Coolaroo vs Meadow Heights

Meadow Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Coolaroo. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Meadow Heights, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Meadow Heights tends to suit 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

Meadow Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (56 vs 6)
  • carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 93/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (77% vs 65%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Meadow Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (27% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

Coolaroo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (10% vs 3%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Coolaroo has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 12%)
  • Meadow Heights carries lower crime risk (63/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Coolaroo and Meadow 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.

Coolaroo Meadow 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.

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Walkability 79 / 78
Coolaroo — Walkability: 79/100 Meadow Heights — Walkability: 78/100
Safety 7 / 37
Coolaroo — Safety: 7/100 Meadow Heights — Safety: 37/100
Low fire risk 100 / 64
Coolaroo — Low fire risk: 100/100 Meadow Heights — Low fire risk: 64/100
Low flood risk 75 / 70
Coolaroo — Low flood risk: 75/100 Meadow Heights — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

Meadow Heights has more residents (14,890 vs 3,193); Meadow Heights has higher household incomes ($66,248 vs $53,300).

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Population 3,193 14,890
+366% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.1% +0.3%
Median age 37 34
Median household income $53,300/yr $66,248/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $335/wk $346/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
0-4 6.4% / 6.8%
Coolaroo — 0-4: 6.4% Meadow Heights — 0-4: 6.8%
5-14 13.2% / 14.7%
Coolaroo — 5-14: 13.2% Meadow Heights — 5-14: 14.7%
15-19 5.8% / 6.8%
Coolaroo — 15-19: 5.8% Meadow Heights — 15-19: 6.8%
20-24 7.2% / 7.9%
Coolaroo — 20-24: 7.2% Meadow Heights — 20-24: 7.9%
25-34 14.6% / 15.1%
Coolaroo — 25-34: 14.6% Meadow Heights — 25-34: 15.1%
35-44 12.6% / 12.5%
Coolaroo — 35-44: 12.6% Meadow Heights — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 11.3% / 12.2%
Coolaroo — 45-54: 11.3% Meadow Heights — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 9.6% / 12.2%
Coolaroo — 55-64: 9.6% Meadow Heights — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 8.7% / 7.4%
Coolaroo — 65-74: 8.7% Meadow Heights — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 7.1% / 3.6%
Coolaroo — 75-84: 7.1% Meadow Heights — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 3.3% / 0.7%
Coolaroo — 85+: 3.3% Meadow Heights — 85+: 0.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Coolaroo 39.6% couple families
Coolaroo — Couple Families: 39.6% Coolaroo — One Parent Families: 25.2% Coolaroo — Lone Person: 28.1% Coolaroo — Group Household: 3.8% Coolaroo — Other Families: 3.3%
Meadow Heights 53.1% couple families
Meadow Heights — Couple Families: 53.1% Meadow Heights — One Parent Families: 24.1% Meadow Heights — Lone Person: 17.4% Meadow Heights — Group Household: 3.4% Meadow Heights — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Coolaroo 31.7% renting
Coolaroo — Owned Outright: 37.9% Coolaroo — Mortgage: 30.4% Coolaroo — Renting: 31.7%
Meadow Heights 31.9% renting
Meadow Heights — Owned Outright: 27.9% Meadow Heights — Mortgage: 40.3% Meadow Heights — Renting: 31.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Certificate III & IV 8.6% / 8.0%
Coolaroo — Certificate III & IV: 8.6% Meadow Heights — Certificate III & IV: 8.0%
Bachelor Degree 6.1% / 7.4%
Coolaroo — Bachelor Degree: 6.1% Meadow Heights — Bachelor Degree: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.3% / 5.7%
Coolaroo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3% Meadow Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 2.3%
Coolaroo — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Meadow Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.1%
Coolaroo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Meadow Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.6%).

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.

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Iraq 7.8% / 7.1%
Coolaroo — Iraq: 7.8% Meadow Heights — Iraq: 7.1%
Lebanon 3.6% / 4.3%
Coolaroo — Lebanon: 3.6% Meadow Heights — Lebanon: 4.3%
Pakistan 2.7% / 2.3%
Coolaroo — Pakistan: 2.7% Meadow Heights — Pakistan: 2.3%
Vietnam 1.7% / 2.5%
Coolaroo — Vietnam: 1.7% Meadow Heights — Vietnam: 2.5%
India 2.3% / 1.2%
Coolaroo — India: 2.3% Meadow Heights — India: 1.2%
Nepal 3.3% / —
Coolaroo — Nepal: 3.3% Meadow Heights — Nepal: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Coolaroo 91.4% houses
Coolaroo — Houses: 91.4% Coolaroo — Townhouses: 8.6% Coolaroo — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Meadow Heights 82.2% houses
Meadow Heights — Houses: 82.2% Meadow Heights — Townhouses: 16.5% Meadow Heights — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Median house price $625,000 $670,000
Median unit price — $560,000
Median land price — $535,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 13 sales
 25 days
from 56 sales

Zoning mix

Coolaroo has more industrially zoned land (46% vs 0%).

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Residential 31% 78%
Industrial 46% 0%
Parks and recreation 3% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 5%
Commercial 9% 1%
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

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
New dwellings approved 3,063
across Hume
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
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.

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Houses 4.1%
$507/wk on $642K
 4.4%
$550/wk on $655K
Units — 4.5%
$520/wk on $595K

Ranking within VIC

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
House price Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Income Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 24% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 35% of VIC

Liveability

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Grade C
same for both
Score 46/100 43/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
same for both

Risk profile

Meadow Heights carries more bushfire risk (36 vs 0); Coolaroo carries more crime risk (93 vs 63).

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
36/100
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
63/100
Flood Low
25/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 29
within 5 km
 24
within 5 km

Schools

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Coolaroo

  • St Mary's Coptic Orthodox College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Coolaroo South Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Meadow Heights

  • Bethal Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Meadow Heights Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 5 0
Parks & reserves 6 56
Childcare 6 7
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 2 1
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Walkability score 79/100 78/100
Distance to Melbourne 21 km 21.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min
same for both
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 165.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 169.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3048
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 3048
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.

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Car (driver) 69.8% / 75.4%
Coolaroo — Car (driver): 69.8% Meadow Heights — Car (driver): 75.4%
Worked from Home 13.5% / 14.4%
Coolaroo — Worked from Home: 13.5% Meadow Heights — Worked from Home: 14.4%
Train 10.2% / 3.1%
Coolaroo — Train: 10.2% Meadow Heights — Train: 3.1%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 5.4%
Coolaroo — Car (passenger): 3.9% Meadow Heights — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Bus 1.3% / 1.2%
Coolaroo — Bus: 1.3% Meadow Heights — Bus: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.4%).

Setting

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Elevation 147 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 138 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 20.4 km 21.0 km

NBN connectivity

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Connectivity score 90/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
1,626 premises
 54%
5,114 premises

Climate

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Annual rainfall 534 mm 518 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C 6.0°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Average residential rate $1,715/yr
same for both
Council Hume
same for both

Federal electorate

Coolaroo Meadow Heights
Division Calwell
same for both
Member Basem Abdo
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Coolaroo

Easy Commute Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Quiet Transport Hub

Meadow Heights

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Coolaroo

Coolaroo vs Roxburgh Park Coolaroo vs Broadmeadows Coolaroo vs Dallas Coolaroo vs Campbellfield

Other comparisons with Meadow Heights

Meadow Heights vs Roxburgh Park Meadow Heights vs Greenvale Meadow Heights vs Broadmeadows Meadow Heights vs Westmeadows
Full data on Coolaroo Full data on Meadow Heights
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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