Hawthorn East
The suburb is highly educated, with 66.8% holding university qualifications, 36.7 percentage points above the national comparison, and 31.7% born overseas, 10.1 points higher than nationally. Compared with nearby Camberwell and Hawthorn, its 48.8% apartment share creates a more apartment-oriented housing mix. Household income sits at the 87th percentile, although an aging trajectory and 2.3-person average household size point to a changing buyer profile.
Population
14,834
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,253/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
164
Median House
$2.9M
October to December 2025
Apartments account for 48.8% of dwellings, compared with 33.1% separate houses and 18.0% semi-detached homes, creating more choice for purchasers who do not need a traditional house. The most common format is two bedrooms at 38.1%, followed by three bedrooms at 25.3%. A $2,500 monthly mortgage represents 25.6% of household income, below a severe stress threshold, but the purchase price still requires substantial capital.
For Buyers
Apartments account for 48.8% of dwellings, compared with 33.1% separate houses and 18.0% semi-detached homes, creating more choice for purchasers who do not need a traditional house. The most common format is two bedrooms at 38.1%, followed by three bedrooms at 25.3%. A $2,500 monthly mortgage represents 25.6% of household income, below a severe stress threshold, but the purchase price still requires substantial capital.
For Investors
The rental market has a sizeable tenant base, with 40.3% of households renting and weekly rent at $415. However, the 16.4% vacancy rate is high compared with a tightly supplied market, so investors should allow for longer letting periods and stronger competition between properties. Rental growth of 15.4% supports the income case, but vacancy remains the more important short-term risk because apartment supply is substantial. There were 159 development applications in the past 12 months, indicating ongoing renovation and redevelopment activity. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, which may support rental demand, while the suburb's premium pricing means yield should be assessed more carefully than in lower-priced markets.
Development Activity
Total DAs
168
Last 12 Months
164
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+16300.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Hawthorn East
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Auburn Primary School
Auburn South Primary School
Alia College
Auburn High School
Demographics
Hawthorn East has a median age of 36, which is 4 years below the national comparison, but its trajectory is aging as the senior share has risen 3.4 percentage points and the young share has fallen 0.6 points. University attainment is particularly high at 66.8%, or 36.7 points above the national comparison, and 31.7% of residents were born overseas, 10.1 points higher than nationally. English ancestry is recorded for 4,633 people and Chinese ancestry for 2,042, while Mandarin is the most common listed language with 461 speakers. The average household size is 2.3, 0.2 below the national comparison, with couples without children forming 44.3% of families. Compared with nearby Hawthorn and Camberwell, the profile combines professional households with a stronger apartment and overseas-born presence.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
33.1%
Houses
18.0%
Townhouse
48.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Compared with the price level in 2013, ownership is now concentrated in a premium market with 29.8% of homes owned outright and 28.5% under mortgage, while 40.3% are rented. Apartments make up 48.8% of dwellings, separate houses 33.1% and semi-detached homes 18.0%. Two-bedroom homes account for 38.1%, making them the largest bedroom category.
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$415
Census 2021
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$1,244
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
16.4%
Unoccupied
1,228
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.6%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.5%
Couples with children
44.3%
Couples, no children
11.5%
Single parent
3,807
Total families
Economy & Employment
Hawthorn East's economy is anchored by professional services, with Professional/Tech accounting for 20.5% of employment and 1,418 workers. Healthcare contributes 15.6% and 1,077 workers, followed by Education at 11.5%, Finance at 8.9% and Retail at 7.3%. Professionals number 3,644 and managers 1,569, reinforcing the suburb's high-skill employment base. The labour force includes 8,815 people, with a 69.8% participation rate and 4.0% unemployment, while 64.6% of employed residents work full time. Household income ranks at the 87th percentile, above the national median position. SEIFA education and occupation reaches decile 10, as does IRSAD, while the economic resources decile is 6, suggesting educational and occupational advantage is stronger than the resources measure alone.
