Highton vs Wandana Heights

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Highton, about half of households are couple families. In Wandana Heights, most households are couple families. On these figures, Highton tends to suit people living alone, while Wandana Heights 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

Highton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (13 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 0)
  • But Wandana Heights is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 62%)

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

First-home buyers

Highton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($456,250 vs $865,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Highton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (22% vs 10%)
  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $410/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Highton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 35/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Highton

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (76/100 vs 35/100)

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

Investors

Wandana Heights

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Highton Wandana Heights
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.

Highton Wandana Heights
Walkability 76 / 35
Highton — Walkability: 76/100 Wandana Heights — Walkability: 35/100
Safety 73 / 81
Highton — Safety: 73/100 Wandana Heights — Safety: 81/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Highton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Wandana Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 42 / 71
Highton — Low flood risk: 42/100 Wandana Heights — Low flood risk: 71/100

Demographics

Highton has more residents (20,736 vs 2,195); Wandana Heights has higher household incomes ($132,548 vs $106,808).

Highton Wandana Heights
Population 20,736
+89% vs other
 2,195
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +9.4% +7.8%
Median age 39 41
Median household income $106,808/yr $132,548/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $410/wk
+14% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Highton Wandana Heights
0-4 5.3% / 4.9%
Highton — 0-4: 5.3% Wandana Heights — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 13.5% / 13.3%
Highton — 5-14: 13.5% Wandana Heights — 5-14: 13.3%
15-19 6.1% / 8.2%
Highton — 15-19: 6.1% Wandana Heights — 15-19: 8.2%
20-24 7.3% / 6.2%
Highton — 20-24: 7.3% Wandana Heights — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 12.0% / 10.9%
Highton — 25-34: 12.0% Wandana Heights — 25-34: 10.9%
35-44 13.2% / 11.3%
Highton — 35-44: 13.2% Wandana Heights — 35-44: 11.3%
45-54 12.9% / 14.2%
Highton — 45-54: 12.9% Wandana Heights — 45-54: 14.2%
55-64 11.4% / 15.2%
Highton — 55-64: 11.4% Wandana Heights — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 9.8% / 11.3%
Highton — 65-74: 9.8% Wandana Heights — 65-74: 11.3%
75-84 6.4% / 4.0%
Highton — 75-84: 6.4% Wandana Heights — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 2.1% / 1.1%
Highton — 85+: 2.1% Wandana Heights — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Highton 50.6% couple families
Highton — Couple Families: 50.6% Highton — Lone Person: 32.2% Highton — One Parent Families: 11.2% Highton — Group Household: 5.1% Highton — Other Families: 0.9%
Wandana Heights 68.4% couple families
Wandana Heights — Couple Families: 68.4% Wandana Heights — Lone Person: 19.0% Wandana Heights — One Parent Families: 9.3% Wandana Heights — Group Household: 2.4% Wandana Heights — Other Families: 1.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Highton 21.8% renting
Highton — Owned Outright: 39.3% Highton — Mortgage: 39.0% Highton — Renting: 21.8%
Wandana Heights 10.5% renting
Wandana Heights — Owned Outright: 43.7% Wandana Heights — Mortgage: 45.8% Wandana Heights — Renting: 10.5%
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.

Highton Wandana Heights
England 3.4% / 3.6%
Highton — England: 3.4% Wandana Heights — England: 3.6%
India 2.4% / 1.5%
Highton — India: 2.4% Wandana Heights — India: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.3%
Highton — New Zealand: 1.1% Wandana Heights — New Zealand: 1.3%
China 1.5% / 0.7%
Highton — China: 1.5% Wandana Heights — China: 0.7%
South Africa 0.8% / 0.9%
Highton — South Africa: 0.8% Wandana Heights — South Africa: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

Qualifications

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

Highton Wandana Heights
Bachelor Degree 19.2% / 20.8%
Highton — Bachelor Degree: 19.2% Wandana Heights — Bachelor Degree: 20.8%
Certificate III & IV 11.4% / 11.3%
Highton — Certificate III & IV: 11.4% Wandana Heights — Certificate III & IV: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 9.7%
Highton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Wandana Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 6.8% / 6.0%
Highton — Postgraduate Degree: 6.8% Wandana Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 6.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.2% / 3.5%
Highton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2% Wandana Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Highton 87.3% houses
Highton — Houses: 87.3% Highton — Townhouses: 12.4% Highton — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Wandana Heights 97.1% houses
Wandana Heights — Houses: 97.1% Wandana Heights — Townhouses: 3.2% Wandana Heights — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Highton Wandana Heights
Median house price $900,000 $955,000
Median unit price $500,000 —
Median land price $456,250 $865,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 218 sales
 66 days
from 6 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.

