Essendon West vs Niddrie

In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Essendon West: a median of $1.39 million, against $1.27 million in Niddrie. Essendon West is closer to the city centre: 10.7 km, against 15.3 km.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Essendon West has more parks and reserves (9 vs 5)
  • Niddrie has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Niddrie

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($680,500 vs $850,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Essendon West sits closer to the CBD (10.7 km vs 15.3 km)
  • Niddrie is more walkable (85/100 vs 69/100)

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 0)
  • is more walkable (85/100 vs 69/100)

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

Investors

Essendon West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Essendon West 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 West 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 West Niddrie
Walkability 69 / 85
Essendon West — Walkability: 69/100 Niddrie — Walkability: 85/100
Safety 56 / 49
Essendon West — Safety: 56/100 Niddrie — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Essendon West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Niddrie — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 32 / 62
Essendon West — Low flood risk: 32/100 Niddrie — Low flood risk: 62/100

Demographics

Niddrie has more residents (5,901 vs 1,559).

Essendon West Niddrie
Population 1,559 5,901
+279% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.3% +7.7%
Median age 39 40
Median household income $121,576/yr
+5% vs other
 $115,076/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+4% vs other
 $432/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Essendon West Niddrie
0-4 5.1% / 5.6%
Essendon West — 0-4: 5.1% Niddrie — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 12.2% / 12.4%
Essendon West — 5-14: 12.2% Niddrie — 5-14: 12.4%
15-19 7.5% / 6.2%
Essendon West — 15-19: 7.5% Niddrie — 15-19: 6.2%
20-24 7.1% / 6.3%
Essendon West — 20-24: 7.1% Niddrie — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 11.2% / 12.0%
Essendon West — 25-34: 11.2% Niddrie — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 12.8% / 14.4%
Essendon West — 35-44: 12.8% Niddrie — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 17.2% / 15.5%
Essendon West — 45-54: 17.2% Niddrie — 45-54: 15.5%
55-64 10.8% / 12.3%
Essendon West — 55-64: 10.8% Niddrie — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 8.0% / 8.2%
Essendon West — 65-74: 8.0% Niddrie — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 5.5% / 4.3%
Essendon West — 75-84: 5.5% Niddrie — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 3.0% / 2.8%
Essendon West — 85+: 3.0% Niddrie — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.2%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Essendon West 50.5% couple families
Essendon West — Couple Families: 50.5% Essendon West — Lone Person: 31.7% Essendon West — One Parent Families: 13.0% Essendon West — Group Household: 4.1% Essendon West — Other Families: 0.7%
Niddrie 47.9% couple families
Niddrie — Couple Families: 47.9% Niddrie — Lone Person: 31.5% Niddrie — One Parent Families: 15.0% Niddrie — Group Household: 3.5% Niddrie — Other Families: 2.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Essendon West 26.6% renting
Essendon West — Owned Outright: 37.3% Essendon West — Mortgage: 36.1% Essendon West — Renting: 26.6%
Niddrie 23.5% renting
Niddrie — Owned Outright: 38.1% Niddrie — Mortgage: 38.3% Niddrie — Renting: 23.5%
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 West Niddrie
Italy 1.8% / 2.4%
Essendon West — Italy: 1.8% Niddrie — Italy: 2.4%
England 1.9% / 2.0%
Essendon West — England: 1.9% Niddrie — England: 2.0%
India 1.9% / 1.7%
Essendon West — India: 1.9% Niddrie — India: 1.7%
China 1.5% / 1.1%
Essendon West — China: 1.5% Niddrie — China: 1.1%
Vietnam 1.2% / 0.8%
Essendon West — Vietnam: 1.2% Niddrie — Vietnam: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (2.4%).

