Meadow Heights vs Westmeadows

Meadow Heights is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 39 in Westmeadows. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Meadow Heights, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Westmeadows: a median of $758,000, against $670,000 in Meadow Heights. On these figures, Meadow Heights tends to suit families with children and couples, while Westmeadows suits people living alone.

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

Meadow Heights

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (56 vs 16)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Meadow Heights

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($535,000 vs $635,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($670,000 vs $758,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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

Westmeadows

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (27 min vs 32 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Meadow Heights has more GPs (3 vs 1)
  • Westmeadows has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Westmeadows

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (11.2% vs 0.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
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.

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Walkability 78 / 75
Meadow Heights — Walkability: 78/100 Westmeadows — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 37 / 36
Meadow Heights — Safety: 37/100 Westmeadows — Safety: 36/100
Low fire risk 64 / 64
Meadow Heights — Low fire risk: 64/100 Westmeadows — Low fire risk: 64/100
Low flood risk 70 / 54
Meadow Heights — Low flood risk: 70/100 Westmeadows — Low flood risk: 54/100

Demographics

Meadow Heights has more residents (14,890 vs 6,502); Westmeadows has higher household incomes ($81,328 vs $66,248).

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Population 14,890
+56% vs other
 6,502
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.3% +11.2%
Median age 34 39
Median household income $66,248/yr $81,328/yr
+23% vs other
Median weekly rent $346/wk $360/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
0-4 6.8% / 6.2%
Meadow Heights — 0-4: 6.8% Westmeadows — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 14.7% / 10.8%
Meadow Heights — 5-14: 14.7% Westmeadows — 5-14: 10.8%
15-19 6.8% / 5.1%
Meadow Heights — 15-19: 6.8% Westmeadows — 15-19: 5.1%
20-24 7.9% / 5.6%
Meadow Heights — 20-24: 7.9% Westmeadows — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 15.1% / 15.6%
Meadow Heights — 25-34: 15.1% Westmeadows — 25-34: 15.6%
35-44 12.5% / 13.9%
Meadow Heights — 35-44: 12.5% Westmeadows — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 12.2% / 11.5%
Meadow Heights — 45-54: 12.2% Westmeadows — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 12.2% / 12.3%
Meadow Heights — 55-64: 12.2% Westmeadows — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 7.4% / 10.9%
Meadow Heights — 65-74: 7.4% Westmeadows — 65-74: 10.9%
75-84 3.6% / 6.0%
Meadow Heights — 75-84: 3.6% Westmeadows — 75-84: 6.0%
85+ 0.7% / 2.1%
Meadow Heights — 85+: 0.7% Westmeadows — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Meadow Heights 53.1% couple families
Meadow Heights — Couple Families: 53.1% Meadow Heights — Lone Person: 17.4% Meadow Heights — One Parent Families: 24.1% Meadow Heights — Group Household: 3.4% Meadow Heights — Other Families: 2.0%
Westmeadows 40.0% couple families
Westmeadows — Couple Families: 40.0% Westmeadows — Lone Person: 34.3% Westmeadows — One Parent Families: 21.5% Westmeadows — Group Household: 2.8% Westmeadows — 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.

Meadow Heights 31.9% renting
Meadow Heights — Owned Outright: 27.9% Meadow Heights — Mortgage: 40.3% Meadow Heights — Renting: 31.9%
Westmeadows 26.0% renting
Westmeadows — Owned Outright: 34.5% Westmeadows — Mortgage: 39.4% Westmeadows — Renting: 26.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Certificate III & IV 8.0% / 14.4%
Meadow Heights — Certificate III & IV: 8.0% Westmeadows — Certificate III & IV: 14.4%
Bachelor Degree 7.4% / 9.5%
Meadow Heights — Bachelor Degree: 7.4% Westmeadows — Bachelor Degree: 9.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.7% / 8.3%
Meadow Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.7% Westmeadows — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.3% / 2.5%
Meadow Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 2.3% Westmeadows — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.6%
Meadow Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Westmeadows — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

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.

