West Footscray vs Braybrook

In West Footscray, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Braybrook, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in West Footscray: a median of $972,000, against $769,000 in Braybrook, and rent is higher there too. West Footscray is closer to the city centre: 9 km, against 12.1 km. On these figures, Braybrook 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • West Footscray has more separate houses rather than flats (59% vs 47%)
  • Braybrook has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)

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

  • West Footscray has cheaper units ($392,500 vs $492,500)
  • Braybrook has cheaper houses ($769,444 vs $972,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Braybrook

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($312/wk vs $351/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West Footscray

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (17 min vs 23 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (9 km vs 12.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • West Footscray carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 89/100)
  • Braybrook has more units and townhouses to downsize into (53% vs 41%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

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

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

West Footscray Braybrook
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.

West Footscray Braybrook
Walkability 90 / 92
West Footscray — Walkability: 90/100 Braybrook — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 26 / 11
West Footscray — Safety: 26/100 Braybrook — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
West Footscray — Low fire risk: 100/100 Braybrook — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 59 / 67
West Footscray — Low flood risk: 59/100 Braybrook — Low flood risk: 67/100

Demographics

West Footscray has higher household incomes ($103,428 vs $75,452); West Footscray rents higher ($351/wk vs $312/wk).

West Footscray Braybrook
Population 11,729
+17% vs other
 9,682
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.4% +5.3%
Median age 35 34
Median household income $103,428/yr
+27% vs other
 $75,452/yr
Median weekly rent $351/wk
+11% vs other
 $312/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Footscray Braybrook
0-4 6.5% / 5.4%
West Footscray — 0-4: 6.5% Braybrook — 0-4: 5.4%
5-14 10.7% / 10.2%
West Footscray — 5-14: 10.7% Braybrook — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 3.6% / 5.5%
West Footscray — 15-19: 3.6% Braybrook — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 5.3% / 7.5%
West Footscray — 20-24: 5.3% Braybrook — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 22.5% / 22.9%
West Footscray — 25-34: 22.5% Braybrook — 25-34: 22.9%
35-44 19.0% / 14.6%
West Footscray — 35-44: 19.0% Braybrook — 35-44: 14.6%
45-54 13.1% / 11.3%
West Footscray — 45-54: 13.1% Braybrook — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 9.4% / 10.2%
West Footscray — 55-64: 9.4% Braybrook — 55-64: 10.2%
65-74 5.5% / 8.1%
West Footscray — 65-74: 5.5% Braybrook — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 3.0% / 3.0%
West Footscray — 75-84: 3.0% Braybrook — 75-84: 3.0%
85+ 1.4% / 1.2%
West Footscray — 85+: 1.4% Braybrook — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

West Footscray 37.0% couple families
West Footscray — Couple Families: 37.0% West Footscray — Lone Person: 38.1% West Footscray — One Parent Families: 12.4% West Footscray — Group Household: 10.6% West Footscray — Other Families: 1.9%
Braybrook 34.4% couple families
Braybrook — Couple Families: 34.4% Braybrook — Lone Person: 31.4% Braybrook — One Parent Families: 21.1% Braybrook — Group Household: 9.7% Braybrook — Other Families: 3.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

West Footscray 41.6% renting
West Footscray — Owned Outright: 22.4% West Footscray — Mortgage: 36.0% West Footscray — Renting: 41.6%
Braybrook 49.5% renting
Braybrook — Owned Outright: 19.6% Braybrook — Mortgage: 30.9% Braybrook — Renting: 49.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

West Footscray Braybrook
Bachelor Degree 20.6% / 15.0%
West Footscray — Bachelor Degree: 20.6% Braybrook — Bachelor Degree: 15.0%
Postgraduate Degree 9.8% / 6.5%
West Footscray — Postgraduate Degree: 9.8% Braybrook — Postgraduate Degree: 6.5%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 7.0%
West Footscray — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Braybrook — Certificate III & IV: 7.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.3% / 6.6%
West Footscray — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.3% Braybrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.5% / 1.3%
West Footscray — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5% Braybrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.6%).

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.

West Footscray Braybrook
Vietnam 6.1% / 22.6%
West Footscray — Vietnam: 6.1% Braybrook — Vietnam: 22.6%
India 3.7% / 6.5%
West Footscray — India: 3.7% Braybrook — India: 6.5%
Philippines 1.7% / 2.6%
West Footscray — Philippines: 1.7% Braybrook — Philippines: 2.6%
China 1.1% / 2.7%
West Footscray — China: 1.1% Braybrook — China: 2.7%
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.3%
West Footscray — New Zealand: 1.9% Braybrook — New Zealand: 1.3%
England 2.2% / 0.7%
West Footscray — England: 2.2% Braybrook — England: 0.7%
Myanmar — / 1.6%
West Footscray — Myanmar: not among its largest Braybrook — Myanmar: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

West Footscray 58.9% houses
West Footscray — Houses: 58.9% West Footscray — Townhouses: 19.1% West Footscray — Flats / Apartments: 22.0%
Braybrook 47.0% houses
Braybrook — Houses: 47.0% Braybrook — Townhouses: 48.5% Braybrook — Flats / Apartments: 4.5%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

West Footscray Braybrook
Median house price $972,500 $769,444
Median unit price $392,500 $492,500
Median land price — $777,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 94 sales
 32 days
from 112 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.