Highton Wandana Heights
3 bed $811K / $845K
Highton — 3 bed: $811K (167 sales) Wandana Heights — 3 bed: $845K (6 sales)

167 vs 6 sales

4 bed $1M / $955K
Highton — 4 bed: $1M (180 sales) Wandana Heights — 4 bed: $955K (18 sales)

180 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Wandana Heights has more rural and farming land (29% vs 0%).

Highton Wandana Heights
Residential 76% 51%
Rural and farming 0% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 17%
Parks and recreation 12% 3%
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

Highton Wandana Heights
New dwellings approved 3,468
across Greater Geelong
same for both
Approvals change year on year +56%
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.

Highton Wandana Heights
Houses 3.2%
$618/wk on $1M
 3.9%
$885/wk on $1.17M
Units 4.2%
$450/wk on $555K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Highton Wandana Heights
House price Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Income Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools Higher than 11% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 64% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 78% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 23% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 16% of VIC —

Liveability

Highton is more walkable (76 vs 35); Wandana Heights scores higher overall (77 vs 60).

Highton Wandana Heights
Grade B A
Score 60/100 77/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Highton carries more flood risk (58 vs 29).

Highton Wandana Heights
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
27/100
 Low
19/100
Flood Moderate
58/100
 Low
29/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Highton Wandana Heights
Inside the suburb 5 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 5.0 km
 2
Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus, 6.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 3.5%

Schools in Highton

  • Bellaire Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Highton Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Montpellier Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Christian College Geelong - Junior School – Belmont Independent · Combined
  • Christian College Geelong - Middle School – Highton Independent · Combined

Schools in Wandana Heights

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

Amenities in the suburb

Highton Wandana Heights
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 8 0
Parks & reserves 22 2
Childcare 13 0
GPs 6 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 0
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 17 0

Mobility

Highton Wandana Heights
Walkability score 76/100 35/100
Distance to Melbourne 82.2 km 81.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 64 min 63 min
Public transport score 76/100 25/100
Peak arrivals per hour 163.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3216
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3216
same for both

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.

Highton Wandana Heights
Car (driver) 64.6% / 65.4%
Highton — Car (driver): 64.6% Wandana Heights — Car (driver): 65.4%
Worked from Home 27.0% / 28.5%
Highton — Worked from Home: 27.0% Wandana Heights — Worked from Home: 28.5%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 4.1%
Highton — Car (passenger): 4.6% Wandana Heights — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 1.3% / 1.0%
Highton — Walked Only: 1.3% Wandana Heights — Walked Only: 1.0%
Bus 1.0% / 0.4%
Highton — Bus: 1.0% Wandana Heights — Bus: 0.4%
Train 0.6% / 0.7%
Highton — Train: 0.6% Wandana Heights — Train: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.4%).

Setting

Highton Wandana Heights
Elevation 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 121 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.3 km 6.6 km

NBN connectivity

Highton Wandana Heights
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
9,304 premises
 57%
776 premises

Climate

Highton Wandana Heights
Annual rainfall —
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 22.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 7.8°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Highton Wandana Heights
PM2.5 5.0 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Highton Wandana Heights
Average residential rate $1,802/yr
same for both
Council Greater Geelong
same for both

Federal electorate

Highton Wandana Heights
Division Corio
same for both
Member Richard Marles
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Highton Wandana Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Highton

Parks Professionals Regional Centre

Wandana Heights

Large Blocks Professionals

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Highton

Highton vs Belmont Highton vs Grovedale Highton vs Newtown Highton vs Waurn Ponds Highton vs Fyansford Highton vs Ceres

Other comparisons with Wandana Heights

Wandana Heights vs Waurn Ponds Wandana Heights vs Ceres
Full data on Highton Full data on Wandana Heights
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or