Harkness vs Melton West

Harkness is the younger of the two, with a median age of 30 against 36 in Melton West. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Harkness, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Harkness tends to suit families with children.

Harkness and Melton West are both outer western suburbs with distinct profiles. Harkness has a younger population (median age 30 versus 36), higher household incomes ($91,104 versus $75,400), and significantly lower crime risk (47 versus 87), making it better suited to families seeking safety and financial stability. Melton West offers better walkability (40 versus 23) and is slightly closer to the CBD, though it carries higher bushfire risk (67 versus 87). House prices are comparable, with Melton West slightly higher at $600,000 versus $570,000.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Harkness carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 85/100)
  • Melton West has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Melton West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Melton West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 23/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (45 min vs 52 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Melton West

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (14% vs 7%)
  • is more walkable (40/100 vs 23/100)
  • But Harkness carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 85/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield.

Where they sit

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

Harkness Melton West
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.

Harkness Melton West
Walkability 23 / 40
Harkness — Walkability: 23/100 Melton West — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 50 / 15
Harkness — Safety: 50/100 Melton West — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 13 / 33
Harkness — Low fire risk: 13/100 Melton West — Low fire risk: 33/100
Low flood risk 90 / 89
Harkness — Low flood risk: 90/100 Melton West — Low flood risk: 89/100

Demographics

Harkness has more residents (12,463 vs 8,784); Harkness has higher household incomes ($91,104 vs $75,400).

Harkness Melton West
Population 12,463
+30% vs other
 8,784
Population trend (2016 → 2021) —
same for both
Median age 30 36
Median household income $91,104/yr
+17% vs other
 $75,400/yr
Median weekly rent $350/wk
+9% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Harkness Melton West
0-4 10.0% / 6.1%
Harkness — 0-4: 10.0% Melton West — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 18.8% / 15.0%
Harkness — 5-14: 18.8% Melton West — 5-14: 15.0%
15-19 6.2% / 7.1%
Harkness — 15-19: 6.2% Melton West — 15-19: 7.1%
20-24 6.4% / 6.0%
Harkness — 20-24: 6.4% Melton West — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 16.5% / 13.0%
Harkness — 25-34: 16.5% Melton West — 25-34: 13.0%
35-44 17.2% / 14.4%
Harkness — 35-44: 17.2% Melton West — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 11.2% / 12.9%
Harkness — 45-54: 11.2% Melton West — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 6.9% / 11.3%
Harkness — 55-64: 6.9% Melton West — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 4.8% / 9.8%
Harkness — 65-74: 4.8% Melton West — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 1.8% / 3.7%
Harkness — 75-84: 1.8% Melton West — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 0.2% / 0.9%
Harkness — 85+: 0.2% Melton West — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Harkness 53.8% couple families
Harkness — Couple Families: 53.8% Harkness — Lone Person: 20.6% Harkness — One Parent Families: 22.3% Harkness — Group Household: 2.4% Harkness — Other Families: 0.9%
Melton West 44.8% couple families
Melton West — Couple Families: 44.8% Melton West — Lone Person: 26.7% Melton West — One Parent Families: 23.7% Melton West — Group Household: 3.3% Melton West — 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.

Harkness 28.0% renting
Harkness — Owned Outright: 15.9% Harkness — Mortgage: 56.0% Harkness — Renting: 28.0%
Melton West 23.8% renting
Melton West — Owned Outright: 30.5% Melton West — Mortgage: 45.7% Melton West — Renting: 23.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Harkness Melton West
Certificate III & IV 14.3% / 16.3%
Harkness — Certificate III & IV: 14.3% Melton West — Certificate III & IV: 16.3%
Bachelor Degree 7.8% / 6.4%
Harkness — Bachelor Degree: 7.8% Melton West — Bachelor Degree: 6.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.1% / 6.5%
Harkness — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1% Melton West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.5%
Postgraduate Degree 2.4% / 1.7%
Harkness — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4% Melton West — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.2% / 1.0%
Harkness — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2% Melton West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

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.

