Clayton South vs Heatherton

Clayton South is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 41 in Heatherton. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Heatherton, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Heatherton: a median of $1.11 million, against $985,000 in Clayton South, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Clayton South tends to suit young adults and share households, while Heatherton suits families with children and 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

Clayton South

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (15 vs 10)
  • But Heatherton has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 56%)

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

First-home buyers

Clayton South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($985,000 vs $1,110,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Clayton South

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (41% vs 28%)
  • has cheaper rent ($381/wk vs $471/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Clayton South

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (8% vs 3%)
  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 45/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Clayton South

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 18%)
  • is more walkable (58/100 vs 45/100)

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

Investors

Clayton South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (5.8% vs -2.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Clayton South Heatherton
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.

Clayton South Heatherton
Walkability 58 / 45
Clayton South — Walkability: 58/100 Heatherton — Walkability: 45/100
Safety 25 / 27
Clayton South — Safety: 25/100 Heatherton — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Clayton South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Heatherton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 42
Clayton South — Low flood risk: 63/100 Heatherton — Low flood risk: 42/100

Demographics

Clayton South has more residents (13,381 vs 2,826); Heatherton has higher household incomes ($108,576 vs $84,760).

Clayton South Heatherton
Population 13,381
+79% vs other
 2,826
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.8% -2.8%
Median age 34 41
Median household income $84,760/yr $108,576/yr
+28% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $471/wk
+24% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clayton South Heatherton
0-4 5.7% / 4.9%
Clayton South — 0-4: 5.7% Heatherton — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 8.4% / 15.5%
Clayton South — 5-14: 8.4% Heatherton — 5-14: 15.5%
15-19 4.6% / 7.4%
Clayton South — 15-19: 4.6% Heatherton — 15-19: 7.4%
20-24 8.6% / 4.7%
Clayton South — 20-24: 8.6% Heatherton — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 23.1% / 9.6%
Clayton South — 25-34: 23.1% Heatherton — 25-34: 9.6%
35-44 14.3% / 13.5%
Clayton South — 35-44: 14.3% Heatherton — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 10.8% / 18.7%
Clayton South — 45-54: 10.8% Heatherton — 45-54: 18.7%
55-64 9.0% / 11.2%
Clayton South — 55-64: 9.0% Heatherton — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 7.8% / 8.7%
Clayton South — 65-74: 7.8% Heatherton — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 5.6% / 4.2%
Clayton South — 75-84: 5.6% Heatherton — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 2.1% / 1.5%
Clayton South — 85+: 2.1% Heatherton — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clayton South 41.8% couple families
Clayton South — Couple Families: 41.8% Clayton South — Lone Person: 28.4% Clayton South — One Parent Families: 15.8% Clayton South — Group Household: 11.0% Clayton South — Other Families: 3.0%
Heatherton 55.3% couple families
Heatherton — Couple Families: 55.3% Heatherton — Lone Person: 25.3% Heatherton — One Parent Families: 14.9% Heatherton — Group Household: 3.1% Heatherton — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clayton South 40.8% renting
Clayton South — Owned Outright: 32.0% Clayton South — Mortgage: 27.2% Clayton South — Renting: 40.8%
Heatherton 27.5% renting
Heatherton — Owned Outright: 29.8% Heatherton — Mortgage: 42.7% Heatherton — Renting: 27.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Clayton South Heatherton
Bachelor Degree 17.9% / 16.6%
Clayton South — Bachelor Degree: 17.9% Heatherton — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Postgraduate Degree 10.2% / 6.4%
Clayton South — Postgraduate Degree: 10.2% Heatherton — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 7.4% / 9.2%
Clayton South — Certificate III & IV: 7.4% Heatherton — Certificate III & IV: 9.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 8.2%
Clayton South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Heatherton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 2.4%
Clayton South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Heatherton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

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.

Clayton South Heatherton
India 14.9% / 2.4%
Clayton South — India: 14.9% Heatherton — India: 2.4%
China 8.2% / 3.6%
Clayton South — China: 8.2% Heatherton — China: 3.6%
Greece 5.3% / —
Clayton South — Greece: 5.3% Heatherton — Greece: not among its largest
Vietnam 4.5% / —
Clayton South — Vietnam: 4.5% Heatherton — Vietnam: not among its largest
Sri Lanka 2.8% / 1.3%
Clayton South — Sri Lanka: 2.8% Heatherton — Sri Lanka: 1.3%
Malaysia 2.2% / 1.6%
Clayton South — Malaysia: 2.2% Heatherton — Malaysia: 1.6%
South Africa — / 3.8%
Clayton South — South Africa: not among its largest Heatherton — South Africa: 3.8%
England — / 3.4%
Clayton South — England: not among its largest Heatherton — England: 3.4%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clayton South 56.0% houses
Clayton South — Houses: 56.0% Clayton South — Townhouses: 32.9% Clayton South — Flats / Apartments: 11.1%
Heatherton 81.7% houses
Heatherton — Houses: 81.7% Heatherton — Townhouses: 10.6% Heatherton — Flats / Apartments: 7.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Clayton South Heatherton
Median house price $985,000 $1,110,000
Median unit price $524,500 $553,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 68 sales
 22 days
from 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.

