Heathcote vs Puckapunyal

Puckapunyal is the younger of the two, with a median age of 24 against 57 in Heathcote. In both, the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Heathcote, the large majority of households own their home and most households are people living alone. In Puckapunyal, the large majority of households rent and the large majority of households are couple families. On these figures, Heathcote tends to suit people living alone, while Puckapunyal suits renters, young adults, and families with children.

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

Puckapunyal

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 77/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (91% vs 38%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Heathcote has more parks and reserves (10 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Puckapunyal

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (16% vs 32%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Puckapunyal

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (98% vs 15%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (11% vs 27%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Heathcote is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • Puckapunyal sits closer to the CBD (129.6 km vs 138.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Heathcote

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (15/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • But Puckapunyal carries lower crime risk (22/100 vs 77/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, 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 population growth.

Where they sit

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

Heathcote Puckapunyal
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.

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Walkability 15 / 0
Heathcote — Walkability: 15/100 Puckapunyal — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 23 / 78
Heathcote — Safety: 23/100 Puckapunyal — Safety: 78/100
Low fire risk 52 / 52
Heathcote — Low fire risk: 52/100 Puckapunyal — Low fire risk: 52/100
Low flood risk 73 / 87
Heathcote — Low flood risk: 73/100 Puckapunyal — Low flood risk: 87/100

Demographics

Heathcote has more residents (2,962 vs 1,108); Puckapunyal has higher household incomes ($130,520 vs $49,192).

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Population 2,962
+63% vs other
 1,108
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.1% +2.8%
Median age 57 24
Median household income $49,192/yr $130,520/yr
+165% vs other
Median weekly rent $255/wk $265/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heathcote Puckapunyal
0-4 3.2% / 9.9%
Heathcote — 0-4: 3.2% Puckapunyal — 0-4: 9.9%
5-14 8.1% / 14.5%
Heathcote — 5-14: 8.1% Puckapunyal — 5-14: 14.5%
15-19 3.3% / 10.5%
Heathcote — 15-19: 3.3% Puckapunyal — 15-19: 10.5%
20-24 2.9% / 15.3%
Heathcote — 20-24: 2.9% Puckapunyal — 20-24: 15.3%
25-34 6.9% / 24.1%
Heathcote — 25-34: 6.9% Puckapunyal — 25-34: 24.1%
35-44 8.6% / 16.9%
Heathcote — 35-44: 8.6% Puckapunyal — 35-44: 16.9%
45-54 13.2% / 6.8%
Heathcote — 45-54: 13.2% Puckapunyal — 45-54: 6.8%
55-64 18.2% / 1.4%
Heathcote — 55-64: 18.2% Puckapunyal — 55-64: 1.4%
65-74 18.6% / —
Heathcote — 65-74: 18.6% Puckapunyal — 65-74: not among its largest
75-84 12.5% / —
Heathcote — 75-84: 12.5% Puckapunyal — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ 4.1% / —
Heathcote — 85+: 4.1% Puckapunyal — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heathcote 24.3% couple families
Heathcote — Couple Families: 24.3% Heathcote — Lone Person: 55.0% Heathcote — One Parent Families: 13.2% Heathcote — Group Household: 5.3% Heathcote — Other Families: 2.2%
Puckapunyal 87.5% couple families
Puckapunyal — Couple Families: 87.5% Puckapunyal — Lone Person: 9.4% Puckapunyal — One Parent Families: 3.1% Puckapunyal — Group Household: 0.0% Puckapunyal — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Heathcote 14.8% renting
Heathcote — Owned Outright: 53.9% Heathcote — Mortgage: 31.3% Heathcote — Renting: 14.8%
Puckapunyal 97.9% renting
Puckapunyal — Owned Outright: 0.0% Puckapunyal — Mortgage: 2.1% Puckapunyal — Renting: 97.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 15.3%
Heathcote — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Puckapunyal — Certificate III & IV: 15.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 6.9%
Heathcote — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Puckapunyal — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.9%
Bachelor Degree 6.4% / 7.6%
Heathcote — Bachelor Degree: 6.4% Puckapunyal — Bachelor Degree: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 1.8% / 1.9%
Heathcote — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8% Puckapunyal — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.0%
Heathcote — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Puckapunyal — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

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.

