Caroline Springs vs Hillside

Comparing Caroline Springs and Hillside, VIC: Hillside carries more flood risk (70 vs 30); Caroline Springs has more residents (24,488 vs 17,331); and Hillside scores higher overall (60 vs 49).

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

Caroline Springs

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 25)
  • But Hillside carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 56/100)

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

First-home buyers

Caroline Springs

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($847,000 vs $1,192,500)
  • has cheaper units ($460,000 vs $600,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Hillside

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (28.1 km vs 30.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Hillside

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 56/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Caroline Springs Hillside
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.

Caroline Springs Hillside
Walkability 83 / 77
Caroline Springs — Walkability: 83/100 Hillside — Walkability: 77/100
Safety 44 / 64
Caroline Springs — Safety: 44/100 Hillside — Safety: 64/100
Low fire risk 9 / 39
Caroline Springs — Low fire risk: 9/100 Hillside — Low fire risk: 39/100
Low flood risk 70 / 30
Caroline Springs — Low flood risk: 70/100 Hillside — Low flood risk: 30/100

Demographics

Caroline Springs has more residents (24,488 vs 17,331).

Caroline Springs Hillside
Population 24,488
+29% vs other
 17,331
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.2% +1.6%
Median age 35 36
Median household income $110,968/yr $113,880/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+5% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Caroline Springs Hillside
0-4 6.1% / 5.3%
Caroline Springs — 0-4: 6.1% Hillside — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 16.8% / 14.2%
Caroline Springs — 5-14: 16.8% Hillside — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 8.3% / 8.5%
Caroline Springs — 15-19: 8.3% Hillside — 15-19: 8.5%
20-24 6.3% / 7.6%
Caroline Springs — 20-24: 6.3% Hillside — 20-24: 7.6%
25-34 11.8% / 12.4%
Caroline Springs — 25-34: 11.8% Hillside — 25-34: 12.4%
35-44 16.7% / 13.9%
Caroline Springs — 35-44: 16.7% Hillside — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 16.7% / 16.9%
Caroline Springs — 45-54: 16.7% Hillside — 45-54: 16.9%
55-64 8.8% / 11.6%
Caroline Springs — 55-64: 8.8% Hillside — 55-64: 11.6%
65-74 5.7% / 6.5%
Caroline Springs — 65-74: 5.7% Hillside — 65-74: 6.5%
75-84 2.2% / 2.6%
Caroline Springs — 75-84: 2.2% Hillside — 75-84: 2.6%
85+ 0.4% / 0.5%
Caroline Springs — 85+: 0.4% Hillside — 85+: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Caroline Springs 62.1% couple families
Caroline Springs — Couple Families: 62.1% Caroline Springs — One Parent Families: 16.9% Caroline Springs — Lone Person: 17.4% Caroline Springs — Group Household: 2.3% Caroline Springs — Other Families: 1.4%
Hillside 64.8% couple families
Hillside — Couple Families: 64.8% Hillside — One Parent Families: 16.5% Hillside — Lone Person: 15.8% Hillside — Group Household: 1.4% Hillside — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Caroline Springs 22.8% renting
Caroline Springs — Owned Outright: 23.9% Caroline Springs — Mortgage: 53.3% Caroline Springs — Renting: 22.8%
Hillside 15.0% renting
Hillside — Owned Outright: 31.5% Hillside — Mortgage: 53.4% Hillside — Renting: 15.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Caroline Springs Hillside
Bachelor Degree 14.9% / 12.1%
Caroline Springs — Bachelor Degree: 14.9% Hillside — Bachelor Degree: 12.1%
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 13.7%
Caroline Springs — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% Hillside — Certificate III & IV: 13.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.9% / 8.0%
Caroline Springs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9% Hillside — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.7% / 3.1%
Caroline Springs — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7% Hillside — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.7% / 1.6%
Caroline Springs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.7% Hillside — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

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.

Caroline Springs Hillside
India 6.2% / 4.3%
Caroline Springs — India: 6.2% Hillside — India: 4.3%
Philippines 4.8% / 1.8%
Caroline Springs — Philippines: 4.8% Hillside — Philippines: 1.8%
Vietnam 3.0% / 1.2%
Caroline Springs — Vietnam: 3.0% Hillside — Vietnam: 1.2%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.2%
Caroline Springs — New Zealand: 2.0% Hillside — New Zealand: 1.2%
England 1.1% / 1.2%
Caroline Springs — England: 1.1% Hillside — England: 1.2%
Iraq 1.8% / —
Caroline Springs — Iraq: 1.8% Hillside — Iraq: not among its largest
Italy — / 1.6%
Caroline Springs — Italy: not among its largest Hillside — Italy: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Caroline Springs 90.0% houses
Caroline Springs — Houses: 90.0% Caroline Springs — Townhouses: 7.4% Caroline Springs — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Hillside 88.0% houses
Hillside — Houses: 88.0% Hillside — Townhouses: 9.5% Hillside — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Caroline Springs Hillside
Median house price $780,000 $825,000
Median unit price $460,000 $600,000
Median land price $847,000 $1,192,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 252 sales
 26 days
from 128 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.

