Essendon vs Essendon North

In Essendon, most households own their home. 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. Houses cost more in Essendon: a median of $1.75 million, against $1.33 million in Essendon North, and rent is higher there too. Essendon is closer to the city centre: 10.7 km, against 13.1 km. On these figures, Essendon North tends to suit renters, people living alone, and 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

Essendon

ahead on 6 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Essendon North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,331,000 vs $1,755,000)
  • has cheaper units ($415,000 vs $495,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Essendon North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (46% vs 36%)

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

Commuting to the city

Essendon

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (10.7 km vs 13.1 km)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 88/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Essendon

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (8 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 82/100)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 88/100)
  • But Essendon North has more units and townhouses to downsize into (69% vs 53%)

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

Investors

Essendon North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 2.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.8% vs 5.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Essendon and Essendon North 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 Essendon North
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 Essendon North
Walkability 97 / 88
Essendon — Walkability: 97/100 Essendon North — Walkability: 88/100
Safety 35 / 18
Essendon — Safety: 35/100 Essendon North — Safety: 18/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Essendon — Low fire risk: 100/100 Essendon North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 70 / 84
Essendon — Low flood risk: 70/100 Essendon North — Low flood risk: 84/100

Demographics

Essendon has more residents (21,240 vs 3,071); Essendon has higher household incomes ($110,864 vs $89,024).

Essendon Essendon North
Population 21,240
+86% vs other
 3,071
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.1% +2.8%
Median age 39 38
Median household income $110,864/yr
+20% vs other
 $89,024/yr
Median weekly rent $380/wk
+5% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Essendon Essendon North
0-4 4.1% / 4.7%
Essendon — 0-4: 4.1% Essendon North — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 10.9% / 9.6%
Essendon — 5-14: 10.9% Essendon North — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 5.8% / 4.8%
Essendon — 15-19: 5.8% Essendon North — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 7.5% / 6.5%
Essendon — 20-24: 7.5% Essendon North — 20-24: 6.5%
25-34 15.5% / 18.0%
Essendon — 25-34: 15.5% Essendon North — 25-34: 18.0%
35-44 13.8% / 16.1%
Essendon — 35-44: 13.8% Essendon North — 35-44: 16.1%
45-54 14.3% / 13.6%
Essendon — 45-54: 14.3% Essendon North — 45-54: 13.6%
55-64 12.4% / 10.2%
Essendon — 55-64: 12.4% Essendon North — 55-64: 10.2%
65-74 8.8% / 8.8%
Essendon — 65-74: 8.8% Essendon North — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 4.5% / 4.5%
Essendon — 75-84: 4.5% Essendon North — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 2.5% / 2.9%
Essendon — 85+: 2.5% Essendon North — 85+: 2.9%

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

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%
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%
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%
Essendon North 46.5% renting
Essendon North — Owned Outright: 27.3% Essendon North — Mortgage: 26.2% Essendon North — Renting: 46.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Essendon Essendon North
Bachelor Degree 22.9% / 19.3%
Essendon — Bachelor Degree: 22.9% Essendon North — Bachelor Degree: 19.3%
Certificate III & IV 8.1% / 10.5%
Essendon — Certificate III & IV: 8.1% Essendon North — Certificate III & IV: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.0%
Essendon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Essendon North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 7.9%
Essendon — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% Essendon North — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 2.7%
Essendon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Essendon North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

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 Essendon North
India 3.0% / 5.8%
Essendon — India: 3.0% Essendon North — India: 5.8%
Italy 2.4% / 3.5%
Essendon — Italy: 2.4% Essendon North — Italy: 3.5%
England 1.8% / 1.7%
Essendon — England: 1.8% Essendon North — England: 1.7%
China 1.3% / 1.6%
Essendon — China: 1.3% Essendon North — China: 1.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.2%
Essendon — New Zealand: 1.3% Essendon North — New Zealand: 1.2%
Philippines — / 1.4%
Essendon — Philippines: not among its largest Essendon North — Philippines: 1.4%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Essendon 33.2% flats / apartments
Essendon — Flats / Apartments: 33.2% Essendon — Houses: 47.2% Essendon — Townhouses: 19.6%
Essendon North 53.9% flats / apartments
Essendon North — Flats / Apartments: 53.9% Essendon North — Houses: 30.7% Essendon North — Townhouses: 15.4%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Essendon Essendon North
Median house price $1,755,000 $1,331,000
Median unit price $495,000 $415,000
Median land price $1,615,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 185 sales
 34 days
from 16 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 Essendon North
1 bed $335K / $350K
Essendon — 1 bed: $335K (96 sales) Essendon North — 1 bed: $350K (15 sales)

