Macleod vs Watsonia

Watsonia is the younger of the two, with a median age of 38 against 41 in Macleod. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Macleod, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Macleod: a median of $1.2 million, against $975,000 in Watsonia. On these figures, Watsonia tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (19 vs 6)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 69/100)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 3)
  • But Watsonia has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Watsonia

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($975,000 vs $1,195,000)

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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Macleod carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 69/100)
  • Watsonia has more GPs (4 vs 2)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Macleod Watsonia
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.

Macleod Watsonia
Walkability 86 / 92
Macleod — Walkability: 86/100 Watsonia — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 59 / 31
Macleod — Safety: 59/100 Watsonia — Safety: 31/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Macleod — Low fire risk: 100/100 Watsonia — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 73 / 76
Macleod — Low flood risk: 73/100 Watsonia — Low flood risk: 76/100

Demographics

Macleod has more residents (9,892 vs 5,352); Macleod skews older (41 vs 38).

Macleod Watsonia
Population 9,892
+46% vs other
 5,352
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.3% +2.6%
Median age 41 38
Median household income $102,232/yr
+4% vs other
 $97,916/yr
Median weekly rent $396/wk
+3% vs other
 $385/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Macleod Watsonia
0-4 5.9% / 6.9%
Macleod — 0-4: 5.9% Watsonia — 0-4: 6.9%
5-14 11.7% / 11.8%
Macleod — 5-14: 11.7% Watsonia — 5-14: 11.8%
15-19 5.6% / 5.1%
Macleod — 15-19: 5.6% Watsonia — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 5.1% / 4.3%
Macleod — 20-24: 5.1% Watsonia — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 12.1% / 15.3%
Macleod — 25-34: 12.1% Watsonia — 25-34: 15.3%
35-44 14.5% / 16.0%
Macleod — 35-44: 14.5% Watsonia — 35-44: 16.0%
45-54 14.4% / 13.1%
Macleod — 45-54: 14.4% Watsonia — 45-54: 13.1%
55-64 11.0% / 10.9%
Macleod — 55-64: 11.0% Watsonia — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 9.9% / 8.2%
Macleod — 65-74: 9.9% Watsonia — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 5.9% / 5.5%
Macleod — 75-84: 5.9% Watsonia — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 4.2% / 2.7%
Macleod — 85+: 4.2% Watsonia — 85+: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Macleod 45.7% couple families
Macleod — Couple Families: 45.7% Macleod — Lone Person: 36.1% Macleod — One Parent Families: 13.1% Macleod — Group Household: 3.9% Macleod — Other Families: 1.2%
Watsonia 42.0% couple families
Watsonia — Couple Families: 42.0% Watsonia — Lone Person: 35.3% Watsonia — One Parent Families: 16.5% Watsonia — Group Household: 4.9% Watsonia — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Macleod 23.6% renting
Macleod — Owned Outright: 38.8% Macleod — Mortgage: 37.7% Macleod — Renting: 23.6%
Watsonia 30.5% renting
Watsonia — Owned Outright: 33.2% Watsonia — Mortgage: 36.3% Watsonia — Renting: 30.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Macleod Watsonia
Bachelor Degree 20.5% / 16.4%
Macleod — Bachelor Degree: 20.5% Watsonia — Bachelor Degree: 16.4%
Certificate III & IV 8.8% / 12.9%
Macleod — Certificate III & IV: 8.8% Watsonia — Certificate III & IV: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 7.9%
Macleod — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Watsonia — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 8.9% / 6.4%
Macleod — Postgraduate Degree: 8.9% Watsonia — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.7% / 2.9%
Macleod — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.7% Watsonia — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

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.

