Cheltenham vs Mentone

In both, most households own their home. In Cheltenham, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Mentone: a median of $1.41 million, against $1.25 million in Cheltenham, though rent is higher in Cheltenham.

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

Cheltenham

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 9)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (58% vs 44%)
  • has more childcare (20 vs 17)
  • But Mentone has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 2)

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

  • Cheltenham has cheaper houses ($1,252,500 vs $1,407,500)
  • Mentone has cheaper units ($578,750 vs $677,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mentone

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($392/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Mentone

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (56% vs 42%)
  • carries lower crime risk (70/100 vs 80/100)
  • But Cheltenham has more GPs (6 vs 3)

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

Investors

Cheltenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (7.6% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cheltenham Mentone
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.

Cheltenham Mentone
Walkability 94 / 94
Cheltenham — Walkability: 94/100 Mentone — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 20 / 30
Cheltenham — Safety: 20/100 Mentone — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Cheltenham — Low fire risk: 100/100 Mentone — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 70 / 60
Cheltenham — Low flood risk: 70/100 Mentone — Low flood risk: 60/100

Demographics

Cheltenham has more residents (23,992 vs 13,197); Mentone skews older (42 vs 40).

Cheltenham Mentone
Population 23,992
+45% vs other
 13,197
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.6% +1.8%
Median age 40 42
Median household income $99,788/yr
+2% vs other
 $98,228/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
+9% vs other
 $392/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cheltenham Mentone
0-4 5.9% / 4.5%
Cheltenham — 0-4: 5.9% Mentone — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 12.1% / 11.2%
Cheltenham — 5-14: 12.1% Mentone — 5-14: 11.2%
15-19 5.3% / 5.2%
Cheltenham — 15-19: 5.3% Mentone — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 4.9% / 4.7%
Cheltenham — 20-24: 4.9% Mentone — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 12.6% / 12.9%
Cheltenham — 25-34: 12.6% Mentone — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 15.6% / 14.4%
Cheltenham — 35-44: 15.6% Mentone — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 14.1% / 15.2%
Cheltenham — 45-54: 14.1% Mentone — 45-54: 15.2%
55-64 10.8% / 12.1%
Cheltenham — 55-64: 10.8% Mentone — 55-64: 12.1%
65-74 8.6% / 9.8%
Cheltenham — 65-74: 8.6% Mentone — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 6.1% / 6.7%
Cheltenham — 75-84: 6.1% Mentone — 75-84: 6.7%
85+ 4.0% / 3.1%
Cheltenham — 85+: 4.0% Mentone — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cheltenham 37.8% lone person
Cheltenham — Lone Person: 37.8% Cheltenham — Couple Families: 43.0% Cheltenham — One Parent Families: 14.3% Cheltenham — Group Household: 3.4% Cheltenham — Other Families: 1.4%
Mentone 44.6% lone person
Mentone — Lone Person: 44.6% Mentone — Couple Families: 37.2% Mentone — One Parent Families: 14.1% Mentone — Group Household: 2.9% Mentone — Other Families: 1.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cheltenham 27.9% renting
Cheltenham — Owned Outright: 33.8% Cheltenham — Mortgage: 38.3% Cheltenham — Renting: 27.9%
Mentone 32.9% renting
Mentone — Owned Outright: 32.4% Mentone — Mortgage: 34.7% Mentone — Renting: 32.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Cheltenham Mentone
England 4.0% / 4.7%
Cheltenham — England: 4.0% Mentone — England: 4.7%
China 3.1% / 2.7%
Cheltenham — China: 3.1% Mentone — China: 2.7%
India 2.7% / 1.9%
Cheltenham — India: 2.7% Mentone — India: 1.9%
Greece 2.0% / 1.7%
Cheltenham — Greece: 2.0% Mentone — Greece: 1.7%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.8%
Cheltenham — New Zealand: 1.6% Mentone — New Zealand: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

Qualifications

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

Cheltenham Mentone
Bachelor Degree 18.8% / 19.9%
Cheltenham — Bachelor Degree: 18.8% Mentone — Bachelor Degree: 19.9%
Certificate III & IV 9.8% / 10.4%
Cheltenham — Certificate III & IV: 9.8% Mentone — Certificate III & IV: 10.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 9.8%
Cheltenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Mentone — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 6.9%
Cheltenham — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Mentone — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 3.4%
Cheltenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Mentone — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cheltenham 58.5% houses
Cheltenham — Houses: 58.5% Cheltenham — Townhouses: 22.7% Cheltenham — Flats / Apartments: 18.8%
Mentone 44.0% houses
Mentone — Houses: 44.0% Mentone — Townhouses: 37.2% Mentone — Flats / Apartments: 18.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cheltenham Mentone
Median house price $1,252,500 $1,407,500
Median unit price $677,500 $578,750
Median land price $942,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 155 sales
 28 days
from 84 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.

