Moonee Ponds vs Essendon

In both, most households own their home. In Moonee Ponds, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Essendon: a median of $1.75 million, against $1.44 million in Moonee Ponds. Moonee Ponds is closer to the city centre: 7.1 km, against 10.7 km. On these figures, Moonee Ponds 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

Essendon

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (18 vs 9)
  • has more parks and reserves (14 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

Moonee Ponds

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,440,000 vs $1,755,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Moonee Ponds

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (7.1 km vs 10.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Essendon

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (65/100 vs 80/100)

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

Investors

Moonee Ponds

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (13.9% vs 3.1%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.3% vs 2.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Moonee Ponds Essendon
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.

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Walkability 100 / 97
Moonee Ponds — Walkability: 100/100 Essendon — Walkability: 97/100
Safety 20 / 35
Moonee Ponds — Safety: 20/100 Essendon — Safety: 35/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Moonee Ponds — Low fire risk: 100/100 Essendon — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 71 / 70
Moonee Ponds — Low flood risk: 71/100 Essendon — Low flood risk: 70/100

Demographics

Essendon has more residents (21,240 vs 16,224).

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Population 16,224 21,240
+31% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +13.9% +3.1%
Median age 38 39
Median household income $109,772/yr $110,864/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+5% vs other
 $380/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Moonee Ponds Essendon
0-4 4.6% / 4.1%
Moonee Ponds — 0-4: 4.6% Essendon — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 9.3% / 10.9%
Moonee Ponds — 5-14: 9.3% Essendon — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 4.5% / 5.8%
Moonee Ponds — 15-19: 4.5% Essendon — 15-19: 5.8%
20-24 6.8% / 7.5%
Moonee Ponds — 20-24: 6.8% Essendon — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 19.3% / 15.5%
Moonee Ponds — 25-34: 19.3% Essendon — 25-34: 15.5%
35-44 14.9% / 13.8%
Moonee Ponds — 35-44: 14.9% Essendon — 35-44: 13.8%
45-54 13.1% / 14.3%
Moonee Ponds — 45-54: 13.1% Essendon — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 11.9% / 12.4%
Moonee Ponds — 55-64: 11.9% Essendon — 55-64: 12.4%
65-74 8.4% / 8.8%
Moonee Ponds — 65-74: 8.4% Essendon — 65-74: 8.8%
75-84 4.6% / 4.5%
Moonee Ponds — 75-84: 4.6% Essendon — 75-84: 4.5%
85+ 2.6% / 2.5%
Moonee Ponds — 85+: 2.6% Essendon — 85+: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Moonee Ponds 46.6% lone person
Moonee Ponds — Lone Person: 46.6% Moonee Ponds — Couple Families: 34.8% Moonee Ponds — One Parent Families: 9.1% Moonee Ponds — Group Household: 7.4% Moonee Ponds — Other Families: 2.1%
Essendon 42.2% lone person
Essendon — Lone Person: 42.2% Essendon — Couple Families: 40.9% Essendon — One Parent Families: 10.1% Essendon — Group Household: 5.3% Essendon — Other Families: 1.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Moonee Ponds 39.6% renting
Moonee Ponds — Owned Outright: 30.8% Moonee Ponds — Mortgage: 29.7% Moonee Ponds — Renting: 39.6%
Essendon 36.5% renting
Essendon — Owned Outright: 33.2% Essendon — Mortgage: 30.4% Essendon — Renting: 36.5%
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.

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Italy 3.6% / 2.4%
Moonee Ponds — Italy: 3.6% Essendon — Italy: 2.4%
India 2.5% / 3.0%
Moonee Ponds — India: 2.5% Essendon — India: 3.0%
England 2.3% / 1.8%
Moonee Ponds — England: 2.3% Essendon — England: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.3%
Moonee Ponds — New Zealand: 1.8% Essendon — New Zealand: 1.3%
China 1.4% / 1.3%
Moonee Ponds — China: 1.4% Essendon — China: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

Qualifications

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

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Bachelor Degree 24.0% / 22.9%
Moonee Ponds — Bachelor Degree: 24.0% Essendon — Bachelor Degree: 22.9%
Postgraduate Degree 10.4% / 8.5%
Moonee Ponds — Postgraduate Degree: 10.4% Essendon — Postgraduate Degree: 8.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.8%
Moonee Ponds — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Essendon — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Certificate III & IV 7.7% / 8.1%
Moonee Ponds — Certificate III & IV: 7.7% Essendon — Certificate III & IV: 8.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.5% / 3.8%
Moonee Ponds — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.5% Essendon — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Moonee Ponds 44.7% houses
Moonee Ponds — Houses: 44.7% Moonee Ponds — Flats / Apartments: 39.7% Moonee Ponds — Townhouses: 15.7%
Essendon 47.2% houses
Essendon — Houses: 47.2% Essendon — Flats / Apartments: 33.2% Essendon — Townhouses: 19.6%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Median house price $1,440,000 $1,755,000
Median unit price $515,000 $495,000
Median land price — $1,615,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 109 sales
 25 days
from 185 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.

