Overall score
Melton West
54.7/100
Toolern Vale
23.0/100
Melton West for families and investment; Toolern Vale for retirees.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Melton West
54.7/100
Toolern Vale
23.0/100
Crime rate
Melton West
111.9 / 1k
Toolern Vale
149.7 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Melton West
42
Toolern Vale
8
Population
Melton West
8,784
Toolern Vale
818
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 | Melton West | Toolern Vale |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 54.7/100 | 23.0/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 17.2/100 |
| Crime rate | 111.9 / 1k | 149.7 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 5 | 1 |
| Parks & reserves | 3 | 2 |
| Public transport stops | 54 | — |
| Walkability | 30.0/100 | 0.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 42 | 8 |
| Planning activity | 25 | 24 |
| Population | 8,784 | 818 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 2/10 | 6/10 |
Melton West is a settled metro established suburb that keeps everyday living grounded and accessible, while Toolern Vale is a practical metro smaller community with solid links to the wider city. Melton West sits in a middle-ring position, whereas Toolern Vale is further out with more breathing room.
Melton West tends to lead on housing affordability and schools and education options, while Toolern Vale stands out for a quieter safety profile and a calmer planning outlook. On housing, Melton West sits in a affordable band, compared with a well priced feel in Toolern Vale.
Choose Melton West if you are weighing families and investors; lean toward Toolern Vale for retirees.