Heathcote Puckapunyal
England 4.0% / 2.5%
Heathcote — England: 4.0% Puckapunyal — England: 2.5%
New Zealand 1.4% / 0.8%
Heathcote — New Zealand: 1.4% Puckapunyal — New Zealand: 0.8%
Germany 0.8% / 1.0%
Heathcote — Germany: 0.8% Puckapunyal — Germany: 1.0%
Malaysia — / 1.6%
Heathcote — Malaysia: not among its largest Puckapunyal — Malaysia: 1.6%
South Africa 0.4% / 0.8%
Heathcote — South Africa: 0.4% Puckapunyal — South Africa: 0.8%
Italy 0.5% / —
Heathcote — Italy: 0.5% Puckapunyal — Italy: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.5% / —
Heathcote — Netherlands: 0.5% Puckapunyal — Netherlands: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Heathcote 94.8% houses
Heathcote — Houses: 94.8% Heathcote — Townhouses: 2.4% Heathcote — Flats / Apartments: 2.8%
Puckapunyal 98.7% houses
Puckapunyal — Houses: 98.7% Puckapunyal — Townhouses: 2.6% Puckapunyal — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Heathcote Puckapunyal
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

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

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Other and special use 0% 100%
Rural and farming 52% 0%
Parks and recreation 27% 0%
Environmental 14% 0%
Residential 4% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 0%
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

Heathcote Puckapunyal
New dwellings approved 885
across Greater Bendigo
 1,074
across Mitchell
Approvals change year on year +28% +70%

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.

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

Ranking within VIC

Heathcote Puckapunyal
House price Higher than 13% of VIC —
Income Higher than 9% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 44% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 64% of VIC Higher than 68% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of VIC —

Liveability

Heathcote is more walkable (15 vs 0); Puckapunyal scores higher overall (61 vs 25).

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Grade D B
Score 25/100 61/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Heathcote carries more crime risk (77 vs 22); Heathcote carries more flood risk (27 vs 13).

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Bushfire Moderate
48/100
same for both
Crime High
77/100
 Low
22/100
Flood Low
27/100
 Low
13/100
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

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Heathcote

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

Schools in Puckapunyal

  • Puckapunyal Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 9 0
Parks & reserves 10 0
Childcare 2
same for both
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 1 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 17 7

Mobility

Heathcote sits further from the CBD (138.9 km vs 129.6 km).

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Walkability score 15/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 138.9 km
+7% vs other
 129.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 121 min 119 min
Public transport score 25/100 33/100
Peak arrivals per hour 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 8.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3523
 0.8%
postcode 3662
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 3523
 3
postcode 3662

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.

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Car (driver) 75.9% / 57.1%
Heathcote — Car (driver): 75.9% Puckapunyal — Car (driver): 57.1%
Walked Only 2.7% / 26.5%
Heathcote — Walked Only: 2.7% Puckapunyal — Walked Only: 26.5%
Worked from Home 18.1% / 10.4%
Heathcote — Worked from Home: 18.1% Puckapunyal — Worked from Home: 10.4%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 2.6%
Heathcote — Car (passenger): 3.0% Puckapunyal — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Bicycle — / 3.4%
Heathcote — Bicycle: not among its largest Puckapunyal — Bicycle: 3.4%
Train 0.4% / —
Heathcote — Train: 0.4% Puckapunyal — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Elevation 330 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 199 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Connectivity score 57/100 88/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
1,882 premises
 69%
393 premises

Climate

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Annual rainfall 553 mm 540 mm
Summer max (Jan) 29.6°C —
Winter min (Jul) 3.1°C —

Council rates

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Average residential rate $1,949/yr $1,947/yr
Council Greater Bendigo Mitchell

Federal electorate

Heathcote Puckapunyal
Division Bendigo Nicholls
Member Lisa Chesters Sam Birrell
Party Australian Labor Party The Nationals

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Heathcote

Acreage Affordable Retirees

Puckapunyal

Family Rural Students Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heathcote

Heathcote vs Tooborac Heathcote vs Argyle Heathcote vs Mia Mia Heathcote vs Mount Camel Heathcote vs Ladys Pass Heathcote vs Derrinal

Other comparisons with Puckapunyal

Puckapunyal vs Hilldene Puckapunyal vs Tooborac Puckapunyal vs Glenaroua Puckapunyal vs Northwood Puckapunyal vs Tabilk Puckapunyal vs Mitchellstown
Full data on Heathcote Full data on Puckapunyal
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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