Macleod Watsonia
China 2.8% / 2.2%
Macleod — China: 2.8% Watsonia — China: 2.2%
England 2.8% / 2.0%
Macleod — England: 2.8% Watsonia — England: 2.0%
India 2.5% / 1.9%
Macleod — India: 2.5% Watsonia — India: 1.9%
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.2%
Macleod — New Zealand: 1.2% Watsonia — New Zealand: 1.2%
Italy 1.5% / 0.7%
Macleod — Italy: 1.5% Watsonia — Italy: 0.7%
Malaysia 1.0% / 1.0%
Macleod — Malaysia: 1.0% Watsonia — Malaysia: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Macleod 76.6% houses
Macleod — Houses: 76.6% Macleod — Townhouses: 20.0% Macleod — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Watsonia 86.1% houses
Watsonia — Houses: 86.1% Watsonia — Townhouses: 12.8% Watsonia — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Macleod Watsonia
Median house price $1,195,000 $975,000
Median unit price $725,000 $680,000
Median land price $1,010,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 69 sales
 24 days
from 31 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.

Macleod Watsonia
2 bed $700K / $587K
Macleod — 2 bed: $700K (27 sales) Watsonia — 2 bed: $587K (15 sales)

27 vs 15 sales

3 bed $826K / $752K
Macleod — 3 bed: $826K (14 sales) Watsonia — 3 bed: $752K (8 sales)

14 vs 8 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.

Macleod Watsonia
2 bed $893K / $830K
Macleod — 2 bed: $893K (6 sales) Watsonia — 2 bed: $830K (14 sales)

6 vs 14 sales

3 bed $1.01M / $950K
Macleod — 3 bed: $1.01M (61 sales) Watsonia — 3 bed: $950K (62 sales)

61 vs 62 sales

4 bed $1.56M / $1.12M
Macleod — 4 bed: $1.56M (37 sales) Watsonia — 4 bed: $1.12M (35 sales)

37 vs 35 sales

Zoning mix

Macleod Watsonia
Residential 66% 80%
Parks and recreation 21% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 10%
Commercial 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

Macleod Watsonia
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.

Macleod Watsonia
Houses 3.6%
$700/wk on $1.02M
 3.2%
$600/wk on $974K
Units 3.6%
$492/wk on $715K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Macleod Watsonia
House price Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Income Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Schools Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 30% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 22% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 3% of VIC —

Liveability

Watsonia scores higher overall (81 vs 69).

Macleod Watsonia
Grade A
same for both
Score 69/100 81/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Watsonia carries more crime risk (69 vs 41).

Macleod Watsonia
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
41/100
 Moderate
69/100
Flood Low
27/100
 Low
24/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Macleod Watsonia
Inside the suburb 5 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0
Universities within 10 km 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 2.7 km
 2
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 2.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 1.8%

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

Schools in Watsonia

  • Loyola College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Watsonia Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Concord School-Concord Junior Campus Government · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Macleod Watsonia
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 2 10
Parks & reserves 19 6
Childcare 6 7
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 1 5
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 2 0

Mobility

Macleod Watsonia
Walkability score 86/100 92/100
Distance to Melbourne 18.9 km 20.6 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 32 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 93/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 98.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 90.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3085
 1.3%
postcode 3087
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 3085
 26
postcode 3087

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.

Macleod Watsonia
Car (driver) 47.1% / 53.2%
Macleod — Car (driver): 47.1% Watsonia — Car (driver): 53.2%
Worked from Home 42.9% / 35.4%
Macleod — Worked from Home: 42.9% Watsonia — Worked from Home: 35.4%
Train 5.2% / 6.4%
Macleod — Train: 5.2% Watsonia — Train: 6.4%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.6%
Macleod — Car (passenger): 2.8% Watsonia — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.4%
Macleod — Walked Only: 1.0% Watsonia — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.2%).

Setting

Macleod Watsonia
Elevation 69 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 99 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 17.7 km 19.3 km

NBN connectivity

Macleod Watsonia
Connectivity score 89/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 46%
4,599 premises
 41%
2,543 premises

Climate

Macleod Watsonia
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Macleod Watsonia
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Macleod

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Quiet Townhouses Transport Hub

Watsonia

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Macleod

Macleod vs Bundoora Macleod vs Greensborough Macleod vs Rosanna Macleod vs Heidelberg Heights Macleod vs Heidelberg West Macleod vs Yallambie

Other comparisons with Watsonia

Watsonia vs Bundoora Watsonia vs Greensborough Watsonia vs Watsonia North
Full data on Macleod Full data on Watsonia
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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