Moorabbin vs Cheltenham

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Moorabbin, about half of households are couple families.

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

Cheltenham

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (20 vs 8)
  • carries lower crime risk (80/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Moorabbin has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 58%)

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

First-home buyers

Moorabbin

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($610,000 vs $677,500)

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

They split

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

  • Moorabbin sits closer to the CBD (18.9 km vs 20.9 km)
  • Cheltenham is more walkable (94/100 vs 79/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Cheltenham

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (6 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (42% vs 23%)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 79/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Moorabbin Cheltenham
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.

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Walkability 79 / 94
Moorabbin — Walkability: 79/100 Cheltenham — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 10 / 20
Moorabbin — Safety: 10/100 Cheltenham — Safety: 20/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Moorabbin — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cheltenham — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 62 / 70
Moorabbin — Low flood risk: 62/100 Cheltenham — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

Cheltenham has more residents (23,992 vs 6,287).

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Population 6,287 23,992
+282% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +7.6%
Median age 39 40
Median household income $105,612/yr
+6% vs other
 $99,788/yr
Median weekly rent $431/wk $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Moorabbin Cheltenham
0-4 6.7% / 5.9%
Moorabbin — 0-4: 6.7% Cheltenham — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 12.0% / 12.1%
Moorabbin — 5-14: 12.0% Cheltenham — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 4.9% / 5.3%
Moorabbin — 15-19: 4.9% Cheltenham — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 4.8% / 4.9%
Moorabbin — 20-24: 4.8% Cheltenham — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 13.2% / 12.6%
Moorabbin — 25-34: 13.2% Cheltenham — 25-34: 12.6%
35-44 16.9% / 15.6%
Moorabbin — 35-44: 16.9% Cheltenham — 35-44: 15.6%
45-54 13.9% / 14.1%
Moorabbin — 45-54: 13.9% Cheltenham — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 11.1% / 10.8%
Moorabbin — 55-64: 11.1% Cheltenham — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 8.4% / 8.6%
Moorabbin — 65-74: 8.4% Cheltenham — 65-74: 8.6%
75-84 5.7% / 6.1%
Moorabbin — 75-84: 5.7% Cheltenham — 75-84: 6.1%
85+ 2.6% / 4.0%
Moorabbin — 85+: 2.6% Cheltenham — 85+: 4.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Moorabbin 45.4% couple families
Moorabbin — Couple Families: 45.4% Moorabbin — Lone Person: 33.5% Moorabbin — One Parent Families: 14.2% Moorabbin — Group Household: 5.3% Moorabbin — Other Families: 1.6%
Cheltenham 43.0% couple families
Cheltenham — Couple Families: 43.0% Cheltenham — Lone Person: 37.8% Cheltenham — One Parent Families: 14.3% Cheltenham — Group Household: 3.4% Cheltenham — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Moorabbin 29.7% renting
Moorabbin — Owned Outright: 30.6% Moorabbin — Mortgage: 39.7% Moorabbin — Renting: 29.7%
Cheltenham 27.9% renting
Cheltenham — Owned Outright: 33.8% Cheltenham — Mortgage: 38.3% Cheltenham — Renting: 27.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Moorabbin Cheltenham
England 3.2% / 4.0%
Moorabbin — England: 3.2% Cheltenham — England: 4.0%
India 4.1% / 2.7%
Moorabbin — India: 4.1% Cheltenham — India: 2.7%
China 3.4% / 3.1%
Moorabbin — China: 3.4% Cheltenham — China: 3.1%
Greece 1.8% / 2.0%
Moorabbin — Greece: 1.8% Cheltenham — Greece: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.5% / 1.6%
Moorabbin — New Zealand: 1.5% Cheltenham — New Zealand: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.1%).

Qualifications

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

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Bachelor Degree 19.5% / 18.8%
Moorabbin — Bachelor Degree: 19.5% Cheltenham — Bachelor Degree: 18.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 9.8%
Moorabbin — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% Cheltenham — Certificate III & IV: 9.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 9.0%
Moorabbin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Cheltenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 6.9%
Moorabbin — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Cheltenham — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.7%
Moorabbin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Cheltenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Moorabbin 76.7% houses
Moorabbin — Houses: 76.7% Moorabbin — Flats / Apartments: 14.7% Moorabbin — Townhouses: 8.7%
Cheltenham 58.5% houses
Cheltenham — Houses: 58.5% Cheltenham — Flats / Apartments: 18.8% Cheltenham — Townhouses: 22.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Median house price $1,230,250 $1,252,500
Median unit price $610,000 $677,500
Median land price — $942,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 60 sales
 22 days
from 155 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.