Caroline Springs Hillside
2 bed $449K / $509K
Caroline Springs — 2 bed: $449K (36 sales) Hillside — 2 bed: $509K (8 sales)

36 vs 8 sales

3 bed $592K / $615K
Caroline Springs — 3 bed: $592K (14 sales) Hillside — 3 bed: $615K (20 sales)

14 vs 20 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.

Caroline Springs Hillside
3 bed $720K / $738K
Caroline Springs — 3 bed: $720K (240 sales) Hillside — 3 bed: $738K (92 sales)

240 vs 92 sales

4 bed $895K / $885K
Caroline Springs — 4 bed: $895K (141 sales) Hillside — 4 bed: $885K (104 sales)

141 vs 104 sales

5 bed $1.05M / $1.05M
Caroline Springs — 5 bed: $1.05M (32 sales) Hillside — 5 bed: $1.05M (29 sales)

32 vs 29 sales

Zoning mix

Caroline Springs Hillside
Residential 82% 84%
Other and special use 15% 0%
Rural and farming 0% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 5%
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

Caroline Springs Hillside
New dwellings approved 4,602
across Melton
same for both
Approvals change year on year +5%
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.

Caroline Springs Hillside
Houses 3.6%
$550/wk on $790K
 3.4%
$550/wk on $832K
Units 4.5%
$440/wk on $508K
 4.7%
$500/wk on $548K

Ranking within VIC

Caroline Springs Hillside
House price Higher than 51% of VIC —
Income Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Schools Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 81% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 32% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC

Liveability

Hillside scores higher overall (60 vs 49).

Caroline Springs Hillside
Grade C B
Score 49/100 60/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Hillside carries more flood risk (70 vs 30); Caroline Springs carries more crime risk (56 vs 36).

Caroline Springs Hillside
Bushfire High
91/100
 Moderate
61/100
Crime Moderate
56/100
 Low
36/100
Flood Low
30/100
 High
70/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Caroline Springs Hillside
Inside the suburb 10 3
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 5 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Caroline Springs

  • Christ the Priest Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St George Preca School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Brookside P-9 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Creekside K-9 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Southern Cross Grammar Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Hillside

  • Cana Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sydenham - Hillside Primary School-Hillside Campus Government · Primary above peers
  • Parkwood Green Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Caroline Springs Hillside
Supermarkets 3 2
Cafes & restaurants 18 4
Parks & reserves 29 25
Childcare 16 14
GPs 5
same for both
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 2
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 17 11

Mobility

Caroline Springs sits further from the CBD (30.1 km vs 28.1 km).

Caroline Springs Hillside
Walkability score 83/100 77/100
Distance to Melbourne 30.1 km
+7% vs other
 28.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 333.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 134.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3023
 0.8%
postcode 3037
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 43
postcode 3023
 39
postcode 3037

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.

Caroline Springs Hillside
Car (driver) 62.3% / 67.5%
Caroline Springs — Car (driver): 62.3% Hillside — Car (driver): 67.5%
Worked from Home 28.3% / 24.1%
Caroline Springs — Worked from Home: 28.3% Hillside — Worked from Home: 24.1%
Car (passenger) 5.1% / 4.9%
Caroline Springs — Car (passenger): 5.1% Hillside — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Train 2.7% / 2.6%
Caroline Springs — Train: 2.7% Hillside — Train: 2.6%
Bus 0.7% / 0.4%
Caroline Springs — Bus: 0.7% Hillside — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.5%).

Setting

Caroline Springs Hillside
Elevation 83 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 135 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.0 km 21.4 km

NBN connectivity

Caroline Springs Hillside
Connectivity score 76/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
8,663 premises
 56%
5,864 premises

Climate

Caroline Springs Hillside
Annual rainfall 518 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Caroline Springs Hillside
PM2.5 — 4.4 µg/m³
PM10 23.2 µg/m³ —
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Caroline Springs Hillside
Average residential rate $1,779/yr
same for both
Council Melton
same for both

Federal electorate

Caroline Springs Hillside
Division Gorton Hawke
Member Alice Jordan-Baird Sam Rae
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Caroline Springs Hillside
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Caroline Springs

Family Multicultural Outer Parks River

Hillside

Outer Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Caroline Springs

Caroline Springs vs Truganina Caroline Springs vs Taylors Hill Caroline Springs vs Fraser Rise Caroline Springs vs Burnside Heights Caroline Springs vs Burnside Caroline Springs vs Ravenhall

Other comparisons with Hillside

Hillside vs Taylors Hill Hillside vs Sydenham Hillside vs Fraser Rise Hillside vs Plumpton
Full data on Caroline Springs Full data on Hillside
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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