Melbourne vs Windsor

Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 34 in Windsor. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in Windsor: a median of $530,000, against $452,000 in Melbourne, and rent is higher there too. Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 3.4 km, against 7.6 km. On these figures, Melbourne tends to suit renters and young adults.

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

Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (40 vs 6)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • But Windsor has more separate houses rather than flats (13% vs 0%)

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

First-home buyers

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($516,000 vs $1,475,000)
  • has cheaper units ($452,000 vs $530,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Melbourne has a bigger rental market to choose from (73% vs 59%)
  • Windsor leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (24% vs 10%)
  • sits closer to the CBD (3.4 km vs 7.6 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (8 min vs 15 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (30 vs 1)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (100% vs 87%)
  • But Windsor has more residents already 65 and over (14% vs 6%)

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

Investors

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.2% vs -0.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Melbourne Windsor
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.

Melbourne Windsor
Walkability 100 / 99
Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 Windsor — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 3 / 8
Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 Windsor — Safety: 8/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Windsor — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 58
Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 Windsor — Low flood risk: 58/100

Demographics

Melbourne has more residents (54,941 vs 7,273); Windsor has higher household incomes ($105,144 vs $75,296).

Melbourne Windsor
Population 54,941
+87% vs other
 7,273
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% -0.1%
Median age 29 34
Median household income $75,296/yr $105,144/yr
+40% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $411/wk
+8% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melbourne Windsor
0-4 2.0% / 2.7%
Melbourne — 0-4: 2.0% Windsor — 0-4: 2.7%
5-14 2.2% / 3.7%
Melbourne — 5-14: 2.2% Windsor — 5-14: 3.7%
15-19 3.5% / 2.4%
Melbourne — 15-19: 3.5% Windsor — 15-19: 2.4%
20-24 21.0% / 8.4%
Melbourne — 20-24: 21.0% Windsor — 20-24: 8.4%
25-34 38.3% / 33.9%
Melbourne — 25-34: 38.3% Windsor — 25-34: 33.9%
35-44 14.8% / 16.4%
Melbourne — 35-44: 14.8% Windsor — 35-44: 16.4%
45-54 6.8% / 10.4%
Melbourne — 45-54: 6.8% Windsor — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 5.1% / 8.2%
Melbourne — 55-64: 5.1% Windsor — 55-64: 8.2%
65-74 3.7% / 6.0%
Melbourne — 65-74: 3.7% Windsor — 65-74: 6.0%
75-84 1.9% / 4.8%
Melbourne — 75-84: 1.9% Windsor — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 0.7% / 3.0%
Melbourne — 85+: 0.7% Windsor — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (38.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Melbourne 63.4% lone person
Melbourne — Lone Person: 63.4% Melbourne — Group Household: 20.6% Melbourne — Couple Families: 7.7% Melbourne — One Parent Families: 4.2% Melbourne — Other Families: 4.2%
Windsor 60.7% lone person
Windsor — Lone Person: 60.7% Windsor — Group Household: 16.5% Windsor — Couple Families: 14.0% Windsor — One Parent Families: 6.3% Windsor — Other Families: 2.4%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Melbourne 73.3% renting
Melbourne — Owned Outright: 13.1% Melbourne — Mortgage: 13.6% Melbourne — Renting: 73.3%
Windsor 59.4% renting
Windsor — Owned Outright: 17.3% Windsor — Mortgage: 23.3% Windsor — Renting: 59.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melbourne Windsor
Bachelor Degree 30.6% / 31.7%
Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 30.6% Windsor — Bachelor Degree: 31.7%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / 10.9%
Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% Windsor — Postgraduate Degree: 10.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 9.1%
Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Windsor — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.1%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 7.5%
Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Windsor — Certificate III & IV: 7.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.2%
Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Windsor — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.7%).

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.

Melbourne Windsor
China 15.1% / 1.5%
Melbourne — China: 15.1% Windsor — China: 1.5%
India 7.0% / 1.0%
Melbourne — India: 7.0% Windsor — India: 1.0%
Malaysia 6.2% / 1.2%
Melbourne — Malaysia: 6.2% Windsor — Malaysia: 1.2%
England — / 5.0%
Melbourne — England: not among its largest Windsor — England: 5.0%
New Zealand 1.9% / 3.1%
Melbourne — New Zealand: 1.9% Windsor — New Zealand: 3.1%
Indonesia 3.7% / —
Melbourne — Indonesia: 3.7% Windsor — Indonesia: not among its largest
Greece — / 3.1%
Melbourne — Greece: not among its largest Windsor — Greece: 3.1%
Thailand 2.6% / —
Melbourne — Thailand: 2.6% Windsor — Thailand: not among its largest
Ireland — / 1.2%
Melbourne — Ireland: not among its largest Windsor — Ireland: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melbourne 99.7% flats / apartments
Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 99.7% Melbourne — Townhouses: 0.2% Melbourne — Houses: 0.1%
Windsor 60.0% flats / apartments
Windsor — Flats / Apartments: 60.0% Windsor — Townhouses: 27.4% Windsor — Houses: 12.6%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Melbourne Windsor
Median house price $516,000 $1,475,000
Median unit price $452,000 $530,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 25 days
from 24 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.

