Moorabbin vs Highett

In both, most households own their home. In Moorabbin, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Highett: a median of $1.4 million, against $1.23 million in Moorabbin.

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

Moorabbin

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 5)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 53%)
  • But Highett carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 90/100)

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 houses ($1,230,250 vs $1,400,000)

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

Highett

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 79/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Highett

ahead on 4 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (47% vs 23%)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Highett

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.9% vs 6.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Moorabbin and Highett 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 Highett
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 Highett
Walkability 79 / 90
Moorabbin — Walkability: 79/100 Highett — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 10 / 35
Moorabbin — Safety: 10/100 Highett — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Moorabbin — Low fire risk: 100/100 Highett — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 62 / 61
Moorabbin — Low flood risk: 62/100 Highett — Low flood risk: 61/100

Demographics

Highett has more residents (12,016 vs 6,287).

Moorabbin Highett
Population 6,287 12,016
+91% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.6% +14.9%
Median age 39 40
Median household income $105,612/yr $110,188/yr
+4% vs other
Median weekly rent $431/wk $430/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Moorabbin Highett
0-4 6.7% / 6.2%
Moorabbin — 0-4: 6.7% Highett — 0-4: 6.2%
5-14 12.0% / 12.1%
Moorabbin — 5-14: 12.0% Highett — 5-14: 12.1%
15-19 4.9% / 5.2%
Moorabbin — 15-19: 4.9% Highett — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 4.8% / 4.7%
Moorabbin — 20-24: 4.8% Highett — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 13.2% / 13.3%
Moorabbin — 25-34: 13.2% Highett — 25-34: 13.3%
35-44 16.9% / 15.7%
Moorabbin — 35-44: 16.9% Highett — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 13.9% / 15.4%
Moorabbin — 45-54: 13.9% Highett — 45-54: 15.4%
55-64 11.1% / 11.0%
Moorabbin — 55-64: 11.1% Highett — 55-64: 11.0%
65-74 8.4% / 8.7%
Moorabbin — 65-74: 8.4% Highett — 65-74: 8.7%
75-84 5.7% / 5.0%
Moorabbin — 75-84: 5.7% Highett — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 2.6% / 2.4%
Moorabbin — 85+: 2.6% Highett — 85+: 2.4%

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%
Highett 42.5% couple families
Highett — Couple Families: 42.5% Highett — Lone Person: 39.0% Highett — One Parent Families: 14.0% Highett — Group Household: 3.4% Highett — Other Families: 1.0%
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%
Highett 28.0% renting
Highett — Owned Outright: 30.9% Highett — Mortgage: 41.1% Highett — Renting: 28.0%
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 Highett
England 3.2% / 4.9%
Moorabbin — England: 3.2% Highett — England: 4.9%
India 4.1% / 2.2%
Moorabbin — India: 4.1% Highett — India: 2.2%
China 3.4% / 2.4%
Moorabbin — China: 3.4% Highett — China: 2.4%
New Zealand 1.5% / 2.1%
Moorabbin — New Zealand: 1.5% Highett — New Zealand: 2.1%
Greece 1.8% / 1.3%
Moorabbin — Greece: 1.8% Highett — Greece: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

Qualifications

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

Moorabbin Highett
Bachelor Degree 19.5% / 21.2%
Moorabbin — Bachelor Degree: 19.5% Highett — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.4% / 9.3%
Moorabbin — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4% Highett — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 9.0%
Moorabbin — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% Highett — Certificate III & IV: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 6.9% / 7.6%
Moorabbin — Postgraduate Degree: 6.9% Highett — Postgraduate Degree: 7.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.1%
Moorabbin — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Highett — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Moorabbin 76.7% houses
Moorabbin — Houses: 76.7% Moorabbin — Townhouses: 8.7% Moorabbin — Flats / Apartments: 14.7%
Highett 53.3% houses
Highett — Houses: 53.3% Highett — Townhouses: 28.6% Highett — Flats / Apartments: 18.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Moorabbin Highett
Median house price $1,230,250 $1,400,000
Median unit price $610,000 $616,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 60 sales
 23 days
from 94 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 Highett
2 bed $1.15M / $1.26M
Moorabbin — 2 bed: $1.15M (9 sales) Highett — 2 bed: $1.26M (18 sales)

