Brunswick West vs Coburg

Brunswick West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Coburg. In Brunswick West, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Coburg, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Brunswick West: a median of $1.35 million, against $1.24 million in Coburg, though rent is higher in Coburg. On these figures, Brunswick West tends to suit renters and people living alone.

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

Coburg

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (23 vs 9)
  • has more parks and reserves (33 vs 13)

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

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Brunswick West has cheaper units ($475,000 vs $522,500)
  • Coburg has cheaper land ($1,250,000 vs $1,577,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brunswick West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 34%)
  • has cheaper rent ($366/wk vs $430/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Brunswick West has more units and townhouses to downsize into (62% vs 35%)
  • Coburg has more GPs (8 vs 4)

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

Investors

Brunswick West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Brunswick West Coburg
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.

Brunswick West Coburg
Walkability 92 / 99
Brunswick West — Walkability: 92/100 Coburg — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 23 / 22
Brunswick West — Safety: 23/100 Coburg — Safety: 22/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Brunswick West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Coburg — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 61 / 49
Brunswick West — Low flood risk: 61/100 Coburg — Low flood risk: 49/100

Demographics

Coburg has more residents (26,574 vs 14,746); Coburg rents higher ($430/wk vs $366/wk).

Brunswick West Coburg
Population 14,746 26,574
+80% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.1% +1.5%
Median age 34 37
Median household income $93,444/yr $107,380/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $366/wk $430/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Brunswick West Coburg
0-4 4.8% / 5.3%
Brunswick West — 0-4: 4.8% Coburg — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 8.0% / 9.9%
Brunswick West — 5-14: 8.0% Coburg — 5-14: 9.9%
15-19 3.6% / 4.4%
Brunswick West — 15-19: 3.6% Coburg — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 8.4% / 6.8%
Brunswick West — 20-24: 8.4% Coburg — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 25.3% / 19.0%
Brunswick West — 25-34: 25.3% Coburg — 25-34: 19.0%
35-44 17.0% / 16.6%
Brunswick West — 35-44: 17.0% Coburg — 35-44: 16.6%
45-54 11.9% / 13.8%
Brunswick West — 45-54: 11.9% Coburg — 45-54: 13.8%
55-64 9.0% / 10.1%
Brunswick West — 55-64: 9.0% Coburg — 55-64: 10.1%
65-74 6.3% / 7.1%
Brunswick West — 65-74: 6.3% Coburg — 65-74: 7.1%
75-84 3.9% / 4.6%
Brunswick West — 75-84: 3.9% Coburg — 75-84: 4.6%
85+ 2.0% / 2.4%
Brunswick West — 85+: 2.0% Coburg — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Brunswick West 49.7% lone person
Brunswick West — Lone Person: 49.7% Brunswick West — Couple Families: 26.9% Brunswick West — Group Household: 12.3% Brunswick West — One Parent Families: 9.0% Brunswick West — Other Families: 2.1%
Coburg 33.5% lone person
Coburg — Lone Person: 33.5% Coburg — Couple Families: 39.9% Coburg — Group Household: 11.9% Coburg — One Parent Families: 12.5% Coburg — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Brunswick West 48.7% renting
Brunswick West — Owned Outright: 24.0% Brunswick West — Mortgage: 27.3% Brunswick West — Renting: 48.7%
Coburg 34.0% renting
Coburg — Owned Outright: 33.1% Coburg — Mortgage: 32.9% Coburg — Renting: 34.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Brunswick West Coburg
Bachelor Degree 25.0% / 21.2%
Brunswick West — Bachelor Degree: 25.0% Coburg — Bachelor Degree: 21.2%
Postgraduate Degree 12.7% / 10.3%
Brunswick West — Postgraduate Degree: 12.7% Coburg — Postgraduate Degree: 10.3%
Certificate III & IV 7.9% / 7.8%
Brunswick West — Certificate III & IV: 7.9% Coburg — Certificate III & IV: 7.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.4% / 7.5%
Brunswick West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4% Coburg — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 3.9%
Brunswick West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Coburg — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.0%).

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.

Brunswick West Coburg
Italy 2.9% / 4.4%
Brunswick West — Italy: 2.9% Coburg — Italy: 4.4%
England 2.6% / 2.4%
Brunswick West — England: 2.6% Coburg — England: 2.4%
Greece 2.2% / 2.6%
Brunswick West — Greece: 2.2% Coburg — Greece: 2.6%
New Zealand 2.2% / 1.8%
Brunswick West — New Zealand: 2.2% Coburg — New Zealand: 1.8%
India 1.8% / 1.0%
Brunswick West — India: 1.8% Coburg — India: 1.0%
Lebanon — / 2.3%
Brunswick West — Lebanon: not among its largest Coburg — Lebanon: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.4%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Brunswick West 38.0% houses
Brunswick West — Houses: 38.0% Brunswick West — Flats / Apartments: 41.8% Brunswick West — Townhouses: 20.2%
Coburg 65.1% houses
Coburg — Houses: 65.1% Coburg — Flats / Apartments: 10.6% Coburg — Townhouses: 24.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Brunswick West Coburg
Median house price $1,350,000 $1,235,000
Median unit price $475,000 $522,500
Median land price $1,577,500 $1,250,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 80 sales
 24 days
from 264 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.