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Iraq 7.1% / —
Meadow Heights — Iraq: 7.1% Westmeadows — Iraq: not among its largest
Lebanon 4.3% / 1.1%
Meadow Heights — Lebanon: 4.3% Westmeadows — Lebanon: 1.1%
Italy 0.5% / 3.1%
Meadow Heights — Italy: 0.5% Westmeadows — Italy: 3.1%
Pakistan 2.3% / 0.9%
Meadow Heights — Pakistan: 2.3% Westmeadows — Pakistan: 0.9%
Vietnam 2.5% / —
Meadow Heights — Vietnam: 2.5% Westmeadows — Vietnam: not among its largest
India 1.2% / 1.3%
Meadow Heights — India: 1.2% Westmeadows — India: 1.3%
England — / 1.9%
Meadow Heights — England: not among its largest Westmeadows — England: 1.9%
Sri Lanka — / 1.2%
Meadow Heights — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Westmeadows — Sri Lanka: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Meadow Heights 82.2% houses
Meadow Heights — Houses: 82.2% Meadow Heights — Townhouses: 16.5% Meadow Heights — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Westmeadows 76.9% houses
Westmeadows — Houses: 76.9% Westmeadows — Townhouses: 22.3% Westmeadows — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Median house price $670,000 $758,000
Median unit price $560,000 $603,000
Median land price $535,000 $635,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 56 sales
 22 days
from 45 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.

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
3 bed $651K / $742K
Meadow Heights — 3 bed: $651K (130 sales) Westmeadows — 3 bed: $742K (88 sales)

130 vs 88 sales

4 bed $755K / $805K
Meadow Heights — 4 bed: $755K (29 sales) Westmeadows — 4 bed: $805K (30 sales)

29 vs 30 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.

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
2 bed $500K / $562K
Meadow Heights — 2 bed: $500K (6 sales) Westmeadows — 2 bed: $562K (18 sales)

6 vs 18 sales

3 bed $570K / $648K
Meadow Heights — 3 bed: $570K (26 sales) Westmeadows — 3 bed: $648K (10 sales)

26 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Residential 78% 46%
Parks and recreation 16% 29%
Commercial 1% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 8%
Industrial 0% 7%
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

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
New dwellings approved 3,063
across Hume
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
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.

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Houses 4.4%
$550/wk on $655K
 4.1%
$590/wk on $755K
Units 4.5%
$520/wk on $595K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
House price Higher than 37% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC
Income Higher than 27% of VIC —
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 92% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 40% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 35% of VIC —

Liveability

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Grade C
same for both
Score 43/100 46/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Westmeadows carries more flood risk (46 vs 30).

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Bushfire Low
36/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
63/100
 Moderate
64/100
Flood Low
30/100
 Moderate
46/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise High
70/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0

Schools in Meadow Heights

  • Bethal Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Meadow Heights Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Westmeadows

  • Westmeadows Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 56 16
Childcare 7 4
GPs 3 1
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 2
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Walkability score 78/100 75/100
Distance to Melbourne 21.1 km
+3% vs other
 20.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 27 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 169.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 135.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3048
 0.7%
postcode 3049
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 36
postcode 3048
 29
postcode 3049

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.

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Car (driver) 75.4% / 68.7%
Meadow Heights — Car (driver): 75.4% Westmeadows — Car (driver): 68.7%
Worked from Home 14.4% / 23.1%
Meadow Heights — Worked from Home: 14.4% Westmeadows — Worked from Home: 23.1%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 3.6%
Meadow Heights — Car (passenger): 5.4% Westmeadows — Car (passenger): 3.6%
Train 3.1% / 2.8%
Meadow Heights — Train: 3.1% Westmeadows — Train: 2.8%
Bus 1.2% / 0.7%
Meadow Heights — Bus: 1.2% Westmeadows — Bus: 0.7%
Walked Only 0.5% / 0.8%
Meadow Heights — Walked Only: 0.5% Westmeadows — Walked Only: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.4%).

Setting

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Elevation 138 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 90 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 21.0 km 18.4 km

NBN connectivity

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Connectivity score 87/100 88/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
5,114 premises
 53%
2,771 premises

Climate

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
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)

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
PM2.5 3.9 µg/m³ —
PM10 — 18.9 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Average residential rate $1,715/yr
same for both
Council Hume
same for both

Federal electorate

Meadow Heights Westmeadows
Division Calwell
same for both
Member Basem Abdo
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Meadow Heights

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Urban

Westmeadows

Middle-Ring Parks River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Meadow Heights

Meadow Heights vs Roxburgh Park Meadow Heights vs Greenvale Meadow Heights vs Broadmeadows Meadow Heights vs Coolaroo

Other comparisons with Westmeadows

Westmeadows vs Greenvale Westmeadows vs Broadmeadows Westmeadows vs Gladstone Park Westmeadows vs Tullamarine Westmeadows vs Attwood Westmeadows vs Jacana
Full data on Meadow Heights Full data on Westmeadows
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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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