Heidelberg Heights vs Macleod

Heidelberg Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 41 in Macleod. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Macleod, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Macleod: a median of $1.2 million, against $948,000 in Heidelberg Heights. On these figures, Heidelberg Heights tends to suit young adults and buyers on a tighter budget, while Macleod 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

Macleod

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 80/100)

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

First-home buyers

Heidelberg Heights

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($948,000 vs $1,195,000)
  • has cheaper units ($656,250 vs $725,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Heidelberg Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 24%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Macleod

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (2 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 80/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 12%)
  • But Heidelberg Heights has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 23%)

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 1.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Heidelberg Heights and Macleod 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 Macleod
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 Macleod
Walkability 91 / 86
Heidelberg Heights — Walkability: 91/100 Macleod — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 20 / 59
Heidelberg Heights — Safety: 20/100 Macleod — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Heidelberg Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100 Macleod — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 77 / 73
Heidelberg Heights — Low flood risk: 77/100 Macleod — Low flood risk: 73/100

Demographics

Macleod has more residents (9,892 vs 6,758); Macleod skews older (41 vs 35).

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Population 6,758 9,892
+46% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +11.0% +1.3%
Median age 35 41
Median household income $94,484/yr $102,232/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $396/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
0-4 6.5% / 5.9%
Heidelberg Heights — 0-4: 6.5% Macleod — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 10.1% / 11.7%
Heidelberg Heights — 5-14: 10.1% Macleod — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 3.7% / 5.6%
Heidelberg Heights — 15-19: 3.7% Macleod — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 7.0% / 5.1%
Heidelberg Heights — 20-24: 7.0% Macleod — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 21.4% / 12.1%
Heidelberg Heights — 25-34: 21.4% Macleod — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 15.9% / 14.5%
Heidelberg Heights — 35-44: 15.9% Macleod — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 11.7% / 14.4%
Heidelberg Heights — 45-54: 11.7% Macleod — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 11.7% / 11.0%
Heidelberg Heights — 55-64: 11.7% Macleod — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 7.1% / 9.9%
Heidelberg Heights — 65-74: 7.1% Macleod — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 3.2% / 5.9%
Heidelberg Heights — 75-84: 3.2% Macleod — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 1.8% / 4.2%
Heidelberg Heights — 85+: 1.8% Macleod — 85+: 4.2%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg Heights 32.4% couple families
Heidelberg Heights — Couple Families: 32.4% Heidelberg Heights — Lone Person: 40.3% Heidelberg Heights — One Parent Families: 16.2% Heidelberg Heights — Group Household: 8.6% Heidelberg Heights — Other Families: 2.5%
Macleod 45.7% couple families
Macleod — Couple Families: 45.7% Macleod — Lone Person: 36.1% Macleod — One Parent Families: 13.1% Macleod — Group Household: 3.9% Macleod — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Macleod 23.6% renting
Macleod — Owned Outright: 38.8% Macleod — Mortgage: 37.7% Macleod — Renting: 23.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Bachelor Degree 20.1% / 20.5%
Heidelberg Heights — Bachelor Degree: 20.1% Macleod — Bachelor Degree: 20.5%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 8.8%
Heidelberg Heights — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Macleod — Certificate III & IV: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 9.0% / 8.9%
Heidelberg Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 9.0% Macleod — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.5%
Heidelberg Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Macleod — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 3.7%
Heidelberg Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Macleod — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

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 Macleod
China 2.6% / 2.8%
Heidelberg Heights — China: 2.6% Macleod — China: 2.8%
England 2.2% / 2.8%
Heidelberg Heights — England: 2.2% Macleod — England: 2.8%
India 2.4% / 2.5%
Heidelberg Heights — India: 2.4% Macleod — India: 2.5%
Italy 1.4% / 1.5%
Heidelberg Heights — Italy: 1.4% Macleod — Italy: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.2%
Heidelberg Heights — New Zealand: 1.3% Macleod — New Zealand: 1.2%
Malaysia 1.4% / 1.0%
Heidelberg Heights — Malaysia: 1.4% Macleod — Malaysia: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