Qualifications

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

Essendon West Niddrie
Bachelor Degree 18.7% / 17.0%
Essendon West — Bachelor Degree: 18.7% Niddrie — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 11.5%
Essendon West — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Niddrie — Certificate III & IV: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.3% / 8.4%
Essendon West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.3% Niddrie — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.7% / 5.5%
Essendon West — Postgraduate Degree: 6.7% Niddrie — Postgraduate Degree: 5.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 2.7%
Essendon West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Niddrie — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Essendon West 67.8% houses
Essendon West — Houses: 67.8% Essendon West — Townhouses: 32.7% Essendon West — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Niddrie 65.2% houses
Niddrie — Houses: 65.2% Niddrie — Townhouses: 31.3% Niddrie — Flats / Apartments: 3.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Essendon West Niddrie
Median house price $1,390,000 $1,270,000
Median unit price $850,500 $680,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 6 sales
 25 days
from 38 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 West Niddrie
2 bed $660K / $535K
Essendon West — 2 bed: $660K (5 sales) Niddrie — 2 bed: $535K (12 sales)

5 vs 12 sales

3 bed $910K / $778K
Essendon West — 3 bed: $910K (7 sales) Niddrie — 3 bed: $778K (14 sales)

7 vs 14 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 West Niddrie
2 bed $1.32M / $1.16M
Essendon West — 2 bed: $1.32M (5 sales) Niddrie — 2 bed: $1.16M (13 sales)

5 vs 13 sales

3 bed $1.07M / $1.2M
Essendon West — 3 bed: $1.07M (11 sales) Niddrie — 3 bed: $1.2M (52 sales)

11 vs 52 sales

4 bed $1.57M / $1.42M
Essendon West — 4 bed: $1.57M (12 sales) Niddrie — 4 bed: $1.42M (48 sales)

12 vs 48 sales

Zoning mix

Essendon West Niddrie
Residential 58% 82%
Parks and recreation 36% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 8%
Commercial 0% 5%
Industrial 0% 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 West 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 West Niddrie
Houses 3.9%
$790/wk on $1.05M
 3.0%
$725/wk on $1.25M
Units — 5.2%
$590/wk on $592K

Ranking within VIC

Essendon West Niddrie
House price Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Income Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 73% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 35% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 70% of VIC

Liveability

Niddrie is more walkable (85 vs 69).

Essendon West Niddrie
Grade A
same for both
Score 77/100 79/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Essendon West carries more flood risk (68 vs 38).

Essendon West Niddrie
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
44/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood Moderate
68/100
 Low
38/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 5
within 5 km

Schools

Essendon West Niddrie
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 5.0 km
 2
Victoria University Footscray Park, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 4.2% 2.9%

Schools in Essendon West

  • St Bernard's College Catholic · Secondary below 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 West Niddrie
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 9 5
Childcare 0 2
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Niddrie sits further from the CBD (15.3 km vs 10.7 km).

Essendon West Niddrie
Walkability score 69/100 85/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.7 km 15.3 km
+43% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 22 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 67.0
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 1.7%
postcode 3040
 0.9%
postcode 3042
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 3040
 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 West Niddrie
Car (driver) 52.0% / 54.4%
Essendon West — Car (driver): 52.0% Niddrie — Car (driver): 54.4%
Worked from Home 38.8% / 35.9%
Essendon West — Worked from Home: 38.8% Niddrie — Worked from Home: 35.9%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 4.0%
Essendon West — Car (passenger): 3.4% Niddrie — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Train 2.9% / 2.6%
Essendon West — Train: 2.9% Niddrie — Train: 2.6%
Walked Only 0.8% / 1.4%
Essendon West — Walked Only: 0.8% Niddrie — Walked Only: 1.4%
Bus 1.2% / 0.5%
Essendon West — Bus: 1.2% Niddrie — Bus: 0.5%

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

Setting

Essendon West Niddrie
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.0 km 11.5 km

NBN connectivity

Essendon West Niddrie
Connectivity score 76/100 84/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 3%
718 premises
 30%
2,936 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Essendon West

Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet River Townhouses

Niddrie

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Essendon West

Essendon West vs Essendon Essendon West vs Keilor East Essendon West vs Maribyrnong Essendon West vs Avondale Heights Essendon West vs Aberfeldie

Other comparisons with Niddrie

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