Maribyrnong vs Avondale Heights

Maribyrnong is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 45 in Avondale Heights. In both, most households own their home. In Avondale Heights, the large majority of homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Maribyrnong: a median of $1.23 million, against $1.11 million in Avondale Heights. Maribyrnong is closer to the city centre: 11.1 km, against 12.5 km. On these figures, Maribyrnong tends to suit young adults and people living alone, while Avondale Heights suits older residents.

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

Avondale Heights

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (77% vs 34%)
  • carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 93/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (64% vs 50%)
  • But Maribyrnong has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Maribyrnong

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($485,000 vs $693,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (23% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper land ($805,500 vs $960,000)
  • But Avondale Heights has cheaper houses ($1,113,500 vs $1,230,000)

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

Renters

Maribyrnong

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (39% vs 21%)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 25%)

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

Commuting to the city

Maribyrnong

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 81/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Maribyrnong

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (66% vs 23%)
  • has more GPs (5 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 81/100)
  • But Avondale Heights has more residents already 65 and over (27% vs 11%)

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

  • Maribyrnong returns a higher gross yield on units (5.4% vs 4.5%)
  • Avondale Heights returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 3.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
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.

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Walkability 90 / 81
Maribyrnong — Walkability: 90/100 Avondale Heights — Walkability: 81/100
Safety 7 / 52
Maribyrnong — Safety: 7/100 Avondale Heights — Safety: 52/100
Low fire risk 66 / 100
Maribyrnong — Low fire risk: 66/100 Avondale Heights — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 27 / 40
Maribyrnong — Low flood risk: 27/100 Avondale Heights — Low flood risk: 40/100

Demographics

Maribyrnong has higher household incomes ($105,040 vs $82,524); Avondale Heights skews older (45 vs 36).

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Population 12,573
+1% vs other
 12,388
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.9% +6.5%
Median age 36 45
Median household income $105,040/yr
+21% vs other
 $82,524/yr
Median weekly rent $396/wk $400/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
0-4 5.0% / 5.1%
Maribyrnong — 0-4: 5.0% Avondale Heights — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 8.7% / 10.9%
Maribyrnong — 5-14: 8.7% Avondale Heights — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 4.6% / 4.6%
Maribyrnong — 15-19: 4.6% Avondale Heights — 15-19: 4.6%
20-24 8.0% / 4.8%
Maribyrnong — 20-24: 8.0% Avondale Heights — 20-24: 4.8%
25-34 21.5% / 11.1%
Maribyrnong — 25-34: 21.5% Avondale Heights — 25-34: 11.1%
35-44 16.6% / 13.4%
Maribyrnong — 35-44: 16.6% Avondale Heights — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 13.4% / 12.2%
Maribyrnong — 45-54: 13.4% Avondale Heights — 45-54: 12.2%
55-64 10.8% / 11.1%
Maribyrnong — 55-64: 10.8% Avondale Heights — 55-64: 11.1%
65-74 7.6% / 11.5%
Maribyrnong — 65-74: 7.6% Avondale Heights — 65-74: 11.5%
75-84 2.9% / 10.3%
Maribyrnong — 75-84: 2.9% Avondale Heights — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 0.9% / 4.9%
Maribyrnong — 85+: 0.9% Avondale Heights — 85+: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Maribyrnong 38.3% couple families
Maribyrnong — Couple Families: 38.3% Maribyrnong — Lone Person: 39.8% Maribyrnong — One Parent Families: 12.0% Maribyrnong — Group Household: 7.5% Maribyrnong — Other Families: 2.3%
Avondale Heights 47.4% couple families
Avondale Heights — Couple Families: 47.4% Avondale Heights — Lone Person: 31.4% Avondale Heights — One Parent Families: 16.6% Avondale Heights — Group Household: 2.8% Avondale Heights — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Maribyrnong 38.7% renting
Maribyrnong — Owned Outright: 26.2% Maribyrnong — Mortgage: 35.1% Maribyrnong — Renting: 38.7%
Avondale Heights 20.7% renting
Avondale Heights — Owned Outright: 49.3% Avondale Heights — Mortgage: 30.1% Avondale Heights — Renting: 20.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Bachelor Degree 23.0% / 15.6%
Maribyrnong — Bachelor Degree: 23.0% Avondale Heights — Bachelor Degree: 15.6%
Certificate III & IV 8.0% / 10.0%
Maribyrnong — Certificate III & IV: 8.0% Avondale Heights — Certificate III & IV: 10.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.6% / 6.8%
Maribyrnong — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6% Avondale Heights — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 9.3% / 4.2%
Maribyrnong — Postgraduate Degree: 9.3% Avondale Heights — Postgraduate Degree: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 1.8%
Maribyrnong — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Avondale Heights — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.0%).

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.

