Shelford vs Lethbridge

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Shelford: a median of $928,000, against $737,000 in Lethbridge, though rent is higher in Lethbridge. On these figures, Lethbridge tends to suit 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

Too close to call

Nothing among the 6 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

  • Shelford has cheaper land ($320,000 vs $405,000)
  • Lethbridge has cheaper houses ($737,250 vs $927,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Shelford

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $350/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Lethbridge

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (101.7 km vs 111.6 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (83 min vs 90 min)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Lethbridge

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.5% vs 4.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Shelford Lethbridge
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.

Shelford Lethbridge
Walkability 0 / 0
Shelford — Walkability: 0/100 Lethbridge — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 69 / 73
Shelford — Safety: 69/100 Lethbridge — Safety: 73/100
Low fire risk 35 / 33
Shelford — Low fire risk: 35/100 Lethbridge — Low fire risk: 33/100
Low flood risk 44 / 64
Shelford — Low flood risk: 44/100 Lethbridge — Low flood risk: 64/100

Demographics

Lethbridge has more residents (1,181 vs 263); Lethbridge rents higher ($350/wk vs $300/wk).

Shelford Lethbridge
Population 263 1,181
+349% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.0% +16.5%
Median age 39 38
Median household income $92,456/yr $101,660/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $300/wk $350/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Shelford Lethbridge
0-4 8.0% / 5.2%
Shelford — 0-4: 8.0% Lethbridge — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 14.4% / 17.4%
Shelford — 5-14: 14.4% Lethbridge — 5-14: 17.4%
15-19 4.9% / 6.4%
Shelford — 15-19: 4.9% Lethbridge — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 4.2% / 4.7%
Shelford — 20-24: 4.2% Lethbridge — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 11.8% / 10.8%
Shelford — 25-34: 11.8% Lethbridge — 25-34: 10.8%
35-44 12.9% / 14.1%
Shelford — 35-44: 12.9% Lethbridge — 35-44: 14.1%
45-54 12.9% / 14.1%
Shelford — 45-54: 12.9% Lethbridge — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 14.1% / 15.3%
Shelford — 55-64: 14.1% Lethbridge — 55-64: 15.3%
65-74 10.3% / 8.1%
Shelford — 65-74: 10.3% Lethbridge — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 4.2% / 2.5%
Shelford — 75-84: 4.2% Lethbridge — 75-84: 2.5%
85+ — / 0.6%
Shelford — 85+: not among its largest Lethbridge — 85+: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Shelford 63.1% couple families
Shelford — Couple Families: 63.1% Shelford — Lone Person: 23.1% Shelford — One Parent Families: 13.8% Shelford — Group Household: 0.0%
Lethbridge 60.9% couple families
Lethbridge — Couple Families: 60.9% Lethbridge — Lone Person: 23.4% Lethbridge — One Parent Families: 13.4% Lethbridge — Group Household: 2.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Shelford 13.3% renting
Shelford — Owned Outright: 42.2% Shelford — Mortgage: 44.4% Shelford — Renting: 13.3%
Lethbridge 9.5% renting
Lethbridge — Owned Outright: 36.3% Lethbridge — Mortgage: 54.2% Lethbridge — Renting: 9.5%
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.

Shelford Lethbridge
England 3.0% / 2.3%
Shelford — England: 3.0% Lethbridge — England: 2.3%
New Zealand — / 0.9%
Shelford — New Zealand: not among its largest Lethbridge — New Zealand: 0.9%
Germany — / 0.8%
Shelford — Germany: not among its largest Lethbridge — Germany: 0.8%
Netherlands — / 0.8%
Shelford — Netherlands: not among its largest Lethbridge — Netherlands: 0.8%
India — / 0.6%
Shelford — India: not among its largest Lethbridge — India: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.0%).

Qualifications

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

Shelford Lethbridge
Certificate III & IV 23.6% / 21.5%
Shelford — Certificate III & IV: 23.6% Lethbridge — Certificate III & IV: 21.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.3% / 7.8%
Shelford — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.3% Lethbridge — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Bachelor Degree 7.2% / 7.2%
Shelford — Bachelor Degree: 7.2% Lethbridge — Bachelor Degree: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.7% / 1.8%
Shelford — Postgraduate Degree: 2.7% Lethbridge — Postgraduate Degree: 1.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.5%
Shelford — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Lethbridge — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Shelford 94.6% houses
Shelford — Houses: 94.6% Shelford — Flats / Apartments: 5.4%
Lethbridge 99.5% houses
Lethbridge — Houses: 99.5% Lethbridge — Flats / Apartments: 0.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Shelford Lethbridge
Median house price $927,500 $737,250
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $320,000 $405,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 44 days
from 10 sales

Zoning mix

Shelford Lethbridge
Rural and farming 99% 90%
Residential 0% 5%
Parks and recreation 0% 2%
Other and special use 0% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 1%
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

Shelford Lethbridge
New dwellings approved 186
across Golden Plains
same for both
Approvals change year on year +10%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Shelford Lethbridge
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 49% of VIC

Liveability

Shelford Lethbridge
Grade — C
Score — 37/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
same for both

Risk profile

Shelford carries more flood risk (56 vs 36).

Shelford Lethbridge
Bushfire Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
67/100
Crime Low
31/100
 Low
27/100
Flood Moderate
56/100
 Low
36/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Shelford Lethbridge
Inside the suburb 1
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Shelford

  • Shelford Primary School Government · Primary

Schools in Lethbridge

  • Lethbridge Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Shelford Lethbridge
Parks & reserves 2
same for both
Childcare 0 1
Waterways 12 15

Mobility

Shelford sits further from the CBD (111.6 km vs 101.7 km).

Shelford Lethbridge
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 111.6 km
+9% vs other
 101.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 90 min 83 min
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3329
 0.8%
postcode 3332
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 37
postcode 3329
 63
postcode 3332

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.

Shelford Lethbridge
Car (driver) 75.6% / 76.0%
Shelford — Car (driver): 75.6% Lethbridge — Car (driver): 76.0%
Worked from Home 21.1% / 18.2%
Shelford — Worked from Home: 21.1% Lethbridge — Worked from Home: 18.2%
Car (passenger) 3.3% / 2.6%
Shelford — Car (passenger): 3.3% Lethbridge — Car (passenger): 2.6%
Walked Only — / 1.4%
Shelford — Walked Only: not among its largest Lethbridge — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bicycle — / 1.0%
Shelford — Bicycle: not among its largest Lethbridge — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (76.0%).

Setting

Shelford Lethbridge
Elevation 187 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 203 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 40.9 km 28.7 km

NBN connectivity

Shelford Lethbridge
Connectivity score 21/100 30/100
Most common technology Satellite (Sky Muster) Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
102 premises
 0%
463 premises

Climate

Shelford Lethbridge
Annual rainfall 502 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.8°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 5.3°C
same for both

Council rates

Shelford Lethbridge
Average residential rate $2,052/yr
same for both
Council Golden Plains
same for both

Federal electorate

Shelford Lethbridge
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Shelford Lethbridge
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Shelford

Family Rural

Lethbridge

Family Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Shelford

Shelford vs Teesdale Shelford vs Inverleigh Shelford vs Meredith Shelford vs Rokewood Shelford vs Mount Mercer

Other comparisons with Lethbridge

Lethbridge vs Bannockburn Lethbridge vs Teesdale Lethbridge vs Meredith Lethbridge vs Maude Lethbridge vs She Oaks Lethbridge vs Russells Bridge
Full data on Shelford Full data on Lethbridge
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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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