Overall score
Highton
66.8/100
Waurn Ponds
42.3/100
Highton for retirees and families.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Highton
66.8/100
Waurn Ponds
42.3/100
Crime rate
Highton
24.9 / 1k
Waurn Ponds
53.7 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Highton
481
Waurn Ponds
135
Population
Highton
20,736
Waurn Ponds
4,956
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 | Highton | Waurn Ponds |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 66.8/100 | 42.3/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 62.7/100 | 38.4/100 |
| Crime rate | 24.9 / 1k | 53.7 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 7 | — |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 22 | 5 |
| Public transport stops | 74 | 18 |
| Walkability | 96.0/100 | 27.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 481 | 135 |
| Planning activity | 109 | 30 |
| Green cover | 11.7% | 1.3% |
| Population | 20,736 | 4,956 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 9/10 | 9/10 |
Highton is a lively metro established suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by, while Waurn Ponds is a lively metro mid-sized suburb with dining and everyday convenience close by.
Highton tends to lead on a quieter safety profile, parks and reserves, and public transport access, while Waurn Ponds stands out for housing affordability and a calmer planning outlook.
On balance, retirees, families, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Highton, while Waurn Ponds remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
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.