Moorabbin Cheltenham
2 bed $1.15M / $1.05M
Moorabbin — 2 bed: $1.15M (9 sales) Cheltenham — 2 bed: $1.05M (23 sales)

9 vs 23 sales

3 bed $1.21M / $1.2M
Moorabbin — 3 bed: $1.21M (63 sales) Cheltenham — 3 bed: $1.2M (120 sales)

63 vs 120 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $1.35M
Moorabbin — 4 bed: $1.36M (29 sales) Cheltenham — 4 bed: $1.35M (93 sales)

29 vs 93 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.

Moorabbin Cheltenham
1 bed $400K / $365K
Moorabbin — 1 bed: $400K (7 sales) Cheltenham — 1 bed: $365K (37 sales)

7 vs 37 sales

2 bed $592K / $668K
Moorabbin — 2 bed: $592K (49 sales) Cheltenham — 2 bed: $668K (184 sales)

49 vs 184 sales

3 bed $1.01M / $895K
Moorabbin — 3 bed: $1.01M (11 sales) Cheltenham — 3 bed: $895K (48 sales)

11 vs 48 sales

Zoning mix

Moorabbin has more industrially zoned land (48% vs 10%); Cheltenham has more commercially zoned land (19% vs 6%).

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Residential 32% 51%
Industrial 48% 10%
Commercial 6% 19%
Parks and recreation 5% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 9%
same for both
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

Moorabbin Cheltenham
New dwellings approved 465
across Kingston (Vic.)
same for both
Approvals change year on year -36%
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.

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Houses 3.8%
$850/wk on $1.17M
 3.5%
$800/wk on $1.2M
Units 5.2%
$685/wk on $688K
 5.0%
$600/wk on $630K

Ranking within VIC

Moorabbin Cheltenham
House price Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Income Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Schools Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 34% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC

Liveability

Cheltenham is more walkable (94 vs 79).

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Grade A
same for both
Score 72/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Moorabbin carries more crime risk (90 vs 80).

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 High
80/100
Flood Low
38/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Inside the suburb 5 6
Rated above peers 2
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 2
Monash Caulfield, 6.8 km
 2
Monash Clayton, 8.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.2%

Schools in Moorabbin

  • Moorabbin Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Catherine's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Southmoor Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Avenues Education Government · Secondary · Special school
  • Bayside Special Developmental School Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Cheltenham

  • Cheltenham East Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cheltenham Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cheltenham Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Kingston Heath Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Our Lady of the Assumption School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Le Page Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Supermarkets 2 8
Cafes & restaurants 7 56
Parks & reserves 6 28
Childcare 8 20
GPs 2 6
Pharmacies 3 8
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 3 9
Fuel stations 3 4
EV chargers 0 3

Mobility

Cheltenham sits further from the CBD (20.9 km vs 18.9 km).

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Walkability score 79/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 18.9 km 20.9 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min 32 min
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 173.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 428.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 3189
 1.5%
postcode 3192
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 3189
 23
postcode 3192

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.

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Car (driver) 49.5% / 49.2%
Moorabbin — Car (driver): 49.5% Cheltenham — Car (driver): 49.2%
Worked from Home 39.7% / 40.1%
Moorabbin — Worked from Home: 39.7% Cheltenham — Worked from Home: 40.1%
Train 3.7% / 3.3%
Moorabbin — Train: 3.7% Cheltenham — Train: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 3.2%
Moorabbin — Car (passenger): 3.1% Cheltenham — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 2.2% / 2.4%
Moorabbin — Walked Only: 2.2% Cheltenham — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (49.5%).

Setting

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Elevation 43 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.7 km
4.7 km to a named beach
 2.7 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Connectivity score 78/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
5,070 premises
 9%
13,274 premises

Climate

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Annual rainfall 644 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.0°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Moorabbin Cheltenham
PM2.5 7.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Average residential rate $1,940/yr
same for both
Council Kingston (Vic.)
same for both

Federal electorate

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Division Goldstein Isaacs
Member Tim Wilson Mark Dreyfus
Party Liberal Australian Labor Party

First Home Owner Grant

Moorabbin Cheltenham
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Moorabbin

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Transport Hub

Cheltenham

Coastal Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks Premium Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Moorabbin

Moorabbin vs Bentleigh East Moorabbin vs Bentleigh Moorabbin vs Brighton East Moorabbin vs Highett Moorabbin vs Oakleigh South Moorabbin vs Hampton East

Other comparisons with Cheltenham

Cheltenham vs Beaumaris Cheltenham vs Mentone Cheltenham vs Highett Cheltenham vs Sandringham Cheltenham vs Black Rock Cheltenham vs Heatherton
Full data on Moorabbin Full data on Cheltenham
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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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