Essendon vs Pascoe Vale South

In both, most households own their home. In Pascoe Vale South, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Essendon: a median of $1.75 million, against $1.25 million in Pascoe Vale South, though rent is higher in Pascoe Vale South. On these figures, Essendon tends to suit people living alone, while Pascoe Vale South suits couples 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 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 7)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 8)
  • But Pascoe Vale South has more separate houses rather than flats (80% vs 47%)

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

First-home buyers

Pascoe Vale South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,250,000 vs $1,755,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Essendon

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 24%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $425/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Essendon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 89/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Essendon

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (53% vs 20%)
  • has more GPs (8 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Essendon returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 4.4%)
  • Pascoe Vale South returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.3% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Essendon and Pascoe Vale South 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 Pascoe Vale South
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 Pascoe Vale South
Walkability 97 / 89
Essendon — Walkability: 97/100 Pascoe Vale South — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 35 / 41
Essendon — Safety: 35/100 Pascoe Vale South — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Essendon — Low fire risk: 100/100 Pascoe Vale South — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 70 / 66
Essendon — Low flood risk: 70/100 Pascoe Vale South — Low flood risk: 66/100

Demographics

Essendon has more residents (21,240 vs 10,534); Pascoe Vale South rents higher ($425/wk vs $380/wk).

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Population 21,240
+50% vs other
 10,534
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.1% +4.6%
Median age 39
same for both
Median household income $110,864/yr $116,792/yr
+5% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $425/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
0-4 4.1% / 5.2%
Essendon — 0-4: 4.1% Pascoe Vale South — 0-4: 5.2%
5-14 10.9% / 13.0%
Essendon — 5-14: 10.9% Pascoe Vale South — 5-14: 13.0%
15-19 5.8% / 6.2%
Essendon — 15-19: 5.8% Pascoe Vale South — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 7.5% / 5.9%
Essendon — 20-24: 7.5% Pascoe Vale South — 20-24: 5.9%
25-34 15.5% / 12.9%
Essendon — 25-34: 15.5% Pascoe Vale South — 25-34: 12.9%
35-44 13.8% / 15.1%
Essendon — 35-44: 13.8% Pascoe Vale South — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 14.3% / 15.0%
Essendon — 45-54: 14.3% Pascoe Vale South — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 12.4% / 12.0%
Essendon — 55-64: 12.4% Pascoe Vale South — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 8.8% / 7.2%
Essendon — 65-74: 8.8% Pascoe Vale South — 65-74: 7.2%
75-84 4.5% / 4.3%
Essendon — 75-84: 4.5% Pascoe Vale South — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 2.5% / 3.2%
Essendon — 85+: 2.5% Pascoe Vale South — 85+: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Essendon 40.9% couple families
Essendon — Couple Families: 40.9% Essendon — Lone Person: 42.2% Essendon — One Parent Families: 10.1% Essendon — Group Household: 5.3% Essendon — Other Families: 1.5%
Pascoe Vale South 52.5% couple families
Pascoe Vale South — Couple Families: 52.5% Pascoe Vale South — Lone Person: 27.9% Pascoe Vale South — One Parent Families: 12.6% Pascoe Vale South — Group Household: 5.3% Pascoe Vale South — Other Families: 1.7%
Couple Families Lone Person 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%
Pascoe Vale South 24.2% renting
Pascoe Vale South — Owned Outright: 37.6% Pascoe Vale South — Mortgage: 38.2% Pascoe Vale South — Renting: 24.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Bachelor Degree 22.9% / 19.4%
Essendon — Bachelor Degree: 22.9% Pascoe Vale South — Bachelor Degree: 19.4%
Certificate III & IV 8.1% / 8.9%
Essendon — Certificate III & IV: 8.1% Pascoe Vale South — Certificate III & IV: 8.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 7.7%
Essendon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Pascoe Vale South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 7.3%
Essendon — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% Pascoe Vale South — Postgraduate Degree: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.5%
Essendon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Pascoe Vale South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

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 Pascoe Vale South
Italy 2.4% / 4.7%
Essendon — Italy: 2.4% Pascoe Vale South — Italy: 4.7%
India 3.0% / 1.2%
Essendon — India: 3.0% Pascoe Vale South — India: 1.2%
Greece 0.8% / 2.7%
Essendon — Greece: 0.8% Pascoe Vale South — Greece: 2.7%
England 1.8% / 1.5%
Essendon — England: 1.8% Pascoe Vale South — England: 1.5%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.1%
Essendon — New Zealand: 1.3% Pascoe Vale South — New Zealand: 1.1%
China 1.3% / 0.8%
Essendon — China: 1.3% Pascoe Vale South — China: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

