Derrinal vs Heathcote

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Derrinal, about half of households are people living alone. In Heathcote, most households are 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

Heathcote

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (95% vs 78%)
  • But Derrinal is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 38%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Heathcote

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($255/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heathcote

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (138.9 km vs 141.3 km)
  • But Derrinal has a shorter drive in (107 min vs 121 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Heathcote

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • But Derrinal has more units and townhouses to downsize into (22% vs 5%)

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

Investors

Derrinal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (102.0% vs 6.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Derrinal Heathcote
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.

Derrinal Heathcote
Walkability 0 / 15
Derrinal — Walkability: 0/100 Heathcote — Walkability: 15/100
Safety 17 / 23
Derrinal — Safety: 17/100 Heathcote — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 45 / 52
Derrinal — Low fire risk: 45/100 Heathcote — Low fire risk: 52/100
Low flood risk 76 / 73
Derrinal — Low flood risk: 76/100 Heathcote — Low flood risk: 73/100

Demographics

Heathcote has more residents (2,962 vs 99); Derrinal has higher household incomes ($66,612 vs $49,192).

Derrinal Heathcote
Population 99 2,962
+2892% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +102.0% +6.1%
Median age 58 57
Median household income $66,612/yr
+26% vs other
 $49,192/yr
Median weekly rent $320/wk
+20% vs other
 $255/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Derrinal Heathcote
0-4 4.0% / 3.2%
Derrinal — 0-4: 4.0% Heathcote — 0-4: 3.2%
5-14 — / 8.1%
Derrinal — 5-14: not among its largest Heathcote — 5-14: 8.1%
15-19 4.0% / 3.3%
Derrinal — 15-19: 4.0% Heathcote — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 — / 2.9%
Derrinal — 20-24: not among its largest Heathcote — 20-24: 2.9%
25-34 7.1% / 6.9%
Derrinal — 25-34: 7.1% Heathcote — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 11.1% / 8.6%
Derrinal — 35-44: 11.1% Heathcote — 35-44: 8.6%
45-54 18.2% / 13.2%
Derrinal — 45-54: 18.2% Heathcote — 45-54: 13.2%
55-64 22.2% / 18.2%
Derrinal — 55-64: 22.2% Heathcote — 55-64: 18.2%
65-74 24.2% / 18.6%
Derrinal — 65-74: 24.2% Heathcote — 65-74: 18.6%
75-84 8.1% / 12.5%
Derrinal — 75-84: 8.1% Heathcote — 75-84: 12.5%
85+ 4.0% / 4.1%
Derrinal — 85+: 4.0% Heathcote — 85+: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Derrinal 48.1% lone person
Derrinal — Lone Person: 48.1% Derrinal — Couple Families: 40.7% Derrinal — One Parent Families: 11.1% Derrinal — Group Household: 0.0% Derrinal — Other Families: 0.0%
Heathcote 55.0% lone person
Heathcote — Lone Person: 55.0% Heathcote — Couple Families: 24.3% Heathcote — One Parent Families: 13.2% Heathcote — Group Household: 5.3% Heathcote — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Derrinal 8.1% renting
Derrinal — Owned Outright: 67.6% Derrinal — Mortgage: 24.3% Derrinal — Renting: 8.1%
Heathcote 14.8% renting
Heathcote — Owned Outright: 53.9% Heathcote — Mortgage: 31.3% Heathcote — Renting: 14.8%
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.

