Heidelberg vs Bulleen

Heidelberg is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 45 in Bulleen. In both, most households own their home. In Bulleen, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Heidelberg: a median of $1.47 million, against $1.33 million in Bulleen, though rent is higher in Bulleen. On these figures, Heidelberg tends to suit people living alone, while Bulleen 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

Bulleen

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 4)
  • has more parks and reserves (27 vs 10)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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 leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 30%)
  • Bulleen has cheaper houses ($1,327,500 vs $1,470,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Heidelberg

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (42% vs 21%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 25%)
  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $459/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heidelberg

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 85/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Heidelberg has more units and townhouses to downsize into (58% vs 20%)
  • Bulleen carries lower crime risk (57/100 vs 93/100)

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

Investors

Heidelberg

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (18.2% vs 3.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (4.9% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Heidelberg and Bulleen 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 Bulleen
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 Bulleen
Walkability 96 / 85
Heidelberg — Walkability: 96/100 Bulleen — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 7 / 43
Heidelberg — Safety: 7/100 Bulleen — Safety: 43/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Heidelberg — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bulleen — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 26 / 15
Heidelberg — Low flood risk: 26/100 Bulleen — Low flood risk: 15/100

Demographics

Bulleen has more residents (11,219 vs 7,360); Bulleen skews older (45 vs 39).

Heidelberg Bulleen
Population 7,360 11,219
+52% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +18.2% +3.2%
Median age 39 45
Median household income $104,624/yr
+10% vs other
 $94,328/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk $459/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg Bulleen
0-4 5.5% / 4.4%
Heidelberg — 0-4: 5.5% Bulleen — 0-4: 4.4%
5-14 11.3% / 10.1%
Heidelberg — 5-14: 11.3% Bulleen — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 4.2% / 5.5%
Heidelberg — 15-19: 4.2% Bulleen — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 4.9% / 5.9%
Heidelberg — 20-24: 4.9% Bulleen — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 16.7% / 11.1%
Heidelberg — 25-34: 16.7% Bulleen — 25-34: 11.1%
35-44 16.6% / 12.0%
Heidelberg — 35-44: 16.6% Bulleen — 35-44: 12.0%
45-54 12.4% / 13.8%
Heidelberg — 45-54: 12.4% Bulleen — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 10.6% / 13.0%
Heidelberg — 55-64: 10.6% Bulleen — 55-64: 13.0%
65-74 8.2% / 9.9%
Heidelberg — 65-74: 8.2% Bulleen — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 6.4% / 9.6%
Heidelberg — 75-84: 6.4% Bulleen — 75-84: 9.6%
85+ 3.2% / 4.6%
Heidelberg — 85+: 3.2% Bulleen — 85+: 4.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg 37.1% couple families
Heidelberg — Couple Families: 37.1% Heidelberg — Lone Person: 44.9% Heidelberg — One Parent Families: 11.3% Heidelberg — Group Household: 5.1% Heidelberg — Other Families: 1.6%
Bulleen 48.6% couple families
Bulleen — Couple Families: 48.6% Bulleen — Lone Person: 30.6% Bulleen — One Parent Families: 15.8% Bulleen — Group Household: 3.5% Bulleen — Other Families: 1.6%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg 42.5% renting
Heidelberg — Owned Outright: 28.7% Heidelberg — Mortgage: 28.8% Heidelberg — Renting: 42.5%
Bulleen 20.6% renting
Bulleen — Owned Outright: 50.0% Bulleen — Mortgage: 29.5% Bulleen — Renting: 20.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Heidelberg Bulleen
Bachelor Degree 23.4% / 19.8%
Heidelberg — Bachelor Degree: 23.4% Bulleen — Bachelor Degree: 19.8%
Postgraduate Degree 11.8% / 7.3%
Heidelberg — Postgraduate Degree: 11.8% Bulleen — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3%
Certificate III & IV 8.1% / 8.5%
Heidelberg — Certificate III & IV: 8.1% Bulleen — Certificate III & IV: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.2%
Heidelberg — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Bulleen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.0% / 2.4%
Heidelberg — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.0% Bulleen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.4%).

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 Bulleen
China 2.0% / 7.6%
Heidelberg — China: 2.0% Bulleen — China: 7.6%
Italy 1.6% / 6.2%
Heidelberg — Italy: 1.6% Bulleen — Italy: 6.2%
India 3.0% / 1.6%
Heidelberg — India: 3.0% Bulleen — India: 1.6%
England 2.9% / 1.2%
Heidelberg — England: 2.9% Bulleen — England: 1.2%
Greece — / 4.0%
Heidelberg — Greece: not among its largest Bulleen — Greece: 4.0%
Malaysia 0.9% / 2.4%
Heidelberg — Malaysia: 0.9% Bulleen — Malaysia: 2.4%
Vietnam — / 1.9%
Heidelberg — Vietnam: not among its largest Bulleen — Vietnam: 1.9%
Philippines 1.5% / —
Heidelberg — Philippines: 1.5% Bulleen — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg 42.3% houses
Heidelberg — Houses: 42.3% Heidelberg — Flats / Apartments: 41.0% Heidelberg — Townhouses: 16.6%
Bulleen 79.6% houses
Bulleen — Houses: 79.6% Bulleen — Flats / Apartments: 8.3% Bulleen — Townhouses: 12.1%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Heidelberg Bulleen
Median house price $1,470,000 $1,327,500
Median unit price $640,000 $665,000
Median land price — $726,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 19 days
from 26 sales
 24 days
from 102 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 Bulleen
2 bed $650K / $590K
Heidelberg — 2 bed: $650K (61 sales) Bulleen — 2 bed: $590K (25 sales)