West Footscray Braybrook
2 bed $805K / $703K
West Footscray — 2 bed: $805K (48 sales) Braybrook — 2 bed: $703K (36 sales)

48 vs 36 sales

3 bed $985K / $760K
West Footscray — 3 bed: $985K (91 sales) Braybrook — 3 bed: $760K (85 sales)

91 vs 85 sales

4 bed $1.36M / $900K
West Footscray — 4 bed: $1.36M (23 sales) Braybrook — 4 bed: $900K (27 sales)

23 vs 27 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.

West Footscray Braybrook
1 bed $290K / $330K
West Footscray — 1 bed: $290K (39 sales) Braybrook — 1 bed: $330K (10 sales)

39 vs 10 sales

2 bed $420K / $467K
West Footscray — 2 bed: $420K (87 sales) Braybrook — 2 bed: $467K (26 sales)

87 vs 26 sales

3 bed $620K / $660K
West Footscray — 3 bed: $620K (7 sales) Braybrook — 3 bed: $660K (11 sales)

7 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

West Footscray has more industrially zoned land (23% vs 0%); Braybrook has more commercially zoned land (23% vs 2%).

West Footscray Braybrook
Residential 56% 51%
Commercial 2% 23%
Industrial 23% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 17%
Parks and recreation 6% 8%
Planning zones cover 100% of West Footscray and 99% of Braybrook. 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

West Footscray Braybrook
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.

West Footscray Braybrook
Houses 4.2%
$690/wk on $852K
 4.4%
$600/wk on $708K
Units 5.4%
$482/wk on $462K
 5.7%
$480/wk on $440K

Ranking within VIC

West Footscray Braybrook
House price Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Income Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
Schools Higher than 64% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 79% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC

Liveability

West Footscray scores higher overall (73 vs 58).

West Footscray Braybrook
Grade A B
Score 73/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Braybrook carries more crime risk (89 vs 74).

West Footscray Braybrook
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 High
89/100
Flood Moderate
41/100
 Low
33/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 40
within 5 km
 23
within 5 km

Schools

West Footscray Braybrook
Inside the suburb 3 9
Rated above peers 1 3
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 2.3 km
 2
Victoria University Footscray Park, 3.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.1% 3.3%

Schools in West Footscray

  • Footscray West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Corpus Christi School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • OakTree College Independent · Secondary

Schools in Braybrook

  • Braybrook College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Caroline Chisholm Catholic College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Dinjerra Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Christ the King Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Caroline Chisholm Catholic College - Christ the King Campus Catholic · Secondary
  • Caroline Chisholm Catholic College - Sacred Heart Campus Catholic · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

West Footscray Braybrook
Supermarkets 1 4
Cafes & restaurants 9 6
Parks & reserves 11
same for both
Childcare 6 10
GPs 4 5
Pharmacies 1 4
Banks & Bank@Post 2 3
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 2
same for both

Mobility

Braybrook sits further from the CBD (12.1 km vs 9 km).

West Footscray Braybrook
Walkability score 90/100 92/100
Distance to Melbourne 9 km 12.1 km
+34% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 23 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 251.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 277.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3012
 1.1%
postcode 3019
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 18
postcode 3012
 23
postcode 3019

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.

West Footscray Braybrook
Car (driver) 40.7% / 60.2%
West Footscray — Car (driver): 40.7% Braybrook — Car (driver): 60.2%
Worked from Home 44.0% / 23.7%
West Footscray — Worked from Home: 44.0% Braybrook — Worked from Home: 23.7%
Train 6.2% / 4.9%
West Footscray — Train: 6.2% Braybrook — Train: 4.9%
Car (passenger) 3.0% / 6.1%
West Footscray — Car (passenger): 3.0% Braybrook — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Bus 1.8% / 3.0%
West Footscray — Bus: 1.8% Braybrook — Bus: 3.0%
Walked Only 2.1% / 1.3%
West Footscray — Walked Only: 2.1% Braybrook — Walked Only: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (60.2%).

Setting

West Footscray Braybrook
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.5 km 7.5 km

NBN connectivity

West Footscray Braybrook
Connectivity score 90/100 79/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 60%
6,134 premises
 22%
4,910 premises

Climate

West Footscray Braybrook
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

West Footscray Braybrook
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

West Footscray

Gentrifying Middle-Ring Parks Professionals Urban

Braybrook

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with West Footscray

West Footscray vs Footscray West Footscray vs Yarraville West Footscray vs Maidstone West Footscray vs Seddon West Footscray vs Kingsville

Other comparisons with Braybrook

Braybrook vs Avondale Heights Braybrook vs Sunshine North Braybrook vs Sunshine Braybrook vs Maidstone
Full data on West Footscray Full data on Braybrook
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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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