Derrinal Heathcote
New Zealand 5.1% / 1.4%
Derrinal — New Zealand: 5.1% Heathcote — New Zealand: 1.4%
England — / 4.0%
Derrinal — England: not among its largest Heathcote — England: 4.0%
Germany — / 0.8%
Derrinal — Germany: not among its largest Heathcote — Germany: 0.8%
Italy — / 0.5%
Derrinal — Italy: not among its largest Heathcote — Italy: 0.5%
Netherlands — / 0.5%
Derrinal — Netherlands: not among its largest Heathcote — Netherlands: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

Qualifications

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

Derrinal Heathcote
Certificate III & IV 20.2% / 16.8%
Derrinal — Certificate III & IV: 20.2% Heathcote — Certificate III & IV: 16.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 15.2% / 7.2%
Derrinal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 15.2% Heathcote — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Bachelor Degree 13.1% / 6.4%
Derrinal — Bachelor Degree: 13.1% Heathcote — Bachelor Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 6.1% / 1.5%
Derrinal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 6.1% Heathcote — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%
Postgraduate Degree 5.1% / 1.8%
Derrinal — Postgraduate Degree: 5.1% Heathcote — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Derrinal 78.0% houses
Derrinal — Houses: 78.0% Derrinal — Flats / Apartments: 22.0% Derrinal — Townhouses: 0.0%
Heathcote 94.8% houses
Heathcote — Houses: 94.8% Heathcote — Flats / Apartments: 2.8% Heathcote — Townhouses: 2.4%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Derrinal Heathcote
Median house price — $550,000
Median unit price — $395,000
Median land price — $400,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 106 days
from 50 sales

Zoning mix

Derrinal has more land zoned for conservation (92% vs 14%); Heathcote has more rural and farming land (52% vs 0%).

Derrinal Heathcote
Environmental 92% 14%
Rural and farming 0% 52%
Parks and recreation 7% 27%
Residential 0% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 2%
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

Derrinal Heathcote
New dwellings approved 885
across Greater Bendigo
same for both
Approvals change year on year +28%
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.

Derrinal Heathcote
Houses — 3.5%
$460/wk on $680K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Derrinal Heathcote
House price — Higher than 13% of VIC
Income Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 30% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 44% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 64% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 37% of VIC

Liveability

Heathcote is more walkable (15 vs 0).

Derrinal Heathcote
Grade — D
Score — 25/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Derrinal Heathcote
Bushfire Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
48/100
Crime High
83/100
 High
77/100
Flood Low
24/100
 Low
27/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Derrinal Heathcote
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Derrinal

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Heathcote

  • Holy Rosary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Heathcote Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Derrinal Heathcote
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 9
Parks & reserves 1 10
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 2 17

Mobility

Derrinal sits further from the CBD (141.3 km vs 138.9 km).

Derrinal Heathcote
Walkability score 0/100 15/100
Distance to Melbourne 141.3 km
+2% vs other
 138.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 107 min 121 min
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3523
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3523
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.

Derrinal Heathcote
Car (driver) 70.0% / 75.9%
Derrinal — Car (driver): 70.0% Heathcote — Car (driver): 75.9%
Worked from Home 30.0% / 18.1%
Derrinal — Worked from Home: 30.0% Heathcote — Worked from Home: 18.1%
Car (passenger) — / 3.0%
Derrinal — Car (passenger): not among its largest Heathcote — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only — / 2.7%
Derrinal — Walked Only: not among its largest Heathcote — Walked Only: 2.7%
Train — / 0.4%
Derrinal — Train: not among its largest Heathcote — Train: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.9%).

Setting

Derrinal Heathcote
Elevation 194 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 330 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Derrinal Heathcote
Connectivity score 25/100 57/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
49 premises
 31%
1,882 premises

Climate

Derrinal Heathcote
Annual rainfall 553 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 29.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.1°C
same for both

Council rates

Derrinal Heathcote
Average residential rate $1,949/yr
same for both
Council Greater Bendigo
same for both

Federal electorate

Derrinal Heathcote
Division Bendigo
same for both
Member Lisa Chesters
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Derrinal Heathcote
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Derrinal

Retirees Rural

Heathcote

Acreage Affordable Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Derrinal

Derrinal vs Mia Mia Derrinal vs Knowsley Derrinal vs Ladys Pass

Other comparisons with Heathcote

Heathcote vs Puckapunyal Heathcote vs Tooborac Heathcote vs Argyle Heathcote vs Mia Mia Heathcote vs Mount Camel Heathcote vs Ladys Pass
Full data on Derrinal Full data on Heathcote
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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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