61 vs 25 sales

3 bed $755K / $900K
Heidelberg — 3 bed: $755K (15 sales) Bulleen — 3 bed: $900K (16 sales)

15 vs 16 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 Bulleen
3 bed $1.44M / $1.2M
Heidelberg — 3 bed: $1.44M (27 sales) Bulleen — 3 bed: $1.2M (57 sales)

27 vs 57 sales

4 bed $1.51M / $1.38M
Heidelberg — 4 bed: $1.51M (23 sales) Bulleen — 4 bed: $1.38M (71 sales)

23 vs 71 sales

5 bed $1.91M / $1.65M
Heidelberg — 5 bed: $1.91M (7 sales) Bulleen — 5 bed: $1.65M (22 sales)

7 vs 22 sales

Zoning mix

Heidelberg has more commercially zoned land (18% vs 1%).

Heidelberg Bulleen
Residential 48% 56%
Parks and recreation 20% 23%
Commercial 18% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 10%
Other and special use 0% 9%
Industrial 0% 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 Bulleen
New dwellings approved 722
across Banyule
 486
across Manningham
Approvals change year on year -75% -2%

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 Bulleen
Houses 3.2%
$790/wk on $1.27M
 3.2%
$800/wk on $1.3M
Units 4.9%
$585/wk on $615K
 4.3%
$595/wk on $722K

Ranking within VIC

Heidelberg Bulleen
House price Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Income Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Schools Higher than 2% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 58% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC

Liveability

Bulleen scores higher overall (68 vs 54); Heidelberg is more walkable (96 vs 85).

Heidelberg Bulleen
Grade B
same for both
Score 54/100 68/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Heidelberg carries more crime risk (93 vs 57); Bulleen carries more flood risk (85 vs 74).

Heidelberg Bulleen
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
57/100
Flood High
74/100
 High
85/100
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

Heidelberg Bulleen
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 6.1 km
 3
Hawthorn Campus John Street Hawthorn Swinburne University, 7.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 3.7%

Schools in Heidelberg

  • Our Lady of Mercy College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St John's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Heidelberg Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Austin Hospital School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Bulleen

  • St Clement of Rome School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Marcellin College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • Bulleen Heights School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Heidelberg Bulleen
Supermarkets 4 2
Cafes & restaurants 20 8
Parks & reserves 10 27
Childcare 4 11
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 4 2
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2
same for both
Fuel stations 1 2
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 4
same for both

Mobility

Heidelberg Bulleen
Walkability score 96/100 85/100
Distance to Melbourne 14.8 km 14.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 22 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 188.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 308.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 3084
 1.9%
postcode 3105
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 3084
 23
postcode 3105

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 Bulleen
Car (driver) 38.4% / 55.6%
Heidelberg — Car (driver): 38.4% Bulleen — Car (driver): 55.6%
Worked from Home 43.4% / 35.0%
Heidelberg — Worked from Home: 43.4% Bulleen — Worked from Home: 35.0%
Walked Only 8.1% / 1.1%
Heidelberg — Walked Only: 8.1% Bulleen — Walked Only: 1.1%
Train 5.2% / 0.7%
Heidelberg — Train: 5.2% Bulleen — Train: 0.7%
Car (passenger) 2.3% / 3.5%
Heidelberg — Car (passenger): 2.3% Bulleen — Car (passenger): 3.5%
Bus 1.4% / 3.9%
Heidelberg — Bus: 1.4% Bulleen — Bus: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.6%).

Setting

Heidelberg Bulleen
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 62 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.8 km 14.5 km

NBN connectivity

Heidelberg Bulleen
Connectivity score 84/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 36%
4,462 premises
 4%
5,131 premises

Climate

Heidelberg Bulleen
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 Bulleen
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 — 17.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.82 pphm

Council rates

Heidelberg Bulleen
Average residential rate $1,787/yr $2,000/yr
Council Banyule Manningham

Federal electorate

Heidelberg Bulleen
Division Jagajaga Menzies
Member Kate Thwaites Gabriel Ng
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Heidelberg

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals River Transport Hub

Bulleen

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Premium Quiet

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heidelberg

Heidelberg vs Ivanhoe Heidelberg vs Rosanna Heidelberg vs Viewbank Heidelberg vs Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg vs Eaglemont

Other comparisons with Bulleen

Bulleen vs Doncaster Bulleen vs Balwyn North Bulleen vs Templestowe Lower Bulleen vs Viewbank Bulleen vs Eaglemont Bulleen vs Ivanhoe East
Full data on Heidelberg Full data on Bulleen
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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