Hillside vs Sydenham

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Hillside, most households are couple families. In Sydenham, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Hillside: a median of $825,000, against $738,000 in Sydenham. On these figures, Hillside tends to suit 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

Hillside

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (25 vs 12)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

Sydenham

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($545,500 vs $1,192,500)
  • has cheaper units ($491,000 vs $600,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($737,500 vs $825,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sydenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 15%)

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

Commuting to the city

Sydenham

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 77/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (26.1 km vs 28.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sydenham

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (35% vs 12%)
  • is more walkable (89/100 vs 77/100)
  • But Hillside carries lower crime risk (36/100 vs 50/100)

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

Investors

Sydenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Hillside Sydenham
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.

Hillside Sydenham
Walkability 77 / 89
Hillside — Walkability: 77/100 Sydenham — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 64 / 50
Hillside — Safety: 64/100 Sydenham — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 39 / 100
Hillside — Low fire risk: 39/100 Sydenham — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 30 / 76
Hillside — Low flood risk: 30/100 Sydenham — Low flood risk: 76/100

Demographics

Hillside has more residents (17,331 vs 10,578); Hillside has higher household incomes ($113,880 vs $94,276).

Hillside Sydenham
Population 17,331
+39% vs other
 10,578
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.6% -2.4%
Median age 36 37
Median household income $113,880/yr
+17% vs other
 $94,276/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+3% vs other
 $369/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Hillside Sydenham
0-4 5.3% / 5.5%
Hillside — 0-4: 5.3% Sydenham — 0-4: 5.5%
5-14 14.2% / 11.0%
Hillside — 5-14: 14.2% Sydenham — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 8.5% / 6.2%
Hillside — 15-19: 8.5% Sydenham — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 7.6% / 7.8%
Hillside — 20-24: 7.6% Sydenham — 20-24: 7.8%
25-34 12.4% / 16.3%
Hillside — 25-34: 12.4% Sydenham — 25-34: 16.3%
35-44 13.9% / 13.1%
Hillside — 35-44: 13.9% Sydenham — 35-44: 13.1%
45-54 16.9% / 13.7%
Hillside — 45-54: 16.9% Sydenham — 45-54: 13.7%
55-64 11.6% / 12.4%
Hillside — 55-64: 11.6% Sydenham — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 6.5% / 7.2%
Hillside — 65-74: 6.5% Sydenham — 65-74: 7.2%
75-84 2.6% / 4.2%
Hillside — 75-84: 2.6% Sydenham — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 0.5% / 2.7%
Hillside — 85+: 0.5% Sydenham — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Hillside 64.8% couple families
Hillside — Couple Families: 64.8% Hillside — Lone Person: 15.8% Hillside — One Parent Families: 16.5% Hillside — Group Household: 1.4% Hillside — Other Families: 1.4%
Sydenham 49.9% couple families
Sydenham — Couple Families: 49.9% Sydenham — Lone Person: 24.8% Sydenham — One Parent Families: 20.1% Sydenham — Group Household: 3.4% Sydenham — Other Families: 1.8%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Hillside 15.0% renting
Hillside — Owned Outright: 31.5% Hillside — Mortgage: 53.4% Hillside — Renting: 15.0%
Sydenham 31.9% renting
Sydenham — Owned Outright: 29.1% Sydenham — Mortgage: 39.0% Sydenham — Renting: 31.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Hillside Sydenham
Certificate III & IV 13.7% / 11.9%
Hillside — Certificate III & IV: 13.7% Sydenham — Certificate III & IV: 11.9%
Bachelor Degree 12.1% / 13.4%
Hillside — Bachelor Degree: 12.1% Sydenham — Bachelor Degree: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.5%
Hillside — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Sydenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.1% / 4.3%
Hillside — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1% Sydenham — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.5%
Hillside — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Sydenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.7%).

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.

Hillside Sydenham
India 4.3% / 9.9%
Hillside — India: 4.3% Sydenham — India: 9.9%
Philippines 1.8% / 3.4%
Hillside — Philippines: 1.8% Sydenham — Philippines: 3.4%
Vietnam 1.2% / 2.1%
Hillside — Vietnam: 1.2% Sydenham — Vietnam: 2.1%
Italy 1.6% / 1.6%
Hillside — Italy: 1.6% Sydenham — Italy: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.6%
Hillside — New Zealand: 1.2% Sydenham — New Zealand: 1.6%
Sri Lanka 1.2% / 1.6%
Hillside — Sri Lanka: 1.2% Sydenham — Sri Lanka: 1.6%
England 1.2% / 1.1%
Hillside — England: 1.2% Sydenham — England: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Hillside 88.0% houses
Hillside — Houses: 88.0% Hillside — Townhouses: 9.5% Hillside — Flats / Apartments: 2.4%
Sydenham 64.8% houses
Sydenham — Houses: 64.8% Sydenham — Townhouses: 33.4% Sydenham — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Hillside Sydenham
Median house price $825,000 $737,500
Median unit price $600,000 $491,000
Median land price $1,192,500 $545,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 128 sales
 23 days
from 68 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.