Melbourne Windsor
1 bed $349K / $388K
Melbourne — 1 bed: $349K (787 sales) Windsor — 1 bed: $388K (62 sales)

787 vs 62 sales

2 bed $540K / $596K
Melbourne — 2 bed: $540K (999 sales) Windsor — 2 bed: $596K (80 sales)

999 vs 80 sales

3 bed $890K / $780K
Melbourne — 3 bed: $890K (131 sales) Windsor — 3 bed: $780K (9 sales)

131 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (41% vs 14%).

Melbourne Windsor
Residential 3% 70%
Commercial 41% 14%
Parks and recreation 37% 3%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 13%
Other and special use 3% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Melbourne and 99% of Windsor. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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

Melbourne Windsor
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
 818
across Stonnington
Approvals change year on year +195% +67%

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.

Melbourne Windsor
Houses — 3.7%
$965/wk on $1.35M
Units — 5.2%
$565/wk on $570K

Ranking within VIC

Melbourne Windsor
House price — Higher than 84% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
Affordability — Higher than 19% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 48% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 70% of VIC

Liveability

Melbourne Windsor
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Melbourne carries more flood risk (64 vs 42).

Melbourne Windsor
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
92/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
42/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Melbourne Windsor
Inside the suburb 12 5
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 3.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.2% 3.4%

Schools in Melbourne

  • MacRobertson Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Melbourne Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Wesley College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Eltham College - Lonsdale Street Campus Independent · Combined
  • Holmes Grammar School Independent · Secondary
  • Melbourne Grammar School - Wadhurst Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Windsor

  • Prahran High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Windsor Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Mary’s College Melbourne - Presentation Campus Catholic · Secondary
  • Wesley College - St Kilda Road Junior Campus Independent · Combined
  • Hester Hornbrook Academy - Prahran Campus Independent · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Melbourne Windsor
Supermarkets 25 0
Cafes & restaurants 944 17
Parks & reserves 40 6
Childcare 11 3
GPs 30 1
Pharmacies 28 1
Hospitals 3 1
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 43 3
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Windsor sits further from the CBD (7.6 km vs 3.4 km).

Melbourne Windsor
Walkability score 100/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km 7.6 km
+124% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 15 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 3733.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 151.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.3%
postcode 3000
 2.2%
postcode 3181
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3000
 5
postcode 3181

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.

Melbourne Windsor
Worked from Home 41.2% / 50.4%
Melbourne — Worked from Home: 41.2% Windsor — Worked from Home: 50.4%
Car (driver) 12.4% / 28.1%
Melbourne — Car (driver): 12.4% Windsor — Car (driver): 28.1%
Walked Only 17.3% / 7.1%
Melbourne — Walked Only: 17.3% Windsor — Walked Only: 7.1%
Tram / Light Rail 14.0% / 3.9%
Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 14.0% Windsor — Tram / Light Rail: 3.9%
Train 10.2% / 5.9%
Melbourne — Train: 10.2% Windsor — Train: 5.9%

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

Setting

Melbourne Windsor
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 2.1 km
2.2 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Melbourne Windsor
Connectivity score 76/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
68,501 premises
 20%
5,328 premises

Climate

Melbourne Windsor
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)

Melbourne Windsor
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Melbourne Windsor
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $1,647/yr
Council Melbourne Stonnington

Federal electorate

Melbourne Windsor
Division Melbourne Macnamara
Member Sarah Witty Josh Burns
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Melbourne Windsor
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Melbourne

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals River Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

Windsor

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melbourne

Melbourne vs Richmond Melbourne vs South Yarra Melbourne vs Southbank Melbourne vs St Kilda Melbourne vs Carlton Melbourne vs Docklands

Other comparisons with Windsor

Windsor vs St Kilda Windsor vs St Kilda East Windsor vs Prahran
Full data on Melbourne Full data on Windsor
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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