Aberfeldie vs Essendon West

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Aberfeldie, most households are couple families. In Essendon West, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Aberfeldie: a median of $1.72 million, against $1.39 million in Essendon West. On these figures, Essendon West tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Aberfeldie

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 1)
  • But Essendon West has more parks and reserves (9 vs 3)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Aberfeldie has cheaper units ($542,000 vs $850,500)
  • Essendon West has cheaper houses ($1,390,000 vs $1,720,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Aberfeldie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 69/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Aberfeldie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (84/100 vs 69/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Essendon West

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (8.3% vs 0.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Aberfeldie and Essendon West drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Walkability 84 / 69
Aberfeldie — Walkability: 84/100 Essendon West — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 52 / 56
Aberfeldie — Safety: 52/100 Essendon West — Safety: 56/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Aberfeldie — Low fire risk: 100/100 Essendon West — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 35 / 32
Aberfeldie — Low flood risk: 35/100 Essendon West — Low flood risk: 32/100

Demographics

Aberfeldie has more residents (3,925 vs 1,559); Aberfeldie skews older (41 vs 39).

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Population 3,925
+60% vs other
 1,559
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.7% +8.3%
Median age 41 39
Median household income $133,692/yr
+9% vs other
 $121,576/yr
Median weekly rent $440/wk $450/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Aberfeldie Essendon West
0-4 3.7% / 5.1%
Aberfeldie — 0-4: 3.7% Essendon West — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 12.5% / 12.2%
Aberfeldie — 5-14: 12.5% Essendon West — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 8.2% / 7.5%
Aberfeldie — 15-19: 8.2% Essendon West — 15-19: 7.5%
20-24 8.2% / 7.1%
Aberfeldie — 20-24: 8.2% Essendon West — 20-24: 7.1%
25-34 9.2% / 11.2%
Aberfeldie — 25-34: 9.2% Essendon West — 25-34: 11.2%
35-44 11.7% / 12.8%
Aberfeldie — 35-44: 11.7% Essendon West — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 16.7% / 17.2%
Aberfeldie — 45-54: 16.7% Essendon West — 45-54: 17.2%
55-64 15.2% / 10.8%
Aberfeldie — 55-64: 15.2% Essendon West — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 8.7% / 8.0%
Aberfeldie — 65-74: 8.7% Essendon West — 65-74: 8.0%
75-84 3.6% / 5.5%
Aberfeldie — 75-84: 3.6% Essendon West — 75-84: 5.5%
85+ 2.1% / 3.0%
Aberfeldie — 85+: 2.1% Essendon West — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Aberfeldie 56.7% couple families
Aberfeldie — Couple Families: 56.7% Aberfeldie — Lone Person: 25.5% Aberfeldie — One Parent Families: 13.8% Aberfeldie — Group Household: 2.7% Aberfeldie — Other Families: 1.2%
Essendon West 50.5% couple families
Essendon West — Couple Families: 50.5% Essendon West — Lone Person: 31.7% Essendon West — One Parent Families: 13.0% Essendon West — Group Household: 4.1% Essendon West — Other Families: 0.7%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Aberfeldie 20.9% renting
Aberfeldie — Owned Outright: 40.3% Aberfeldie — Mortgage: 38.8% Aberfeldie — Renting: 20.9%
Essendon West 26.6% renting
Essendon West — Owned Outright: 37.3% Essendon West — Mortgage: 36.1% Essendon West — Renting: 26.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Italy 2.7% / 1.8%
Aberfeldie — Italy: 2.7% Essendon West — Italy: 1.8%
England 1.8% / 1.9%
Aberfeldie — England: 1.8% Essendon West — England: 1.9%
India 1.2% / 1.9%
Aberfeldie — India: 1.2% Essendon West — India: 1.9%
China 1.1% / 1.5%
Aberfeldie — China: 1.1% Essendon West — China: 1.5%
Vietnam 1.4% / 1.2%
Aberfeldie — Vietnam: 1.4% Essendon West — Vietnam: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.7%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 18.7%
Aberfeldie — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Essendon West — Bachelor Degree: 18.7%
Certificate III & IV 9.7% / 9.1%
Aberfeldie — Certificate III & IV: 9.7% Essendon West — Certificate III & IV: 9.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 9.3%
Aberfeldie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Essendon West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 7.4% / 6.7%
Aberfeldie — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4% Essendon West — Postgraduate Degree: 6.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.8%
Aberfeldie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Essendon West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Aberfeldie 66.7% houses
Aberfeldie — Houses: 66.7% Aberfeldie — Townhouses: 18.4% Aberfeldie — Flats / Apartments: 15.0%
Essendon West 67.8% houses
Essendon West — Houses: 67.8% Essendon West — Townhouses: 32.7% Essendon West — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Median house price $1,720,000 $1,390,000
Median unit price $542,000 $850,500
Median land price $1,755,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 22 sales
 24 days
from 6 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Aberfeldie Essendon West
3 bed $1.43M / $1.07M
Aberfeldie — 3 bed: $1.43M (27 sales) Essendon West — 3 bed: $1.07M (11 sales)

