Mount Clear vs Mount Helen

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Mount Helen, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Mount Helen: a median of $680,000, against $575,000 in Mount Clear, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Mount Clear tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget, while Mount Helen suits 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

Mount Helen

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 59/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (71% vs 55%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (94% vs 75%)
  • But Mount Clear has more parks and reserves (6 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Mount Clear has cheaper houses ($575,000 vs $680,000)
  • Mount Helen leaves households under less mortgage stress (18% vs 24%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Mount Clear

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($310/wk vs $345/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Mount Clear

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 28/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Mount Clear

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (25% vs 6%)
  • is more walkable (69/100 vs 28/100)
  • But Mount Helen carries lower crime risk (45/100 vs 59/100)

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

Investors

Mount Clear

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (8.3% vs 1.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Mount Clear Mount Helen
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.

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Walkability 69 / 28
Mount Clear — Walkability: 69/100 Mount Helen — Walkability: 28/100
Safety 41 / 55
Mount Clear — Safety: 41/100 Mount Helen — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 65 / 100
Mount Clear — Low fire risk: 65/100 Mount Helen — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Mount Clear — Low flood risk: 100/100 Mount Helen — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Mount Helen has higher household incomes ($107,952 vs $76,024); Mount Helen rents higher ($345/wk vs $310/wk).

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Population 3,671
+18% vs other
 3,011
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.3% +1.2%
Median age 37 36
Median household income $76,024/yr $107,952/yr
+42% vs other
Median weekly rent $310/wk $345/wk
+11% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Mount Clear Mount Helen
0-4 5.9% / 5.6%
Mount Clear — 0-4: 5.9% Mount Helen — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 14.4% / 14.8%
Mount Clear — 5-14: 14.4% Mount Helen — 5-14: 14.8%
15-19 6.3% / 8.7%
Mount Clear — 15-19: 6.3% Mount Helen — 15-19: 8.7%
20-24 6.6% / 8.4%
Mount Clear — 20-24: 6.6% Mount Helen — 20-24: 8.4%
25-34 13.7% / 10.2%
Mount Clear — 25-34: 13.7% Mount Helen — 25-34: 10.2%
35-44 14.0% / 12.6%
Mount Clear — 35-44: 14.0% Mount Helen — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 10.6% / 12.8%
Mount Clear — 45-54: 10.6% Mount Helen — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 9.9% / 12.6%
Mount Clear — 55-64: 9.9% Mount Helen — 55-64: 12.6%
65-74 9.8% / 9.6%
Mount Clear — 65-74: 9.8% Mount Helen — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 6.3% / 3.7%
Mount Clear — 75-84: 6.3% Mount Helen — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 2.6% / 0.6%
Mount Clear — 85+: 2.6% Mount Helen — 85+: 0.6%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Mount Clear 38.7% couple families
Mount Clear — Couple Families: 38.7% Mount Clear — Lone Person: 39.0% Mount Clear — One Parent Families: 15.9% Mount Clear — Group Household: 5.8% Mount Clear — Other Families: 0.7%
Mount Helen 55.2% couple families
Mount Helen — Couple Families: 55.2% Mount Helen — Lone Person: 23.9% Mount Helen — One Parent Families: 15.6% Mount Helen — Group Household: 4.4% Mount Helen — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Mount Clear 31.7% renting
Mount Clear — Owned Outright: 32.0% Mount Clear — Mortgage: 36.3% Mount Clear — Renting: 31.7%
Mount Helen 17.8% renting
Mount Helen — Owned Outright: 38.5% Mount Helen — Mortgage: 43.7% Mount Helen — Renting: 17.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Bachelor Degree 12.5% / 14.9%
Mount Clear — Bachelor Degree: 12.5% Mount Helen — Bachelor Degree: 14.9%
Certificate III & IV 13.3% / 12.5%
Mount Clear — Certificate III & IV: 13.3% Mount Helen — Certificate III & IV: 12.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 7.6%
Mount Clear — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Mount Helen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Postgraduate Degree 4.8% / 5.3%
Mount Clear — Postgraduate Degree: 4.8% Mount Helen — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.5% / 3.8%
Mount Clear — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.5% Mount Helen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

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.