9 vs 18 sales

3 bed $1.21M / $1.32M
Moorabbin — 3 bed: $1.21M (63 sales) Highett — 3 bed: $1.32M (63 sales)

63 vs 63 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $1.58M
Moorabbin — 4 bed: $1.36M (29 sales) Highett — 4 bed: $1.58M (44 sales)

29 vs 44 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 Highett
1 bed $400K / $431K
Moorabbin — 1 bed: $400K (7 sales) Highett — 1 bed: $431K (24 sales)

7 vs 24 sales

2 bed $592K / $630K
Moorabbin — 2 bed: $592K (49 sales) Highett — 2 bed: $630K (115 sales)

49 vs 115 sales

3 bed $1.01M / $900K
Moorabbin — 3 bed: $1.01M (11 sales) Highett — 3 bed: $900K (19 sales)

11 vs 19 sales

Zoning mix

Moorabbin has more industrially zoned land (48% vs 5%); Highett has more commercially zoned land (32% vs 6%).

Moorabbin Highett
Industrial 48% 5%
Residential 32% 47%
Commercial 6% 32%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 7%
Parks and recreation 5% 8%
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 Highett
New dwellings approved 465
across Kingston (Vic.)
 473
across Bayside (Vic.)
Approvals change year on year -36% -47%

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 Highett
Houses 3.8%
$850/wk on $1.17M
 3.6%
$990/wk on $1.45M
Units 5.2%
$685/wk on $688K
 5.6%
$650/wk on $599K

Ranking within VIC

Moorabbin Highett
House price Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Income Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools Higher than 80% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC

Liveability

Highett is more walkable (90 vs 79); Highett scores higher overall (81 vs 72).

Moorabbin Highett
Grade A
same for both
Score 72/100 81/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Moorabbin carries more crime risk (90 vs 65).

Moorabbin Highett
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Low
38/100
 Low
39/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Moorabbin Highett
Inside the suburb 5 2
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Monash Caulfield, 6.8 km
 2
Monash Caulfield, 7.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.4% 2.5%

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 Highett

  • St Agnes' School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sandringham College-Bluff Road 7–8 Campus Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Moorabbin Highett
Supermarkets 2 1
Cafes & restaurants 7 10
Parks & reserves 6 8
Childcare 8 5
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 3 2
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 2
Fuel stations 3 1

Mobility

Moorabbin Highett
Walkability score 79/100 90/100
Distance to Melbourne 18.9 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 30 min
same for both
Public transport score 93/100
Rail · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 173.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 153.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 3189
 1.9%
postcode 3190
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 3189
 17
postcode 3190

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 Highett
Car (driver) 49.5% / 44.7%
Moorabbin — Car (driver): 49.5% Highett — Car (driver): 44.7%
Worked from Home 39.7% / 44.9%
Moorabbin — Worked from Home: 39.7% Highett — Worked from Home: 44.9%
Train 3.7% / 4.0%
Moorabbin — Train: 3.7% Highett — Train: 4.0%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 2.5%
Moorabbin — Car (passenger): 3.1% Highett — Car (passenger): 2.5%
Walked Only 2.2% / 2.5%
Moorabbin — Walked Only: 2.2% Highett — Walked Only: 2.5%

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

Setting

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

NBN connectivity

Moorabbin Highett
Connectivity score 78/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
5,070 premises
 17%
6,219 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Moorabbin Highett
Average residential rate $1,940/yr $2,086/yr
Council Kingston (Vic.) Bayside (Vic.)

Federal electorate

Moorabbin Highett
Division Goldstein
same for both
Member Tim Wilson
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Moorabbin Highett
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

Highett

Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Moorabbin

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

Other comparisons with Highett

Highett vs Cheltenham Highett vs Hampton Highett vs Sandringham Highett vs Hampton East
Full data on Moorabbin Full data on Highett
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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