Heatherbrae vs Millers Forest

In both, most households own their home. In Heatherbrae, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. In Millers Forest, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Millers Forest: a median of $1.45 million, against $549,000 in Heatherbrae, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Heatherbrae tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Millers Forest suits 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

Millers Forest

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (91% vs 41%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (79% vs 37%)
  • carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 98/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Heatherbrae has cheaper houses ($549,000 vs $1,450,000)
  • Millers Forest leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 43%)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Heatherbrae

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (40% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $395/wk)
  • But Millers Forest leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 30%)

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

Commuting to the city

Millers Forest

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (119 min vs 125 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (162.8 km vs 166.3 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Heatherbrae has more units and townhouses to downsize into (59% vs 9%)
  • Millers Forest carries lower crime risk (64/100 vs 98/100)

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

Investors

Heatherbrae

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (27.7% vs 6.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
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.

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Walkability 30 / 25
Heatherbrae — Walkability: 30/100 Millers Forest — Walkability: 25/100
Safety 2 / 36
Heatherbrae — Safety: 2/100 Millers Forest — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 24 / 100
Heatherbrae — Low fire risk: 24/100 Millers Forest — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Millers Forest has higher household incomes ($102,492 vs $55,432); Heatherbrae has more residents (654 vs 357).

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Population 654
+45% vs other
 357
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +27.7% +6.6%
Median age 47
same for both
Median household income $55,432/yr $102,492/yr
+85% vs other
Median weekly rent $320/wk $395/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
0-4 3.5% / 3.9%
Heatherbrae — 0-4: 3.5% Millers Forest — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 8.7% / 8.4%
Heatherbrae — 5-14: 8.7% Millers Forest — 5-14: 8.4%
15-19 4.0% / 7.0%
Heatherbrae — 15-19: 4.0% Millers Forest — 15-19: 7.0%
20-24 7.3% / 4.8%
Heatherbrae — 20-24: 7.3% Millers Forest — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 15.3% / 10.9%
Heatherbrae — 25-34: 15.3% Millers Forest — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 10.2% / 9.5%
Heatherbrae — 35-44: 10.2% Millers Forest — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 12.5% / 14.3%
Heatherbrae — 45-54: 12.5% Millers Forest — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 17.9% / 16.8%
Heatherbrae — 55-64: 17.9% Millers Forest — 55-64: 16.8%
65-74 11.6% / 14.0%
Heatherbrae — 65-74: 11.6% Millers Forest — 65-74: 14.0%
75-84 8.4% / 7.0%
Heatherbrae — 75-84: 8.4% Millers Forest — 75-84: 7.0%
85+ 2.6% / 1.7%
Heatherbrae — 85+: 2.6% Millers Forest — 85+: 1.7%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heatherbrae 22.5% couple families
Heatherbrae — Couple Families: 22.5% Heatherbrae — Lone Person: 52.9% Heatherbrae — One Parent Families: 14.4% Heatherbrae — Other Families: 3.2% Heatherbrae — Group Household: 7.0%
Millers Forest 58.8% couple families
Millers Forest — Couple Families: 58.8% Millers Forest — Lone Person: 13.2% Millers Forest — One Parent Families: 20.6% Millers Forest — Other Families: 7.4% Millers Forest — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Heatherbrae 40.3% renting
Heatherbrae — Owned Outright: 45.8% Heatherbrae — Mortgage: 13.9% Heatherbrae — Renting: 40.3%
Millers Forest 16.7% renting
Millers Forest — Owned Outright: 45.6% Millers Forest — Mortgage: 37.7% Millers Forest — Renting: 16.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Certificate III & IV 15.4% / 24.9%
Heatherbrae — Certificate III & IV: 15.4% Millers Forest — Certificate III & IV: 24.9%
Bachelor Degree 4.7% / 7.0%
Heatherbrae — Bachelor Degree: 4.7% Millers Forest — Bachelor Degree: 7.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.3% / 7.3%
Heatherbrae — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.3% Millers Forest — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.6% / 1.1%
Heatherbrae — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.6% Millers Forest — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%
Postgraduate Degree 0.8% / 0.8%
Heatherbrae — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8% Millers Forest — Postgraduate Degree: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.9%).