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%
Macleod 76.6% houses
Macleod — Houses: 76.6% Macleod — Townhouses: 20.0% Macleod — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Median house price $948,000 $1,195,000
Median unit price $656,250 $725,000
Median land price — $1,010,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 51 sales
 24 days
from 69 sales

Unit 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 Macleod
2 bed $610K / $700K
Heidelberg Heights — 2 bed: $610K (22 sales) Macleod — 2 bed: $700K (27 sales)

22 vs 27 sales

3 bed $740K / $826K
Heidelberg Heights — 3 bed: $740K (10 sales) Macleod — 3 bed: $826K (14 sales)

10 vs 14 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 Macleod
2 bed $850K / $893K
Heidelberg Heights — 2 bed: $850K (24 sales) Macleod — 2 bed: $893K (6 sales)

24 vs 6 sales

3 bed $925K / $1.01M
Heidelberg Heights — 3 bed: $925K (60 sales) Macleod — 3 bed: $1.01M (61 sales)

60 vs 61 sales

4 bed $1.17M / $1.56M
Heidelberg Heights — 4 bed: $1.17M (26 sales) Macleod — 4 bed: $1.56M (37 sales)

26 vs 37 sales

Zoning mix

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Residential 86% 66%
Parks and recreation 3% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 12%
Commercial 5% 1%
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 Macleod
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 Macleod
Houses 4.0%
$712/wk on $935K
 3.6%
$700/wk on $1.02M
Units — 3.6%
$492/wk on $715K

Ranking within VIC

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
House price Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Income Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 22% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 3% of VIC

Liveability

Heidelberg Heights scores higher overall (75 vs 69).

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Grade A
same for both
Score 75/100 69/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Heidelberg Heights carries more crime risk (80 vs 41).

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood Low
23/100
 Low
27/100
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 Macleod
Inside the suburb 0 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 5.0 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 2.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.7% 2.9%

Schools in Heidelberg Heights

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

Schools in Macleod

  • Charles La Trobe P-12 College Government · Combined below peers
  • Macleod College Government · Combined below peers
  • Charles La Trobe P-12 College-Deaf Facility Government · Combined
  • Ivanhoe Grammar School - University Campus Independent · Combined
  • Mastery Schools Victoria Independent · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 4 2
Parks & reserves 2 19
Childcare 5 6
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Walkability score 91/100 86/100
Distance to Melbourne 17.9 km 18.9 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 160.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 98.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3081
 1.5%
postcode 3085
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 22
postcode 3081
 25
postcode 3085

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 Macleod
Car (driver) 53.7% / 47.1%
Heidelberg Heights — Car (driver): 53.7% Macleod — Car (driver): 47.1%
Worked from Home 35.5% / 42.9%
Heidelberg Heights — Worked from Home: 35.5% Macleod — Worked from Home: 42.9%
Train 2.7% / 5.2%
Heidelberg Heights — Train: 2.7% Macleod — Train: 5.2%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 2.8%
Heidelberg Heights — Car (passenger): 2.5% Macleod — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 2.7% / 1.0%
Heidelberg Heights — Walked Only: 2.7% Macleod — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.7%).

Setting

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Elevation 77 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 69 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.8 km 17.7 km

NBN connectivity

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
Connectivity score 90/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
3,839 premises
 46%
4,599 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Heidelberg Heights Macleod
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

Macleod

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Quiet Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heidelberg Heights

Heidelberg Heights vs Ivanhoe Heidelberg Heights vs Rosanna Heidelberg Heights vs Heidelberg Heidelberg Heights vs Heidelberg West Heidelberg Heights vs Bellfield

Other comparisons with Macleod

Macleod vs Bundoora Macleod vs Greensborough Macleod vs Rosanna Macleod vs Watsonia Macleod vs Heidelberg West Macleod vs Yallambie
Full data on Heidelberg Heights Full data on Macleod
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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