Heidelberg West vs Bundoora

Heidelberg West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 38 in Bundoora. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Heidelberg West, most households rent. In Bundoora, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Bundoora: a median of $875,000, against $775,000 in Heidelberg West, and rent is higher there too. Heidelberg West is closer to the city centre: 15 km, against 17.2 km. On these figures, Heidelberg West tends to suit renters and people living alone.

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

Bundoora

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (75 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (17 vs 4)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Heidelberg West has cheaper land ($720,000 vs $980,000)
  • Bundoora has cheaper units ($432,750 vs $610,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($306/wk vs $381/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heidelberg West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (27 min vs 33 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (15 km vs 17.2 km)
  • But Bundoora is more walkable (95/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Bundoora

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 3)
  • carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 95/100)
  • is more walkable (95/100 vs 80/100)
  • But Heidelberg West has more units and townhouses to downsize into (43% vs 24%)

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

Investors

Bundoora

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Heidelberg West and Bundoora 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 West Bundoora
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 West Bundoora
Walkability 80 / 95
Heidelberg West — Walkability: 80/100 Bundoora — Walkability: 95/100
Safety 5 / 23
Heidelberg West — Safety: 5/100 Bundoora — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 44
Heidelberg West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Bundoora — Low fire risk: 44/100
Low flood risk 48 / 58
Heidelberg West — Low flood risk: 48/100 Bundoora — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

Bundoora has more residents (28,068 vs 5,252); Bundoora has higher household incomes ($86,736 vs $65,364).

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Population 5,252 28,068
+434% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.3% -2.0%
Median age 35 38
Median household income $65,364/yr $86,736/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $306/wk $381/wk
+25% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg West Bundoora
0-4 6.7% / 4.8%
Heidelberg West — 0-4: 6.7% Bundoora — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 10.3% / 9.6%
Heidelberg West — 5-14: 10.3% Bundoora — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.2% / 6.2%
Heidelberg West — 15-19: 5.2% Bundoora — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 7.5% / 9.7%
Heidelberg West — 20-24: 7.5% Bundoora — 20-24: 9.7%
25-34 20.1% / 15.7%
Heidelberg West — 25-34: 20.1% Bundoora — 25-34: 15.7%
35-44 13.6% / 12.1%
Heidelberg West — 35-44: 13.6% Bundoora — 35-44: 12.1%
45-54 11.0% / 12.9%
Heidelberg West — 45-54: 11.0% Bundoora — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 11.7% / 11.3%
Heidelberg West — 55-64: 11.7% Bundoora — 55-64: 11.3%
65-74 8.1% / 9.0%
Heidelberg West — 65-74: 8.1% Bundoora — 65-74: 9.0%
75-84 4.0% / 6.1%
Heidelberg West — 75-84: 4.0% Bundoora — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 1.6% / 2.6%
Heidelberg West — 85+: 1.6% Bundoora — 85+: 2.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Bundoora 30.3% lone person
Bundoora — Lone Person: 30.3% Bundoora — Couple Families: 44.2% Bundoora — One Parent Families: 15.1% Bundoora — Group Household: 8.3% Bundoora — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg West 56.0% renting
Heidelberg West — Owned Outright: 16.6% Heidelberg West — Mortgage: 27.4% Heidelberg West — Renting: 56.0%
Bundoora 28.6% renting
Bundoora — Owned Outright: 37.9% Bundoora — Mortgage: 33.5% Bundoora — Renting: 28.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Bachelor Degree 14.0% / 15.6%
Heidelberg West — Bachelor Degree: 14.0% Bundoora — Bachelor Degree: 15.6%
Certificate III & IV 10.1% / 10.2%
Heidelberg West — Certificate III & IV: 10.1% Bundoora — Certificate III & IV: 10.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.2%
Heidelberg West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Bundoora — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 6.9%
Heidelberg West — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Bundoora — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.0%
Heidelberg West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Bundoora — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

