Spotswood vs Port Melbourne

Spotswood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Port Melbourne. In both, most households own their home. In Spotswood, most homes are detached houses and about half of households are couple families. In Port Melbourne, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Port Melbourne: a median of $1.5 million, against $1.22 million in Spotswood, and rent is higher there too. Port Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 5.9 km, against 10.2 km. On these figures, Spotswood tends to suit families with children, couples, and buyers on a tighter budget, while Port Melbourne suits 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

Port Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (30 vs 7)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Spotswood has more separate houses rather than flats (65% vs 6%)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Spotswood has cheaper houses ($1,220,250 vs $1,500,000)
  • Port Melbourne has cheaper units ($667,500 vs $754,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Spotswood has cheaper rent ($456/wk vs $540/wk)
  • Port Melbourne has a bigger rental market to choose from (44% vs 33%)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Spotswood is more walkable (85/100 vs 68/100)
  • Port Melbourne sits closer to the CBD (5.9 km vs 10.2 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Port Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 2)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (94% vs 35%)
  • But Spotswood is more walkable (85/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Spotswood Port Melbourne
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.

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Walkability 85 / 68
Spotswood — Walkability: 85/100 Port Melbourne — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 7 / 11
Spotswood — Safety: 7/100 Port Melbourne — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Spotswood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Port Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 72 / 63
Spotswood — Low flood risk: 72/100 Port Melbourne — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Port Melbourne has more residents (17,633 vs 2,820); Port Melbourne rents higher ($540/wk vs $456/wk).

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Population 2,820 17,633
+525% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +8.3% +9.0%
Median age 37 42
Median household income $127,920/yr
+4% vs other
 $123,344/yr
Median weekly rent $456/wk $540/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Spotswood Port Melbourne
0-4 7.3% / 4.7%
Spotswood — 0-4: 7.3% Port Melbourne — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 13.7% / 9.0%
Spotswood — 5-14: 13.7% Port Melbourne — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 3.9% / 3.9%
Spotswood — 15-19: 3.9% Port Melbourne — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 4.1% / 4.0%
Spotswood — 20-24: 4.1% Port Melbourne — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 15.2% / 15.4%
Spotswood — 25-34: 15.2% Port Melbourne — 25-34: 15.4%
35-44 19.7% / 17.7%
Spotswood — 35-44: 19.7% Port Melbourne — 35-44: 17.7%
45-54 15.5% / 16.5%
Spotswood — 45-54: 15.5% Port Melbourne — 45-54: 16.5%
55-64 9.4% / 12.7%
Spotswood — 55-64: 9.4% Port Melbourne — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 6.8% / 9.5%
Spotswood — 65-74: 6.8% Port Melbourne — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 3.3% / 5.2%
Spotswood — 75-84: 3.3% Port Melbourne — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 1.0% / 1.4%
Spotswood — 85+: 1.0% Port Melbourne — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Spotswood 32.3% lone person
Spotswood — Lone Person: 32.3% Spotswood — Couple Families: 47.9% Spotswood — One Parent Families: 12.7% Spotswood — Group Household: 5.2% Spotswood — Other Families: 1.9%
Port Melbourne 52.1% lone person
Port Melbourne — Lone Person: 52.1% Port Melbourne — Couple Families: 29.2% Port Melbourne — One Parent Families: 11.7% Port Melbourne — Group Household: 5.6% Port Melbourne — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Spotswood 32.9% renting
Spotswood — Owned Outright: 27.6% Spotswood — Mortgage: 39.4% Spotswood — Renting: 32.9%
Port Melbourne 44.4% renting
Port Melbourne — Owned Outright: 26.4% Port Melbourne — Mortgage: 29.2% Port Melbourne — Renting: 44.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Bachelor Degree 21.6% / 24.1%
Spotswood — Bachelor Degree: 21.6% Port Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 24.1%
Postgraduate Degree 7.4% / 10.3%
Spotswood — Postgraduate Degree: 7.4% Port Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 10.3%
Certificate III & IV 10.0% / 7.2%
Spotswood — Certificate III & IV: 10.0% Port Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 7.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.7% / 8.9%
Spotswood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.7% Port Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.5%
Spotswood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Port Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.1%).

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.

Spotswood Port Melbourne
England 3.1% / 4.9%
Spotswood — England: 3.1% Port Melbourne — England: 4.9%
New Zealand 2.4% / 2.5%
Spotswood — New Zealand: 2.4% Port Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.5%
India 2.3% / 0.8%
Spotswood — India: 2.3% Port Melbourne — India: 0.8%
Greece 0.8% / 1.7%
Spotswood — Greece: 0.8% Port Melbourne — Greece: 1.7%
Italy 1.5% / 0.9%
Spotswood — Italy: 1.5% Port Melbourne — Italy: 0.9%
China 0.8% / 1.5%
Spotswood — China: 0.8% Port Melbourne — China: 1.5%
Vietnam 1.1% / —
Spotswood — Vietnam: 1.1% Port Melbourne — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Spotswood 30.6% townhouses
Spotswood — Townhouses: 30.6% Spotswood — Houses: 65.2% Spotswood — Flats / Apartments: 4.2%
Port Melbourne 43.9% townhouses
Port Melbourne — Townhouses: 43.9% Port Melbourne — Houses: 6.0% Port Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 50.2%
Townhouses Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Median house price $1,220,250 $1,500,000
Median unit price $754,500 $667,500
Median land price $1,100,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 20 sales
 24 days
from 115 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.

