Melbourne suburb ideas from the 2021 PwC CityPulse study

PwC’s 2021 CityPulse report included a “Live – Staying Local” comparison for people working from home full time or not working. The table below records that historical category; it is not a current ranking of Melbourne’s suburbs or a general measure of every household’s needs.

The 2021 Live – Staying Local results

PwC CityPulse 2021: Live – Staying Local
Statistical area	Score
Northcote	10.0
Heidelberg – Rosanna	9.5
Essendon – Aberfeldie	9.3
Wantirna	9.3
Montmorency – Briar Hill	9.2
Greensborough	9.1
Blackburn	9.1
Kew	9.1
Ringwood	9.1
Coburg	8.9

How to use these historical results

The named areas follow the report’s statistical geography and may combine suburbs. Read the original 2021 PwC report for its methodology and category definitions. A staying-local score cannot establish today’s property cost, school place, commute or suitability for your household.

Compare the settings behind the scores

Northcote and Coburg offer inner-northern settings with shopping, dining and public transport. Kew provides an inner-eastern alternative with established homes and local services, while Essendon and Aberfeldie sit to the north-west. Compare the home’s position within each area and the journeys you make, including parking and access for older properties.

Heidelberg, Rosanna, Montmorency, Briar Hill and Greensborough provide several north-eastern residential options. Parks and local services are useful starting points, but test the particular home against work, school and appointment travel. A leafy setting does not establish a school place or a convenient commute.

Wantirna, Blackburn and Ringwood offer eastern alternatives. Compare the shopping, open space and transport that you would actually use, along with the home’s current cost and condition. A historical score cannot determine whether a specific dwelling suits your furniture, accessibility requirements or budget.

Compare the journey and the property

Use the Melbourne journey planner with the exact address and your usual travel times. Include the walk to stops and any transfers. Confirm school enrolment and other essential services directly, and compare current housing costs for homes that meet the same requirements.

Plan delivery to your new home

Once you have a likely address, send us your inventory, dates and access details. Tell us about stairs, lifts, loading restrictions and large furniture, and ask for packing or storage to be included if needed. Confirm the collection and delivery arrangements in your written quote. Call 1800 500 584 to discuss your move.

What did the 2021 PwC Melbourne comparison measure?

The results shown are from the Live – Staying Local category in PwC’s 2021 CityPulse report, designed around people working from home full time or not working. They describe statistical areas, some combining suburbs. They are historical category scores, not a current overall ranking or a recommendation that every property in those areas will suit your household.

What was Coburg’s score in the 2021 Live – Staying Local table?

Coburg scored 8.9 in that table. Northcote scored 10.0, followed by Heidelberg – Rosanna at 9.5. Keep the category and year with the figures: results from another CityPulse category should not be substituted, and the scores do not establish current housing prices or services.

Are the named CityPulse areas the same as individual suburbs?

Not always. The report uses statistical areas, and names such as Heidelberg – Rosanna or Essendon – Aberfeldie combine suburbs. Read the report’s geography and methodology alongside the scores. A combined area’s result does not establish the conditions at every street or dwelling within it.

Can I use the staying-local scores to judge my commute?

The category was designed for people working from home full time or not working. If you commute, test the route from the actual property using current transport information and your usual travel times. A historical staying-local score cannot substitute for the journey you need today.

How can I turn the historical Melbourne list into a current shortlist?

Choose the areas that could fit your regular destinations and housing requirements, then compare current properties, services and costs. Verify school or other essential arrangements for each address. Keep the report’s year and category visible so an interesting historical result does not become an unsupported current ranking.

For a move to Melbourne, what information do you need for a removal quote?

Send us the collection and delivery addresses, inventory, preferred dates and the first day you can receive furniture. Describe stairs, lifts, parking, long carries and unusual items. Include packing, dismantling or storage in the requested scope. If details change after the quote, tell us so we can review the arrangements. For a move to Melbourne, keep any route-, service- or property-specific variation with the accepted written scope.