Footscray vs Kensington

In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Footscray, most households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Kensington, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Kensington: a median of $1.19 million, against $882,000 in Footscray, and rent is higher there too. Kensington is closer to the city centre: 4.8 km, against 7 km. On these figures, Footscray tends to suit 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

Footscray

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (16 vs 6)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 4)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (32% vs 17%)

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

First-home buyers

Footscray

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($882,500 vs $1,190,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Footscray

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($355/wk vs $416/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Kensington

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (4.8 km vs 7 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (12 min vs 17 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Footscray has more GPs (18 vs 4)
  • Kensington has more units and townhouses to downsize into (83% vs 68%)

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

  • Footscray is growing faster (4.8% vs -0.6%)
  • Kensington returns a higher gross yield on units (7.3% vs 6.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Footscray and Kensington 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 Kensington
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 Kensington
Walkability 100 / 99
Footscray — Walkability: 100/100 Kensington — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 5 / 14
Footscray — Safety: 5/100 Kensington — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Footscray — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kensington — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 25
Footscray — Low flood risk: 36/100 Kensington — Low flood risk: 25/100

Demographics

Footscray has more residents (17,131 vs 10,745); Kensington has higher household incomes ($115,232 vs $91,676).

Footscray Kensington
Population 17,131
+37% vs other
 10,745
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% -0.6%
Median age 34 35
Median household income $91,676/yr $115,232/yr
+26% vs other
Median weekly rent $355/wk $416/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Footscray Kensington
0-4 4.7% / 5.9%
Footscray — 0-4: 4.7% Kensington — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 5.9% / 8.7%
Footscray — 5-14: 5.9% Kensington — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 2.7% / 3.4%
Footscray — 15-19: 2.7% Kensington — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 8.3% / 7.0%
Footscray — 20-24: 8.3% Kensington — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 30.3% / 23.7%
Footscray — 25-34: 30.3% Kensington — 25-34: 23.7%
35-44 18.4% / 19.9%
Footscray — 35-44: 18.4% Kensington — 35-44: 19.9%
45-54 10.3% / 12.4%
Footscray — 45-54: 10.3% Kensington — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 8.4% / 8.9%
Footscray — 55-64: 8.4% Kensington — 55-64: 8.9%
65-74 5.7% / 6.2%
Footscray — 65-74: 5.7% Kensington — 65-74: 6.2%
75-84 3.3% / 2.8%
Footscray — 75-84: 3.3% Kensington — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 1.9% / 1.2%
Footscray — 85+: 1.9% Kensington — 85+: 1.2%

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 — Group Household: 13.9% Footscray — One Parent Families: 10.9% Footscray — Other Families: 3.0%
Kensington 47.7% lone person
Kensington — Lone Person: 47.7% Kensington — Couple Families: 27.7% Kensington — Group Household: 12.0% Kensington — One Parent Families: 10.4% Kensington — Other Families: 2.3%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families 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%
Kensington 50.2% renting
Kensington — Owned Outright: 18.5% Kensington — Mortgage: 31.3% Kensington — Renting: 50.2%
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.

Footscray Kensington
Vietnam 8.5% / 3.0%
Footscray — Vietnam: 8.5% Kensington — Vietnam: 3.0%
India 4.7% / 1.6%
Footscray — India: 4.7% Kensington — India: 1.6%
England 2.2% / 3.2%
Footscray — England: 2.2% Kensington — England: 3.2%
China 2.2% / 2.8%
Footscray — China: 2.2% Kensington — China: 2.8%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.5%
Footscray — New Zealand: 2.0% Kensington — New Zealand: 2.5%

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

Qualifications

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

Footscray Kensington
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 28.1%
Footscray — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Kensington — Bachelor Degree: 28.1%
Postgraduate Degree 11.6% / 14.5%
Footscray — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6% Kensington — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.7%
Footscray — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Kensington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Certificate III & IV 7.3% / 5.8%
Footscray — Certificate III & IV: 7.3% Kensington — Certificate III & IV: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 4.2%
Footscray — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Kensington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Footscray 53.2% flats / apartments
Footscray — Flats / Apartments: 53.2% Footscray — Townhouses: 15.3% Footscray — Houses: 31.5%
Kensington 29.5% flats / apartments
Kensington — Flats / Apartments: 29.5% Kensington — Townhouses: 53.4% Kensington — Houses: 17.1%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Footscray Kensington
Median house price $882,500 $1,190,000
Median unit price $455,900 $480,000
Median land price $551,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 83 sales
 22 days
from 77 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 Kensington
1 bed $346K / $376K
Footscray — 1 bed: $346K (174 sales) Kensington — 1 bed: $376K (44 sales)

