Heidelberg West vs Macleod

Heidelberg West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 41 in Macleod. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Heidelberg West, most households rent. In Macleod, the large majority of households own their home and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Macleod: a median of $1.2 million, against $775,000 in Heidelberg West, and rent is higher there too. Heidelberg West is closer to the city centre: 15 km, against 18.9 km. On these figures, Heidelberg West tends to suit renters, 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 6)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 95/100)

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

First-home buyers

Heidelberg West

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($775,000 vs $1,195,000)
  • has cheaper land ($720,000 vs $1,010,000)
  • has cheaper units ($610,000 vs $725,000)
  • But Macleod leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 35%)

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 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($306/wk vs $396/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heidelberg West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (15 km vs 18.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Macleod

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 95/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 14%)
  • But Heidelberg West has more units and townhouses to downsize into (43% vs 23%)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Heidelberg West returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.6%)
  • Macleod is growing faster (1.3% vs -5.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Heidelberg West 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 West 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 West Macleod
Walkability 80 / 86
Heidelberg West — Walkability: 80/100 Macleod — Walkability: 86/100
Safety 5 / 59
Heidelberg West — Safety: 5/100 Macleod — Safety: 59/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Heidelberg West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Macleod — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 48 / 73
Heidelberg West — Low flood risk: 48/100 Macleod — Low flood risk: 73/100

Demographics

Macleod has more residents (9,892 vs 5,252); Macleod has higher household incomes ($102,232 vs $65,364).

Heidelberg West Macleod
Population 5,252 9,892
+88% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.3% +1.3%
Median age 35 41
Median household income $65,364/yr $102,232/yr
+56% vs other
Median weekly rent $306/wk $396/wk
+29% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Heidelberg West Macleod
0-4 6.7% / 5.9%
Heidelberg West — 0-4: 6.7% Macleod — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 10.3% / 11.7%
Heidelberg West — 5-14: 10.3% Macleod — 5-14: 11.7%
15-19 5.2% / 5.6%
Heidelberg West — 15-19: 5.2% Macleod — 15-19: 5.6%
20-24 7.5% / 5.1%
Heidelberg West — 20-24: 7.5% Macleod — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 20.1% / 12.1%
Heidelberg West — 25-34: 20.1% Macleod — 25-34: 12.1%
35-44 13.6% / 14.5%
Heidelberg West — 35-44: 13.6% Macleod — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 11.0% / 14.4%
Heidelberg West — 45-54: 11.0% Macleod — 45-54: 14.4%
55-64 11.7% / 11.0%
Heidelberg West — 55-64: 11.7% Macleod — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 8.1% / 9.9%
Heidelberg West — 65-74: 8.1% Macleod — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 4.0% / 5.9%
Heidelberg West — 75-84: 4.0% Macleod — 75-84: 5.9%
85+ 1.6% / 4.2%
Heidelberg West — 85+: 1.6% Macleod — 85+: 4.2%

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%
Macleod 36.1% lone person
Macleod — Lone Person: 36.1% Macleod — Couple Families: 45.7% Macleod — One Parent Families: 13.1% Macleod — Group Household: 3.9% Macleod — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
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 West Macleod
Bachelor Degree 14.0% / 20.5%
Heidelberg West — Bachelor Degree: 14.0% Macleod — Bachelor Degree: 20.5%
Certificate III & IV 10.1% / 8.8%
Heidelberg West — Certificate III & IV: 10.1% Macleod — Certificate III & IV: 8.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.2% / 8.5%
Heidelberg West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2% Macleod — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 8.9%
Heidelberg West — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Macleod — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.7%
Heidelberg West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% 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 West Macleod
China 3.1% / 2.8%
Heidelberg West — China: 3.1% Macleod — China: 2.8%
India 2.1% / 2.5%
Heidelberg West — India: 2.1% Macleod — India: 2.5%
England 1.6% / 2.8%
Heidelberg West — England: 1.6% Macleod — England: 2.8%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.2%
Heidelberg West — New Zealand: 1.9% Macleod — New Zealand: 1.2%
Italy — / 1.5%
Heidelberg West — Italy: not among its largest Macleod — Italy: 1.5%
Philippines 1.4% / —
Heidelberg West — Philippines: 1.4% Macleod — Philippines: not among its largest

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

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

Property market

Heidelberg West Macleod
Median house price $775,000 $1,195,000
Median unit price $610,000 $725,000
Median land price $720,000 $1,010,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 53 sales
 24 days
from 69 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 Macleod
2 bed $718K / $893K
Heidelberg West — 2 bed: $718K (26 sales) Macleod — 2 bed: $893K (6 sales)

26 vs 6 sales

3 bed $770K / $1.01M
Heidelberg West — 3 bed: $770K (68 sales) Macleod — 3 bed: $1.01M (61 sales)

68 vs 61 sales

4 bed $880K / $1.56M
Heidelberg West — 4 bed: $880K (6 sales) Macleod — 4 bed: $1.56M (37 sales)

6 vs 37 sales

Zoning mix

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

Heidelberg West Macleod
Residential 45% 66%
Industrial 30% 0%
Parks and recreation 15% 21%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 12%
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 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 West Macleod
Houses 4.2%
$650/wk on $800K
 3.6%
$700/wk on $1.02M
Units 3.8%
$460/wk on $628K
 3.6%
$492/wk on $715K

Ranking within VIC

Heidelberg West Macleod
House price Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Income Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 22% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 23% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC

Liveability

Macleod scores higher overall (69 vs 45).

Heidelberg West Macleod
Grade C A
Score 45/100 69/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Heidelberg West carries more crime risk (95 vs 41); Heidelberg West carries more flood risk (52 vs 27).

Heidelberg West Macleod
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 Moderate
41/100
Flood Moderate
52/100
 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 West Macleod
Inside the suburb 2 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.6 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 2.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.2% 2.9%

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 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 West Macleod
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 2
same for both
Parks & reserves 6 19
Childcare 4 6
GPs 3 2
Pharmacies 3 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Macleod sits further from the CBD (18.9 km vs 15 km).

Heidelberg West Macleod
Walkability score 80/100 86/100
Distance to Melbourne 15 km 18.9 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 30 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 216.0
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 West Macleod
Car (driver) 57.0% / 47.1%
Heidelberg West — Car (driver): 57.0% Macleod — Car (driver): 47.1%
Worked from Home 28.4% / 42.9%
Heidelberg West — Worked from Home: 28.4% Macleod — Worked from Home: 42.9%
Train 2.1% / 5.2%
Heidelberg West — Train: 2.1% Macleod — Train: 5.2%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 2.8%
Heidelberg West — Car (passenger): 4.5% Macleod — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Bus 4.2% / 0.3%
Heidelberg West — Bus: 4.2% Macleod — Bus: 0.3%
Walked Only 2.9% / 1.0%
Heidelberg West — Walked Only: 2.9% Macleod — Walked Only: 1.0%

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

Setting

Heidelberg West Macleod
Elevation 71 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 West Macleod
Connectivity score 91/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
4,163 premises
 46%
4,599 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Heidelberg West Macleod
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

Macleod

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Quiet Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Heidelberg West

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

Other comparisons with Macleod

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