Overall score
Chelsea Heights
62.9/100
Waterways
48.2/100
Chelsea Heights for retirees and investment; Waterways for families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Chelsea Heights
62.9/100
Waterways
48.2/100
Crime rate
Chelsea Heights
52.3 / 1k
Waterways
28.7 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Chelsea Heights
133
Waterways
39
Population
Chelsea Heights
5,393
Waterways
2,422
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Chelsea Heights | Waterways |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 62.9/100 | 48.2/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 62.9/100 | 40.9/100 |
| Crime rate | 52.3 / 1k | 28.7 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 4 | 2 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 7 | 2 |
| Public transport stops | 41 | 5 |
| Walkability | 98.0/100 | 9.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 133 | 39 |
| Planning activity | 39 | 15 |
| Green cover | 12.0% | 5.8% |
| Population | 5,393 | 2,422 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 8/10 | 10/10 |
Chelsea Heights is a hills mid-sized suburb where tree cover and calm define the mood, while Waterways is a metro smaller community with a gently premium housing feel and familiar suburban calm. Chelsea Heights sits among greener hillside streets, while Waterways keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Chelsea Heights pulls ahead on housing affordability, schools and education options, and parks and reserves, whereas Waterways is the better pick for a quieter safety profile, a calmer planning outlook, and stronger socioeconomic advantage.
Choose Chelsea Heights if you are weighing investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools; lean toward Waterways for retirees and families.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.