Hillside Sydenham
2 bed $509K / $466K
Hillside — 2 bed: $509K (8 sales) Sydenham — 2 bed: $466K (27 sales)

8 vs 27 sales

3 bed $615K / $535K
Hillside — 3 bed: $615K (20 sales) Sydenham — 3 bed: $535K (27 sales)

20 vs 27 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.

Hillside Sydenham
3 bed $738K / $675K
Hillside — 3 bed: $738K (92 sales) Sydenham — 3 bed: $675K (87 sales)

92 vs 87 sales

4 bed $885K / $820K
Hillside — 4 bed: $885K (104 sales) Sydenham — 4 bed: $820K (46 sales)

104 vs 46 sales

5 bed $1.05M / $850K
Hillside — 5 bed: $1.05M (29 sales) Sydenham — 5 bed: $850K (5 sales)

29 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Hillside Sydenham
Residential 84% 87%
Rural and farming 9% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 8%
Other and special use 0% 3%
Parks and recreation 1% 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

Hillside Sydenham
New dwellings approved 4,602
across Melton
 670
across Brimbank
Approvals change year on year +5% +40%

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.

Hillside Sydenham
Houses 3.4%
$550/wk on $832K
 4.2%
$530/wk on $650K
Units 4.7%
$500/wk on $548K
 4.4%
$465/wk on $545K

Ranking within VIC

Hillside Sydenham
House price — Higher than 43% of VIC
Income Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Schools Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 74% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 69% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC

Liveability

Sydenham is more walkable (89 vs 77).

Hillside Sydenham
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 56/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Hillside carries more bushfire risk (61 vs 0); Hillside carries more flood risk (70 vs 24).

Hillside Sydenham
Bushfire Moderate
61/100
 None
0/100
Crime Low
36/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood High
70/100
 Low
24/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Hillside Sydenham
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Hillside

  • Cana Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sydenham - Hillside Primary School-Hillside Campus Government · Primary above peers
  • Parkwood Green Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Sydenham

  • Emmaus Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Catholic Regional College Sydenham Catholic · Secondary
  • Copperfield College-Sydenham Junior Campus Government · Secondary
  • Sydenham - Hillside Primary School Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Hillside Sydenham
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 4 6
Parks & reserves 25 12
Childcare 14 10
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 2 1
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 11 0

Mobility

Hillside sits further from the CBD (28.1 km vs 26.1 km).

Hillside Sydenham
Walkability score 77/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 28.1 km
+7% vs other
 26.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 33 min 31 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 79/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 134.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 128.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3037
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 3037
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.

Hillside Sydenham
Car (driver) 67.5% / 63.0%
Hillside — Car (driver): 67.5% Sydenham — Car (driver): 63.0%
Worked from Home 24.1% / 23.7%
Hillside — Worked from Home: 24.1% Sydenham — Worked from Home: 23.7%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 4.7%
Hillside — Car (passenger): 4.9% Sydenham — Car (passenger): 4.7%
Train 2.6% / 6.8%
Hillside — Train: 2.6% Sydenham — Train: 6.8%
Walked Only 0.4% / 1.1%
Hillside — Walked Only: 0.4% Sydenham — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bus 0.4% / 0.6%
Hillside — Bus: 0.4% Sydenham — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.5%).

Setting

Hillside Sydenham
Elevation 135 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 115 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.4 km 19.7 km

NBN connectivity

Hillside Sydenham
Connectivity score 79/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
5,864 premises
 51%
4,163 premises

Climate

Hillside Sydenham
Annual rainfall 518 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Hillside Sydenham
PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³ —
PM10 — 18.9 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Hillside Sydenham
Average residential rate $1,779/yr $1,847/yr
Council Melton Brimbank

Federal electorate

Hillside Sydenham
Division Hawke Gorton
Member Sam Rae Alice Jordan-Baird
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Hillside Sydenham
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Hillside

Outer Parks River

Sydenham

Multicultural Outer Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Hillside

Hillside vs Caroline Springs Hillside vs Taylors Hill Hillside vs Fraser Rise Hillside vs Plumpton

Other comparisons with Sydenham

Sydenham vs Taylors Hill Sydenham vs Taylors Lakes Sydenham vs Keilor Downs Sydenham vs Delahey
Full data on Hillside Full data on Sydenham
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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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