Mount Clear Mount Helen
England 2.0% / 3.2%
Mount Clear — England: 2.0% Mount Helen — England: 3.2%
India 1.7% / 0.8%
Mount Clear — India: 1.7% Mount Helen — India: 0.8%
New Zealand 1.1% / 0.9%
Mount Clear — New Zealand: 1.1% Mount Helen — New Zealand: 0.9%
China 1.3% / 0.6%
Mount Clear — China: 1.3% Mount Helen — China: 0.6%
South Africa — / 0.6%
Mount Clear — South Africa: not among its largest Mount Helen — South Africa: 0.6%
Pakistan 0.5% / —
Mount Clear — Pakistan: 0.5% Mount Helen — Pakistan: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.2%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Mount Clear 75.1% houses
Mount Clear — Houses: 75.1% Mount Clear — Townhouses: 13.6% Mount Clear — Flats / Apartments: 11.3%
Mount Helen 93.8% houses
Mount Helen — Houses: 93.8% Mount Helen — Townhouses: 3.4% Mount Helen — Flats / Apartments: 2.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Median house price $575,000 $680,000
Median unit price $385,000 —
Median land price $358,000 $335,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 63 sales
 45 days
from 33 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.

Mount Clear Mount Helen
3 bed $535K / $620K
Mount Clear — 3 bed: $535K (71 sales) Mount Helen — 3 bed: $620K (32 sales)

71 vs 32 sales

4 bed $675K / $750K
Mount Clear — 4 bed: $675K (65 sales) Mount Helen — 4 bed: $750K (59 sales)

65 vs 59 sales

5 bed $701K / $735K
Mount Clear — 5 bed: $701K (6 sales) Mount Helen — 5 bed: $735K (12 sales)

6 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Mount Helen has more rural and farming land (72% vs 26%).

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Rural and farming 26% 72%
Parks and recreation 34% 4%
Residential 20% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 15% 8%
Commercial 0% 4%
Environmental 3% 0%
Other and special use 2% 0%
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

Mount Clear Mount Helen
New dwellings approved 1,451
across Ballarat
same for both
Approvals change year on year +42%
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.

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Houses 3.4%
$450/wk on $682K
 2.9%
$450/wk on $818K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Mount Clear Mount Helen
House price Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Income Higher than 43% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Schools Higher than 65% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 72% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 9% of VIC

Liveability

Mount Clear is more walkable (69 vs 28); Mount Helen scores higher overall (67 vs 60).

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Grade B
same for both
Score 60/100 67/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Mount Clear carries more bushfire risk (35 vs 0); Mount Clear carries more crime risk (59 vs 45).

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Bushfire Low
35/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
59/100
 Moderate
45/100
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 4
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Inside the suburb 3 2
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 5.0 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 8.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 5.6%

Schools in Mount Clear

  • Mount Clear Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Damascus College Catholic · Secondary below peers
  • Mount Clear College Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Mount Helen

  • Ballarat Steiner School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Emmaus Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 1 2
Parks & reserves 6 1
Childcare 2 3
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 5 20

Mobility

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Walkability score 69/100 28/100
Distance to Melbourne 118.2 km 118.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 89 min
Public transport score 76/100
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 38.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 49.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3350
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3350
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.

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Car (driver) 71.3% / 65.7%
Mount Clear — Car (driver): 71.3% Mount Helen — Car (driver): 65.7%
Worked from Home 21.4% / 26.5%
Mount Clear — Worked from Home: 21.4% Mount Helen — Worked from Home: 26.5%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 5.9%
Mount Clear — Car (passenger): 3.9% Mount Helen — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Walked Only 1.4% / 0.6%
Mount Clear — Walked Only: 1.4% Mount Helen — Walked Only: 0.6%
Bus 0.9% / 0.9%
Mount Clear — Bus: 0.9% Mount Helen — Bus: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.3%).

Setting

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Elevation 445 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 495 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Connectivity score 99/100 86/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
1,635 premises
 68%
1,664 premises

Climate

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Annual rainfall 605 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Mount Clear Mount Helen
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Mount Clear

Affordable Parks Quiet River

Mount Helen

Acreage Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Mount Clear

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Other comparisons with Mount Helen

Mount Helen vs Buninyong Mount Helen vs Magpie Mount Helen vs Navigators
Full data on Mount Clear Full data on Mount Helen
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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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