Clayton South Heatherton
2 bed $975K / $918K
Clayton South — 2 bed: $975K (11 sales) Heatherton — 2 bed: $918K (6 sales)

11 vs 6 sales

3 bed $970K / $1.1M
Clayton South — 3 bed: $970K (74 sales) Heatherton — 3 bed: $1.1M (21 sales)

74 vs 21 sales

4 bed $1M / $1.24M
Clayton South — 4 bed: $1M (20 sales) Heatherton — 4 bed: $1.24M (13 sales)

20 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Heatherton has more rural and farming land (47% vs 11%); Clayton South has more industrially zoned land (30% vs 0%).

Clayton South Heatherton
Rural and farming 11% 47%
Industrial 30% 0%
Residential 29% 8%
Other and special use 7% 23%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 11%
Commercial 10% 6%
Parks and recreation 5% 4%
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

Clayton South Heatherton
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.

Clayton South Heatherton
Houses 3.9%
$700/wk on $924K
 —
Units 5.9%
$590/wk on $518K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Clayton South Heatherton
House price Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Income Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools Higher than 13% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 64% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 91% of VIC —

Liveability

Heatherton scores higher overall (62 vs 46); Clayton South is more walkable (58 vs 45).

Clayton South Heatherton
Grade C B
Score 46/100 62/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Heatherton carries more flood risk (58 vs 37).

Clayton South Heatherton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
75/100
 High
73/100
Flood Low
37/100
 Moderate
58/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 26
within 5 km
 25
within 5 km

Schools

Clayton South Heatherton
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Monash Clayton, 2.9 km
 2
Monash Clayton, 5.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.1% 2.7%

Schools in Clayton South

  • Clayton South Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Fitra Community School Independent · Primary at peers
  • Westall Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Westall Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Westall Secondary College-Westall English Language Centre Government · Secondary

Schools in Heatherton

  • Christway College Independent · Combined at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Clayton South Heatherton
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 17 1
Parks & reserves 15 10
Childcare 10 1
GPs 2 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 4 2
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Clayton South Heatherton
Walkability score 58/100 45/100
Distance to Melbourne 25.4 km 25.7 km
+1% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 37 min 34 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 243.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 105.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.1%
postcode 3169
 1.8%
postcode 3202
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 26
postcode 3169
 32
postcode 3202

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.

Clayton South Heatherton
Car (driver) 58.8% / 55.2%
Clayton South — Car (driver): 58.8% Heatherton — Car (driver): 55.2%
Worked from Home 24.2% / 34.0%
Clayton South — Worked from Home: 24.2% Heatherton — Worked from Home: 34.0%
Train 8.0% / 2.9%
Clayton South — Train: 8.0% Heatherton — Train: 2.9%
Car (passenger) 5.7% / 4.4%
Clayton South — Car (passenger): 5.7% Heatherton — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Walked Only 1.3% / 2.3%
Clayton South — Walked Only: 1.3% Heatherton — Walked Only: 2.3%
Bus 1.5% / 0.9%
Clayton South — Bus: 1.5% Heatherton — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (58.8%).

Setting

Clayton South Heatherton
Elevation 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 30 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.5 km 4.7 km
4.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Clayton South Heatherton
Connectivity score 85/100 87/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
6,731 premises
 45%
1,358 premises

Climate

Clayton South Heatherton
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)

Clayton South Heatherton
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 7.6 µg/m³
PM10 20.8 µg/m³ —
NO₂ 0.98 pphm —

Council rates

Clayton South Heatherton
Average residential rate $1,940/yr
same for both
Council Kingston (Vic.)
same for both

Federal electorate

Clayton South Heatherton
Division Hotham Isaacs
Member Clare O'Neil Mark Dreyfus
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Clayton South Heatherton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Clayton South

Multicultural Outer Townhouses

Heatherton

Middle-Ring

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clayton South

Clayton South vs Springvale Clayton South vs Clayton Clayton South vs Springvale South Clayton South vs Dingley Village Clayton South vs Clarinda

Other comparisons with Heatherton

Heatherton vs Bentleigh East Heatherton vs Cheltenham Heatherton vs Dingley Village Heatherton vs Oakleigh South Heatherton vs Clarinda Heatherton vs Moorabbin
Full data on Clayton South Full data on Heatherton
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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