Highett vs Cheltenham

In both, most households own their home. In Cheltenham, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Highett: a median of $1.4 million, against $1.25 million in Cheltenham.

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

Cheltenham

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (20 vs 5)
  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 8)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 2)
  • But Highett carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 80/100)

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

First-home buyers

Cheltenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,252,500 vs $1,400,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Highett

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (18.9 km vs 20.9 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Highett carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 80/100)
  • Cheltenham has more GPs (6 vs 4)

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

Investors

Highett

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (14.9% vs 7.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.6% vs 5.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Highett and Cheltenham drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Highett Cheltenham
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.

Highett Cheltenham
Walkability 90 / 94
Highett — Walkability: 90/100 Cheltenham — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 35 / 20
Highett — Safety: 35/100 Cheltenham — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Highett — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cheltenham — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 61 / 70
Highett — Low flood risk: 61/100 Cheltenham — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

Cheltenham has more residents (23,992 vs 12,016); Highett has higher household incomes ($110,188 vs $99,788).

Highett Cheltenham
Population 12,016 23,992
+100% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.9% +7.6%
Median age 40
same for both
Median household income $110,188/yr
+9% vs other
 $99,788/yr
Median weekly rent $430/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highett Cheltenham
0-4 6.2% / 5.9%
Highett — 0-4: 6.2% Cheltenham — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 12.1% / 12.1%
Highett — 5-14: 12.1% Cheltenham — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 5.2% / 5.3%
Highett — 15-19: 5.2% Cheltenham — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.7% / 4.9%
Highett — 20-24: 4.7% Cheltenham — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 13.3% / 12.6%
Highett — 25-34: 13.3% Cheltenham — 25-34: 12.6%
35-44 15.7% / 15.6%
Highett — 35-44: 15.7% Cheltenham — 35-44: 15.6%
45-54 15.4% / 14.1%
Highett — 45-54: 15.4% Cheltenham — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 11.0% / 10.8%
Highett — 55-64: 11.0% Cheltenham — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 8.7% / 8.6%
Highett — 65-74: 8.7% Cheltenham — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 5.0% / 6.1%
Highett — 75-84: 5.0% Cheltenham — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 2.4% / 4.0%
Highett — 85+: 2.4% Cheltenham — 85+: 4.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Highett 42.5% couple families
Highett — Couple Families: 42.5% Highett — Lone Person: 39.0% Highett — One Parent Families: 14.0% Highett — Group Household: 3.4% Highett — Other Families: 1.0%
Cheltenham 43.0% couple families
Cheltenham — Couple Families: 43.0% Cheltenham — Lone Person: 37.8% Cheltenham — One Parent Families: 14.3% Cheltenham — Group Household: 3.4% Cheltenham — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Highett 28.0% renting
Highett — Owned Outright: 30.9% Highett — Mortgage: 41.1% Highett — Renting: 28.0%
Cheltenham 27.9% renting
Cheltenham — Owned Outright: 33.8% Cheltenham — Mortgage: 38.3% Cheltenham — Renting: 27.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Highett Cheltenham
England 4.9% / 4.0%
Highett — England: 4.9% Cheltenham — England: 4.0%
China 2.4% / 3.1%
Highett — China: 2.4% Cheltenham — China: 3.1%
India 2.2% / 2.7%
Highett — India: 2.2% Cheltenham — India: 2.7%
New Zealand 2.1% / 1.6%
Highett — New Zealand: 2.1% Cheltenham — New Zealand: 1.6%
Greece 1.3% / 2.0%
Highett — Greece: 1.3% Cheltenham — Greece: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

Qualifications

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

Highett Cheltenham
Bachelor Degree 21.2% / 18.8%
Highett — Bachelor Degree: 21.2% Cheltenham — Bachelor Degree: 18.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.0% / 9.8%
Highett — Certificate III & IV: 9.0% Cheltenham — Certificate III & IV: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.0%
Highett — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Cheltenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 7.6% / 6.9%
Highett — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6% Cheltenham — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.7%
Highett — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Cheltenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Highett 53.3% houses
Highett — Houses: 53.3% Highett — Townhouses: 28.6% Highett — Flats / Apartments: 18.1%
Cheltenham 58.5% houses
Cheltenham — Houses: 58.5% Cheltenham — Townhouses: 22.7% Cheltenham — Flats / Apartments: 18.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Highett Cheltenham
Median house price $1,400,000 $1,252,500
Median unit price $616,500 $677,500
Median land price — $942,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 94 sales
 22 days
from 155 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.