Unemployment
4.0%
Labour Force
8,815
Unemployed
350
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
30.5%
Participation
69.8%
Employed
8,465
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
66.8%
Postgraduate
21.9%
Born Overseas
31.7%
Dwellings
6,240
Transport to Work
Hawthorn East provides access to 4 nearby schools across primary and secondary years, with 3 government schools and 1 independent secondary college. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. Daily travel patterns are distinctive: 51.1% of residents work from home, compared with 6.1% using public transport, 35.7% driving a car and 5.0% walking or cycling. The recorded crime rate is 54.6 offences per 1,000 residents, with 810 total offences; property and deception offences account for 601 and crimes against the person for 100. Compared with its public transport share, the much higher work-from-home rate points to a lifestyle shaped by home-based employment. IRSAD sits in decile 10, supporting strong socioeconomic amenity, while IER is lower at decile 6.
Drive
35.7%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
5.0%
Work from Home
51.1%
Population Forecast
+1.04%/yr
(+183 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth across the wider area records a 15.5% population change over 10 years, while the annual trend is 1.04%, indicating steady rather than rapid expansion. Overseas migration is the primary driver, and the trajectory is classified as Aging because the senior share has increased 3.4 percentage points while the young share has decreased 0.6 points. Compared with a younger growth corridor, Hawthorn East is more likely to change through household turnover, apartment demand and adaptation of existing homes. Gentrification remains at the Early signs stage with a score of 27. The area also recovered from a COVID dip of 5.2%, followed by 8.6% recovery, while rent growth reached 15.4%. Affordability improved from 41.5% in 2011 to 33.5% in 2021, despite premium prices.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+438
Net Internal / yr
-60
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Strong overseas inflow +438/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
810
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
54.6
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hawthorn East compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hawthorn East a good suburb to live in?
Hawthorn East can suit households seeking premium housing, strong professional employment and high socioeconomic amenity. It has 14,834 residents, a median age of 36 and IRSAD decile 10. Compared with lower-density suburbs, its 48.8% apartment share provides more dwelling choice, while exact streets should be checked for parking and school-zone preferences.
What schools are in Hawthorn East?
Four nearby schools cover primary and secondary years, comprising 3 government schools and 1 independent school. The local mix includes Auburn primary and secondary options plus an independent secondary college. Families should compare the exact address with current enrolment zones, as school access and eligibility can differ across nearby streets.
Is Hawthorn East safe?
The recorded crime rate is 54.6 offences per 1,000 residents, with 810 total offences. Property and deception offences accounted for 601 incidents, compared with 100 crimes against the person. These figures describe recorded offences rather than personal experience, so buyers and renters should also review current street-level conditions before choosing a property.
Is Hawthorn East good for property investment?
Hawthorn East may suit investors seeking a premium market with 40.3% renting households and weekly rent of $415. The 16.4% vacancy rate is a major consideration because it can increase letting competition. Rental growth of 15.4% is supportive, while 159 development applications in 12 months indicate ongoing change that should be assessed property by property.
How is Hawthorn East's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is 15.5% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 1.04%. Overseas migration is the primary driver, but the trajectory is Aging: the senior share has increased 3.4 percentage points and the young share has declined 0.6 points. Compared with younger growth areas, change is likely to be steadier.
What languages are spoken in Hawthorn East?
English ancestry is recorded for 4,633 residents and Chinese ancestry for 2,042. Mandarin is the most common listed language, with 461 speakers, followed by Greek at 124 and Cantonese at 116. Overall, 31.7% of residents were born overseas, which is 10.1 percentage points higher than the national comparison.
What development is happening in Hawthorn East?
There were 159 development applications in the past 12 months, including dwelling alterations, additions and heritage-related planning work. This indicates more renovation and redevelopment activity than a static established area. Compared with large greenfield projects, the visible pattern is more likely to involve individual properties, with heritage controls influencing some applications.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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