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.

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Malaysia 4.9% / —
Heatherbrae — Malaysia: 4.9% Millers Forest — Malaysia: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.8% / 0.8%
Heatherbrae — New Zealand: 1.8% Millers Forest — New Zealand: 0.8%
Pakistan 2.0% / —
Heatherbrae — Pakistan: 2.0% Millers Forest — Pakistan: not among its largest
England 0.9% / 1.1%
Heatherbrae — England: 0.9% Millers Forest — England: 1.1%
Italy 1.2% / —
Heatherbrae — Italy: 1.2% Millers Forest — Italy: not among its largest
Scotland — / 0.8%
Heatherbrae — Scotland: not among its largest Millers Forest — Scotland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Heatherbrae 41.1% houses
Heatherbrae — Houses: 41.1% Heatherbrae — Flats / Apartments: 53.9% Heatherbrae — Townhouses: 5.0%
Millers Forest 90.9% houses
Millers Forest — Houses: 90.9% Millers Forest — Flats / Apartments: 9.1% Millers Forest — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Median house price $549,000 $1,450,000
Median unit price $401,500 —
Median land price $602,000 —

Zoning mix

Millers Forest has more rural and farming land (89% vs 60%); Heatherbrae has more industrially zoned land (15% vs 0%).

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Rural and farming 60% 89%
Industrial 15% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 0%
Environmental 8% 11%
Residential 2% 0%
Parks and recreation 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

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
New dwellings approved 495
across Port Stephens
 1,413
across Maitland
Approvals change year on year -72% +20%

Ranking within NSW

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
House price Higher than 82% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Income Higher than 15% of NSW Higher than 70% of NSW
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 75% of NSW Higher than 73% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 5% of NSW Higher than 38% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 51% of NSW
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of NSW Higher than 62% of NSW

Liveability

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Grade D —
Score 13/100 —
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Heatherbrae carries more bushfire risk (76 vs 0); Heatherbrae carries more crime risk (98 vs 64).

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Bushfire High
76/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
98/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Heatherbrae

  • Hunter River High School Government · Secondary at peers

Schools in Millers Forest

  • Millers Forest Public School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Childcare 1
same for both
Fuel stations 6 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 12

Mobility

Heatherbrae sits further from the CBD (166.3 km vs 162.8 km).

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Walkability score 30/100 25/100
Distance to Sydney 166.3 km
+2% vs other
 162.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 125 min 119 min
Public transport score 77/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 28.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 7.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 2324
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 54
postcode 2324
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.

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Car (driver) 62.6% / 59.1%
Heatherbrae — Car (driver): 62.6% Millers Forest — Car (driver): 59.1%
Worked from Home 16.2% / 26.0%
Heatherbrae — Worked from Home: 16.2% Millers Forest — Worked from Home: 26.0%
Car (passenger) 11.1% / 6.5%
Heatherbrae — Car (passenger): 11.1% Millers Forest — Car (passenger): 6.5%
Walked Only 7.6% / 8.4%
Heatherbrae — Walked Only: 7.6% Millers Forest — Walked Only: 8.4%
Bus 2.5% / —
Heatherbrae — Bus: 2.5% Millers Forest — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.6%).

Setting

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Elevation 5 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.0 km 10.4 km

NBN connectivity

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Connectivity score 71/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
598 premises
 0%
137 premises

Climate

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Annual rainfall 1,181 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 28.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 17.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.72 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Average residential rate $1,359/yr $1,908/yr
Council Port Stephens Maitland

Federal electorate

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Division Paterson
same for both
Member Meryl Swanson
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Heatherbrae Millers Forest
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Heatherbrae

Affordable Quiet Rural

Millers Forest

River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heatherbrae

Heatherbrae vs Raymond Terrace Heatherbrae vs Woodberry Heatherbrae vs Tomago

Other comparisons with Millers Forest

Millers Forest vs Raymond Terrace Millers Forest vs Thornton Millers Forest vs Woodberry Millers Forest vs Hinton Millers Forest vs Nelsons Plains Millers Forest vs Berry Park
Full data on Heatherbrae Full data on Millers Forest
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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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