Chelsea Heights vs Chelsea

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

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (79% vs 35%)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 5)
  • is already more of a family suburb (67% vs 48%)
  • But Chelsea has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Chelsea Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,009,250 vs $1,145,250)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Chelsea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (33% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($375/wk vs $412/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Chelsea Heights sits closer to the CBD (36.8 km vs 38.9 km)
  • Chelsea is more walkable (85/100 vs 69/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Chelsea

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (65% vs 21%)
  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Chelsea Heights carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 66/100)

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

  • Chelsea Heights returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.3% vs 3.3%)
  • Chelsea is growing faster (7.4% vs 1.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
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.

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Walkability 69 / 85
Chelsea Heights — Walkability: 69/100 Chelsea — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 44 / 34
Chelsea Heights — Safety: 44/100 Chelsea — Safety: 34/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Chelsea Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Chelsea — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 21 / 33
Chelsea Heights — Low flood risk: 21/100 Chelsea — Low flood risk: 33/100

Demographics

Chelsea has more residents (8,347 vs 5,393); Chelsea Heights has higher household incomes ($97,084 vs $87,516).

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Population 5,393 8,347
+55% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.1% +7.4%
Median age 40 41
Median household income $97,084/yr
+10% vs other
 $87,516/yr
Median weekly rent $412/wk
+9% vs other
 $375/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
0-4 6.2% / 6.4%
Chelsea Heights — 0-4: 6.2% Chelsea — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 13.3% / 10.7%
Chelsea Heights — 5-14: 13.3% Chelsea — 5-14: 10.7%
15-19 6.0% / 3.6%
Chelsea Heights — 15-19: 6.0% Chelsea — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 4.9% / 3.9%
Chelsea Heights — 20-24: 4.9% Chelsea — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 9.9% / 14.4%
Chelsea Heights — 25-34: 9.9% Chelsea — 25-34: 14.4%
35-44 15.4% / 15.7%
Chelsea Heights — 35-44: 15.4% Chelsea — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 13.9% / 13.8%
Chelsea Heights — 45-54: 13.9% Chelsea — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 11.9% / 11.4%
Chelsea Heights — 55-64: 11.9% Chelsea — 55-64: 11.4%
65-74 10.1% / 9.9%
Chelsea Heights — 65-74: 10.1% Chelsea — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 6.3% / 6.4%
Chelsea Heights — 75-84: 6.3% Chelsea — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 2.1% / 3.7%
Chelsea Heights — 85+: 2.1% Chelsea — 85+: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Chelsea 33.1% couple families
Chelsea — Couple Families: 33.1% Chelsea — Lone Person: 47.2% Chelsea — One Parent Families: 14.4% Chelsea — Group Household: 3.9% Chelsea — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Chelsea Heights 13.2% renting
Chelsea Heights — Owned Outright: 40.4% Chelsea Heights — Mortgage: 46.4% Chelsea Heights — Renting: 13.2%
Chelsea 32.7% renting
Chelsea — Owned Outright: 29.7% Chelsea — Mortgage: 37.6% Chelsea — Renting: 32.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 16.9%
Chelsea Heights — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Chelsea — Bachelor Degree: 16.9%
Certificate III & IV 15.1% / 13.3%
Chelsea Heights — Certificate III & IV: 15.1% Chelsea — Certificate III & IV: 13.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 9.1%
Chelsea Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Chelsea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Postgraduate Degree 3.7% / 5.2%
Chelsea Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 3.7% Chelsea — Postgraduate Degree: 5.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.9% / 2.8%
Chelsea Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9% Chelsea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

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

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.

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
England 4.7% / 4.8%
Chelsea Heights — England: 4.7% Chelsea — England: 4.8%
India 2.3% / 1.4%
Chelsea Heights — India: 2.3% Chelsea — India: 1.4%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.9%
Chelsea Heights — New Zealand: 1.5% Chelsea — New Zealand: 1.9%
Philippines 1.4% / 0.9%
Chelsea Heights — Philippines: 1.4% Chelsea — Philippines: 0.9%
China 1.1% / 0.8%
Chelsea Heights — China: 1.1% Chelsea — China: 0.8%
Scotland — / 0.9%
Chelsea Heights — Scotland: not among its largest Chelsea — Scotland: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Chelsea Heights 78.9% houses
Chelsea Heights — Houses: 78.9% Chelsea Heights — Flats / Apartments: 8.0% Chelsea Heights — Townhouses: 13.1%
Chelsea 34.7% houses
Chelsea — Houses: 34.7% Chelsea — Flats / Apartments: 41.8% Chelsea — Townhouses: 23.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Median house price $1,009,250 $1,145,250
Median unit price $746,000 $687,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 22 sales
 24 days
from 43 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.

