Footscray vs Ascot Vale

Footscray is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 37 in Ascot Vale. In Footscray, most households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Ascot Vale, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Ascot Vale: a median of $1.32 million, against $882,000 in Footscray. On these figures, Footscray tends to suit renters, young adults, and people living alone.

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

  • Footscray has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 5)
  • Ascot Vale is already more of a family suburb (52% vs 32%)

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

First-home buyers

Footscray

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($882,500 vs $1,325,000)
  • has cheaper units ($455,900 vs $515,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Footscray

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (58% vs 39%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Footscray

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (18 vs 4)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (68% vs 54%)
  • But Ascot Vale carries lower crime risk (85/100 vs 95/100)

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

Investors

Footscray

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.0% vs 5.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Footscray and Ascot Vale drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Footscray Ascot Vale
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.

Footscray Ascot Vale
Walkability 100 / 99
Footscray — Walkability: 100/100 Ascot Vale — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 5 / 15
Footscray — Safety: 5/100 Ascot Vale — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Footscray — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ascot Vale — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 30
Footscray — Low flood risk: 36/100 Ascot Vale — Low flood risk: 30/100

Demographics

Ascot Vale has higher household incomes ($113,984 vs $91,676); Ascot Vale skews older (37 vs 34).

Footscray Ascot Vale
Population 17,131
+11% vs other
 15,197
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +3.0%
Median age 34 37
Median household income $91,676/yr $113,984/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $355/wk $370/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Footscray Ascot Vale
0-4 4.7% / 6.4%
Footscray — 0-4: 4.7% Ascot Vale — 0-4: 6.4%
5-14 5.9% / 11.3%
Footscray — 5-14: 5.9% Ascot Vale — 5-14: 11.3%
15-19 2.7% / 4.3%
Footscray — 15-19: 2.7% Ascot Vale — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 8.3% / 6.2%
Footscray — 20-24: 8.3% Ascot Vale — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 30.3% / 17.4%
Footscray — 25-34: 30.3% Ascot Vale — 25-34: 17.4%
35-44 18.4% / 16.5%
Footscray — 35-44: 18.4% Ascot Vale — 35-44: 16.5%
45-54 10.3% / 14.1%
Footscray — 45-54: 10.3% Ascot Vale — 45-54: 14.1%
55-64 8.4% / 11.2%
Footscray — 55-64: 8.4% Ascot Vale — 55-64: 11.2%
65-74 5.7% / 7.4%
Footscray — 65-74: 5.7% Ascot Vale — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 3.3% / 3.6%
Footscray — 75-84: 3.3% Ascot Vale — 75-84: 3.6%
85+ 1.9% / 1.5%
Footscray — 85+: 1.9% Ascot Vale — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Footscray 50.7% lone person
Footscray — Lone Person: 50.7% Footscray — Couple Families: 21.5% Footscray — One Parent Families: 10.9% Footscray — Group Household: 13.9% Footscray — Other Families: 3.0%
Ascot Vale 37.9% lone person
Ascot Vale — Lone Person: 37.9% Ascot Vale — Couple Families: 39.8% Ascot Vale — One Parent Families: 11.9% Ascot Vale — Group Household: 8.3% Ascot Vale — Other Families: 2.2%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Footscray 57.5% renting
Footscray — Owned Outright: 14.7% Footscray — Mortgage: 27.7% Footscray — Renting: 57.5%
Ascot Vale 38.8% renting
Ascot Vale — Owned Outright: 27.7% Ascot Vale — Mortgage: 33.5% Ascot Vale — Renting: 38.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Footscray Ascot Vale
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 22.6%
Footscray — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Ascot Vale — Bachelor Degree: 22.6%
Postgraduate Degree 11.6% / 9.9%
Footscray — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6% Ascot Vale — Postgraduate Degree: 9.9%
Certificate III & IV 7.3% / 7.5%
Footscray — Certificate III & IV: 7.3% Ascot Vale — Certificate III & IV: 7.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 7.1%
Footscray — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Ascot Vale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 3.9%
Footscray — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Ascot Vale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.5%).

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.

Footscray Ascot Vale
Vietnam 8.5% / 2.6%
Footscray — Vietnam: 8.5% Ascot Vale — Vietnam: 2.6%
India 4.7% / 1.3%
Footscray — India: 4.7% Ascot Vale — India: 1.3%
England 2.2% / 2.3%
Footscray — England: 2.2% Ascot Vale — England: 2.3%
China 2.2% / 1.6%
Footscray — China: 2.2% Ascot Vale — China: 1.6%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.5%
Footscray — New Zealand: 2.0% Ascot Vale — New Zealand: 1.5%
Italy — / 2.0%
Footscray — Italy: not among its largest Ascot Vale — Italy: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (8.5%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Footscray 53.2% flats / apartments
Footscray — Flats / Apartments: 53.2% Footscray — Houses: 31.5% Footscray — Townhouses: 15.3%
Ascot Vale 31.0% flats / apartments
Ascot Vale — Flats / Apartments: 31.0% Ascot Vale — Houses: 46.0% Ascot Vale — Townhouses: 23.0%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Footscray Ascot Vale
Median house price $882,500 $1,325,000
Median unit price $455,900 $515,000
Median land price $551,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 83 sales
 24 days
from 82 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.