Highett Cheltenham
1 bed $431K / $365K
Highett — 1 bed: $431K (24 sales) Cheltenham — 1 bed: $365K (37 sales)

24 vs 37 sales

2 bed $630K / $668K
Highett — 2 bed: $630K (115 sales) Cheltenham — 2 bed: $668K (184 sales)

115 vs 184 sales

3 bed $900K / $895K
Highett — 3 bed: $900K (19 sales) Cheltenham — 3 bed: $895K (48 sales)

19 vs 48 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.

Highett Cheltenham
2 bed $1.26M / $1.05M
Highett — 2 bed: $1.26M (18 sales) Cheltenham — 2 bed: $1.05M (23 sales)

18 vs 23 sales

3 bed $1.32M / $1.2M
Highett — 3 bed: $1.32M (63 sales) Cheltenham — 3 bed: $1.2M (120 sales)

63 vs 120 sales

4 bed $1.58M / $1.35M
Highett — 4 bed: $1.58M (44 sales) Cheltenham — 4 bed: $1.35M (93 sales)

44 vs 93 sales

5 bed $2.14M / $1.68M
Highett — 5 bed: $2.14M (10 sales) Cheltenham — 5 bed: $1.68M (25 sales)

10 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Highett has more commercially zoned land (32% vs 19%).

Highett Cheltenham
Residential 47% 51%
Commercial 32% 19%
Parks and recreation 8% 11%
Industrial 5% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 9%
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

Highett Cheltenham
New dwellings approved 473
across Bayside (Vic.)
 465
across Kingston (Vic.)
Approvals change year on year -47% -36%

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.

Highett Cheltenham
Houses 3.6%
$990/wk on $1.45M
 3.5%
$800/wk on $1.2M
Units 5.6%
$650/wk on $599K
 5.0%
$600/wk on $630K

Ranking within VIC

Highett Cheltenham
House price Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 72% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 34% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC

Liveability

Highett scores higher overall (81 vs 76).

Highett Cheltenham
Grade A
same for both
Score 81/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Cheltenham carries more crime risk (80 vs 65).

Highett Cheltenham
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
80/100
Flood Low
39/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Highett Cheltenham
Inside the suburb 2 6
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Monash Caulfield, 7.7 km
 2
Monash Clayton, 8.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 2.2%

Schools in Highett

  • St Agnes' School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sandringham College-Bluff Road 7–8 Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Cheltenham

  • Cheltenham East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cheltenham Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cheltenham Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kingston Heath Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of the Assumption School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Le Page Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Highett Cheltenham
Supermarkets 1 8
Cafes & restaurants 10 56
Parks & reserves 8 28
Childcare 5 20
GPs 4 6
Pharmacies 2 8
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 9
Fuel stations 1 4
EV chargers 0 3

Mobility

Cheltenham sits further from the CBD (20.9 km vs 18.9 km).

Highett Cheltenham
Walkability score 90/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 18.9 km 20.9 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 32 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 153.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 428.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 3190
 1.5%
postcode 3192
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 17
postcode 3190
 23
postcode 3192

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.

Highett Cheltenham
Car (driver) 44.7% / 49.2%
Highett — Car (driver): 44.7% Cheltenham — Car (driver): 49.2%
Worked from Home 44.9% / 40.1%
Highett — Worked from Home: 44.9% Cheltenham — Worked from Home: 40.1%
Train 4.0% / 3.3%
Highett — Train: 4.0% Cheltenham — Train: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 2.5% / 3.2%
Highett — Car (passenger): 2.5% Cheltenham — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 2.5% / 2.4%
Highett — Walked Only: 2.5% Cheltenham — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.2%).

Setting

Highett Cheltenham
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.9 km
2.9 km to a named beach
 2.7 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Highett Cheltenham
Connectivity score 78/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
6,219 premises
 9%
13,274 premises

Climate

Highett Cheltenham
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Highett Cheltenham
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Highett Cheltenham
Average residential rate $2,086/yr $1,940/yr
Council Bayside (Vic.) Kingston (Vic.)

Federal electorate

Highett Cheltenham
Division Goldstein Isaacs
Member Tim Wilson Mark Dreyfus
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Highett Cheltenham
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Highett

Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

Cheltenham

Coastal Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks Premium Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highett

Highett vs Hampton Highett vs Sandringham Highett vs Moorabbin Highett vs Hampton East

Other comparisons with Cheltenham

Cheltenham vs Beaumaris Cheltenham vs Mentone Cheltenham vs Sandringham Cheltenham vs Black Rock Cheltenham vs Moorabbin Cheltenham vs Heatherton
Full data on Highett Full data on Cheltenham
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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