Essendon North vs Niddrie

In Essendon North, about half of households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Niddrie, the large majority of households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Essendon North is closer to the city centre: 13.1 km, against 15.3 km. On these figures, Essendon North tends to suit renters and people living alone, while Niddrie suits couples.

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

Niddrie

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (65% vs 31%)

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

First-home buyers

Essendon North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($415,000 vs $680,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Essendon North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (46% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $432/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Essendon North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (13.1 km vs 15.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Niddrie

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 82/100)
  • But Essendon North has more units and townhouses to downsize into (69% vs 35%)

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

Investors

Essendon North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.8% vs 5.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Essendon North Niddrie
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.

Essendon North Niddrie
Walkability 88 / 85
Essendon North — Walkability: 88/100 Niddrie — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 18 / 49
Essendon North — Safety: 18/100 Niddrie — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Essendon North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Niddrie — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 84 / 62
Essendon North — Low flood risk: 84/100 Niddrie — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Niddrie has more residents (5,901 vs 3,071); Niddrie has higher household incomes ($115,076 vs $89,024).

Essendon North Niddrie
Population 3,071 5,901
+92% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.8% +7.7%
Median age 38 40
Median household income $89,024/yr $115,076/yr
+29% vs other
Median weekly rent $360/wk $432/wk
+20% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Essendon North Niddrie
0-4 4.7% / 5.6%
Essendon North — 0-4: 4.7% Niddrie — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 9.6% / 12.4%
Essendon North — 5-14: 9.6% Niddrie — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 4.8% / 6.2%
Essendon North — 15-19: 4.8% Niddrie — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 6.5% / 6.3%
Essendon North — 20-24: 6.5% Niddrie — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 18.0% / 12.0%
Essendon North — 25-34: 18.0% Niddrie — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 16.1% / 14.4%
Essendon North — 35-44: 16.1% Niddrie — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 13.6% / 15.5%
Essendon North — 45-54: 13.6% Niddrie — 45-54: 15.5%
55-64 10.2% / 12.3%
Essendon North — 55-64: 10.2% Niddrie — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 8.8% / 8.2%
Essendon North — 65-74: 8.8% Niddrie — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 4.5% / 4.3%
Essendon North — 75-84: 4.5% Niddrie — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 2.9% / 2.8%
Essendon North — 85+: 2.9% Niddrie — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Essendon North 51.3% lone person
Essendon North — Lone Person: 51.3% Essendon North — Couple Families: 30.7% Essendon North — One Parent Families: 11.7% Essendon North — Group Household: 4.7% Essendon North — Other Families: 1.6%
Niddrie 31.5% lone person
Niddrie — Lone Person: 31.5% Niddrie — Couple Families: 47.9% Niddrie — One Parent Families: 15.0% Niddrie — Group Household: 3.5% Niddrie — Other Families: 2.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Essendon North 46.5% renting
Essendon North — Owned Outright: 27.3% Essendon North — Mortgage: 26.2% Essendon North — Renting: 46.5%
Niddrie 23.5% renting
Niddrie — Owned Outright: 38.1% Niddrie — Mortgage: 38.3% Niddrie — Renting: 23.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Essendon North Niddrie
Bachelor Degree 19.3% / 17.0%
Essendon North — Bachelor Degree: 19.3% Niddrie — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 10.5% / 11.5%
Essendon North — Certificate III & IV: 10.5% Niddrie — Certificate III & IV: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.0% / 8.4%
Essendon North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0% Niddrie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 7.9% / 5.5%
Essendon North — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9% Niddrie — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.7% / 2.7%
Essendon North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7% Niddrie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

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.

Essendon North Niddrie
India 5.8% / 1.7%
Essendon North — India: 5.8% Niddrie — India: 1.7%
Italy 3.5% / 2.4%
Essendon North — Italy: 3.5% Niddrie — Italy: 2.4%
England 1.7% / 2.0%
Essendon North — England: 1.7% Niddrie — England: 2.0%
China 1.6% / 1.1%
Essendon North — China: 1.6% Niddrie — China: 1.1%
Philippines 1.4% / —
Essendon North — Philippines: 1.4% Niddrie — Philippines: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 0.8%
Essendon North — Vietnam: not among its largest Niddrie — Vietnam: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Essendon North 30.7% houses
Essendon North — Houses: 30.7% Essendon North — Flats / Apartments: 53.9% Essendon North — Townhouses: 15.4%
Niddrie 65.2% houses
Niddrie — Houses: 65.2% Niddrie — Flats / Apartments: 3.4% Niddrie — Townhouses: 31.3%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Essendon North Niddrie
Median house price $1,331,000 $1,270,000
Median unit price $415,000 $680,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 16 sales
 25 days
from 38 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.

