Preston vs Heidelberg West

In both, most homes are detached houses. In Preston, most households own their home. In Heidelberg West, most households rent. Houses cost more in Preston: a median of $1.18 million, against $775,000 in Heidelberg West, and rent is higher there too. Preston is closer to the city centre: 10.4 km, against 15 km. On these figures, Heidelberg West tends to suit renters 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

Preston

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (16 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (30 vs 4)
  • has more parks and reserves (28 vs 6)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Preston leaves households under less mortgage stress (25% vs 35%)
  • Heidelberg West has cheaper houses ($775,000 vs $1,182,500)

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

Renters

Heidelberg West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 41%)
  • has cheaper rent ($306/wk vs $392/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Preston

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (10.4 km vs 15 km)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 80/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Preston

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (11 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Preston

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (2.9% vs -5.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.7% vs 3.8%)
  • But Heidelberg West returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Preston Heidelberg West
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.

Preston Heidelberg West
Walkability 99 / 80
Preston — Walkability: 99/100 Heidelberg West — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 9 / 5
Preston — Safety: 9/100 Heidelberg West — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Preston — Low fire risk: 100/100 Heidelberg West — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 62 / 48
Preston — Low flood risk: 62/100 Heidelberg West — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Preston has more residents (33,790 vs 5,252); Preston has higher household incomes ($95,888 vs $65,364).

Preston Heidelberg West
Population 33,790
+84% vs other
 5,252
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% -5.3%
Median age 37 35
Median household income $95,888/yr
+32% vs other
 $65,364/yr
Median weekly rent $392/wk
+22% vs other
 $306/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Preston Heidelberg West
0-4 5.3% / 6.7%
Preston — 0-4: 5.3% Heidelberg West — 0-4: 6.7%
5-14 9.7% / 10.3%
Preston — 5-14: 9.7% Heidelberg West — 5-14: 10.3%
15-19 4.2% / 5.2%
Preston — 15-19: 4.2% Heidelberg West — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 6.0% / 7.5%
Preston — 20-24: 6.0% Heidelberg West — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 19.8% / 20.1%
Preston — 25-34: 19.8% Heidelberg West — 25-34: 20.1%
35-44 17.6% / 13.6%
Preston — 35-44: 17.6% Heidelberg West — 35-44: 13.6%
45-54 14.0% / 11.0%
Preston — 45-54: 14.0% Heidelberg West — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 10.1% / 11.7%
Preston — 55-64: 10.1% Heidelberg West — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 6.8% / 8.1%
Preston — 65-74: 6.8% Heidelberg West — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 4.4% / 4.0%
Preston — 75-84: 4.4% Heidelberg West — 75-84: 4.0%
85+ 2.2% / 1.6%
Preston — 85+: 2.2% Heidelberg West — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Preston 38.8% lone person
Preston — Lone Person: 38.8% Preston — Couple Families: 34.9% Preston — One Parent Families: 13.0% Preston — Group Household: 10.8% Preston — Other Families: 2.6%
Heidelberg West 42.7% lone person
Heidelberg West — Lone Person: 42.7% Heidelberg West — Couple Families: 26.6% Heidelberg West — One Parent Families: 18.9% Heidelberg West — Group Household: 9.2% Heidelberg West — Other Families: 2.6%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Preston 41.2% renting
Preston — Owned Outright: 27.9% Preston — Mortgage: 30.9% Preston — Renting: 41.2%
Heidelberg West 56.0% renting
Heidelberg West — Owned Outright: 16.6% Heidelberg West — Mortgage: 27.4% Heidelberg West — Renting: 56.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Preston Heidelberg West
Bachelor Degree 21.1% / 14.0%
Preston — Bachelor Degree: 21.1% Heidelberg West — Bachelor Degree: 14.0%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 10.1%
Preston — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Heidelberg West — Certificate III & IV: 10.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 7.2%
Preston — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Heidelberg West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 8.6% / 6.2%
Preston — Postgraduate Degree: 8.6% Heidelberg West — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 2.3%
Preston — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Heidelberg West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.1%).

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.

Preston Heidelberg West
China 3.0% / 3.1%
Preston — China: 3.0% Heidelberg West — China: 3.1%
India 2.5% / 2.1%
Preston — India: 2.5% Heidelberg West — India: 2.1%
Greece 2.8% / 1.0%
Preston — Greece: 2.8% Heidelberg West — Greece: 1.0%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.9%
Preston — New Zealand: 1.9% Heidelberg West — New Zealand: 1.9%
England 2.1% / 1.6%
Preston — England: 2.1% Heidelberg West — England: 1.6%
Vietnam 2.2% / 1.3%
Preston — Vietnam: 2.2% Heidelberg West — Vietnam: 1.3%
Italy 3.0% / —
Preston — Italy: 3.0% Heidelberg West — Italy: not among its largest
Philippines 0.9% / 1.4%
Preston — Philippines: 0.9% Heidelberg West — Philippines: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Preston 55.7% houses
Preston — Houses: 55.7% Preston — Townhouses: 24.9% Preston — Flats / Apartments: 19.4%
Heidelberg West 56.7% houses
Heidelberg West — Houses: 56.7% Heidelberg West — Townhouses: 42.2% Heidelberg West — Flats / Apartments: 1.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Preston Heidelberg West
Median house price $1,182,500 $775,000
Median unit price $490,000 $610,000
Median land price $1,035,000 $720,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 273 sales
 23 days
from 53 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.

