Wattle Glen vs Kangaroo Ground

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Kangaroo Ground: a median of $1.97 million, against $980,000 in Wattle Glen, though rent is higher in Wattle Glen. On these figures, Wattle Glen 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

Wattle Glen

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (15/100 vs 56/100)

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

First-home buyers

Wattle Glen

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($980,500 vs $1,970,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 26%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Kangaroo Ground

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($383/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Wattle Glen

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (38/100 vs 21/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (31.9 km vs 34 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Wattle Glen

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (15/100 vs 56/100)
  • is more walkable (38/100 vs 21/100)

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

Investors

Kangaroo Ground

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.3% vs -2.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
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.

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Walkability 38 / 21
Wattle Glen — Walkability: 38/100 Kangaroo Ground — Walkability: 21/100
Safety 85 / 44
Wattle Glen — Safety: 85/100 Kangaroo Ground — Safety: 44/100
Low fire risk 28 / 14
Wattle Glen — Low fire risk: 28/100 Kangaroo Ground — Low fire risk: 14/100
Low flood risk 48 / 68
Wattle Glen — Low flood risk: 48/100 Kangaroo Ground — Low flood risk: 68/100

Demographics

Wattle Glen has more residents (1,911 vs 1,208); Kangaroo Ground has higher household incomes ($151,268 vs $126,100).

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Population 1,911
+37% vs other
 1,208
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.5% +10.3%
Median age 42 44
Median household income $126,100/yr $151,268/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+9% vs other
 $383/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
0-4 4.7% / 3.5%
Wattle Glen — 0-4: 4.7% Kangaroo Ground — 0-4: 3.5%
5-14 12.1% / 13.4%
Wattle Glen — 5-14: 12.1% Kangaroo Ground — 5-14: 13.4%
15-19 7.0% / 10.2%
Wattle Glen — 15-19: 7.0% Kangaroo Ground — 15-19: 10.2%
20-24 7.5% / 6.5%
Wattle Glen — 20-24: 7.5% Kangaroo Ground — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 11.6% / 7.0%
Wattle Glen — 25-34: 11.6% Kangaroo Ground — 25-34: 7.0%
35-44 10.2% / 10.2%
Wattle Glen — 35-44: 10.2% Kangaroo Ground — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 14.1% / 16.3%
Wattle Glen — 45-54: 14.1% Kangaroo Ground — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 15.5% / 15.9%
Wattle Glen — 55-64: 15.5% Kangaroo Ground — 55-64: 15.9%
65-74 8.7% / 10.5%
Wattle Glen — 65-74: 8.7% Kangaroo Ground — 65-74: 10.5%
75-84 5.7% / 5.5%
Wattle Glen — 75-84: 5.7% Kangaroo Ground — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 3.0% / 0.9%
Wattle Glen — 85+: 3.0% Kangaroo Ground — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wattle Glen 63.9% couple families
Wattle Glen — Couple Families: 63.9% Wattle Glen — Lone Person: 16.8% Wattle Glen — One Parent Families: 16.2% Wattle Glen — Group Household: 0.9% Wattle Glen — Other Families: 2.2%
Kangaroo Ground 67.7% couple families
Kangaroo Ground — Couple Families: 67.7% Kangaroo Ground — Lone Person: 18.8% Kangaroo Ground — One Parent Families: 10.9% Kangaroo Ground — Group Household: 2.6% Kangaroo Ground — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Wattle Glen 5.1% renting
Wattle Glen — Owned Outright: 42.0% Wattle Glen — Mortgage: 52.9% Wattle Glen — Renting: 5.1%
Kangaroo Ground 7.0% renting
Kangaroo Ground — Owned Outright: 46.3% Kangaroo Ground — Mortgage: 46.6% Kangaroo Ground — Renting: 7.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Bachelor Degree 13.7% / 19.5%
Wattle Glen — Bachelor Degree: 13.7% Kangaroo Ground — Bachelor Degree: 19.5%
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 10.8%
Wattle Glen — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Kangaroo Ground — Certificate III & IV: 10.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 7.8%
Wattle Glen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Kangaroo Ground — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 8.2%
Wattle Glen — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Kangaroo Ground — Postgraduate Degree: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.7%
Wattle Glen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Kangaroo Ground — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

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.