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Vietnam 11.4% / 5.7%
Maribyrnong — Vietnam: 11.4% Avondale Heights — Vietnam: 5.7%
Italy 1.3% / 8.7%
Maribyrnong — Italy: 1.3% Avondale Heights — Italy: 8.7%
China 3.6% / 1.6%
Maribyrnong — China: 3.6% Avondale Heights — China: 1.6%
India 3.1% / 1.6%
Maribyrnong — India: 3.1% Avondale Heights — India: 1.6%
Greece — / 2.3%
Maribyrnong — Greece: not among its largest Avondale Heights — Greece: 2.3%
Malaysia 1.7% / —
Maribyrnong — Malaysia: 1.7% Avondale Heights — Malaysia: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.6% / —
Maribyrnong — New Zealand: 1.6% Avondale Heights — New Zealand: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Maribyrnong 33.6% houses
Maribyrnong — Houses: 33.6% Maribyrnong — Townhouses: 31.3% Maribyrnong — Flats / Apartments: 35.1%
Avondale Heights 76.8% houses
Avondale Heights — Houses: 76.8% Avondale Heights — Townhouses: 22.2% Avondale Heights — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Median house price $1,230,000 $1,113,500
Median unit price $485,000 $693,500
Median land price $805,500 $960,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 69 sales
 28 days
from 122 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.

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
2 bed $500K / $590K
Maribyrnong — 2 bed: $500K (188 sales) Avondale Heights — 2 bed: $590K (7 sales)

188 vs 7 sales

3 bed $680K / $750K
Maribyrnong — 3 bed: $680K (13 sales) Avondale Heights — 3 bed: $750K (11 sales)

13 vs 11 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.

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
2 bed $766K / $825K
Maribyrnong — 2 bed: $766K (16 sales) Avondale Heights — 2 bed: $825K (11 sales)

16 vs 11 sales

3 bed $1.08M / $970K
Maribyrnong — 3 bed: $1.08M (48 sales) Avondale Heights — 3 bed: $970K (126 sales)

48 vs 126 sales

4 bed $1.41M / $1.3M
Maribyrnong — 4 bed: $1.41M (41 sales) Avondale Heights — 4 bed: $1.3M (66 sales)

41 vs 66 sales

5 bed $1.64M / $1.61M
Maribyrnong — 5 bed: $1.64M (13 sales) Avondale Heights — 5 bed: $1.61M (14 sales)

13 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Residential 33% 68%
Other and special use 35% 0%
Parks and recreation 15% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 6%
Commercial 8% 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

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
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.

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Houses 3.2%
$700/wk on $1.13M
 3.8%
$750/wk on $1.03M
Units 5.4%
$525/wk on $504K
 4.5%
$570/wk on $660K

Ranking within VIC

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
House price Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
Income Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 35% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 32% of VIC

Liveability

Avondale Heights scores higher overall (70 vs 57); Maribyrnong is more walkable (90 vs 81).

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Grade B A
Score 57/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Maribyrnong carries more bushfire risk (34 vs 0); Maribyrnong carries more crime risk (93 vs 48).

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Bushfire Low
34/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
93/100
 Moderate
48/100
Flood High
73/100
 Moderate
60/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 12
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 2.9 km
 2
Victoria University Footscray Park, 5.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.8% 2.3%

Schools in Maribyrnong

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

Schools in Avondale Heights

  • St Martin de Porres School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Avondale Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Supermarkets 3 1
Cafes & restaurants 12 9
Parks & reserves 33 22
Childcare 6 7
GPs 5 3
Pharmacies 4 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 4 0
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Walkability score 90/100 81/100
Distance to Melbourne 11.1 km 12.5 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 27 min
Public transport score 96/100
Tram · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 383.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 159.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.0%
postcode 3032
 1.1%
postcode 3034
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 15
postcode 3032
 21
postcode 3034

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.

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Car (driver) 50.4% / 59.0%
Maribyrnong — Car (driver): 50.4% Avondale Heights — Car (driver): 59.0%
Worked from Home 36.9% / 31.5%
Maribyrnong — Worked from Home: 36.9% Avondale Heights — Worked from Home: 31.5%
Car (passenger) 4.0% / 4.4%
Maribyrnong — Car (passenger): 4.0% Avondale Heights — Car (passenger): 4.4%
Train 3.4% / 2.3%
Maribyrnong — Train: 3.4% Avondale Heights — Train: 2.3%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.1%
Maribyrnong — Walked Only: 1.9% Avondale Heights — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bus 0.7% / 1.1%
Maribyrnong — Bus: 0.7% Avondale Heights — Bus: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (59.0%).

Setting

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Elevation 41 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.9 km 9.8 km

NBN connectivity

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Connectivity score 81/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
7,244 premises
 7%
5,302 premises

Climate

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
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)

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

Council rates

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Average residential rate $2,450/yr $2,027/yr
Council Maribyrnong Moonee Valley

Federal electorate

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Division Fraser Maribyrnong
Member Daniel Mulino Jo Briskey
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Maribyrnong Avondale Heights
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Maribyrnong

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

Avondale Heights

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Retirees Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Maribyrnong

Maribyrnong vs Footscray Maribyrnong vs Moonee Ponds Maribyrnong vs Ascot Vale Maribyrnong vs Maidstone Maribyrnong vs Aberfeldie Maribyrnong vs Essendon West

Other comparisons with Avondale Heights

Avondale Heights vs Keilor East Avondale Heights vs Sunshine North Avondale Heights vs Braybrook Avondale Heights vs Maidstone Avondale Heights vs Essendon West
Full data on Maribyrnong Full data on Avondale Heights
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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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