Footscray vs Maribyrnong

In Footscray, most households rent, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Maribyrnong, most households own their home. Houses cost more in Maribyrnong: a median of $1.23 million, against $882,000 in Footscray, and rent is higher there too. Footscray is closer to the city centre: 7 km, against 11.1 km. 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

Maribyrnong

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (50% vs 32%)
  • has more parks and reserves (33 vs 28)
  • But Footscray has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Footscray

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($551,000 vs $805,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($882,500 vs $1,230,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Footscray

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (58% vs 39%)
  • has cheaper rent ($355/wk vs $396/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Footscray

ahead on 4 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (12% vs 5%)
  • sits closer to the CBD (7 km vs 11.1 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (17 min vs 24 min)

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 5)
  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 90/100)

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

Investors

Footscray

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 3.2%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.0% vs 5.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Footscray and Maribyrnong 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 Maribyrnong
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 Maribyrnong
Walkability 100 / 90
Footscray — Walkability: 100/100 Maribyrnong — Walkability: 90/100
Safety 5 / 7
Footscray — Safety: 5/100 Maribyrnong — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 66
Footscray — Low fire risk: 100/100 Maribyrnong — Low fire risk: 66/100
Low flood risk 36 / 27
Footscray — Low flood risk: 36/100 Maribyrnong — Low flood risk: 27/100

Demographics

Footscray has more residents (17,131 vs 12,573); Maribyrnong has higher household incomes ($105,040 vs $91,676).

Footscray Maribyrnong
Population 17,131
+27% vs other
 12,573
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +2.9%
Median age 34 36
Median household income $91,676/yr $105,040/yr
+15% vs other
Median weekly rent $355/wk $396/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Footscray Maribyrnong
0-4 4.7% / 5.0%
Footscray — 0-4: 4.7% Maribyrnong — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 5.9% / 8.7%
Footscray — 5-14: 5.9% Maribyrnong — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 2.7% / 4.6%
Footscray — 15-19: 2.7% Maribyrnong — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 8.3% / 8.0%
Footscray — 20-24: 8.3% Maribyrnong — 20-24: 8.0%
25-34 30.3% / 21.5%
Footscray — 25-34: 30.3% Maribyrnong — 25-34: 21.5%
35-44 18.4% / 16.6%
Footscray — 35-44: 18.4% Maribyrnong — 35-44: 16.6%
45-54 10.3% / 13.4%
Footscray — 45-54: 10.3% Maribyrnong — 45-54: 13.4%
55-64 8.4% / 10.8%
Footscray — 55-64: 8.4% Maribyrnong — 55-64: 10.8%
65-74 5.7% / 7.6%
Footscray — 65-74: 5.7% Maribyrnong — 65-74: 7.6%
75-84 3.3% / 2.9%
Footscray — 75-84: 3.3% Maribyrnong — 75-84: 2.9%
85+ 1.9% / 0.9%
Footscray — 85+: 1.9% Maribyrnong — 85+: 0.9%

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%
Maribyrnong 39.8% lone person
Maribyrnong — Lone Person: 39.8% Maribyrnong — Couple Families: 38.3% Maribyrnong — One Parent Families: 12.0% Maribyrnong — Group Household: 7.5% Maribyrnong — Other Families: 2.3%
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%
Maribyrnong 38.7% renting
Maribyrnong — Owned Outright: 26.2% Maribyrnong — Mortgage: 35.1% Maribyrnong — Renting: 38.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Footscray Maribyrnong
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 23.0%
Footscray — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Maribyrnong — Bachelor Degree: 23.0%
Postgraduate Degree 11.6% / 9.3%
Footscray — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6% Maribyrnong — Postgraduate Degree: 9.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 8.6%
Footscray — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Maribyrnong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Certificate III & IV 7.3% / 8.0%
Footscray — Certificate III & IV: 7.3% Maribyrnong — Certificate III & IV: 8.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 2.8%
Footscray — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Maribyrnong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8%

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 Maribyrnong
Vietnam 8.5% / 11.4%
Footscray — Vietnam: 8.5% Maribyrnong — Vietnam: 11.4%
India 4.7% / 3.1%
Footscray — India: 4.7% Maribyrnong — India: 3.1%
China 2.2% / 3.6%
Footscray — China: 2.2% Maribyrnong — China: 3.6%
England 2.2% / 1.4%
Footscray — England: 2.2% Maribyrnong — England: 1.4%
New Zealand 2.0% / 1.6%
Footscray — New Zealand: 2.0% Maribyrnong — New Zealand: 1.6%
Malaysia 1.4% / 1.7%
Footscray — Malaysia: 1.4% Maribyrnong — Malaysia: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.4%).

