Willow Grove vs Neerim East

Willow Grove is the younger of the two, with a median age of 42 against 47 in Neerim East. 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. In Neerim East, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Neerim East: a median of $840,000, against $628,000 in Willow Grove, though rent is higher in Willow Grove. On these figures, Willow Grove tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Neerim East suits 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

Willow Grove

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 51%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 90%)
  • But Neerim East carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 42/100)

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

First-home buyers

Willow Grove

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper houses ($627,500 vs $840,000)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Neerim East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($166/wk vs $243/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)
  • has a shorter drive in (103 min vs 110 min)
  • But Neerim East sits closer to the CBD (124.1 km vs 126.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Willow Grove is more walkable (13/100 vs 0/100)
  • Neerim East carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 42/100)

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

Investors

Willow Grove

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (10.8% vs 2.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Willow Grove Neerim East
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.

Willow Grove Neerim East
Walkability 13 / 0
Willow Grove — Walkability: 13/100 Neerim East — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 58 / 88
Willow Grove — Safety: 58/100 Neerim East — Safety: 88/100
Low fire risk 3 / 3
Willow Grove — Low fire risk: 3/100 Neerim East — Low fire risk: 3/100
Low flood risk 48 / 100
Willow Grove — Low flood risk: 48/100 Neerim East — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Willow Grove has more residents (654 vs 196); Willow Grove rents higher ($243/wk vs $166/wk).

Willow Grove Neerim East
Population 654
+70% vs other
 196
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +10.8% +2.1%
Median age 42 47
Median household income $93,652/yr
+12% vs other
 $82,316/yr
Median weekly rent $243/wk
+32% vs other
 $166/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Willow Grove Neerim East
0-4 7.2% / 6.6%
Willow Grove — 0-4: 7.2% Neerim East — 0-4: 6.6%
5-14 14.8% / 11.2%
Willow Grove — 5-14: 14.8% Neerim East — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 5.8% / 8.7%
Willow Grove — 15-19: 5.8% Neerim East — 15-19: 8.7%
20-24 4.1% / 5.1%
Willow Grove — 20-24: 4.1% Neerim East — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 9.2% / 5.6%
Willow Grove — 25-34: 9.2% Neerim East — 25-34: 5.6%
35-44 11.5% / 13.8%
Willow Grove — 35-44: 11.5% Neerim East — 35-44: 13.8%
45-54 14.5% / 16.8%
Willow Grove — 45-54: 14.5% Neerim East — 45-54: 16.8%
55-64 14.5% / 15.8%
Willow Grove — 55-64: 14.5% Neerim East — 55-64: 15.8%
65-74 12.1% / 18.4%
Willow Grove — 65-74: 12.1% Neerim East — 65-74: 18.4%
75-84 5.7% / 2.0%
Willow Grove — 75-84: 5.7% Neerim East — 75-84: 2.0%
85+ 0.6% / —
Willow Grove — 85+: 0.6% Neerim East — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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 — Other Families: 2.0% Willow Grove — Group Household: 2.0%
Neerim East 40.5% couple families
Neerim East — Couple Families: 40.5% Neerim East — Lone Person: 48.6% Neerim East — One Parent Families: 10.8% Neerim East — Other Families: 0.0% Neerim East — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Willow Grove 11.9% renting
Willow Grove — Owned Outright: 48.4% Willow Grove — Mortgage: 39.7% Willow Grove — Renting: 11.9%
Neerim East 10.3% renting
Neerim East — Owned Outright: 43.1% Neerim East — Mortgage: 46.6% Neerim East — Renting: 10.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Willow Grove Neerim East
England 2.1% / 2.0%
Willow Grove — England: 2.1% Neerim East — England: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.2% / —
Willow Grove — New Zealand: 1.2% Neerim East — New Zealand: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.8% / —
Willow Grove — Netherlands: 0.8% Neerim East — Netherlands: not among its largest
Indonesia 0.6% / —
Willow Grove — Indonesia: 0.6% Neerim East — Indonesia: not among its largest
Ireland 0.6% / —
Willow Grove — Ireland: 0.6% Neerim East — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.1%).

Qualifications

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

Willow Grove Neerim East
Certificate III & IV 18.7% / 18.9%
Willow Grove — Certificate III & IV: 18.7% Neerim East — Certificate III & IV: 18.9%
Bachelor Degree 9.2% / 6.6%
Willow Grove — Bachelor Degree: 9.2% Neerim East — Bachelor Degree: 6.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 8.2%
Willow Grove — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Neerim East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 3.6%
Willow Grove — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Neerim East — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / —
Willow Grove — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Neerim East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Willow Grove 100.0% houses
Willow Grove — Houses: 100.0% Willow Grove — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Neerim East 89.9% houses
Neerim East — Houses: 89.9% Neerim East — Flats / Apartments: 10.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Willow Grove Neerim East
Median house price $627,500 $840,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 4 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Willow Grove has more rural and farming land (68% vs 36%).

Willow Grove Neerim East
Rural and farming 68% 36%
Parks and recreation 8% 64%
Infrastructure and transport 23% 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

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

Ranking within VIC

Willow Grove Neerim East
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 30% of VIC

Liveability

Willow Grove is more walkable (13 vs 0).

Willow Grove Neerim East
Grade D —
Score 30/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Willow Grove carries more flood risk (52 vs 0); Willow Grove carries more crime risk (42 vs 12).

Willow Grove Neerim East
Bushfire High
97/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
42/100
 Low
12/100
Flood Moderate
52/100
 None
0/100
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

Willow Grove Neerim East
Inside the suburb 1 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Willow Grove

  • Willow Grove Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Neerim East

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

Amenities in the suburb

Willow Grove Neerim East
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 4 3
Childcare 2 0
GPs 1 0
Waterways 75 137

Mobility

Willow Grove sits further from the CBD (126.9 km vs 124.1 km).

Willow Grove Neerim East
Walkability score 13/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 126.9 km
+2% vs other
 124.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 103 min 110 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3825
 0.6%
postcode 3831
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 38
postcode 3825
 60
postcode 3831

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.

Willow Grove Neerim East
Car (driver) 70.3% / 61.5%
Willow Grove — Car (driver): 70.3% Neerim East — Car (driver): 61.5%
Worked from Home 23.6% / 28.2%
Willow Grove — Worked from Home: 23.6% Neerim East — Worked from Home: 28.2%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 5.1%
Willow Grove — Car (passenger): 3.1% Neerim East — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Walked Only 3.1% / 5.1%
Willow Grove — Walked Only: 3.1% Neerim East — Walked Only: 5.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (70.3%).

Setting

Willow Grove Neerim East
Elevation 164 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 284 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Willow Grove Neerim East
Connectivity score 30/100 27/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
264 premises
 0%
79 premises

Climate

Willow Grove Neerim East
Annual rainfall 1,090 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.7°C
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Willow Grove

Family Rural

Neerim East

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Willow Grove

Willow Grove vs Trafalgar Willow Grove vs Tanjil South Willow Grove vs Shady Creek Willow Grove vs Hill End Willow Grove vs Westbury

Other comparisons with Neerim East

Neerim East vs Neerim South Neerim East vs Neerim Neerim East vs Shady Creek Neerim East vs Buln Buln East Neerim East vs Hill End Neerim East vs Fumina South
Full data on Willow Grove Full data on Neerim East
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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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