Wheelers Hill vs Rowville

Rowville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 41 against 48 in Wheelers Hill. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wheelers Hill, about half of households are couple families. In Rowville, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Wheelers Hill: a median of $1.46 million, against $1.11 million in Rowville, and rent is higher there too. Wheelers Hill is closer to the city centre: 25.7 km, against 31.7 km. On these figures, Wheelers Hill tends to suit older residents, while Rowville suits 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Wheelers Hill has more schools rated above their peers (7 vs 3)
  • Rowville has more parks and reserves (22 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Rowville

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,115,000 vs $1,460,000)
  • has cheaper units ($645,000 vs $790,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Rowville

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 26%)
  • has cheaper rent ($441/wk vs $481/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Wheelers Hill

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (25.7 km vs 31.7 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (29 min vs 34 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Wheelers Hill

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 16%)
  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 52/100)
  • But Rowville has more GPs (12 vs 8)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wheelers Hill Rowville
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.

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Walkability 83 / 87
Wheelers Hill — Walkability: 83/100 Rowville — Walkability: 87/100
Safety 59 / 48
Wheelers Hill — Safety: 59/100 Rowville — Safety: 48/100
Low fire risk 100 / 47
Wheelers Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rowville — Low fire risk: 47/100
Low flood risk 43 / 31
Wheelers Hill — Low flood risk: 43/100 Rowville — Low flood risk: 31/100

Demographics

Rowville has more residents (33,571 vs 20,652); Rowville has higher household incomes ($114,660 vs $94,536).

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Population 20,652 33,571
+63% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.6% -0.3%
Median age 48 41
Median household income $94,536/yr $114,660/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $481/wk
+8% vs other
 $441/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wheelers Hill Rowville
0-4 3.3% / 4.7%
Wheelers Hill — 0-4: 3.3% Rowville — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 11.3% / 12.0%
Wheelers Hill — 5-14: 11.3% Rowville — 5-14: 12.0%
15-19 6.0% / 6.6%
Wheelers Hill — 15-19: 6.0% Rowville — 15-19: 6.6%
20-24 5.5% / 7.0%
Wheelers Hill — 20-24: 5.5% Rowville — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 8.5% / 11.3%
Wheelers Hill — 25-34: 8.5% Rowville — 25-34: 11.3%
35-44 11.3% / 12.4%
Wheelers Hill — 35-44: 11.3% Rowville — 35-44: 12.4%
45-54 13.2% / 14.9%
Wheelers Hill — 45-54: 13.2% Rowville — 45-54: 14.9%
55-64 11.6% / 15.3%
Wheelers Hill — 55-64: 11.6% Rowville — 55-64: 15.3%
65-74 13.0% / 9.2%
Wheelers Hill — 65-74: 13.0% Rowville — 65-74: 9.2%
75-84 10.7% / 4.9%
Wheelers Hill — 75-84: 10.7% Rowville — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 5.7% / 1.7%
Wheelers Hill — 85+: 5.7% Rowville — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wheelers Hill 54.8% couple families
Wheelers Hill — Couple Families: 54.8% Wheelers Hill — Lone Person: 27.8% Wheelers Hill — One Parent Families: 13.7% Wheelers Hill — Group Household: 2.3% Wheelers Hill — Other Families: 1.4%
Rowville 62.3% couple families
Rowville — Couple Families: 62.3% Rowville — Lone Person: 20.2% Rowville — One Parent Families: 14.0% Rowville — Group Household: 2.2% Rowville — Other Families: 1.3%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Wheelers Hill 14.5% renting
Wheelers Hill — Owned Outright: 52.3% Wheelers Hill — Mortgage: 33.2% Wheelers Hill — Renting: 14.5%
Rowville 15.7% renting
Rowville — Owned Outright: 37.5% Rowville — Mortgage: 46.8% Rowville — Renting: 15.7%
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.

Wheelers Hill Rowville
China 11.8% / 4.8%
Wheelers Hill — China: 11.8% Rowville — China: 4.8%
India 4.1% / 3.2%
Wheelers Hill — India: 4.1% Rowville — India: 3.2%
Sri Lanka 3.5% / 3.5%
Wheelers Hill — Sri Lanka: 3.5% Rowville — Sri Lanka: 3.5%
Malaysia 3.8% / 2.4%
Wheelers Hill — Malaysia: 3.8% Rowville — Malaysia: 2.4%
England 2.2% / 2.7%
Wheelers Hill — England: 2.2% Rowville — England: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.8%).

