Bonbeach vs Chelsea Heights

In both, most households own their home. In Bonbeach, about half of households are people living alone. In Chelsea Heights, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Bonbeach: a median of $1.15 million, against $1.01 million in Chelsea Heights, though rent is higher in Chelsea Heights. Chelsea Heights is closer to the city centre: 36.8 km, against 50.5 km. On these figures, Bonbeach tends to suit people living alone, while Chelsea Heights suits couples.

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

Chelsea Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (79% vs 39%)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 5)
  • is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 49%)
  • But Bonbeach carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 56/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Bonbeach has cheaper units ($656,500 vs $746,000)
  • Chelsea Heights has cheaper houses ($1,009,250 vs $1,150,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Bonbeach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 13%)

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

Commuting to the city

Chelsea Heights

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (36.8 km vs 50.5 km)
  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 57/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (44 min vs 49 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Bonbeach has more units and townhouses to downsize into (61% vs 21%)
  • Chelsea Heights has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Bonbeach is growing faster (6.8% vs 1.1%)
  • Chelsea Heights returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Bonbeach and Chelsea Heights drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
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.

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Walkability 57 / 69
Bonbeach — Walkability: 57/100 Chelsea Heights — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 59 / 44
Bonbeach — Safety: 59/100 Chelsea Heights — Safety: 44/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Bonbeach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Chelsea Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 19 / 21
Bonbeach — Low flood risk: 19/100 Chelsea Heights — Low flood risk: 21/100

Demographics

Bonbeach has more residents (6,855 vs 5,393); Bonbeach skews older (42 vs 40).

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Population 6,855
+21% vs other
 5,393
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% +1.1%
Median age 42 40
Median household income $91,832/yr $97,084/yr
+6% vs other
Median weekly rent $391/wk $412/wk
+5% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
0-4 6.0% / 6.2%
Bonbeach — 0-4: 6.0% Chelsea Heights — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 11.1% / 13.3%
Bonbeach — 5-14: 11.1% Chelsea Heights — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 4.3% / 6.0%
Bonbeach — 15-19: 4.3% Chelsea Heights — 15-19: 6.0%
20-24 3.9% / 4.9%
Bonbeach — 20-24: 3.9% Chelsea Heights — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 13.8% / 9.9%
Bonbeach — 25-34: 13.8% Chelsea Heights — 25-34: 9.9%
35-44 15.9% / 15.4%
Bonbeach — 35-44: 15.9% Chelsea Heights — 35-44: 15.4%
45-54 13.8% / 13.9%
Bonbeach — 45-54: 13.8% Chelsea Heights — 45-54: 13.9%
55-64 12.5% / 11.9%
Bonbeach — 55-64: 12.5% Chelsea Heights — 55-64: 11.9%
65-74 10.7% / 10.1%
Bonbeach — 65-74: 10.7% Chelsea Heights — 65-74: 10.1%
75-84 5.6% / 6.3%
Bonbeach — 75-84: 5.6% Chelsea Heights — 75-84: 6.3%
85+ 2.6% / 2.1%
Bonbeach — 85+: 2.6% Chelsea Heights — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bonbeach 35.9% couple families
Bonbeach — Couple Families: 35.9% Bonbeach — Lone Person: 45.4% Bonbeach — One Parent Families: 13.2% Bonbeach — Group Household: 4.3% Bonbeach — Other Families: 1.2%
Chelsea Heights 51.3% couple families
Chelsea Heights — Couple Families: 51.3% Chelsea Heights — Lone Person: 30.4% Chelsea Heights — One Parent Families: 15.3% Chelsea Heights — Group Household: 2.1% Chelsea Heights — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Bonbeach 29.9% renting
Bonbeach — Owned Outright: 30.8% Bonbeach — Mortgage: 39.3% Bonbeach — Renting: 29.9%
Chelsea Heights 13.2% renting
Chelsea Heights — Owned Outright: 40.4% Chelsea Heights — Mortgage: 46.4% Chelsea Heights — Renting: 13.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Certificate III & IV 13.9% / 15.1%
Bonbeach — Certificate III & IV: 13.9% Chelsea Heights — Certificate III & IV: 15.1%
Bachelor Degree 15.1% / 12.1%
Bonbeach — Bachelor Degree: 15.1% Chelsea Heights — Bachelor Degree: 12.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.5% / 8.7%
Bonbeach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5% Chelsea Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.8% / 3.7%
Bonbeach — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8% Chelsea Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 1.9%
Bonbeach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Chelsea Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

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.