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
England 4.8% / 4.1%
Wattle Glen — England: 4.8% Kangaroo Ground — England: 4.1%
New Zealand 0.6% / 0.7%
Wattle Glen — New Zealand: 0.6% Kangaroo Ground — New Zealand: 0.7%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.7%
Wattle Glen — South Africa: 0.5% Kangaroo Ground — South Africa: 0.7%
Scotland 0.8% / —
Wattle Glen — Scotland: 0.8% Kangaroo Ground — Scotland: not among its largest
China — / 0.7%
Wattle Glen — China: not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — China: 0.7%
Italy — / 0.7%
Wattle Glen — Italy: not among its largest Kangaroo Ground — Italy: 0.7%
Philippines 0.6% / —
Wattle Glen — Philippines: 0.6% Kangaroo Ground — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wattle Glen 99.2% houses
Wattle Glen — Houses: 99.2% Wattle Glen — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Kangaroo Ground 100.0% houses
Kangaroo Ground — Houses: 100.0% Kangaroo Ground — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Median house price $980,500 $1,970,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 11 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Environmental 90% 92%
Residential 7% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 4%
Parks and recreation 1% 4%
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

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
New dwellings approved 98
across Nillumbik
same for both
Approvals change year on year +8%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
House price Higher than 77% of VIC —
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 48% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC

Liveability

Wattle Glen is more walkable (38 vs 21).

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Grade B
same for both
Score 57/100 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Kangaroo Ground carries more crime risk (56 vs 15); Wattle Glen carries more flood risk (52 vs 32).

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Bushfire High
72/100
 High
86/100
Crime Low
15/100
 Moderate
56/100
Flood Moderate
52/100
 Low
32/100
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

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Wattle Glen

  • Wattle Glen Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Kangaroo Ground

  • Kangaroo Ground Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 6
same for both
Childcare 1 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Waterways 11 4

Mobility

Kangaroo Ground sits further from the CBD (34 km vs 31.9 km).

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Walkability score 38/100 21/100
Distance to Melbourne 31.9 km 34 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 46 min
same for both
Public transport score 58/100
Rail · Bus
 62/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 11.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 20.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 4 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 3096
 1.6%
postcode 3097
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 3096
 56
postcode 3097

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.

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Car (driver) 63.5% / 47.9%
Wattle Glen — Car (driver): 63.5% Kangaroo Ground — Car (driver): 47.9%
Worked from Home 29.1% / 42.3%
Wattle Glen — Worked from Home: 29.1% Kangaroo Ground — Worked from Home: 42.3%
Walked Only 2.0% / 4.5%
Wattle Glen — Walked Only: 2.0% Kangaroo Ground — Walked Only: 4.5%
Car (passenger) 2.1% / 3.2%
Wattle Glen — Car (passenger): 2.1% Kangaroo Ground — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Train 2.4% / 1.5%
Wattle Glen — Train: 2.4% Kangaroo Ground — Train: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.5%).

Setting

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Elevation 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 197 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.8 km 29.9 km

NBN connectivity

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Connectivity score 58/100 32/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 27%
667 premises
 2%
381 premises

Climate

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Annual rainfall 777 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³ —
PM10 — 15.5 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Average residential rate $2,696/yr
same for both
Council Nillumbik
same for both

Federal electorate

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Division Mcewen Jagajaga
Member Rob Mitchell Kate Thwaites
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Wattle Glen Kangaroo Ground
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wattle Glen

Acreage Outer Parks Quiet River Trains

Kangaroo Ground

Acreage Outer Premium Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wattle Glen

Wattle Glen vs Diamond Creek Wattle Glen vs Hurstbridge Wattle Glen vs Research

Other comparisons with Kangaroo Ground

Kangaroo Ground vs Wonga Park Kangaroo Ground vs Hurstbridge Kangaroo Ground vs North Warrandyte Kangaroo Ground vs Research Kangaroo Ground vs Panton Hill Kangaroo Ground vs Christmas Hills
Full data on Wattle Glen Full data on Kangaroo Ground
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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