Brunswick West Coburg
2 bed $1.2M / $1.01M
Brunswick West — 2 bed: $1.2M (29 sales) Coburg — 2 bed: $1.01M (85 sales)

29 vs 85 sales

3 bed $1.31M / $1.22M
Brunswick West — 3 bed: $1.31M (71 sales) Coburg — 3 bed: $1.22M (193 sales)

71 vs 193 sales

4 bed $1.55M / $1.43M
Brunswick West — 4 bed: $1.55M (40 sales) Coburg — 4 bed: $1.43M (93 sales)

40 vs 93 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Brunswick West Coburg
1 bed $330K / $392K
Brunswick West — 1 bed: $330K (112 sales) Coburg — 1 bed: $392K (82 sales)

112 vs 82 sales

2 bed $528K / $600K
Brunswick West — 2 bed: $528K (209 sales) Coburg — 2 bed: $600K (123 sales)

209 vs 123 sales

3 bed $740K / $690K
Brunswick West — 3 bed: $740K (18 sales) Coburg — 3 bed: $690K (17 sales)

18 vs 17 sales

Zoning mix

Brunswick West Coburg
Residential 81% 77%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 8%
Commercial 2% 9%
Parks and recreation 6%
same for both
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

Brunswick West Coburg
New dwellings approved 1,387
across Merri-bek
same for both
Approvals change year on year +68%
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.

Brunswick West Coburg
Houses 3.9%
$800/wk on $1.06M
 3.4%
$750/wk on $1.15M
Units 5.2%
$500/wk on $498K
 5.3%
$550/wk on $540K

Ranking within VIC

Brunswick West Coburg
House price Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Income Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Schools Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 15% of VIC Higher than 30% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 31% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC

Liveability

Brunswick West Coburg
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 67/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Coburg carries more flood risk (51 vs 39).

Brunswick West Coburg
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
77/100
 High
78/100
Flood Low
39/100
 Moderate
51/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 11
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Brunswick West Coburg
Inside the suburb 5 14
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1 2
Rated below peers 3 5
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 2.7 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 4.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6% 2.9%

Schools in Brunswick West

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Brunswick North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brunswick North West Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brunswick South West Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sydney Road Community School-The Brunswick Learning Space Government · Secondary

Schools in Coburg

  • St Bernard's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Paul's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Coburg High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Fidelis' School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Australian International Academy of Education Independent · Combined below peers
  • Coburg North Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Brunswick West Coburg
Supermarkets 4 9
Cafes & restaurants 22 67
Parks & reserves 13 33
Childcare 9 23
GPs 4 8
Pharmacies 4 9
Hospitals 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 7
Fuel stations 3 5
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 1
same for both

Mobility

Brunswick West Coburg
Walkability score 92/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 7.2 km 7.9 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 21 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 332.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 754.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.4%
postcode 3055
 1.5%
postcode 3058
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 13
postcode 3055
 26
postcode 3058

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.

Brunswick West Coburg
Worked from Home 44.1% / 45.4%
Brunswick West — Worked from Home: 44.1% Coburg — Worked from Home: 45.4%
Car (driver) 37.4% / 37.3%
Brunswick West — Car (driver): 37.4% Coburg — Car (driver): 37.3%
Tram / Light Rail 5.3% / 3.6%
Brunswick West — Tram / Light Rail: 5.3% Coburg — Tram / Light Rail: 3.6%
Bicycle 4.4% / 3.8%
Brunswick West — Bicycle: 4.4% Coburg — Bicycle: 3.8%
Train 2.3% / 3.9%
Brunswick West — Train: 2.3% Coburg — Train: 3.9%
Walked Only 2.7% / 2.4%
Brunswick West — Walked Only: 2.7% Coburg — Walked Only: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (45.4%).

Setting

Brunswick West Coburg
Elevation 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 61 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.7 km 11.1 km

NBN connectivity

Brunswick West Coburg
Connectivity score 90/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 60%
8,591 premises
 26%
13,334 premises

Climate

Brunswick West Coburg
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)

Brunswick West Coburg
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³ 7.3 µg/m³
PM10 — 17.8 µg/m³
NO₂ — 0.82 pphm

Council rates

Brunswick West Coburg
Average residential rate $1,914/yr
same for both
Council Merri-bek
same for both

Federal electorate

Brunswick West Coburg
Division Wills
same for both
Member Peter Khalil
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Brunswick West

Apartments Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Coburg

Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Brunswick West

Brunswick West vs Brunswick Brunswick West vs Essendon Brunswick West vs Moonee Ponds Brunswick West vs Ascot Vale Brunswick West vs Pascoe Vale South Brunswick West vs Parkville

Other comparisons with Coburg

Coburg vs Preston Coburg vs Brunswick Coburg vs Thornbury Coburg vs Pascoe Vale Coburg vs Brunswick East Coburg vs Pascoe Vale South
Full data on Brunswick West Full data on Coburg
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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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