174 vs 44 sales

2 bed $485K / $511K
Footscray — 2 bed: $485K (319 sales) Kensington — 2 bed: $511K (100 sales)

319 vs 100 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 Kensington
2 bed $819K / $990K
Footscray — 2 bed: $819K (78 sales) Kensington — 2 bed: $990K (62 sales)

78 vs 62 sales

3 bed $961K / $1.28M
Footscray — 3 bed: $961K (83 sales) Kensington — 3 bed: $1.28M (60 sales)

83 vs 60 sales

4 bed $1.07M / $1.37M
Footscray — 4 bed: $1.07M (26 sales) Kensington — 4 bed: $1.37M (21 sales)

26 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Footscray has more commercially zoned land (22% vs 12%).

Footscray Kensington
Residential 34% 59%
Commercial 22% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 20% 8%
Parks and recreation 13% 14%
Industrial 7%
same for both
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 Kensington
New dwellings approved 774
across Maribyrnong
 4,715
across Melbourne
Approvals change year on year +198% +195%

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 Kensington
Houses 3.8%
$650/wk on $892K
 3.8%
$750/wk on $1.01M
Units 6.0%
$560/wk on $482K
 7.3%
$670/wk on $480K

Ranking within VIC

Footscray Kensington
House price Higher than 68% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Income Higher than 61% of VIC —
Schools Higher than 1% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 36% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC

Liveability

Kensington scores higher overall (57 vs 52).

Footscray Kensington
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 57/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Kensington carries more flood risk (75 vs 64).

Footscray Kensington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 High
86/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
75/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 42
within 5 km
 35
within 5 km

Schools

Footscray Kensington
Inside the suburb 10 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 3 1
Rated below peers 3 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 0.0 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 2.3 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6%
same for both

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 Kensington

  • Holy Rosary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Kensington Community High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Kensington Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Melbourne City Talented Player Program - Kensington Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Footscray Kensington
Supermarkets 11 5
Cafes & restaurants 117 29
Parks & reserves 28 24
Childcare 16 6
GPs 18 4
Pharmacies 10 1
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 3 1
Waterways 2 1

Mobility

Footscray sits further from the CBD (7 km vs 4.8 km).

Footscray Kensington
Walkability score 100/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 7 km
+31% vs other
 4.8 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 12 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 853.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 117.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 3011
 1.7%
postcode 3031
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 11
postcode 3011
 11
postcode 3031

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 Kensington
Worked from Home 42.7% / 54.0%
Footscray — Worked from Home: 42.7% Kensington — Worked from Home: 54.0%
Car (driver) 34.5% / 26.5%
Footscray — Car (driver): 34.5% Kensington — Car (driver): 26.5%
Train 11.4% / 7.7%
Footscray — Train: 11.4% Kensington — Train: 7.7%
Walked Only 3.7% / 3.7%
Footscray — Walked Only: 3.7% Kensington — Walked Only: 3.7%
Bicycle 2.1% / 4.5%
Footscray — Bicycle: 2.1% Kensington — Bicycle: 4.5%
Bus 2.9% / 1.3%
Footscray — Bus: 2.9% Kensington — Bus: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.0%).

Setting

Footscray Kensington
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km 5.1 km

NBN connectivity

Footscray Kensington
Connectivity score 89/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 60%
13,147 premises
 30%
6,258 premises

Climate

Footscray Kensington
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 Kensington
PM2.5 — 7.9 µg/m³
PM10 18.9 µg/m³ —
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Footscray Kensington
Average residential rate $2,450/yr $2,345/yr
Council Maribyrnong Melbourne

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Footscray Kensington
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

Kensington

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Footscray

Footscray vs Yarraville Footscray vs Ascot Vale Footscray vs Maribyrnong Footscray vs West Footscray Footscray vs Maidstone Footscray vs West Melbourne

Other comparisons with Kensington

Kensington vs North Melbourne Kensington vs West Melbourne Kensington vs Flemington
Full data on Footscray Full data on Kensington
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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