Narrawong vs Heywood

Narrawong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 45 against 48 in Heywood. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Narrawong, most households are couple families. In Heywood, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Narrawong: a median of $635,000, against $360,000 in Heywood, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Narrawong tends to suit couples, while Heywood 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

Narrawong

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (28/100 vs 78/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (66% vs 45%)
  • But Heywood has more parks and reserves (11 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Heywood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($151,500 vs $470,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($360,000 vs $635,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Heywood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (21% vs 7%)
  • has cheaper rent ($180/wk vs $250/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Heywood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (248 min vs 254 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (332.2 km vs 336.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Narrawong carries lower crime risk (28/100 vs 78/100)
  • Heywood has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Narrawong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (19.4% vs 5.2%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Narrawong Heywood
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.

Narrawong Heywood
Walkability 0 / 4
Narrawong — Walkability: 0/100 Heywood — Walkability: 4/100
Safety 72 / 22
Narrawong — Safety: 72/100 Heywood — Safety: 22/100
Low fire risk 6 / 17
Narrawong — Low fire risk: 6/100 Heywood — Low fire risk: 17/100
Low flood risk 49 / 53
Narrawong — Low flood risk: 49/100 Heywood — Low flood risk: 53/100

Demographics

Heywood has more residents (1,815 vs 462); Narrawong has higher household incomes ($94,432 vs $56,004).

Narrawong Heywood
Population 462 1,815
+293% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +19.4% +5.2%
Median age 45 48
Median household income $94,432/yr
+41% vs other
 $56,004/yr
Median weekly rent $250/wk
+28% vs other
 $180/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Narrawong Heywood
0-4 7.1% / 5.6%
Narrawong — 0-4: 7.1% Heywood — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 13.4% / 12.2%
Narrawong — 5-14: 13.4% Heywood — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 6.5% / 4.5%
Narrawong — 15-19: 6.5% Heywood — 15-19: 4.5%
20-24 2.6% / 4.0%
Narrawong — 20-24: 2.6% Heywood — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 4.8% / 9.9%
Narrawong — 25-34: 4.8% Heywood — 25-34: 9.9%
35-44 15.8% / 10.5%
Narrawong — 35-44: 15.8% Heywood — 35-44: 10.5%
45-54 12.8% / 10.9%
Narrawong — 45-54: 12.8% Heywood — 45-54: 10.9%
55-64 14.7% / 16.0%
Narrawong — 55-64: 14.7% Heywood — 55-64: 16.0%
65-74 14.9% / 15.3%
Narrawong — 65-74: 14.9% Heywood — 65-74: 15.3%
75-84 5.8% / 6.8%
Narrawong — 75-84: 5.8% Heywood — 75-84: 6.8%
85+ 1.7% / 3.8%
Narrawong — 85+: 1.7% Heywood — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Narrawong 58.7% couple families
Narrawong — Couple Families: 58.7% Narrawong — Lone Person: 33.9% Narrawong — One Parent Families: 7.3% Narrawong — Other Families: 0.0% Narrawong — Group Household: 0.0%
Heywood 27.5% couple families
Heywood — Couple Families: 27.5% Heywood — Lone Person: 49.5% Heywood — One Parent Families: 17.2% Heywood — Other Families: 2.9% Heywood — Group Household: 2.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Narrawong 7.1% renting
Narrawong — Owned Outright: 50.0% Narrawong — Mortgage: 42.9% Narrawong — Renting: 7.1%
Heywood 20.7% renting
Heywood — Owned Outright: 45.6% Heywood — Mortgage: 33.7% Heywood — Renting: 20.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Narrawong Heywood
Certificate III & IV 18.8% / 17.3%
Narrawong — Certificate III & IV: 18.8% Heywood — Certificate III & IV: 17.3%
Bachelor Degree 10.6% / 3.4%
Narrawong — Bachelor Degree: 10.6% Heywood — Bachelor Degree: 3.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 4.8%
Narrawong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Heywood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.8%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 0.4%
Narrawong — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Heywood — Postgraduate Degree: 0.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 1.0%
Narrawong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Heywood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.8%).

