Melville vs Willagee

Willagee is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Melville. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Melville, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Melville: a median of $1.53 million, against $990,000 in Willagee, and rent is higher there too. Melville is closer to the city centre: 14.9 km, against 17.4 km. On these figures, Melville tends to suit couples, while Willagee suits people living alone and 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

Melville

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 79/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (63% vs 51%)
  • But Willagee has more parks and reserves (10 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Willagee

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($990,000 vs $1,530,000)
  • has cheaper land ($620,000 vs $866,000)
  • has cheaper units ($735,000 vs $832,000)

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

Renters

Willagee

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (37% vs 16%)
  • has cheaper rent ($283/wk vs $420/wk)

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

  • Melville sits closer to the CBD (14.9 km vs 17.4 km)
  • Willagee is more walkable (84/100 vs 53/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Melville carries lower crime risk (58/100 vs 79/100)
  • Willagee is more walkable (84/100 vs 53/100)

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

Investors

Willagee

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Melville Willagee
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.

Melville Willagee
Walkability 53 / 84
Melville — Walkability: 53/100 Willagee — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 42 / 21
Melville — Safety: 42/100 Willagee — Safety: 21/100
Low fire risk 76 / 100
Melville — Low fire risk: 76/100 Willagee — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Melville — Low flood risk: 100/100 Willagee — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Melville rents higher ($420/wk vs $283/wk); Melville has higher household incomes ($113,516 vs $86,320).

Melville Willagee
Population 6,204
+12% vs other
 5,447
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.9% +11.8%
Median age 42 37
Median household income $113,516/yr
+24% vs other
 $86,320/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+33% vs other
 $283/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melville Willagee
0-4 5.3% / 5.9%
Melville — 0-4: 5.3% Willagee — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 14.0% / 13.1%
Melville — 5-14: 14.0% Willagee — 5-14: 13.1%
15-19 7.1% / 5.9%
Melville — 15-19: 7.1% Willagee — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.4% / 5.7%
Melville — 20-24: 5.4% Willagee — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 9.8% / 15.8%
Melville — 25-34: 9.8% Willagee — 25-34: 15.8%
35-44 12.6% / 14.3%
Melville — 35-44: 12.6% Willagee — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 15.5% / 13.5%
Melville — 45-54: 15.5% Willagee — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 12.7% / 9.2%
Melville — 55-64: 12.7% Willagee — 55-64: 9.2%
65-74 8.4% / 7.4%
Melville — 65-74: 8.4% Willagee — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 5.2% / 5.6%
Melville — 75-84: 5.2% Willagee — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 4.0% / 3.6%
Melville — 85+: 4.0% Willagee — 85+: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Melville 49.8% couple families
Melville — Couple Families: 49.8% Melville — Lone Person: 32.5% Melville — One Parent Families: 13.3% Melville — Group Household: 3.0% Melville — Other Families: 1.4%
Willagee 32.7% couple families
Willagee — Couple Families: 32.7% Willagee — Lone Person: 41.3% Willagee — One Parent Families: 18.3% Willagee — Group Household: 5.6% Willagee — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Melville 15.7% renting
Melville — Owned Outright: 39.2% Melville — Mortgage: 45.1% Melville — Renting: 15.7%
Willagee 36.8% renting
Willagee — Owned Outright: 20.3% Willagee — Mortgage: 42.9% Willagee — Renting: 36.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melville Willagee
Bachelor Degree 19.0% / 15.7%
Melville — Bachelor Degree: 19.0% Willagee — Bachelor Degree: 15.7%
Certificate III & IV 11.2% / 12.0%
Melville — Certificate III & IV: 11.2% Willagee — Certificate III & IV: 12.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.4%
Melville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Willagee — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Postgraduate Degree 5.6% / 4.3%
Melville — Postgraduate Degree: 5.6% Willagee — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.4% / 2.6%
Melville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.4% Willagee — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.0%).

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.