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
England 5.3% / 4.7%
Bonbeach — England: 5.3% Chelsea Heights — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 2.7% / 1.5%
Bonbeach — New Zealand: 2.7% Chelsea Heights — New Zealand: 1.5%
India 0.9% / 2.3%
Bonbeach — India: 0.9% Chelsea Heights — India: 2.3%
Philippines 0.6% / 1.4%
Bonbeach — Philippines: 0.6% Chelsea Heights — Philippines: 1.4%
China 0.8% / 1.1%
Bonbeach — China: 0.8% Chelsea Heights — China: 1.1%
Scotland 0.8% / —
Bonbeach — Scotland: 0.8% Chelsea Heights — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bonbeach 38.8% houses
Bonbeach — Houses: 38.8% Bonbeach — Townhouses: 47.6% Bonbeach — Flats / Apartments: 13.6%
Chelsea Heights 78.9% houses
Chelsea Heights — Houses: 78.9% Chelsea Heights — Townhouses: 13.1% Chelsea Heights — Flats / Apartments: 8.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Median house price $1,150,000 $1,009,250
Median unit price $656,500 $746,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 26 sales
 22 days
from 22 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
2 bed $632K / $730K
Bonbeach — 2 bed: $632K (78 sales) Chelsea Heights — 2 bed: $730K (9 sales)

78 vs 9 sales

3 bed $821K / $770K
Bonbeach — 3 bed: $821K (18 sales) Chelsea Heights — 3 bed: $770K (5 sales)

18 vs 5 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
2 bed $1.09M / $775K
Bonbeach — 2 bed: $1.09M (8 sales) Chelsea Heights — 2 bed: $775K (5 sales)

8 vs 5 sales

3 bed $1.04M / $962K
Bonbeach — 3 bed: $1.04M (34 sales) Chelsea Heights — 3 bed: $962K (51 sales)

34 vs 51 sales

4 bed $1.37M / $1.25M
Bonbeach — 4 bed: $1.37M (20 sales) Chelsea Heights — 4 bed: $1.25M (25 sales)

20 vs 25 sales

5 bed $1.38M / $1.2M
Bonbeach — 5 bed: $1.38M (5 sales) Chelsea Heights — 5 bed: $1.2M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Chelsea Heights has more commercially zoned land (13% vs 1%).

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Residential 57% 44%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 37%
Other and special use 21% 0%
Commercial 1% 13%
Parks and recreation 8% 4%
Industrial 0% 2%
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

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
New dwellings approved 465
across Kingston (Vic.)
same for both
Approvals change year on year -36%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Houses 3.8%
$795/wk on $1.1M
 4.3%
$792/wk on $960K
Units 4.7%
$560/wk on $619K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
House price Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
Income Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 80% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 45% of VIC —

Liveability

Chelsea Heights is more walkable (69 vs 57).

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 58/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

Chelsea Heights carries more crime risk (56 vs 41).

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
41/100
 Moderate
56/100
Flood High
81/100
 High
79/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
41/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Bonbeach

  • Bonbeach Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Chelsea Heights

  • Chelsea Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 4
Parks & reserves 5 8
Childcare 3 2
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Bonbeach sits further from the CBD (50.5 km vs 36.8 km).

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Walkability score 57/100 69/100
Distance to Melbourne 50.5 km
+27% vs other
 36.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 49 min 44 min
Public transport score 92/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 26.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 111.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 3196
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 3196
same for both

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.

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Car (driver) 58.8% / 64.7%
Bonbeach — Car (driver): 58.8% Chelsea Heights — Car (driver): 64.7%
Worked from Home 33.4% / 28.7%
Bonbeach — Worked from Home: 33.4% Chelsea Heights — Worked from Home: 28.7%
Car (passenger) 2.4% / 3.7%
Bonbeach — Car (passenger): 2.4% Chelsea Heights — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Train 3.5% / 1.8%
Bonbeach — Train: 3.5% Chelsea Heights — Train: 1.8%
Walked Only 1.3% / 0.5%
Bonbeach — Walked Only: 1.3% Chelsea Heights — Walked Only: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.7%).

Setting

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 9 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 911 m
928 m to a named beach
 2.2 km
2.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Connectivity score 88/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 41%
3,588 premises
 50%
2,428 premises

Climate

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Annual rainfall — 644 mm
Summer max (Jan) 24.5°C 26.0°C
Winter min (Jul) 8.3°C 6.9°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.98 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Average residential rate $1,940/yr
same for both
Council Kingston (Vic.)
same for both

Federal electorate

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Division Dunkley Isaacs
Member Jodie Belyea Mark Dreyfus
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bonbeach Chelsea Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bonbeach

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Outer Parks Premium Townhouses Trains Transport Hub

Chelsea Heights

Coastal Outer Parks Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bonbeach

Bonbeach vs Chelsea Bonbeach vs Patterson Lakes Bonbeach vs Carrum

Other comparisons with Chelsea Heights

Chelsea Heights vs Chelsea Chelsea Heights vs Patterson Lakes Chelsea Heights vs Aspendale Gardens Chelsea Heights vs Edithvale Chelsea Heights vs Bangholme
Full data on Bonbeach Full data on Chelsea Heights
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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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