Spotswood Port Melbourne
2 bed $735K / $741K
Spotswood — 2 bed: $735K (15 sales) Port Melbourne — 2 bed: $741K (182 sales)

15 vs 182 sales

3 bed $1.1M / $1.67M
Spotswood — 3 bed: $1.1M (7 sales) Port Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.67M (32 sales)

7 vs 32 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.

Spotswood Port Melbourne
2 bed $1.01M / $1.25M
Spotswood — 2 bed: $1.01M (17 sales) Port Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.25M (71 sales)

17 vs 71 sales

3 bed $1.16M / $1.72M
Spotswood — 3 bed: $1.16M (53 sales) Port Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.72M (76 sales)

53 vs 76 sales

4 bed $1.3M / $2.33M
Spotswood — 4 bed: $1.3M (19 sales) Port Melbourne — 4 bed: $2.33M (22 sales)

19 vs 22 sales

5 bed $1.4M / $2.71M
Spotswood — 5 bed: $1.4M (6 sales) Port Melbourne — 5 bed: $2.71M (6 sales)

6 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Port Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (47% vs 13%); Spotswood has more industrially zoned land (38% vs 13%).

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Commercial 13% 47%
Industrial 38% 13%
Residential 22% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 10%
Parks and recreation 11% 9%
Other and special use 0% 2%
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

Spotswood Port Melbourne
New dwellings approved 1,028
across Hobsons Bay
 891
across Port Phillip
Approvals change year on year +206% +4175%

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.

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Houses 3.8%
$850/wk on $1.15M
 3.5%
$1,025/wk on $1.51M
Units — 5.5%
$780/wk on $735K

Ranking within VIC

Spotswood Port Melbourne
House price Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Income Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 57% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 57% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 58% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 84% of VIC

Liveability

Spotswood is more walkable (85 vs 68); Spotswood scores higher overall (78 vs 70).

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Grade A
same for both
Score 78/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 High
89/100
Flood Low
28/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
76/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 40
within 5 km
 36
within 5 km

Schools

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 3.6 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 4.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 1.7% 1.9%

Schools in Spotswood

  • Spotswood Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Margaret Mary's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Port Melbourne

  • Port Melbourne Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Port Melbourne Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Albert Park College-Environmental Arts Hub Government · Secondary
  • Port Phillip Specialist School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 4 55
Parks & reserves 7 30
Childcare 3 8
GPs 2 7
Pharmacies 1 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 1 5
EV chargers 0 4
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Spotswood sits further from the CBD (10.2 km vs 5.9 km).

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Walkability score 85/100 68/100
Distance to Melbourne 10.2 km
+42% vs other
 5.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 18 min 14 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 60.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 654.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3015
 2.9%
postcode 3207
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 23
postcode 3015
 7
postcode 3207

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.

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Worked from Home 46.6% / 52.1%
Spotswood — Worked from Home: 46.6% Port Melbourne — Worked from Home: 52.1%
Car (driver) 43.1% / 33.9%
Spotswood — Car (driver): 43.1% Port Melbourne — Car (driver): 33.9%
Walked Only 1.5% / 4.4%
Spotswood — Walked Only: 1.5% Port Melbourne — Walked Only: 4.4%
Train 4.8% / 0.6%
Spotswood — Train: 4.8% Port Melbourne — Train: 0.6%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 2.2%
Spotswood — Car (passenger): 2.6% Port Melbourne — Car (passenger): 2.2%
Bicycle 1.1% / 2.9%
Spotswood — Bicycle: 1.1% Port Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.9%
Tram / Light Rail — / 2.6%
Spotswood — Tram / Light Rail: not among its largest Port Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.1%).

Setting

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.0 km
3.1 km to a named beach
 792 m
813 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Connectivity score 91/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 57%
1,662 premises
 18%
12,195 premises

Climate

Spotswood Port Melbourne
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)

Spotswood Port Melbourne
PM2.5 — 7.9 µg/m³
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.81 pphm —

Council rates

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Average residential rate $2,677/yr $1,765/yr
Council Hobsons Bay Port Phillip

Federal electorate

Spotswood Port Melbourne
Division Fraser Macnamara
Member Daniel Mulino Josh Burns
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Spotswood

Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals River Townhouses Trains Transport Hub

Port Melbourne

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Spotswood

Spotswood vs Yarraville Spotswood vs Newport Spotswood vs Altona North Spotswood vs West Melbourne Spotswood vs South Kingsville

Other comparisons with Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne vs Yarraville Port Melbourne vs Docklands Port Melbourne vs Newport Port Melbourne vs South Melbourne Port Melbourne vs West Melbourne Port Melbourne vs Albert Park
Full data on Spotswood Full data on Port Melbourne
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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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