Preston Heidelberg West
2 bed $1.02M / $718K
Preston — 2 bed: $1.02M (98 sales) Heidelberg West — 2 bed: $718K (26 sales)

98 vs 26 sales

3 bed $1.18M / $770K
Preston — 3 bed: $1.18M (235 sales) Heidelberg West — 3 bed: $770K (68 sales)

235 vs 68 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $880K
Preston — 4 bed: $1.36M (76 sales) Heidelberg West — 4 bed: $880K (6 sales)

76 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Heidelberg West has more industrially zoned land (30% vs 12%).

Preston Heidelberg West
Residential 64% 45%
Industrial 12% 30%
Parks and recreation 4% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 8%
Commercial 9% 2%
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

Preston Heidelberg West
New dwellings approved 1,213
across Darebin
 722
across Banyule
Approvals change year on year +0% -75%

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.

Preston Heidelberg West
Houses 3.4%
$720/wk on $1.1M
 4.2%
$650/wk on $800K
Units 5.7%
$550/wk on $498K
 3.8%
$460/wk on $628K

Ranking within VIC

Preston Heidelberg West
House price Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Schools Higher than 55% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC

Liveability

Preston scores higher overall (68 vs 45); Preston is more walkable (99 vs 80).

Preston Heidelberg West
Grade A C
Score 68/100 45/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Heidelberg West carries more flood risk (52 vs 38).

Preston Heidelberg West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
91/100
 High
95/100
Flood Low
38/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 7
within 5 km

Schools

Preston Heidelberg West
Inside the suburb 16 2
Rated above peers 4 0
Rated at peers 6 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 6.6 km
 3
Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus, 4.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 3.2%

Schools in Preston

  • Newlands Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Preston High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Preston Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Preston West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • East Preston Islamic College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Preston North East Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Heidelberg West

  • St Pius X School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Charles La Trobe P-12 College-Olympic Village Primary Campus Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Preston Heidelberg West
Supermarkets 13 3
Cafes & restaurants 107 2
Parks & reserves 28 6
Childcare 30 4
GPs 11 3
Pharmacies 9 3
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 14 1
Fuel stations 10 0

Mobility

Heidelberg West sits further from the CBD (15 km vs 10.4 km).

Preston Heidelberg West
Walkability score 99/100 80/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.4 km 15 km
+44% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 23 min 27 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 1062.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 216.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3072
 1.5%
postcode 3081
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 3072
 22
postcode 3081

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.

Preston Heidelberg West
Car (driver) 42.1% / 57.0%
Preston — Car (driver): 42.1% Heidelberg West — Car (driver): 57.0%
Worked from Home 41.8% / 28.4%
Preston — Worked from Home: 41.8% Heidelberg West — Worked from Home: 28.4%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 4.5%
Preston — Car (passenger): 2.7% Heidelberg West — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Train 4.4% / 2.1%
Preston — Train: 4.4% Heidelberg West — Train: 2.1%
Bus 1.6% / 4.2%
Preston — Bus: 1.6% Heidelberg West — Bus: 4.2%
Walked Only 2.4% / 2.9%
Preston — Walked Only: 2.4% Heidelberg West — Walked Only: 2.9%
Bicycle 2.6% / 1.0%
Preston — Bicycle: 2.6% Heidelberg West — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.0%).

Setting

Preston Heidelberg West
Elevation 78 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 71 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.9 km 14.8 km

NBN connectivity

Preston Heidelberg West
Connectivity score 79/100 91/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 17%
18,580 premises
 54%
4,163 premises

Climate

Preston Heidelberg West
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Preston Heidelberg West
PM2.5 7.3 µg/m³ 3.9 µg/m³
PM10 17.8 µg/m³ —
NO₂ 0.82 pphm —

Council rates

Preston Heidelberg West
Average residential rate $1,764/yr $1,787/yr
Council Darebin Banyule

Federal electorate

Preston Heidelberg West
Division Cooper Jagajaga
Member Ged Kearney Kate Thwaites
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Preston Heidelberg West
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Preston

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Heidelberg West

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Preston

Preston vs Reservoir Preston vs Coburg Preston vs Thornbury Preston vs Ivanhoe Preston vs Coburg North Preston vs Bellfield

Other comparisons with Heidelberg West

Heidelberg West vs Reservoir Heidelberg West vs Bundoora Heidelberg West vs Ivanhoe Heidelberg West vs Macleod Heidelberg West vs Heidelberg Heights Heidelberg West vs Bellfield
Full data on Preston Full data on Heidelberg West
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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