27 vs 11 sales

4 bed $1.87M / $1.57M
Aberfeldie — 4 bed: $1.87M (39 sales) Essendon West — 4 bed: $1.57M (12 sales)

39 vs 12 sales

Zoning mix

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Residential 74% 58%
Parks and recreation 17% 36%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 7%
Commercial 1% 0%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Aberfeldie Essendon West
New dwellings approved 702
across Moonee Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year +82%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Houses 2.9%
$780/wk on $1.38M
 3.9%
$790/wk on $1.05M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Aberfeldie Essendon West
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools Higher than 59% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 35% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC

Liveability

Aberfeldie is more walkable (84 vs 69).

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Grade A
same for both
Score 75/100 77/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
44/100
Flood Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
68/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 7
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 4.3 km
 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 5.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.1% 4.2%

Schools in Aberfeldie

  • Aberfeldie Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Ave Maria College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Our Lady of the Nativity School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • St Bernard's College - Resurrection House Campus Catholic · Secondary

Schools in Essendon West

  • St Bernard's College Catholic · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 3 9
Childcare 5 0
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Walkability score 84/100 69/100
Distance to Melbourne 10 km 10.7 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 138.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 67.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3040
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 3040
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Car (driver) 50.1% / 52.0%
Aberfeldie — Car (driver): 50.1% Essendon West — Car (driver): 52.0%
Worked from Home 40.3% / 38.8%
Aberfeldie — Worked from Home: 40.3% Essendon West — Worked from Home: 38.8%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 3.4%
Aberfeldie — Car (passenger): 4.3% Essendon West — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Train 2.1% / 2.9%
Aberfeldie — Train: 2.1% Essendon West — Train: 2.9%
Walked Only 2.1% / 0.8%
Aberfeldie — Walked Only: 2.1% Essendon West — Walked Only: 0.8%
Bus 0.2% / 1.2%
Aberfeldie — Bus: 0.2% Essendon West — Bus: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.0%).

Setting

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 9.1 km 10.0 km

NBN connectivity

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Connectivity score 76/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 6%
1,791 premises
 3%
718 premises

Climate

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Aberfeldie Essendon West
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 18.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Average residential rate $2,027/yr
same for both
Council Moonee Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Division Maribyrnong
same for both
Member Jo Briskey
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Aberfeldie Essendon West
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Aberfeldie

Middle-Ring Parks Premium River

Essendon West

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Aberfeldie

Aberfeldie vs Essendon Aberfeldie vs Moonee Ponds Aberfeldie vs Maribyrnong

Other comparisons with Essendon West

Essendon West vs Essendon Essendon West vs Keilor East Essendon West vs Maribyrnong Essendon West vs Avondale Heights Essendon West vs Niddrie
Full data on Aberfeldie Full data on Essendon West
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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