Essendon North Niddrie
3 bed $1.17M / $1.2M
Essendon North — 3 bed: $1.17M (15 sales) Niddrie — 3 bed: $1.2M (52 sales)

15 vs 52 sales

4 bed $1.64M / $1.42M
Essendon North — 4 bed: $1.64M (10 sales) Niddrie — 4 bed: $1.42M (48 sales)

10 vs 48 sales

5 bed $1.72M / $1.52M
Essendon North — 5 bed: $1.72M (5 sales) Niddrie — 5 bed: $1.52M (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Essendon North Niddrie
Residential 70% 82%
Infrastructure and transport 18% 8%
Commercial 10% 5%
Parks and recreation 1% 3%
Industrial 0% 2%
Planning zones cover 99% of Essendon North and 100% of Niddrie. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Essendon North Niddrie
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.

Essendon North Niddrie
Houses 3.2%
$748/wk on $1.2M
 3.0%
$725/wk on $1.25M
Units 5.8%
$500/wk on $446K
 5.2%
$590/wk on $592K

Ranking within VIC

Essendon North Niddrie
House price Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Income Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 73% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC

Liveability

Essendon North Niddrie
Grade A
same for both
Score 78/100 79/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Niddrie carries more flood risk (38 vs 16); Essendon North carries more crime risk (82 vs 51).

Essendon North Niddrie
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
82/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Low
16/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Essendon North Niddrie
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 6.7 km
 2
Victoria University Footscray Park, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.2% 2.9%

Schools in Essendon North

  • Essendon North Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Niddrie

  • Rosehill Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • St John Bosco's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Niddrie Autistic School Government · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Essendon North Niddrie
Cafes & restaurants 4 1
Parks & reserves 2 5
Childcare 4 2
GPs 1 5
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 1

Mobility

Niddrie sits further from the CBD (15.3 km vs 13.1 km).

Essendon North Niddrie
Walkability score 88/100 85/100
Distance to Melbourne 13.1 km 15.3 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 21 min 22 min
Public transport score 96/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 63.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 128.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.9%
postcode 3041
 0.9%
postcode 3042
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 21
postcode 3041
 21
postcode 3042

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.

Essendon North Niddrie
Car (driver) 52.0% / 54.4%
Essendon North — Car (driver): 52.0% Niddrie — Car (driver): 54.4%
Worked from Home 34.0% / 35.9%
Essendon North — Worked from Home: 34.0% Niddrie — Worked from Home: 35.9%
Train 4.5% / 2.6%
Essendon North — Train: 4.5% Niddrie — Train: 2.6%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 4.0%
Essendon North — Car (passenger): 3.0% Niddrie — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Tram / Light Rail 2.9% / 0.8%
Essendon North — Tram / Light Rail: 2.9% Niddrie — Tram / Light Rail: 0.8%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.4%
Essendon North — Walked Only: 1.8% Niddrie — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.4%).

Setting

Essendon North Niddrie
Elevation 68 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 11.4 km 11.5 km

NBN connectivity

Essendon North Niddrie
Connectivity score 87/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
2,093 premises
 30%
2,936 premises

Climate

Essendon North Niddrie
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)

Essendon North Niddrie
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 18.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Essendon North Niddrie
Division Maribyrnong
same for both
Member Jo Briskey
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Essendon North

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Trams Transport Hub Urban

Niddrie

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium River Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Essendon North

Essendon North vs Essendon Essendon North vs Strathmore Essendon North vs Airport West

Other comparisons with Niddrie

Niddrie vs Essendon Niddrie vs Keilor East Niddrie vs Airport West Niddrie vs Essendon West
Full data on Essendon North Full data on Niddrie
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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