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.

Narrawong Heywood
England 4.1% / 2.4%
Narrawong — England: 4.1% Heywood — England: 2.4%
New Zealand 1.1% / 1.6%
Narrawong — New Zealand: 1.1% Heywood — New Zealand: 1.6%
Sri Lanka 0.9% / —
Narrawong — Sri Lanka: 0.9% Heywood — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.9%
Narrawong — Netherlands: not among its largest Heywood — Netherlands: 0.9%
Philippines — / 0.6%
Narrawong — Philippines: not among its largest Heywood — Philippines: 0.6%
Scotland — / 0.2%
Narrawong — Scotland: not among its largest Heywood — Scotland: 0.2%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Narrawong 100.0% houses
Narrawong — Houses: 100.0% Narrawong — Townhouses: 0.0% Narrawong — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Heywood 95.5% houses
Heywood — Houses: 95.5% Heywood — Townhouses: 3.4% Heywood — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Narrawong Heywood
Median house price $635,000 $360,000
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $470,000 $151,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 63 days
from 3 sales
 67 days
from 17 sales

Zoning mix

Narrawong has more rural and farming land (87% vs 75%).

Narrawong Heywood
Rural and farming 87% 75%
Parks and recreation 8% 21%
Residential 3% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 2%
Other and special use 0% 1%
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

Narrawong Heywood
New dwellings approved 60
across Glenelg
same for both
Approvals change year on year -65%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Narrawong Heywood
House price — Higher than 4% of VIC
Income Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 93% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 42% of VIC —
NBN connectivity Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC

Liveability

Narrawong Heywood
Grade — D
Score — 8/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Heywood carries more crime risk (78 vs 28); Narrawong carries more bushfire risk (94 vs 83).

Narrawong Heywood
Bushfire High
94/100
 High
83/100
Crime Low
28/100
 High
78/100
Flood Moderate
51/100
 Moderate
47/100
Coastal erosion High
79/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Narrawong Heywood
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Narrawong

  • Narrawong District Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Heywood

  • Heywood Consolidated School Government · Primary at peers
  • Heywood District Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Narrawong Heywood
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 2 11
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 2 18

Mobility

Narrawong sits further from the CBD (336.6 km vs 332.2 km).

Narrawong Heywood
Walkability score 0/100 4/100
Distance to Melbourne 336.6 km
+1% vs other
 332.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 254 min 248 min
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3285
 0.0%
postcode 3304
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 3285
 38
postcode 3304

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.

Narrawong Heywood
Car (driver) 75.6% / 77.1%
Narrawong — Car (driver): 75.6% Heywood — Car (driver): 77.1%
Worked from Home 16.6% / 14.7%
Narrawong — Worked from Home: 16.6% Heywood — Worked from Home: 14.7%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 3.9%
Narrawong — Car (passenger): 4.1% Heywood — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Walked Only 1.6% / 4.4%
Narrawong — Walked Only: 1.6% Heywood — Walked Only: 4.4%
Bus 2.1% / —
Narrawong — Bus: 2.1% Heywood — Bus: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.1%).

Setting

Narrawong Heywood
Elevation 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.1 km 14.8 km

NBN connectivity

Narrawong Heywood
Connectivity score 30/100 50/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
212 premises
 24%
962 premises

Climate

Narrawong Heywood
Annual rainfall 661 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Narrawong Heywood
Average residential rate $1,852/yr
same for both
Council Glenelg
same for both

Federal electorate

Narrawong Heywood
Division Wannon
same for both
Member Dan Tehan
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Narrawong Heywood
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Narrawong

Coastal Rural

Heywood

Affordable Retirees Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Narrawong

Narrawong vs Heathmere Narrawong vs Tyrendarra Narrawong vs Allestree

Other comparisons with Heywood

Heywood vs Heathmere Heywood vs Gorae Heywood vs Tyrendarra Heywood vs Drumborg
Full data on Narrawong Full data on Heywood
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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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