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 West Bundoora
China 3.1% / 7.6%
Heidelberg West — China: 3.1% Bundoora — China: 7.6%
India 2.1% / 4.0%
Heidelberg West — India: 2.1% Bundoora — India: 4.0%
Greece 1.0% / 2.0%
Heidelberg West — Greece: 1.0% Bundoora — Greece: 2.0%
England 1.6% / 1.3%
Heidelberg West — England: 1.6% Bundoora — England: 1.3%
Italy — / 2.2%
Heidelberg West — Italy: not among its largest Bundoora — Italy: 2.2%
Sri Lanka — / 2.2%
Heidelberg West — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Bundoora — Sri Lanka: 2.2%
New Zealand 1.9% / —
Heidelberg West — New Zealand: 1.9% Bundoora — New Zealand: not among its largest
Philippines 1.4% / —
Heidelberg West — Philippines: 1.4% Bundoora — 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 West 56.7% houses
Heidelberg West — Houses: 56.7% Heidelberg West — Townhouses: 42.2% Heidelberg West — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Bundoora 76.1% houses
Bundoora — Houses: 76.1% Bundoora — Townhouses: 14.8% Bundoora — Flats / Apartments: 9.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Median house price $775,000 $875,000
Median unit price $610,000 $432,750
Median land price $720,000 $980,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 53 sales
 24 days
from 316 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 West Bundoora
2 bed $718K / $535K
Heidelberg West — 2 bed: $718K (26 sales) Bundoora — 2 bed: $535K (23 sales)

26 vs 23 sales

3 bed $770K / $850K
Heidelberg West — 3 bed: $770K (68 sales) Bundoora — 3 bed: $850K (314 sales)

68 vs 314 sales

4 bed $880K / $1M
Heidelberg West — 4 bed: $880K (6 sales) Bundoora — 4 bed: $1M (136 sales)

6 vs 136 sales

Zoning mix

Heidelberg West has more industrially zoned land (30% vs 3%).

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Residential 45% 43%
Industrial 30% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 23%
Parks and recreation 15% 23%
Other and special use 0% 7%
Commercial 2% 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 West Bundoora
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 West Bundoora
Houses 4.2%
$650/wk on $800K
 3.8%
$600/wk on $820K
Units 3.8%
$460/wk on $628K
 5.3%
$460/wk on $450K

Ranking within VIC

Heidelberg West Bundoora
House price Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Income Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 62% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 23% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 54% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC

Liveability

Bundoora scores higher overall (57 vs 45); Bundoora is more walkable (95 vs 80).

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Grade C B
Score 45/100 57/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Bundoora carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 0); Heidelberg West carries more flood risk (52 vs 42).

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime High
95/100
 High
77/100
Flood Moderate
52/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Inside the suburb 2 7
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.6 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.2% 5.4%

Schools in Heidelberg West

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

Schools in Bundoora

  • Northside Christian College Independent · Combined above peers
  • St Damian's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Bundoora Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Norris Bank Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Parade College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Bundoora Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Supermarkets 3 8
Cafes & restaurants 2 46
Parks & reserves 6 75
Childcare 4 17
GPs 3 11
Pharmacies 3 6
Hospitals 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 1 3
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Bundoora sits further from the CBD (17.2 km vs 15 km).

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Walkability score 80/100 95/100
Distance to Melbourne 15 km 17.2 km
+15% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 33 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 216.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 638.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3081
 1.0%
postcode 3083
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 22
postcode 3081
 27
postcode 3083

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 West Bundoora
Car (driver) 57.0% / 62.1%
Heidelberg West — Car (driver): 57.0% Bundoora — Car (driver): 62.1%
Worked from Home 28.4% / 26.0%
Heidelberg West — Worked from Home: 28.4% Bundoora — Worked from Home: 26.0%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 4.6%
Heidelberg West — Car (passenger): 4.5% Bundoora — Car (passenger): 4.6%
Bus 4.2% / 1.6%
Heidelberg West — Bus: 4.2% Bundoora — Bus: 1.6%
Train 2.1% / 2.7%
Heidelberg West — Train: 2.1% Bundoora — Train: 2.7%
Walked Only 2.9% / 1.4%
Heidelberg West — Walked Only: 2.9% Bundoora — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (62.1%).

Setting

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Elevation 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 102 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.8 km 19.3 km

NBN connectivity

Heidelberg West Bundoora
Connectivity score 91/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
4,163 premises
 56%
12,524 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Heidelberg West

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

Bundoora

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heidelberg West

Heidelberg West vs Reservoir Heidelberg West vs Preston Heidelberg West vs Ivanhoe Heidelberg West vs Macleod Heidelberg West vs Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West vs Bellfield

Other comparisons with Bundoora

Bundoora vs Reservoir Bundoora vs Mill Park Bundoora vs Lalor Bundoora vs Greensborough Bundoora vs Thomastown Bundoora vs Macleod
Full data on Heidelberg West Full data on Bundoora
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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