Moonee Ponds Essendon
1 bed $415K / $335K
Moonee Ponds — 1 bed: $415K (105 sales) Essendon — 1 bed: $335K (96 sales)

105 vs 96 sales

2 bed $600K / $545K
Moonee Ponds — 2 bed: $600K (147 sales) Essendon — 2 bed: $545K (220 sales)

147 vs 220 sales

3 bed $902K / $835K
Moonee Ponds — 3 bed: $902K (22 sales) Essendon — 3 bed: $835K (24 sales)

22 vs 24 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.

Moonee Ponds Essendon
2 bed $1.09M / $1.03M
Moonee Ponds — 2 bed: $1.09M (46 sales) Essendon — 2 bed: $1.03M (34 sales)

46 vs 34 sales

3 bed $1.36M / $1.51M
Moonee Ponds — 3 bed: $1.36M (78 sales) Essendon — 3 bed: $1.51M (100 sales)

78 vs 100 sales

4 bed $1.9M / $2M
Moonee Ponds — 4 bed: $1.9M (55 sales) Essendon — 4 bed: $2M (118 sales)

55 vs 118 sales

5 bed $2.1M / $2.6M
Moonee Ponds — 5 bed: $2.1M (12 sales) Essendon — 5 bed: $2.6M (27 sales)

12 vs 27 sales

Zoning mix

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Residential 67% 79%
Commercial 11% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 7%
Parks and recreation 7%
same for both
Other and special use 7% 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

Moonee Ponds Essendon
New dwellings approved 702
across Moonee Valley
same for both
Approvals change year on year +82%
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.

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Houses 3.3%
$860/wk on $1.35M
 2.7%
$835/wk on $1.6M
Units 5.7%
$575/wk on $521K
 5.3%
$550/wk on $538K

Ranking within VIC

Moonee Ponds Essendon
House price Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Schools Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 76% of VIC

Liveability

Essendon scores higher overall (76 vs 68).

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Grade A
same for both
Score 68/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Moonee Ponds carries more crime risk (80 vs 65).

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
80/100
 Moderate
65/100
Flood Low
29/100
 Low
30/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Inside the suburb 4 7
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 3 4
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 3.5 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 5.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.5% 3.7%

Schools in Moonee Ponds

  • Moonee Ponds Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Moonee Ponds West Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Monica's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Penleigh & Essendon Grammar School - Moonee Ponds Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Essendon

  • St Therese's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Buckley Park College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Essendon Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School Independent · Combined at peers
  • St Columba's College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Essendon Keilor College-Senior Campus Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Supermarkets 5 4
Cafes & restaurants 53 22
Parks & reserves 10 14
Childcare 9 18
GPs 9 8
Pharmacies 7 5
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 2
Fuel stations 4 3
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 0 3

Mobility

Essendon sits further from the CBD (10.7 km vs 7.1 km).

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Walkability score 100/100 97/100
Distance to Melbourne 7.1 km 10.7 km
+51% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 19 min 20 min
Public transport score 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 458.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 623.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 3039
 1.7%
postcode 3040
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 13
postcode 3039
 16
postcode 3040

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.

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Worked from Home 44.9% / 40.6%
Moonee Ponds — Worked from Home: 44.9% Essendon — Worked from Home: 40.6%
Car (driver) 37.7% / 46.0%
Moonee Ponds — Car (driver): 37.7% Essendon — Car (driver): 46.0%
Train 6.7% / 5.1%
Moonee Ponds — Train: 6.7% Essendon — Train: 5.1%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 3.0%
Moonee Ponds — Car (passenger): 2.6% Essendon — Car (passenger): 3.0%
Walked Only 3.4% / 1.9%
Moonee Ponds — Walked Only: 3.4% Essendon — Walked Only: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.0%).

Setting

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.3 km 10.0 km

NBN connectivity

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Connectivity score 78/100 81/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 12%
8,330 premises
 23%
11,330 premises

Climate

Moonee Ponds Essendon
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)

Moonee Ponds Essendon
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 18.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Average residential rate $2,027/yr
same for both
Council Moonee Valley
same for both

Federal electorate

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Division Maribyrnong
same for both
Member Jo Briskey
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Moonee Ponds Essendon
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Moonee Ponds

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Essendon

Apartments Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Moonee Ponds

Moonee Ponds vs Ascot Vale Moonee Ponds vs Brunswick West Moonee Ponds vs Maribyrnong Moonee Ponds vs Parkville Moonee Ponds vs Aberfeldie

Other comparisons with Essendon

Essendon vs Brunswick West Essendon vs Pascoe Vale South Essendon vs Strathmore Essendon vs Niddrie Essendon vs Aberfeldie Essendon vs Essendon North
Full data on Moonee Ponds Full data on Essendon
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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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