Harkness Melton West
India 6.5% / 3.4%
Harkness — India: 6.5% Melton West — India: 3.4%
New Zealand 3.0% / 2.4%
Harkness — New Zealand: 3.0% Melton West — New Zealand: 2.4%
England 1.4% / 2.8%
Harkness — England: 1.4% Melton West — England: 2.8%
Philippines 2.4% / 1.5%
Harkness — Philippines: 2.4% Melton West — Philippines: 1.5%
Vietnam 0.8% / 0.7%
Harkness — Vietnam: 0.8% Melton West — Vietnam: 0.7%
Sri Lanka 0.8% / —
Harkness — Sri Lanka: 0.8% Melton West — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Harkness 94.2% houses
Harkness — Houses: 94.2% Harkness — Townhouses: 4.3% Harkness — Flats / Apartments: 1.5%
Melton West 93.7% houses
Melton West — Houses: 93.7% Melton West — Townhouses: 6.2% Melton West — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Harkness Melton West
Median house price $650,000 $600,000
Median unit price $432,500 $430,000
Median land price — $470,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 4 days
from 3 sales
 28 days
from 98 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.

Harkness Melton West
3 bed $560K / $550K
Harkness — 3 bed: $560K (40 sales) Melton West — 3 bed: $550K (117 sales)

40 vs 117 sales

4 bed $660K / $650K
Harkness — 4 bed: $660K (71 sales) Melton West — 4 bed: $650K (98 sales)

71 vs 98 sales

5 bed $765K / $725K
Harkness — 5 bed: $765K (7 sales) Melton West — 5 bed: $725K (15 sales)

7 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Harkness has more rural and farming land (46% vs 25%).

Harkness Melton West
Residential 36% 53%
Rural and farming 46% 25%
Environmental 8% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 6%
Parks and recreation 1% 6%
Commercial 0% 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

Harkness Melton West
New dwellings approved 4,602
across Melton
same for both
Approvals change year on year +5%
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.

Harkness Melton West
Houses 3.8%
$470/wk on $650K
 3.8%
$450/wk on $610K
Units 4.3%
$432/wk on $519K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Harkness Melton West
House price Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Income Higher than 60% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 40% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 68% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 45% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 23% of VIC —

Liveability

Melton West is more walkable (40 vs 23).

Harkness Melton West
Grade C
same for both
Score 35/100 32/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Melton West carries more crime risk (85 vs 50); Harkness carries more bushfire risk (87 vs 67).

Harkness Melton West
Bushfire High
87/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Moderate
50/100
 High
85/100
Flood Low
10/100
 Low
11/100
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

Harkness Melton West
Inside the suburb 1 8
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 4

Schools in Harkness

  • Arnolds Creek Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Melton West

  • OneSchool Global Vic Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Francis Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Melton Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers
  • Melton West Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Catherine of Siena School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Wedge Park Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Harkness Melton West
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 6
Parks & reserves 5 3
Childcare 6 8
GPs 1 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 5
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 5 1

Mobility

Harkness Melton West
Walkability score 23/100 40/100
Distance to Melbourne 49.7 km
+4% vs other
 47.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 52 min 45 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 44.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 113.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3337
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 3337
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.

Harkness Melton West
Car (driver) 74.2% / 72.6%
Harkness — Car (driver): 74.2% Melton West — Car (driver): 72.6%
Worked from Home 17.0% / 17.7%
Harkness — Worked from Home: 17.0% Melton West — Worked from Home: 17.7%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 5.6%
Harkness — Car (passenger): 5.8% Melton West — Car (passenger): 5.6%
Train 2.1% / 2.4%
Harkness — Train: 2.1% Melton West — Train: 2.4%
Walked Only 0.3% / 1.2%
Harkness — Walked Only: 0.3% Melton West — Walked Only: 1.2%
Bus 0.5% / 0.4%
Harkness — Bus: 0.5% Melton West — Bus: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.2%).

Setting

Harkness Melton West
Elevation 171 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 142 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 34.1 km 32.5 km

NBN connectivity

Harkness Melton West
Connectivity score 94/100 97/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 86%
4,569 premises
 92%
3,608 premises

Climate

Harkness Melton West
Annual rainfall 518 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Harkness Melton West
PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Harkness Melton West
Average residential rate $1,779/yr
same for both
Council Melton
same for both

Federal electorate

Harkness Melton West
Division Hawke
same for both
Member Sam Rae
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Harkness Melton West
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Harkness

Affordable Family Large Blocks Outer Young Families

Melton West

Large Blocks Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Harkness

Harkness vs Kurunjang Harkness vs Melton Harkness vs Toolern Vale Harkness vs Long Forest

Other comparisons with Melton West

Melton West vs Melton South Melton West vs Brookfield Melton West vs Kurunjang Melton West vs Melton Melton West vs Hopetoun Park Melton West vs Long Forest
Full data on Harkness Full data on Melton West
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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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