Overall score
Durham Lead
30.4/100
Mount Helen
53.5/100
Durham Lead vs Mount Helen, VIC suburb comparison
Mount Helen for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Visual comparison
Durham LeadMount Helen
Crime rate
Durham Lead
16.7 / 1k
Mount Helen
33.0 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Durham Lead
1
Mount Helen
78
Population
Durham Lead
408
Mount Helen
3,011
Metric leadDurham Lead 2Mount Helen 61 tiedacross 9 compared metrics
Livability profile
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Quick verdicts
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
- Best for retireesMount Helen
- Best for familiesMount Helen
- Best for investmentMount Helen
- Best for best valueMount Helen
- Best for best schoolsMount Helen
Audience fit
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
All metrics
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Full comparison table
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Durham Lead | Mount Helen |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 30.4/100 | 53.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 47.7/100 | 78.5/100 |
| Crime rate | 16.7 / 1k | 33.0 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 1 |
| Parks & reserves | 1 | 1 |
| Public transport stops | — | 19 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 32.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 1 | 78 |
| Planning activity | 21 | 30 |
| Population | 408 | 3,011 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 7/10 | 8/10 |
Comparison summary
Durham Lead is a quieter smaller community with space and a country-town pace, while Mount Helen is a hillside mid-sized suburb with greener streets and a quieter pace. Mount Helen sits among greener hillside streets, while Durham Lead keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Durham Lead tends to lead on a quieter safety profile and a calmer planning outlook, while Mount Helen stands out for housing affordability and walkability.
On balance, retirees and families are more likely to prefer Mount Helen, while Durham Lead remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.