% Willow Grove — One Parent Families: 13.2% Willow Grove — Group Household: 2.0% Willow Grove — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Trafalgar 21.6% renting
Trafalgar — Owned Outright: 40.9% Trafalgar — Mortgage: 37.6% Trafalgar — Renting: 21.6%
Willow Grove 11.9% renting
Willow Grove — Owned Outright: 48.4% Willow Grove — Mortgage: 39.7% Willow Grove — Renting: 11.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Certificate III & IV 18.0% / 18.7%
Trafalgar — Certificate III & IV: 18.0% Willow Grove — Certificate III & IV: 18.7%
Bachelor Degree 8.4% / 9.2%
Trafalgar — Bachelor Degree: 8.4% Willow Grove — Bachelor Degree: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 7.0%
Trafalgar — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Willow Grove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 1.9% / 2.0%
Trafalgar — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9% Willow Grove — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.5%
Trafalgar — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Willow Grove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

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.

Trafalgar Willow Grove
England 3.1% / 2.1%
Trafalgar — England: 3.1% Willow Grove — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 0.6% / 1.2%
Trafalgar — New Zealand: 0.6% Willow Grove — New Zealand: 1.2%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.8%
Trafalgar — Netherlands: 0.5% Willow Grove — Netherlands: 0.8%
India 0.6% / —
Trafalgar — India: 0.6% Willow Grove — India: not among its largest
Indonesia — / 0.6%
Trafalgar — Indonesia: not among its largest Willow Grove — Indonesia: 0.6%
Ireland — / 0.6%
Trafalgar — Ireland: not among its largest Willow Grove — Ireland: 0.6%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Trafalgar — Scotland: 0.5% Willow Grove — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Trafalgar 93.3% houses
Trafalgar — Houses: 93.3% Trafalgar — Townhouses: 6.0% Trafalgar — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Willow Grove 100.0% houses
Willow Grove — Houses: 100.0% Willow Grove — Townhouses: 0.0% Willow Grove — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Median house price $615,000 $627,500
Median unit price $400,000 —
Median land price $451,700 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 45 days
from 56 sales
 30 days
from 4 sales

Zoning mix

Trafalgar has more rural and farming land (91% vs 68%).

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Rural and farming 91% 68%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 23%
Parks and recreation 1% 8%
Residential 4% 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

Trafalgar Willow Grove
New dwellings approved 619
across Baw Baw
same for both
Approvals change year on year +49%
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.

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Houses 4.1%
$540/wk on $690K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Trafalgar Willow Grove
House price Higher than 27% of VIC —
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Schools Higher than 12% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 30% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 67% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 72% of VIC —

Liveability

Willow Grove is more walkable (13 vs 0); Willow Grove scores higher overall (30 vs 15).

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Grade D
same for both
Score 15/100 30/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Trafalgar carries more flood risk (80 vs 52); Trafalgar carries more crime risk (64 vs 42).

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Bushfire High
97/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
42/100
Flood High
80/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Trafalgar

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Trafalgar High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Trafalgar Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Willow Grove

  • Willow Grove Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 1
Parks & reserves 5 4
Childcare 3 2
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 4 75

Mobility

Trafalgar sits further from the CBD (129.3 km vs 126.9 km).

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Walkability score 0/100 13/100
Distance to Melbourne 129.3 km
+2% vs other
 126.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 95 min 103 min
Electric vehicle share 0.4%
postcode 3824
 0.3%
postcode 3825
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 3824
 38
postcode 3825

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.

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Car (driver) 76.6% / 70.3%
Trafalgar — Car (driver): 76.6% Willow Grove — Car (driver): 70.3%
Worked from Home 12.7% / 23.6%
Trafalgar — Worked from Home: 12.7% Willow Grove — Worked from Home: 23.6%
Car (passenger) 5.9% / 3.1%
Trafalgar — Car (passenger): 5.9% Willow Grove — Car (passenger): 3.1%
Walked Only 3.3% / 3.1%
Trafalgar — Walked Only: 3.3% Willow Grove — Walked Only: 3.1%
Train 1.0% / —
Trafalgar — Train: 1.0% Willow Grove — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.6%).

Setting

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Elevation 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 164 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Connectivity score 64/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 38%
2,080 premises
 0%
264 premises

Climate

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Annual rainfall 700 mm 1,090 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C 25.1°C
Winter min (Jul) 4.1°C 3.7°C

Council rates

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Average residential rate $2,138/yr
same for both
Council Baw Baw
same for both

Federal electorate

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Trafalgar Willow Grove
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Trafalgar

Acreage Trains

Willow Grove

Family Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Trafalgar

Trafalgar vs Yarragon Trafalgar vs Trafalgar East Trafalgar vs Trafalgar South Trafalgar vs Yarragon South Trafalgar vs Shady Creek Trafalgar vs Westbury

Other comparisons with Willow Grove

Willow Grove vs Tanjil South Willow Grove vs Neerim East Willow Grove vs Shady Creek Willow Grove vs Hill End Willow Grove vs Westbury
Full data on Trafalgar Full data on Willow Grove
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or