Essendon vs Brunswick West

Brunswick West is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 39 in Essendon. In Essendon, most households own their home. In Brunswick West, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Essendon: a median of $1.75 million, against $1.35 million in Brunswick West. Brunswick West is closer to the city centre: 7.2 km, against 10.7 km. On these figures, Brunswick West tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households.

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

Essendon

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 9)
  • is already more of a family suburb (51% vs 36%)

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

First-home buyers

Brunswick West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,350,000 vs $1,755,000)

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

Renters

Brunswick West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (49% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

Brunswick West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (7.2 km vs 10.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Essendon

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 77/100)

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 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Essendon and Brunswick 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.

Essendon Brunswick 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.

Essendon Brunswick West
Walkability 97 / 92
Essendon — Walkability: 97/100 Brunswick West — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 35 / 23
Essendon — Safety: 35/100 Brunswick West — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Essendon — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brunswick West — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 70 / 61
Essendon — Low flood risk: 70/100 Brunswick West — Low flood risk: 61/100

Demographics

Essendon has more residents (21,240 vs 14,746); Essendon has higher household incomes ($110,864 vs $93,444).

Essendon Brunswick West
Population 21,240
+31% vs other
 14,746
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.1% +4.1%
Median age 39 34
Median household income $110,864/yr
+16% vs other
 $93,444/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+4% vs other
 $366/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Essendon Brunswick West
0-4 4.1% / 4.8%
Essendon — 0-4: 4.1% Brunswick West — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 10.9% / 8.0%
Essendon — 5-14: 10.9% Brunswick West — 5-14: 8.0%
15-19 5.8% / 3.6%
Essendon — 15-19: 5.8% Brunswick West — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 7.5% / 8.4%
Essendon — 20-24: 7.5% Brunswick West — 20-24: 8.4%
25-34 15.5% / 25.3%
Essendon — 25-34: 15.5% Brunswick West — 25-34: 25.3%
35-44 13.8% / 17.0%
Essendon — 35-44: 13.8% Brunswick West — 35-44: 17.0%
45-54 14.3% / 11.9%
Essendon — 45-54: 14.3% Brunswick West — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 12.4% / 9.0%
Essendon — 55-64: 12.4% Brunswick West — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 8.8% / 6.3%
Essendon — 65-74: 8.8% Brunswick West — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 4.5% / 3.9%
Essendon — 75-84: 4.5% Brunswick West — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 2.5% / 2.0%
Essendon — 85+: 2.5% Brunswick West — 85+: 2.0%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Essendon 42.2% lone person
Essendon — Lone Person: 42.2% Essendon — Couple Families: 40.9% Essendon — One Parent Families: 10.1% Essendon — Group Household: 5.3% Essendon — Other Families: 1.5%
Brunswick West 49.7% lone person
Brunswick West — Lone Person: 49.7% Brunswick West — Couple Families: 26.9% Brunswick West — One Parent Families: 9.0% Brunswick West — Group Household: 12.3% Brunswick West — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Essendon 36.5% renting
Essendon — Owned Outright: 33.2% Essendon — Mortgage: 30.4% Essendon — Renting: 36.5%
Brunswick West 48.7% renting
Brunswick West — Owned Outright: 24.0% Brunswick West — Mortgage: 27.3% Brunswick West — Renting: 48.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Essendon Brunswick West
Bachelor Degree 22.9% / 25.0%
Essendon — Bachelor Degree: 22.9% Brunswick West — Bachelor Degree: 25.0%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 12.7%
Essendon — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% Brunswick West — Postgraduate Degree: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 7.4%
Essendon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Brunswick West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 8.1% / 7.9%
Essendon — Certificate III & IV: 8.1% Brunswick West — Certificate III & IV: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 4.4%
Essendon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Brunswick West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

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.

Essendon Brunswick West
Italy 2.4% / 2.9%
Essendon — Italy: 2.4% Brunswick West — Italy: 2.9%
India 3.0% / 1.8%
Essendon — India: 3.0% Brunswick West — India: 1.8%
England 1.8% / 2.6%
Essendon — England: 1.8% Brunswick West — England: 2.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / 2.2%
Essendon — New Zealand: 1.3% Brunswick West — New Zealand: 2.2%
Greece 0.8% / 2.2%
Essendon — Greece: 0.8% Brunswick West — Greece: 2.2%
China 1.3% / 1.3%
Essendon — China: 1.3% Brunswick West — China: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Essendon 47.2% houses
Essendon — Houses: 47.2% Essendon — Flats / Apartments: 33.2% Essendon — Townhouses: 19.6%
Brunswick West 38.0% houses
Brunswick West — Houses: 38.0% Brunswick West — Flats / Apartments: 41.8% Brunswick West — Townhouses: 20.2%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Essendon Brunswick West
Median house price $1,755,000 $1,350,000
Median unit price $495,000 $475,000
Median land price $1,615,500 $1,577,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 185 sales
 25 days
from 80 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 Brunswick West
2 bed $1.03M / $1.2M
Essendon — 2 bed: $1.03M (34 sales) Brunswick West — 2 bed: $1.2M (29 sales)

34 vs 29 sales

3 bed $1.51M / $1.31M
Essendon — 3 bed: $1.51M (100 sales) Brunswick West — 3 bed: $1.31M (71 sales)

100 vs 71 sales

4 bed $2M / $1.55M
Essendon — 4 bed: $2M (118 sales) Brunswick West — 4 bed: $1.55M (40 sales)

118 vs 40 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.