96 vs 15 sales

2 bed $545K / $430K
Essendon — 2 bed: $545K (220 sales) Essendon North — 2 bed: $430K (57 sales)

220 vs 57 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 Essendon North
3 bed $1.51M / $1.17M
Essendon — 3 bed: $1.51M (100 sales) Essendon North — 3 bed: $1.17M (15 sales)

100 vs 15 sales

4 bed $2M / $1.64M
Essendon — 4 bed: $2M (118 sales) Essendon North — 4 bed: $1.64M (10 sales)

118 vs 10 sales

5 bed $2.6M / $1.72M
Essendon — 5 bed: $2.6M (27 sales) Essendon North — 5 bed: $1.72M (5 sales)

27 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Essendon Essendon North
Residential 79% 70%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 18%
Commercial 5% 10%
Parks and recreation 7% 1%
Planning zones cover 100% of Essendon and 99% of Essendon North. 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 Essendon North
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 Essendon North
Houses 2.7%
$835/wk on $1.6M
 3.2%
$748/wk on $1.2M
Units 5.3%
$550/wk on $538K
 5.8%
$500/wk on $446K

Ranking within VIC

Essendon Essendon North
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Income Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
Schools Higher than 43% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC

Liveability

Essendon is more walkable (97 vs 88).

Essendon Essendon North
Grade A
same for both
Score 76/100 78/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Essendon carries more flood risk (30 vs 16); Essendon North carries more crime risk (82 vs 65).

Essendon Essendon North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
82/100
Flood Low
30/100
 Low
16/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Essendon Essendon North
Inside the suburb 7 1
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 4 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 5.4 km
 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 6.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 3.2%

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 Essendon North

  • Essendon North Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Essendon Essendon North
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 22 4
Parks & reserves 14 2
Childcare 18 4
GPs 8 1
Pharmacies 5 1
Banks & Bank@Post 2 0
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Essendon North sits further from the CBD (13.1 km vs 10.7 km).

Essendon Essendon North
Walkability score 97/100 88/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.7 km 13.1 km
+22% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 21 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 623.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 63.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3040
 2.9%
postcode 3041
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 3040
 21
postcode 3041

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 Essendon North
Car (driver) 46.0% / 52.0%
Essendon — Car (driver): 46.0% Essendon North — Car (driver): 52.0%
Worked from Home 40.6% / 34.0%
Essendon — Worked from Home: 40.6% Essendon North — Worked from Home: 34.0%
Train 5.1% / 4.5%
Essendon — Train: 5.1% Essendon North — Train: 4.5%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.0%
Essendon — Car (passenger): 3.0% Essendon North — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Tram / Light Rail 1.6% / 2.9%
Essendon — Tram / Light Rail: 1.6% Essendon North — Tram / Light Rail: 2.9%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.8%
Essendon — Walked Only: 1.9% Essendon North — Walked Only: 1.8%

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

Setting

Essendon Essendon North
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 68 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.0 km 11.4 km

NBN connectivity

Essendon Essendon North
Connectivity score 81/100 87/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
11,330 premises
 47%
2,093 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Essendon Essendon North
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

Essendon North

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Essendon

Essendon vs Moonee Ponds Essendon vs Brunswick West Essendon vs Pascoe Vale South Essendon vs Strathmore Essendon vs Niddrie Essendon vs Aberfeldie

Other comparisons with Essendon North

Essendon North vs Strathmore Essendon North vs Airport West Essendon North vs Niddrie
Full data on Essendon Full data on Essendon North
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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