Qualifications

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

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Bachelor Degree 19.8% / 16.2%
Wheelers Hill — Bachelor Degree: 19.8% Rowville — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Certificate III & IV 7.3% / 12.2%
Wheelers Hill — Certificate III & IV: 7.3% Rowville — Certificate III & IV: 12.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 9.5%
Wheelers Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Rowville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.5%
Postgraduate Degree 8.8% / 5.7%
Wheelers Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 8.8% Rowville — Postgraduate Degree: 5.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 1.9%
Wheelers Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Rowville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wheelers Hill 84.9% houses
Wheelers Hill — Houses: 84.9% Wheelers Hill — Townhouses: 5.8% Wheelers Hill — Flats / Apartments: 9.4%
Rowville 91.8% houses
Rowville — Houses: 91.8% Rowville — Townhouses: 7.2% Rowville — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Median house price $1,460,000 $1,115,000
Median unit price $790,000 $645,000
Median land price — $946,327
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 243 sales
 24 days
from 350 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.

Wheelers Hill Rowville
2 bed $1.38M / $632K
Wheelers Hill — 2 bed: $1.38M (6 sales) Rowville — 2 bed: $632K (9 sales)

6 vs 9 sales

3 bed $1.25M / $960K
Wheelers Hill — 3 bed: $1.25M (64 sales) Rowville — 3 bed: $960K (195 sales)

64 vs 195 sales

4 bed $1.45M / $1.21M
Wheelers Hill — 4 bed: $1.45M (156 sales) Rowville — 4 bed: $1.21M (250 sales)

156 vs 250 sales

5 bed $1.69M / $1.35M
Wheelers Hill — 5 bed: $1.69M (66 sales) Rowville — 5 bed: $1.35M (60 sales)

66 vs 60 sales

6 bed $1.82M / $1.58M
Wheelers Hill — 6 bed: $1.82M (13 sales) Rowville — 6 bed: $1.58M (5 sales)

13 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Residential 71% 52%
Parks and recreation 21% 7%
Other and special use 0% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 15%
Industrial 0% 4%
Commercial 1% 3%
Rural and farming 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

Wheelers Hill Rowville
New dwellings approved 1,233
across Monash
 577
across Knox
Approvals change year on year -4% -14%

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.

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Houses 3.4%
$860/wk on $1.3M
 3.6%
$720/wk on $1.05M
Units — 7.5%
$685/wk on $472K

Ranking within VIC

Wheelers Hill Rowville
House price Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Income Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 99% of VIC

Liveability

Wheelers Hill scores higher overall (84 vs 63).

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Grade A+ B
Score 84/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Rowville carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0); Rowville carries more crime risk (52 vs 41).

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Moderate
41/100
 Moderate
52/100
Flood Moderate
57/100
 Moderate
69/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 18
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Inside the suburb 9 7
Rated above peers 7 3
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 2
Monash Clayton, 5.1 km
 1
Monash Clayton, 10.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 3.2%

Schools in Wheelers Hill

  • Brandon Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Good Shepherd School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Jells Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Justin's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Waverley Meadows Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Wheelers Hill Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Rowville

  • Karoo Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Park Ridge Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Rowville Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Heany Park Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Rowville Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Simon's School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Supermarkets 4 5
Cafes & restaurants 6 18
Parks & reserves 9 22
Childcare 19 22
GPs 8 12
Pharmacies 4 6
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 3
Fuel stations 2 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 3 9

Mobility

Rowville sits further from the CBD (31.7 km vs 25.7 km).

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Walkability score 83/100 87/100
Distance to Melbourne 25.7 km 31.7 km
+23% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 34 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 302.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 372.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.8%
postcode 3150
 1.6%
postcode 3178
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 34
postcode 3150
 47
postcode 3178

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.

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Car (driver) 55.3% / 64.1%
Wheelers Hill — Car (driver): 55.3% Rowville — Car (driver): 64.1%
Worked from Home 36.4% / 29.3%
Wheelers Hill — Worked from Home: 36.4% Rowville — Worked from Home: 29.3%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.0%
Wheelers Hill — Car (passenger): 4.1% Rowville — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Train 2.2% / 1.4%
Wheelers Hill — Train: 2.2% Rowville — Train: 1.4%
Bus 0.9% / 0.7%
Wheelers Hill — Bus: 0.9% Rowville — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.1%).

Setting

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Elevation 126 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 86 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.2 km 16.8 km

NBN connectivity

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Connectivity score 76/100 86/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 5%
8,469 premises
 40%
13,198 premises

Climate

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Annual rainfall 777 mm 781 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.9°C —
Winter min (Jul) 6.3°C —

Air quality (annual mean)

Wheelers Hill Rowville
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.98 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Average residential rate $1,697/yr $1,732/yr
Council Monash Knox

Federal electorate

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Division Chisholm Aston
Member Carina Garland Mary Doyle
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Wheelers Hill Rowville
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wheelers Hill

Multicultural Outer Premium Professionals Retirees River

Rowville

Large Blocks Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wheelers Hill

Wheelers Hill vs Glen Waverley Wheelers Hill vs Mulgrave Wheelers Hill vs Scoresby

Other comparisons with Rowville

Rowville vs Ferntree Gully Rowville vs Endeavour Hills Rowville vs Dandenong North Rowville vs Mulgrave Rowville vs Knoxfield Rowville vs Lysterfield
Full data on Wheelers Hill Full data on Rowville
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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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