Cheltenham Mentone
1 bed $365K / $410K
Cheltenham — 1 bed: $365K (37 sales) Mentone — 1 bed: $410K (69 sales)

37 vs 69 sales

2 bed $668K / $643K
Cheltenham — 2 bed: $668K (184 sales) Mentone — 2 bed: $643K (147 sales)

184 vs 147 sales

3 bed $895K / $914K
Cheltenham — 3 bed: $895K (48 sales) Mentone — 3 bed: $914K (10 sales)

48 vs 10 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.

Cheltenham Mentone
2 bed $1.05M / $920K
Cheltenham — 2 bed: $1.05M (23 sales) Mentone — 2 bed: $920K (6 sales)

23 vs 6 sales

3 bed $1.2M / $1.24M
Cheltenham — 3 bed: $1.2M (120 sales) Mentone — 3 bed: $1.24M (51 sales)

120 vs 51 sales

4 bed $1.35M / $1.58M
Cheltenham — 4 bed: $1.35M (93 sales) Mentone — 4 bed: $1.58M (62 sales)

93 vs 62 sales

5 bed $1.68M / $2.01M
Cheltenham — 5 bed: $1.68M (25 sales) Mentone — 5 bed: $2.01M (16 sales)

25 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Cheltenham Mentone
Residential 51% 70%
Commercial 19% 10%
Parks and recreation 11% 6%
Industrial 10% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 9%
same for both
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

Cheltenham Mentone
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.

Cheltenham Mentone
Houses 3.5%
$800/wk on $1.2M
 3.4%
$900/wk on $1.39M
Units 5.0%
$600/wk on $630K
 5.0%
$580/wk on $605K

Ranking within VIC

Cheltenham Mentone
House price Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Schools Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 29% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 58% of VIC Higher than 61% of VIC

Liveability

Cheltenham Mentone
Grade A
same for both
Score 76/100 79/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Mentone carries more flood risk (40 vs 30); Cheltenham carries more crime risk (80 vs 70).

Cheltenham Mentone
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 High
70/100
Flood Low
30/100
 Moderate
40/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
61/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Cheltenham Mentone
Inside the suburb 6 8
Rated above peers 2 3
Rated at peers 3 4
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Monash Clayton, 8.0 km
 1
Monash Clayton, 8.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 2.3%

Schools in Cheltenham

  • Cheltenham East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cheltenham Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cheltenham Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kingston Heath Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of the Assumption School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Le Page Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Mentone

  • Kilbreda College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Mentone Girls Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Mentone Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mentone Girls' Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Mentone Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • Mentone Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cheltenham Mentone
Supermarkets 8 4
Cafes & restaurants 56 33
Parks & reserves 28 9
Childcare 20 17
GPs 6 3
Pharmacies 8 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 9 3
Fuel stations 4
same for both
EV chargers 3 1

Mobility

Cheltenham Mentone
Walkability score 94/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 20.9 km 22.5 km
+8% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 33 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 428.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 277.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3192
 1.4%
postcode 3194
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 23
postcode 3192
 18
postcode 3194

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.

Cheltenham Mentone
Car (driver) 49.2% / 49.5%
Cheltenham — Car (driver): 49.2% Mentone — Car (driver): 49.5%
Worked from Home 40.1% / 40.2%
Cheltenham — Worked from Home: 40.1% Mentone — Worked from Home: 40.2%
Train 3.3% / 3.8%
Cheltenham — Train: 3.3% Mentone — Train: 3.8%
Car (passenger) 3.2% / 2.6%
Cheltenham — Car (passenger): 3.2% Mentone — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 2.4% / 2.5%
Cheltenham — Walked Only: 2.4% Mentone — Walked Only: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.5%).

Setting

Cheltenham Mentone
Elevation 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.7 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 1.2 km
1.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cheltenham Mentone
Connectivity score 76/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 9%
13,274 premises
 2%
7,109 premises

Climate

Cheltenham Mentone
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)

Cheltenham Mentone
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Cheltenham Mentone
Division Isaacs
same for both
Member Mark Dreyfus
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cheltenham Mentone
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cheltenham

Coastal Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks Premium Townhouses Transport Hub

Mentone

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Outer Parks Townhouses Transport Hub Village Feel

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cheltenham

Cheltenham vs Beaumaris Cheltenham vs Highett Cheltenham vs Sandringham Cheltenham vs Black Rock Cheltenham vs Moorabbin Cheltenham vs Heatherton

Other comparisons with Mentone

Mentone vs Beaumaris Mentone vs Parkdale Mentone vs Mordialloc
Full data on Cheltenham Full data on Mentone
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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