Melton vs Brookfield

Brookfield is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 40 in Melton. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Brookfield, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Brookfield: a median of $605,000, against $540,000 in Melton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Melton tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Brookfield suits families with children and 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

Melton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (15 vs 11)
  • But Brookfield carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 94/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Melton has cheaper units ($400,000 vs $450,000)
  • Brookfield has cheaper land ($364,250 vs $787,500)

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

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Melton has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $350/wk)
  • Brookfield leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Melton sits closer to the CBD (43.8 km vs 48 km)
  • Brookfield is more walkable (40/100 vs 20/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Melton has more GPs (10 vs 0)
  • Brookfield carries lower crime risk (43/100 vs 94/100)

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

Investors

Brookfield

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (17.0% vs -1.4%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Melton Brookfield
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.

Melton Brookfield
Walkability 20 / 40
Melton — Walkability: 20/100 Brookfield — Walkability: 40/100
Safety 6 / 57
Melton — Safety: 6/100 Brookfield — Safety: 57/100
Low fire risk 14 / 34
Melton — Low fire risk: 14/100 Brookfield — Low fire risk: 34/100
Low flood risk 100 / 87
Melton — Low flood risk: 100/100 Brookfield — Low flood risk: 87/100

Demographics

Brookfield has higher household incomes ($85,384 vs $55,016); Brookfield has more residents (10,782 vs 7,953).

Melton Brookfield
Population 7,953 10,782
+36% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.4% +17.0%
Median age 40 32
Median household income $55,016/yr $85,384/yr
+55% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $350/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melton Brookfield
0-4 6.4% / 8.9%
Melton — 0-4: 6.4% Brookfield — 0-4: 8.9%
5-14 12.3% / 17.9%
Melton — 5-14: 12.3% Brookfield — 5-14: 17.9%
15-19 5.4% / 6.4%
Melton — 15-19: 5.4% Brookfield — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 5.6% / 6.1%
Melton — 20-24: 5.6% Brookfield — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 13.5% / 15.2%
Melton — 25-34: 13.5% Brookfield — 25-34: 15.2%
35-44 13.0% / 15.9%
Melton — 35-44: 13.0% Brookfield — 35-44: 15.9%
45-54 12.0% / 10.4%
Melton — 45-54: 12.0% Brookfield — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 11.5% / 8.2%
Melton — 55-64: 11.5% Brookfield — 55-64: 8.2%
65-74 12.8% / 6.8%
Melton — 65-74: 12.8% Brookfield — 65-74: 6.8%
75-84 6.2% / 3.1%
Melton — 75-84: 6.2% Brookfield — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 1.4% / 1.0%
Melton — 85+: 1.4% Brookfield — 85+: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Melton 30.2% couple families
Melton — Couple Families: 30.2% Melton — Lone Person: 41.6% Melton — One Parent Families: 22.3% Melton — Group Household: 3.7% Melton — Other Families: 2.2%
Brookfield 55.0% couple families
Brookfield — Couple Families: 55.0% Brookfield — Lone Person: 22.4% Brookfield — One Parent Families: 18.8% Brookfield — Group Household: 2.3% Brookfield — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Melton 35.6% renting
Melton — Owned Outright: 33.7% Melton — Mortgage: 30.7% Melton — Renting: 35.6%
Brookfield 30.0% renting
Brookfield — Owned Outright: 24.2% Brookfield — Mortgage: 45.8% Brookfield — Renting: 30.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melton Brookfield
Certificate III & IV 14.8% / 13.4%
Melton — Certificate III & IV: 14.8% Brookfield — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Bachelor Degree 5.4% / 8.3%
Melton — Bachelor Degree: 5.4% Brookfield — Bachelor Degree: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.0% / 7.2%
Melton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.0% Brookfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 2.8%
Melton — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Brookfield — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.2%
Melton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Brookfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.8%).

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.

Melton Brookfield
India 2.2% / 7.5%
Melton — India: 2.2% Brookfield — India: 7.5%
New Zealand 2.7% / 3.1%
Melton — New Zealand: 2.7% Brookfield — New Zealand: 3.1%
England 2.7% / 2.1%
Melton — England: 2.7% Brookfield — England: 2.1%
Philippines 1.7% / 2.4%
Melton — Philippines: 1.7% Brookfield — Philippines: 2.4%
Pakistan — / 1.4%
Melton — Pakistan: not among its largest Brookfield — Pakistan: 1.4%
Myanmar 1.2% / —
Melton — Myanmar: 1.2% Brookfield — Myanmar: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melton 83.3% houses
Melton — Houses: 83.3% Melton — Townhouses: 16.5% Melton — Flats / Apartments: 0.2%
Brookfield 89.7% houses
Brookfield — Houses: 89.7% Brookfield — Townhouses: 10.3% Brookfield — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Melton Brookfield
Median house price $540,000 $605,000
Median unit price $400,000 $450,000
Median land price $787,500 $364,250
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 94 sales
 32 days
from 153 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.

