Malvern vs Unley Park.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $2,650,750 and $3,037,500.
Malvern (median $2,650,750) is roughly 13% cheaper to buy into than Unley Park ($3,037,500). Over the past year, Unley Park (0%) ran 14.9 percentage points ahead of Malvern (-14.9%) on house-price growth.
Unley Park scores higher on walkability (38/100 vs 66/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Malvern (1124) sits above Unley Park (1115).
For buyers
Malvern is the lower entry point at $2,650,750 median, 13% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Unley Park carries both higher gross yield (2.65% vs 2.06%) and stronger 12-month growth. On the headline numbers, it's the cleaner investor case of the two.
For families
Malvern edges out on average school ICSEA (1124 vs 1115).
Common questions
Is Malvern or Unley Park cheaper to buy in?
Malvern has the lower median house price at $2,650,750, roughly 13% below Unley Park ($3,037,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Which has stronger property growth, Malvern or Unley Park?
Over the past 12 months, Unley Park grew 0% vs -14.9% in Malvern, a gap of 14.9 percentage points. Twelve-month growth can swing year to year, so weight long-run trends from the individual suburb profiles before making a buy decision.
Does Malvern or Unley Park have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Malvern scores 1124 vs 1115 in Unley Park. 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, Malvern or Unley Park?
Unley Park scores 66/100 on walkability vs 38/100. 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, Malvern or Unley Park?
Gross rental yield on houses is 2.65% in Unley Park vs 2.06% in Malvern. 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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