Essendon vs Strathmore

In both, most households own their home. In Strathmore, the large majority of homes are detached houses and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Essendon: a median of $1.75 million, against $1.55 million in Strathmore, though rent is higher in Strathmore. Essendon is closer to the city centre: 10.7 km, against 13.2 km. On these figures, Essendon tends to suit people living alone, while Strathmore 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

Strathmore

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 47%)
  • carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 65/100)
  • But Essendon has more childcare (18 vs 8)

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

  • Essendon has cheaper units ($495,000 vs $570,000)
  • Strathmore has cheaper houses ($1,555,000 vs $1,755,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land 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 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($380/wk vs $450/wk)

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

  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 69/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (10.7 km vs 13.2 km)

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)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (53% vs 23%)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 69/100)
  • But Strathmore carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 65/100)

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

Investors

Essendon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.3% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Essendon and Strathmore 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 Strathmore
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 Strathmore
Walkability 97 / 69
Essendon — Walkability: 97/100 Strathmore — Walkability: 69/100
Safety 35 / 54
Essendon — Safety: 35/100 Strathmore — Safety: 54/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Essendon — Low fire risk: 100/100 Strathmore — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 70 / 52
Essendon — Low flood risk: 70/100 Strathmore — Low flood risk: 52/100

Demographics

Essendon has more residents (21,240 vs 8,980); Strathmore rents higher ($450/wk vs $380/wk).

Essendon Strathmore
Population 21,240
+58% vs other
 8,980
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.1% +6.7%
Median age 39 41
Median household income $110,864/yr $130,312/yr
+18% vs other
Median weekly rent $380/wk $450/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Essendon Strathmore
0-4 4.1% / 4.0%
Essendon — 0-4: 4.1% Strathmore — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 10.9% / 14.9%
Essendon — 5-14: 10.9% Strathmore — 5-14: 14.9%
15-19 5.8% / 7.8%
Essendon — 15-19: 5.8% Strathmore — 15-19: 7.8%
20-24 7.5% / 6.3%
Essendon — 20-24: 7.5% Strathmore — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 15.5% / 9.1%
Essendon — 25-34: 15.5% Strathmore — 25-34: 9.1%
35-44 13.8% / 12.8%
Essendon — 35-44: 13.8% Strathmore — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 14.3% / 15.8%
Essendon — 45-54: 14.3% Strathmore — 45-54: 15.8%
55-64 12.4% / 13.3%
Essendon — 55-64: 12.4% Strathmore — 55-64: 13.3%
65-74 8.8% / 9.4%
Essendon — 65-74: 8.8% Strathmore — 65-74: 9.4%
75-84 4.5% / 4.3%
Essendon — 75-84: 4.5% Strathmore — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 2.5% / 2.1%
Essendon — 85+: 2.5% Strathmore — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

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%
Strathmore 59.6% couple families
Strathmore — Couple Families: 59.6% Strathmore — Lone Person: 25.2% Strathmore — One Parent Families: 11.7% Strathmore — Group Household: 2.3% Strathmore — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
Strathmore 17.2% renting
Strathmore — Owned Outright: 42.6% Strathmore — Mortgage: 40.2% Strathmore — Renting: 17.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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 Strathmore
India 3.0% / 1.8%
Essendon — India: 3.0% Strathmore — India: 1.8%
Italy 2.4% / 2.1%
Essendon — Italy: 2.4% Strathmore — Italy: 2.1%
England 1.8% / 1.9%
Essendon — England: 1.8% Strathmore — England: 1.9%
China 1.3% / 1.1%
Essendon — China: 1.3% Strathmore — China: 1.1%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.0%
Essendon — New Zealand: 1.3% Strathmore — New Zealand: 1.0%

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

Qualifications

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

Essendon Strathmore
Bachelor Degree 22.9% / 19.6%
Essendon — Bachelor Degree: 22.9% Strathmore — Bachelor Degree: 19.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.6%
Essendon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Strathmore — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Certificate III & IV 8.1% / 9.3%
Essendon — Certificate III & IV: 8.1% Strathmore — Certificate III & IV: 9.3%
Postgraduate Degree 8.5% / 6.2%
Essendon — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5% Strathmore — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.1%
Essendon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Strathmore — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Essendon 47.2% houses
Essendon — Houses: 47.2% Essendon — Townhouses: 19.6% Essendon — Flats / Apartments: 33.2%
Strathmore 76.6% houses
Strathmore — Houses: 76.6% Strathmore — Townhouses: 20.1% Strathmore — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Essendon Strathmore
Median house price $1,755,000 $1,555,000
Median unit price $495,000 $570,000
Median land price $1,615,500 $1,407,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 185 sales
 26 days
from 92 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 Strathmore
1 bed $335K / $395K
Essendon — 1 bed: $335K (96 sales) Strathmore — 1 bed: $395K (5 sales)

