Kew vs Hawthorn.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,810,500 and $2,692,500. Hawthorn edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Hawthorn (median $2,692,500) is roughly 4% cheaper to buy into than Kew ($2,810,500).
Hawthorn scores higher on walkability (98/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Hawthorn (1161) sits above Kew (1154).
For buyers
Hawthorn is the lower entry point at $2,692,500 median, 4% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Kew offers the higher gross rental yield (1.28% vs 1.06%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Hawthorn edges out on average school ICSEA (1161 vs 1154).
Common questions
Is Kew or Hawthorn cheaper to buy in?
Hawthorn has the lower median house price at $2,692,500, roughly 4% below Kew ($2,810,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Kew or Hawthorn have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Hawthorn scores 1161 vs 1154 in Kew. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Kew or Hawthorn?
Hawthorn scores 100/100 on walkability vs 98/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Kew or Hawthorn?
Gross rental yield on houses is 1.28% in Kew vs 1.06% in Hawthorn. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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