Essendon Brunswick West
1 bed $335K / $330K
Essendon — 1 bed: $335K (96 sales) Brunswick West — 1 bed: $330K (112 sales)

96 vs 112 sales

2 bed $545K / $528K
Essendon — 2 bed: $545K (220 sales) Brunswick West — 2 bed: $528K (209 sales)

220 vs 209 sales

3 bed $835K / $740K
Essendon — 3 bed: $835K (24 sales) Brunswick West — 3 bed: $740K (18 sales)

24 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Essendon Brunswick West
Residential 79% 81%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 9%
Parks and recreation 7% 6%
Commercial 5% 2%
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 Brunswick West
New dwellings approved 702
across Moonee Valley
 1,387
across Merri-bek
Approvals change year on year +82% +68%

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 Brunswick West
Houses 2.7%
$835/wk on $1.6M
 3.9%
$800/wk on $1.06M
Units 5.3%
$550/wk on $538K
 5.2%
$500/wk on $498K

Ranking within VIC

Essendon Brunswick West
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Schools Higher than 43% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC

Liveability

Essendon scores higher overall (76 vs 63).

Essendon Brunswick West
Grade A B
Score 76/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brunswick West carries more crime risk (77 vs 65).

Essendon Brunswick West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
77/100
Flood Low
30/100
 Low
39/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Essendon Brunswick West
Inside the suburb 7 5
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 4 1
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 5.4 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 2.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 3.6%

Schools in Essendon

  • St Therese's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Buckley Park College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Essendon Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Columba's College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Essendon Keilor College-Senior Campus Government · Secondary

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

Amenities in the suburb

Essendon Brunswick West
Supermarkets 4
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 22
same for both
Parks & reserves 14 13
Childcare 18 9
GPs 8 4
Pharmacies 5 4
Banks & Bank@Post 2 4
Fuel stations 3
same for both
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Essendon sits further from the CBD (10.7 km vs 7.2 km).

Essendon Brunswick West
Walkability score 97/100 92/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.7 km
+33% vs other
 7.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 17 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 623.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 332.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3040
 1.4%
postcode 3055
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 3040
 13
postcode 3055

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 Brunswick West
Worked from Home 40.6% / 44.1%
Essendon — Worked from Home: 40.6% Brunswick West — Worked from Home: 44.1%
Car (driver) 46.0% / 37.4%
Essendon — Car (driver): 46.0% Brunswick West — Car (driver): 37.4%
Train 5.1% / 2.3%
Essendon — Train: 5.1% Brunswick West — Train: 2.3%
Tram / Light Rail 1.6% / 5.3%
Essendon — Tram / Light Rail: 1.6% Brunswick West — Tram / Light Rail: 5.3%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 2.3%
Essendon — Car (passenger): 3.0% Brunswick West — Car (passenger): 2.3%
Bicycle 0.8% / 4.4%
Essendon — Bicycle: 0.8% Brunswick West — Bicycle: 4.4%
Walked Only 1.9% / 2.7%
Essendon — Walked Only: 1.9% Brunswick West — Walked Only: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.0%).

Setting

Essendon Brunswick West
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.0 km 8.7 km

NBN connectivity

Essendon Brunswick West
Connectivity score 81/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
11,330 premises
 60%
8,591 premises

Climate

Essendon Brunswick 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)

Essendon Brunswick West
PM2.5 — 7.9 µg/m³
PM10 18.9 µg/m³ —
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Essendon Brunswick West
Average residential rate $2,027/yr $1,914/yr
Council Moonee Valley Merri-bek

Federal electorate

Essendon Brunswick West
Division Maribyrnong Wills
Member Jo Briskey Peter Khalil
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Essendon

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

Brunswick West

Apartments Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Essendon

Essendon vs Moonee Ponds Essendon vs Pascoe Vale South Essendon vs Strathmore Essendon vs Niddrie Essendon vs Aberfeldie Essendon vs Essendon North

Other comparisons with Brunswick West

Brunswick West vs Coburg Brunswick West vs Brunswick Brunswick West vs Moonee Ponds Brunswick West vs Ascot Vale Brunswick West vs Pascoe Vale South Brunswick West vs Parkville
Full data on Essendon Full data on Brunswick 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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