Heidelberg Heights vs Heidelberg West

In both, most homes are detached houses. In Heidelberg Heights, most households own their home. In Heidelberg West, most households rent. Houses cost more in Heidelberg Heights: a median of $948,000, against $775,000 in Heidelberg West, and rent is higher there too. Heidelberg West is closer to the city centre: 15 km, against 17.9 km. On these figures, Heidelberg West tends to suit renters and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Heidelberg West

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (6 vs 2)
  • But Heidelberg Heights carries lower crime risk (80/100 vs 95/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Heidelberg Heights leaves households under less mortgage stress (28% vs 35%)
  • Heidelberg West has cheaper houses ($775,000 vs $948,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Heidelberg West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 43%)
  • has cheaper rent ($306/wk vs $381/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Heidelberg Heights is more walkable (91/100 vs 80/100)
  • Heidelberg West sits closer to the CBD (15 km vs 17.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Heidelberg Heights

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (80/100 vs 95/100)
  • is more walkable (91/100 vs 80/100)
  • But Heidelberg West has more GPs (3 vs 0)

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

Investors

Heidelberg Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.0% vs -5.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Heidelberg Heights and Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg 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.

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Walkability 91 / 80
Heidelberg Heights — Walkability: 91/100 Heidelberg West — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 20 / 5
Heidelberg Heights — Safety: 20/100 Heidelberg West — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Heidelberg Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Heidelberg West — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 77 / 48
Heidelberg Heights — Low flood risk: 77/100 Heidelberg West — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Heidelberg Heights has higher household incomes ($94,484 vs $65,364); Heidelberg Heights has more residents (6,758 vs 5,252).

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Population 6,758
+22% vs other
 5,252
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.0% -5.3%
Median age 35
same for both
Median household income $94,484/yr
+31% vs other
 $65,364/yr
Median weekly rent $381/wk
+20% vs other
 $306/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
0-4 6.5% / 6.7%
Heidelberg Heights — 0-4: 6.5% Heidelberg West — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 10.1% / 10.3%
Heidelberg Heights — 5-14: 10.1% Heidelberg West — 5-14: 10.3%
15-19 3.7% / 5.2%
Heidelberg Heights — 15-19: 3.7% Heidelberg West — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 7.0% / 7.5%
Heidelberg Heights — 20-24: 7.0% Heidelberg West — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 21.4% / 20.1%
Heidelberg Heights — 25-34: 21.4% Heidelberg West — 25-34: 20.1%
35-44 15.9% / 13.6%
Heidelberg Heights — 35-44: 15.9% Heidelberg West — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 11.7% / 11.0%
Heidelberg Heights — 45-54: 11.7% Heidelberg West — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 11.7% / 11.7%
Heidelberg Heights — 55-64: 11.7% Heidelberg West — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 7.1% / 8.1%
Heidelberg Heights — 65-74: 7.1% Heidelberg West — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 3.2% / 4.0%
Heidelberg Heights — 75-84: 3.2% Heidelberg West — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 1.8% / 1.6%
Heidelberg Heights — 85+: 1.8% Heidelberg West — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg Heights 40.3% lone person
Heidelberg Heights — Lone Person: 40.3% Heidelberg Heights — Couple Families: 32.4% Heidelberg Heights — One Parent Families: 16.2% Heidelberg Heights — Group Household: 8.6% Heidelberg Heights — Other Families: 2.5%
Heidelberg West 42.7% lone person
Heidelberg West — Lone Person: 42.7% Heidelberg West — Couple Families: 26.6% Heidelberg West — One Parent Families: 18.9% Heidelberg West — Group Household: 9.2% Heidelberg West — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg Heights 42.8% renting
Heidelberg Heights — Owned Outright: 24.4% Heidelberg Heights — Mortgage: 32.8% Heidelberg Heights — Renting: 42.8%
Heidelberg West 56.0% renting
Heidelberg West — Owned Outright: 16.6% Heidelberg West — Mortgage: 27.4% Heidelberg West — Renting: 56.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Bachelor Degree 20.1% / 14.0%
Heidelberg Heights — Bachelor Degree: 20.1% Heidelberg West — Bachelor Degree: 14.0%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 10.1%
Heidelberg Heights — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Heidelberg West — Certificate III & IV: 10.1%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 6.2%
Heidelberg Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Heidelberg West — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 7.2%
Heidelberg Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Heidelberg West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.3%
Heidelberg Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Heidelberg West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

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.