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%
Maribyrnong 35.1% flats / apartments
Maribyrnong — Flats / Apartments: 35.1% Maribyrnong — Houses: 33.6% Maribyrnong — Townhouses: 31.3%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Footscray Maribyrnong
Median house price $882,500 $1,230,000
Median unit price $455,900 $485,000
Median land price $551,000 $805,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 83 sales
 25 days
from 69 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 Maribyrnong
2 bed $819K / $766K
Footscray — 2 bed: $819K (78 sales) Maribyrnong — 2 bed: $766K (16 sales)

78 vs 16 sales

3 bed $961K / $1.08M
Footscray — 3 bed: $961K (83 sales) Maribyrnong — 3 bed: $1.08M (48 sales)

83 vs 48 sales

4 bed $1.07M / $1.41M
Footscray — 4 bed: $1.07M (26 sales) Maribyrnong — 4 bed: $1.41M (41 sales)

26 vs 41 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 Maribyrnong
1 bed $346K / $347K
Footscray — 1 bed: $346K (174 sales) Maribyrnong — 1 bed: $347K (52 sales)

174 vs 52 sales

2 bed $485K / $500K
Footscray — 2 bed: $485K (319 sales) Maribyrnong — 2 bed: $500K (188 sales)

319 vs 188 sales

3 bed $682K / $680K
Footscray — 3 bed: $682K (54 sales) Maribyrnong — 3 bed: $680K (13 sales)

54 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Footscray has more commercially zoned land (22% vs 8%).

Footscray Maribyrnong
Other and special use 4% 35%
Residential 34% 33%
Commercial 22% 8%
Infrastructure and transport 20% 8%
Parks and recreation 13% 15%
Industrial 7% 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 Maribyrnong
New dwellings approved 774
across Maribyrnong
same for both
Approvals change year on year +198%
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.

Footscray Maribyrnong
Houses 3.8%
$650/wk on $892K
 3.2%
$700/wk on $1.13M
Units 6.0%
$560/wk on $482K
 5.4%
$525/wk on $504K

Ranking within VIC

Footscray Maribyrnong
House price Higher than 68% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Income Higher than 61% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools Higher than 1% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 35% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC

Liveability

Footscray is more walkable (100 vs 90); Maribyrnong scores higher overall (57 vs 52).

Footscray Maribyrnong
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 57/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 8/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Maribyrnong carries more bushfire risk (34 vs 0).

Footscray Maribyrnong
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
34/100
Crime High
95/100
 High
93/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
73/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 42
within 5 km
 12
within 5 km

Schools

Footscray Maribyrnong
Inside the suburb 10 2
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 3 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 0.0 km
 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 2.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.6% 3.8%

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 Maribyrnong

  • Maribyrnong College Government · Secondary above peers
  • St Margaret's Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Footscray Maribyrnong
Supermarkets 11 3
Cafes & restaurants 117 12
Parks & reserves 28 33
Childcare 16 6
GPs 18 5
Pharmacies 10 4
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 4
Fuel stations 3 4
Waterways 2 4

Mobility

Maribyrnong sits further from the CBD (11.1 km vs 7 km).

Footscray Maribyrnong
Walkability score 100/100 90/100
Distance to Melbourne 7 km 11.1 km
+59% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 24 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 853.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 383.0
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 Maribyrnong
Car (driver) 34.5% / 50.4%
Footscray — Car (driver): 34.5% Maribyrnong — Car (driver): 50.4%
Worked from Home 42.7% / 36.9%
Footscray — Worked from Home: 42.7% Maribyrnong — Worked from Home: 36.9%
Train 11.4% / 3.4%
Footscray — Train: 11.4% Maribyrnong — Train: 3.4%
Car (passenger) 2.2% / 4.0%
Footscray — Car (passenger): 2.2% Maribyrnong — Car (passenger): 4.0%
Walked Only 3.7% / 1.9%
Footscray — Walked Only: 3.7% Maribyrnong — Walked Only: 1.9%
Bus 2.9% / 0.7%
Footscray — Bus: 2.9% Maribyrnong — Bus: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.4%).

Setting

Footscray Maribyrnong
Elevation 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.0 km 7.9 km

NBN connectivity

Footscray Maribyrnong
Connectivity score 89/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 60%
13,147 premises
 42%
7,244 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Footscray Maribyrnong
Average residential rate $2,450/yr
same for both
Council Maribyrnong
same for both

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Footscray Maribyrnong
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

Maribyrnong

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Footscray

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

Other comparisons with Maribyrnong

Maribyrnong vs Moonee Ponds Maribyrnong vs Ascot Vale Maribyrnong vs Avondale Heights Maribyrnong vs Maidstone Maribyrnong vs Aberfeldie Maribyrnong vs Essendon West
Full data on Footscray Full data on Maribyrnong
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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