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
2 bed $730K / $670K
Chelsea Heights — 2 bed: $730K (9 sales) Chelsea — 2 bed: $670K (105 sales)

9 vs 105 sales

3 bed $770K / $875K
Chelsea Heights — 3 bed: $770K (5 sales) Chelsea — 3 bed: $875K (32 sales)

5 vs 32 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.

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
2 bed $775K / $965K
Chelsea Heights — 2 bed: $775K (5 sales) Chelsea — 2 bed: $965K (12 sales)

5 vs 12 sales

3 bed $962K / $1.1M
Chelsea Heights — 3 bed: $962K (51 sales) Chelsea — 3 bed: $1.1M (56 sales)

51 vs 56 sales

4 bed $1.25M / $1.38M
Chelsea Heights — 4 bed: $1.25M (25 sales) Chelsea — 4 bed: $1.38M (16 sales)

25 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Chelsea Heights has more commercially zoned land (13% vs 3%).

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Residential 44% 76%
Infrastructure and transport 37% 6%
Parks and recreation 4% 15%
Commercial 13% 3%
Industrial 2% 0%
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

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
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.

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Houses 4.3%
$792/wk on $960K
 3.3%
$750/wk on $1.18M
Units — 4.4%
$570/wk on $671K

Ranking within VIC

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
House price Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Income Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 60% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 80% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 27% of VIC

Liveability

Chelsea is more walkable (85 vs 69).

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Grade B
same for both
Score 58/100 61/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
same for both

Risk profile

Chelsea Heights carries more flood risk (79 vs 67); Chelsea carries more crime risk (66 vs 56).

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
56/100
 Moderate
66/100
Flood High
79/100
 Moderate
67/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
16/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 5
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Inside the suburb 1 4
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Chelsea Heights

  • Chelsea Heights Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Chelsea

  • Chelsea Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Oakwood School-Oakwood School VCAL Campus Government · Secondary
  • Westall Secondary College-LEEP Chelsea Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 4 18
Parks & reserves 8 5
Childcare 2 8
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 2 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Chelsea sits further from the CBD (38.9 km vs 36.8 km).

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Walkability score 69/100 85/100
Distance to Melbourne 36.8 km 38.9 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 44 min 45 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 111.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 79.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 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.

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Car (driver) 64.7% / 55.3%
Chelsea Heights — Car (driver): 64.7% Chelsea — Car (driver): 55.3%
Worked from Home 28.7% / 36.6%
Chelsea Heights — Worked from Home: 28.7% Chelsea — Worked from Home: 36.6%
Car (passenger) 3.7% / 2.7%
Chelsea Heights — Car (passenger): 3.7% Chelsea — Car (passenger): 2.7%
Train 1.8% / 2.7%
Chelsea Heights — Train: 1.8% Chelsea — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only 0.5% / 1.5%
Chelsea Heights — Walked Only: 0.5% Chelsea — Walked Only: 1.5%

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

Setting

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

NBN connectivity

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Connectivity score 90/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
2,428 premises
 38%
4,870 premises

Climate

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Chelsea Heights Chelsea
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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Chelsea Heights

Coastal Outer Parks Quiet

Chelsea

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Outer Parks Premium Townhouses Trains Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Chelsea Heights

Chelsea Heights vs Patterson Lakes Chelsea Heights vs Bonbeach Chelsea Heights vs Aspendale Gardens Chelsea Heights vs Edithvale Chelsea Heights vs Bangholme

Other comparisons with Chelsea

Chelsea vs Bonbeach Chelsea vs Edithvale
Full data on Chelsea Heights Full data on Chelsea
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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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