Footscray Ascot Vale
1 bed $346K / $345K
Footscray — 1 bed: $346K (174 sales) Ascot Vale — 1 bed: $345K (33 sales)

174 vs 33 sales

2 bed $485K / $545K
Footscray — 2 bed: $485K (319 sales) Ascot Vale — 2 bed: $545K (77 sales)

319 vs 77 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.

Footscray Ascot Vale
2 bed $819K / $1.1M
Footscray — 2 bed: $819K (78 sales) Ascot Vale — 2 bed: $1.1M (46 sales)

78 vs 46 sales

3 bed $961K / $1.28M
Footscray — 3 bed: $961K (83 sales) Ascot Vale — 3 bed: $1.28M (98 sales)

83 vs 98 sales

4 bed $1.07M / $1.65M
Footscray — 4 bed: $1.07M (26 sales) Ascot Vale — 4 bed: $1.65M (47 sales)

26 vs 47 sales

Zoning mix

Footscray has more commercially zoned land (22% vs 3%).

Footscray Ascot Vale
Residential 34% 75%
Commercial 22% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 20% 7%
Parks and recreation 13% 15%
Industrial 7% 0%
Other and special use 4% 0%
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

Footscray Ascot Vale
New dwellings approved 774
across Maribyrnong
 702
across Moonee Valley
Approvals change year on year +198% +82%

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.

Footscray Ascot Vale
Houses 3.8%
$650/wk on $892K
 3.7%
$850/wk on $1.2M
Units 6.0%
$560/wk on $482K
 5.1%
$522/wk on $535K

Ranking within VIC

Footscray Ascot Vale
House price Higher than 68% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Schools Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 29% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC

Liveability

Footscray Ascot Vale
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 55/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Footscray carries more crime risk (95 vs 85).

Footscray Ascot Vale
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 High
85/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
70/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 42
within 5 km
 24
within 5 km

Schools

Footscray Ascot Vale
Inside the suburb 10 5
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 3 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 0.0 km
 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 2.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6% 3.0%

Schools in Footscray

  • Footscray City Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Footscray High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Footscray North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Footscray Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St John's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Monica's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Ascot Vale

  • Ascot Vale West Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Ascot Vale Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Netball Ascot Vale Independent · Secondary
  • Ascot Vale Heights School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Footscray Ascot Vale
Supermarkets 11 3
Cafes & restaurants 117 21
Parks & reserves 28 14
Childcare 16 11
GPs 18 4
Pharmacies 10 3
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 2
Fuel stations 3 5
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Footscray Ascot Vale
Walkability score 100/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 7 km
+3% vs other
 6.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 18 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 853.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 334.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 3011
 2.0%
postcode 3032
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 11
postcode 3011
 15
postcode 3032

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.

Footscray Ascot Vale
Worked from Home 42.7% / 46.7%
Footscray — Worked from Home: 42.7% Ascot Vale — Worked from Home: 46.7%
Car (driver) 34.5% / 38.8%
Footscray — Car (driver): 34.5% Ascot Vale — Car (driver): 38.8%
Train 11.4% / 5.0%
Footscray — Train: 11.4% Ascot Vale — Train: 5.0%
Walked Only 3.7% / 2.2%
Footscray — Walked Only: 3.7% Ascot Vale — Walked Only: 2.2%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 2.4%
Footscray — Car (passenger): 2.2% Ascot Vale — Car (passenger): 2.4%
Bus 2.9% / 0.5%
Footscray — Bus: 2.9% Ascot Vale — Bus: 0.5%
Tram / Light Rail 0.4% / 2.3%
Footscray — Tram / Light Rail: 0.4% Ascot Vale — Tram / Light Rail: 2.3%

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

Setting

Footscray Ascot Vale
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km 7.0 km

NBN connectivity

Footscray Ascot Vale
Connectivity score 89/100 80/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 60%
13,147 premises
 16%
7,801 premises

Climate

Footscray Ascot Vale
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)

Footscray Ascot Vale
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 18.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Footscray Ascot Vale
Average residential rate $2,450/yr $2,027/yr
Council Maribyrnong Moonee Valley

Federal electorate

Footscray Ascot Vale
Division Fraser Maribyrnong
Member Daniel Mulino Jo Briskey
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Footscray Ascot Vale
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Footscray

Affordable Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Ascot Vale

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Footscray

Footscray vs Yarraville Footscray vs Maribyrnong Footscray vs West Footscray Footscray vs Kensington Footscray vs Maidstone Footscray vs West Melbourne

Other comparisons with Ascot Vale

Ascot Vale vs Moonee Ponds Ascot Vale vs Brunswick West Ascot Vale vs Maribyrnong Ascot Vale vs Parkville Ascot Vale vs Flemington Ascot Vale vs Travancore
Full data on Footscray Full data on Ascot Vale
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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