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
China 2.6% / 3.1%
Heidelberg Heights — China: 2.6% Heidelberg West — China: 3.1%
India 2.4% / 2.1%
Heidelberg Heights — India: 2.4% Heidelberg West — India: 2.1%
England 2.2% / 1.6%
Heidelberg Heights — England: 2.2% Heidelberg West — England: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.9%
Heidelberg Heights — New Zealand: 1.3% Heidelberg West — New Zealand: 1.9%
Malaysia 1.4% / 1.3%
Heidelberg Heights — Malaysia: 1.4% Heidelberg West — Malaysia: 1.3%
Italy 1.4% / —
Heidelberg Heights — Italy: 1.4% Heidelberg West — Italy: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.4%
Heidelberg Heights — Philippines: not among its largest Heidelberg West — Philippines: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg Heights 62.0% houses
Heidelberg Heights — Houses: 62.0% Heidelberg Heights — Townhouses: 33.4% Heidelberg Heights — Flats / Apartments: 4.6%
Heidelberg West 56.7% houses
Heidelberg West — Houses: 56.7% Heidelberg West — Townhouses: 42.2% Heidelberg West — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Median house price $948,000 $775,000
Median unit price $656,250 $610,000
Median land price — $720,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 51 sales
 23 days
from 53 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.

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
2 bed $850K / $718K
Heidelberg Heights — 2 bed: $850K (24 sales) Heidelberg West — 2 bed: $718K (26 sales)

24 vs 26 sales

3 bed $925K / $770K
Heidelberg Heights — 3 bed: $925K (60 sales) Heidelberg West — 3 bed: $770K (68 sales)

60 vs 68 sales

4 bed $1.17M / $880K
Heidelberg Heights — 4 bed: $1.17M (26 sales) Heidelberg West — 4 bed: $880K (6 sales)

26 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Heidelberg West has more industrially zoned land (30% vs 0%).

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Residential 86% 45%
Industrial 0% 30%
Parks and recreation 3% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 8%
Commercial 5% 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

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
New dwellings approved 722
across Banyule
same for both
Approvals change year on year -75%
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.

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Houses 4.0%
$712/wk on $935K
 4.2%
$650/wk on $800K
Units — 3.8%
$460/wk on $628K

Ranking within VIC

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
House price Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
Income Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 4% of VIC

Liveability

Heidelberg Heights scores higher overall (75 vs 45); Heidelberg Heights is more walkable (91 vs 80).

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Grade A C
Score 75/100 45/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Heidelberg West carries more flood risk (52 vs 23); Heidelberg West carries more crime risk (95 vs 80).

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 High
95/100
Flood Low
23/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Inside the suburb 0 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 5.0 km
 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 3.2%

Schools in Heidelberg Heights

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

Schools in Heidelberg West

  • St Pius X School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Charles La Trobe P-12 College-Olympic Village Primary Campus Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 4 2
Parks & reserves 2 6
Childcare 5 4
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 0

Mobility

Heidelberg Heights sits further from the CBD (17.9 km vs 15 km).

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Walkability score 91/100 80/100
Distance to Melbourne 17.9 km
+16% vs other
 15 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 160.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 216.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3081
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 22
postcode 3081
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.

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Car (driver) 53.7% / 57.0%
Heidelberg Heights — Car (driver): 53.7% Heidelberg West — Car (driver): 57.0%
Worked from Home 35.5% / 28.4%
Heidelberg Heights — Worked from Home: 35.5% Heidelberg West — Worked from Home: 28.4%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 4.5%
Heidelberg Heights — Car (passenger): 2.5% Heidelberg West — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bus 1.7% / 4.2%
Heidelberg Heights — Bus: 1.7% Heidelberg West — Bus: 4.2%
Walked Only 2.7% / 2.9%
Heidelberg Heights — Walked Only: 2.7% Heidelberg West — Walked Only: 2.9%
Train 2.7% / 2.1%
Heidelberg Heights — Train: 2.7% Heidelberg West — Train: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.0%).

Setting

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Elevation 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.8 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Connectivity score 90/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
3,839 premises
 54%
4,163 premises

Climate

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Average residential rate $1,787/yr
same for both
Council Banyule
same for both

Federal electorate

Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West
Division Jagajaga
same for both
Member Kate Thwaites
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Heidelberg Heights

Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Urban

Heidelberg West

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heidelberg Heights

Heidelberg Heights vs Ivanhoe Heidelberg Heights vs Macleod Heidelberg Heights vs Rosanna Heidelberg Heights vs Heidelberg Heidelberg Heights vs Bellfield

Other comparisons with Heidelberg West

Heidelberg West vs Reservoir Heidelberg West vs Preston Heidelberg West vs Bundoora Heidelberg West vs Ivanhoe Heidelberg West vs Macleod Heidelberg West vs Bellfield
Full data on Heidelberg Heights Full data on Heidelberg West
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or