96 vs 5 sales

2 bed $545K / $566K
Essendon — 2 bed: $545K (220 sales) Strathmore — 2 bed: $566K (18 sales)

220 vs 18 sales

3 bed $835K / $908K
Essendon — 3 bed: $835K (24 sales) Strathmore — 3 bed: $908K (6 sales)

24 vs 6 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 Strathmore
2 bed $1.03M / $1.12M
Essendon — 2 bed: $1.03M (34 sales) Strathmore — 2 bed: $1.12M (12 sales)

34 vs 12 sales

3 bed $1.51M / $1.28M
Essendon — 3 bed: $1.51M (100 sales) Strathmore — 3 bed: $1.28M (59 sales)

100 vs 59 sales

4 bed $2M / $1.61M
Essendon — 4 bed: $2M (118 sales) Strathmore — 4 bed: $1.61M (69 sales)

118 vs 69 sales

5 bed $2.6M / $2.1M
Essendon — 5 bed: $2.6M (27 sales) Strathmore — 5 bed: $2.1M (27 sales)

27 vs 27 sales

Zoning mix

Essendon Strathmore
Residential 79% 74%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 13%
Parks and recreation 7% 12%
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 Strathmore
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 Strathmore
Houses 2.7%
$835/wk on $1.6M
 3.1%
$950/wk on $1.57M
Units 5.3%
$550/wk on $538K
 4.3%
$642/wk on $770K

Ranking within VIC

Essendon Strathmore
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Income Higher than 84% of VIC —
Schools Higher than 43% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 11% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC

Liveability

Essendon is more walkable (97 vs 69); Strathmore scores higher overall (82 vs 76).

Essendon Strathmore
Grade A A+
Score 76/100 82/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Strathmore carries more flood risk (48 vs 30); Essendon carries more crime risk (65 vs 46).

Essendon Strathmore
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
65/100
 Moderate
46/100
Flood Low
30/100
 Moderate
48/100
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 Strathmore
Inside the suburb 7 5
Rated above peers 1 2
Rated at peers 4 2
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 5.4 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 6.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.7% 3.8%

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 Strathmore

  • Strathmore North Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Strathmore Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Vincent de Paul's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Strathmore Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - AFL Victoria & Cricket Australia Sports Development Program - Strathmore Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Essendon Strathmore
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 22 1
Parks & reserves 14 11
Childcare 18 8
GPs 8 1
Pharmacies 5 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2
same for both
Fuel stations 3 0
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Strathmore sits further from the CBD (13.2 km vs 10.7 km).

Essendon Strathmore
Walkability score 97/100 69/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.7 km 13.2 km
+23% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 20 min 19 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 623.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 116.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
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 Strathmore
Car (driver) 46.0% / 52.4%
Essendon — Car (driver): 46.0% Strathmore — Car (driver): 52.4%
Worked from Home 40.6% / 39.5%
Essendon — Worked from Home: 40.6% Strathmore — Worked from Home: 39.5%
Train 5.1% / 2.7%
Essendon — Train: 5.1% Strathmore — Train: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 3.2%
Essendon — Car (passenger): 3.0% Strathmore — Car (passenger): 3.2%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.2%
Essendon — Walked Only: 1.9% Strathmore — Walked Only: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.4%).

Setting

Essendon Strathmore
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 69 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.0 km 11.9 km

NBN connectivity

Essendon Strathmore
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
 50%
3,799 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Essendon Strathmore
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

Strathmore

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Essendon

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

Other comparisons with Strathmore

Strathmore vs Pascoe Vale Strathmore vs Pascoe Vale South Strathmore vs Oak Park Strathmore vs Essendon North Strathmore vs Strathmore Heights
Full data on Essendon Full data on Strathmore
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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