Melton Brookfield
3 bed $526K / $565K
Melton — 3 bed: $526K (190 sales) Brookfield — 3 bed: $565K (85 sales)

190 vs 85 sales

4 bed $615K / $615K
Melton — 4 bed: $615K (41 sales) Brookfield — 4 bed: $615K (189 sales)

41 vs 189 sales

5 bed $636K / $678K
Melton — 5 bed: $636K (12 sales) Brookfield — 5 bed: $678K (15 sales)

12 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Melton has more rural and farming land (50% vs 11%).

Melton Brookfield
Residential 27% 65%
Rural and farming 50% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 11%
Industrial 10% 0%
Parks and recreation 7%
same for both
Environmental 0% 5%
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

Melton Brookfield
New dwellings approved 4,602
across Melton
same for both
Approvals change year on year +5%
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.

Melton Brookfield
Houses 3.7%
$410/wk on $574K
 3.8%
$470/wk on $637K
Units 4.9%
$410/wk on $435K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Melton Brookfield
House price Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
Income Higher than 13% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Schools Higher than 3% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 56% of VIC —

Liveability

Brookfield scores higher overall (44 vs 20); Brookfield is more walkable (40 vs 20).

Melton Brookfield
Grade D C
Score 20/100 44/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Brookfield carries more flood risk (13 vs 0); Melton carries more crime risk (94 vs 43).

Melton Brookfield
Bushfire High
86/100
 Moderate
66/100
Crime High
94/100
 Moderate
43/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
13/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Melton Brookfield
Inside the suburb 5 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 2 1

Schools in Melton

  • Melton Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Muhammadiyah Australia College Independent · Combined below peers
  • St Dominic's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Djerriwarrh Community & Education Services - Djerriwarrh Community College Independent · Secondary
  • Western English Language School-Melton Campus Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Brookfield

  • Melton Christian College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Binap Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Melton Brookfield
Supermarkets 3 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 8 3
Childcare 15 11
GPs 10 0
Pharmacies 4 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 7 0
Waterways 25 7

Mobility

Brookfield sits further from the CBD (48 km vs 43.8 km).

Melton Brookfield
Walkability score 20/100 40/100
Distance to Melbourne 43.8 km 48 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 42 min 45 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 123.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 33.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3337
 0.9%
postcode 3338
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 42
postcode 3337
 57
postcode 3338

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.

Melton Brookfield
Car (driver) 72.4% / 73.1%
Melton — Car (driver): 72.4% Brookfield — Car (driver): 73.1%
Worked from Home 15.1% / 17.5%
Melton — Worked from Home: 15.1% Brookfield — Worked from Home: 17.5%
Car (passenger) 6.4% / 5.7%
Melton — Car (passenger): 6.4% Brookfield — Car (passenger): 5.7%
Train 2.9% / 3.1%
Melton — Train: 2.9% Brookfield — Train: 3.1%
Walked Only 2.2% / 0.4%
Melton — Walked Only: 2.2% Brookfield — Walked Only: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.1%).

Setting

Melton Brookfield
Elevation 144 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 119 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 28.5 km 31.1 km

NBN connectivity

Melton Brookfield
Connectivity score 99/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 98%
4,809 premises
 92%
4,078 premises

Climate

Melton Brookfield
Annual rainfall 518 mm 482 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C 25.9°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C 6.2°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Melton Brookfield
PM2.5 4.4 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Melton Brookfield
Average residential rate $1,779/yr
same for both
Council Melton
same for both

Federal electorate

Melton Brookfield
Division Hawke
same for both
Member Sam Rae
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Melton Brookfield
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Melton

Affordable Outer

Brookfield

Family Large Blocks Multicultural Outer Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melton

Melton vs Harkness Melton vs Melton South Melton vs Kurunjang Melton vs Melton West Melton vs Cobblebank Melton vs Thornhill Park

Other comparisons with Brookfield

Brookfield vs Melton South Brookfield vs Melton West Brookfield vs Weir Views Brookfield vs Hopetoun Park Brookfield vs Long Forest Brookfield vs Parwan
Full data on Melton Full data on Brookfield
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