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%
Pascoe Vale South 80.5% houses
Pascoe Vale South — Houses: 80.5% Pascoe Vale South — Flats / Apartments: 8.5% Pascoe Vale South — Townhouses: 11.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Median house price $1,755,000 $1,250,000
Median unit price $495,000 $540,000
Median land price $1,615,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 185 sales
 23 days
from 114 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 Pascoe Vale South
1 bed $335K / $375K
Essendon — 1 bed: $335K (96 sales) Pascoe Vale South — 1 bed: $375K (8 sales)

96 vs 8 sales

2 bed $545K / $573K
Essendon — 2 bed: $545K (220 sales) Pascoe Vale South — 2 bed: $573K (19 sales)

220 vs 19 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 Pascoe Vale South
2 bed $1.03M / $1.01M
Essendon — 2 bed: $1.03M (34 sales) Pascoe Vale South — 2 bed: $1.01M (22 sales)

34 vs 22 sales

3 bed $1.51M / $1.2M
Essendon — 3 bed: $1.51M (100 sales) Pascoe Vale South — 3 bed: $1.2M (100 sales)

100 vs 100 sales

4 bed $2M / $1.45M
Essendon — 4 bed: $2M (118 sales) Pascoe Vale South — 4 bed: $1.45M (65 sales)

118 vs 65 sales

5 bed $2.6M / $1.75M
Essendon — 5 bed: $2.6M (27 sales) Pascoe Vale South — 5 bed: $1.75M (10 sales)

27 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Residential 79% 83%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 10%
Parks and recreation 7% 5%
Commercial 5% 1%
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 Pascoe Vale South
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 Pascoe Vale South
Houses 2.7%
$835/wk on $1.6M
 3.3%
$762/wk on $1.19M
Units 5.3%
$550/wk on $538K
 4.4%
$440/wk on $525K

Ranking within VIC

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Income Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 88% 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 32% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC

Liveability

Pascoe Vale South scores higher overall (85 vs 76); Essendon is more walkable (97 vs 89).

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Grade A A+
Score 76/100 85/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood Low
30/100
 Low
34/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 4
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Inside the suburb 7 2
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 4 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 5.4 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 5.0 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 Pascoe Vale South

  • Antonine College Catholic · Combined at peers
  • Pascoe Vale South Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 22 7
Parks & reserves 14 8
Childcare 18 7
GPs 8 3
Pharmacies 5 2
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 3
same for both
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Walkability score 97/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.7 km
+3% vs other
 10.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 16 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 623.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 239.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3040
 1.2%
postcode 3044
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 3040
 18
postcode 3044

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 Pascoe Vale South
Car (driver) 46.0% / 46.7%
Essendon — Car (driver): 46.0% Pascoe Vale South — Car (driver): 46.7%
Worked from Home 40.6% / 42.0%
Essendon — Worked from Home: 40.6% Pascoe Vale South — Worked from Home: 42.0%
Train 5.1% / 2.5%
Essendon — Train: 5.1% Pascoe Vale South — Train: 2.5%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.8%
Essendon — Car (passenger): 3.0% Pascoe Vale South — Car (passenger): 3.8%
Tram / Light Rail 1.6% / 1.9%
Essendon — Tram / Light Rail: 1.6% Pascoe Vale South — Tram / Light Rail: 1.9%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.1%
Essendon — Walked Only: 1.9% Pascoe Vale South — Walked Only: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.7%).

Setting

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 57 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.0 km 10.8 km

NBN connectivity

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Connectivity score 81/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 23%
11,330 premises
 24%
4,505 premises

Climate

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
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 Pascoe Vale South
PM2.5 — 7.9 µg/m³
PM10 18.9 µg/m³ —
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Average residential rate $2,027/yr $1,914/yr
Council Moonee Valley Merri-bek

Federal electorate

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
Division Maribyrnong Wills
Member Jo Briskey Peter Khalil
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Essendon Pascoe Vale South
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

Pascoe Vale South

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals River Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Essendon

Essendon vs Moonee Ponds Essendon vs Brunswick West Essendon vs Strathmore Essendon vs Niddrie Essendon vs Aberfeldie Essendon vs Essendon North

Other comparisons with Pascoe Vale South

Pascoe Vale South vs Coburg Pascoe Vale South vs Pascoe Vale Pascoe Vale South vs Brunswick West Pascoe Vale South vs Strathmore
Full data on Essendon Full data on Pascoe Vale South
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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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