Macleod vs Watsonia
The verdict
Watsonia is more affordable, with a median house price of $944K versus $1.15M in Macleod. Macleod rates higher for education (84 vs 74). Macleod is closer to the coast (17.6 km vs 19.2 km).
Scores
| Macleod | Watsonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 91 | 88 |
| Transport | 98 | 98 |
| Education | 84 | 74 |
| Liveability | 90 | 90 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Macleod | Watsonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,892 | 5,352 |
| Median age | 41 | 38 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,966 | $1,883 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 58.6% | 48.1% |
| Born in Australia | 72.1% | 75.5% |
| Avg household size | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Growth: Macleod Moderate Growth · Watsonia Moderate Growth
Property
| Macleod | Watsonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.15M | $944K |
| Median unit price | $779K | $716K |
| House price YoY | 3.5% | 25.1% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Rental yield (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
Median price history
Safety
| Macleod | Watsonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 77 | 79 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 414 | 262 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 293 | 262 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 142 | 467 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 3,245 | 6,259 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Macleod | Watsonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 4 | 3 |
| Government | 3 | 2 |
| Independent | 1 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,003 | 1,032 |
See the full school list on each profile: Macleod · Watsonia
Transport
| Macleod | Watsonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 98 | 98 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 36 | 28 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 36 | 39 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 550 m | 60 m |
Liveability
| Macleod | Watsonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 25.8°C | 25.8°C |
| Winter max temp | 14.2°C | 14.2°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 600 | 600 |
| Supermarkets | 1 | 2 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 2 | 10 |
| Parks | 29 | 10 |
| Playgrounds | 8 | 11 |
| Swimming pools | 1 | 2 |
| Medical GPs | 0 | 3 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 17.6 km | 19.2 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 14.0 km | 15.6 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 4.0 km | 5.5 km |
Population & growth
| Macleod | Watsonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 9,892 | 5,352 |
| Estimated 2025 | 9,945 | 5,466 |
| Projected 2041 | 12,217 | 6,610 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.13% | 0.53% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Macleod or Watsonia?
Watsonia has the higher residential safety score (Macleod 77/100 vs Watsonia 79/100).
Which is more affordable, Macleod or Watsonia?
Watsonia is more affordable, with a median house price of $944K versus $1.15M.
Which has better schools, Macleod or Watsonia?
Watsonia has a higher average school ICSEA (Macleod 1003 vs Watsonia 1032; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Macleod or Watsonia?
Macleod and Watsonia have similar transport scores.
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