Melville Willagee
England 6.9% / 5.6%
Melville — England: 6.9% Willagee — England: 5.6%
New Zealand 1.7% / 2.5%
Melville — New Zealand: 1.7% Willagee — New Zealand: 2.5%
South Africa 1.0% / 1.0%
Melville — South Africa: 1.0% Willagee — South Africa: 1.0%
Scotland 0.8% / 1.0%
Melville — Scotland: 0.8% Willagee — Scotland: 1.0%
Malaysia 0.8% / 1.0%
Melville — Malaysia: 0.8% Willagee — Malaysia: 1.0%
Italy 0.9% / —
Melville — Italy: 0.9% Willagee — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melville 78.0% houses
Melville — Houses: 78.0% Melville — Townhouses: 19.0% Melville — Flats / Apartments: 3.0%
Willagee 79.4% houses
Willagee — Houses: 79.4% Willagee — Townhouses: 18.6% Willagee — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Melville Willagee
Median house price $1,530,000 $990,000
Median unit price $832,000 $735,000
Median land price $866,000 $620,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 80 sales
 40 days
from 30 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.

Melville Willagee
2 bed $1.03M / $858K
Melville — 2 bed: $1.03M (12 sales) Willagee — 2 bed: $858K (12 sales)

12 vs 12 sales

3 bed $1.32M / $980K
Melville — 3 bed: $1.32M (57 sales) Willagee — 3 bed: $980K (61 sales)

57 vs 61 sales

4 bed $1.75M / $1.27M
Melville — 4 bed: $1.75M (64 sales) Willagee — 4 bed: $1.27M (20 sales)

64 vs 20 sales

Development activity

Melville Willagee
New dwellings approved 727
across Melville
same for both
Approvals change year on year +268%
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.

Melville Willagee
Houses 3.8%
$875/wk on $1.2M
 4.4%
$850/wk on $1.01M
Units — 5.5%
$800/wk on $750K

Ranking within WA

Melville Willagee
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 80% of WA Higher than 50% of WA
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 84% of WA Higher than 97% of WA
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 93% of WA
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of WA Higher than 83% of WA
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 20% of WA Higher than 49% of WA
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 55% of WA

Liveability

Willagee is more walkable (84 vs 53); Melville scores higher overall (76 vs 70).

Melville Willagee
Grade A
same for both
Score 76/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Melville carries more bushfire risk (24 vs 0); Willagee carries more crime risk (79 vs 58).

Melville Willagee
Bushfire Low
24/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
58/100
 High
79/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Melville Willagee
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Notre Dame Australia - Fremantle, 4.3 km
 3
Murdoch University (Murdoch), 3.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 1.7%

Schools in Melville

  • Melville Senior High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Melville Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Willagee

  • Caralee Community School Government · Primary below peers
  • Fremantle Language Development Centre Government · Primary · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Melville Willagee
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 6 3
Parks & reserves 1 10
Childcare 3 4
GPs 2 3
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both

Mobility

Willagee sits further from the CBD (17.4 km vs 14.9 km).

Melville Willagee
Walkability score 53/100 84/100
Distance to Perth 14.9 km 17.4 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 173.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 108.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 6156
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 6156
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.

Melville Willagee
Car (driver) 74.4% / 77.0%
Melville — Car (driver): 74.4% Willagee — Car (driver): 77.0%
Worked from Home 11.3% / 8.6%
Melville — Worked from Home: 11.3% Willagee — Worked from Home: 8.6%
Car (passenger) 4.5% / 5.1%
Melville — Car (passenger): 4.5% Willagee — Car (passenger): 5.1%
Train 3.5% / 4.3%
Melville — Train: 3.5% Willagee — Train: 4.3%
Bus 4.4% / 2.8%
Melville — Bus: 4.4% Willagee — Bus: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.0%).

Setting

Melville Willagee
Elevation 47 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.2 km
2.6 km to a named beach
 5.6 km
3.7 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Melville Willagee
Connectivity score 89/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
2,757 premises
 45%
2,728 premises

Climate

Melville Willagee
Annual rainfall 650 mm 745 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 31.4°C
Winter min (Jul) — 7.6°C

Council rates

Melville Willagee
Average residential rate $2,396/yr
same for both
Council Melville
same for both

Federal electorate

Melville Willagee
Division Tangney
same for both
Member Sam Lim
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Melville Willagee
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $800,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Melville

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Premium Professionals Quiet Transport Hub

Willagee

Middle-Ring Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melville

Melville vs Palmyra Melville vs Bicton Melville vs Attadale Melville vs Alfred Cove Melville vs Myaree

Other comparisons with Willagee

Willagee vs Kardinya Willagee vs Palmyra Willagee vs Winthrop Willagee vs Myaree Willagee vs O'Connor
Full data on Melville Full data on Willagee
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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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