West Melbourne vs Footscray

West Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 34 in Footscray. In both, most households rent. In West Melbourne, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Footscray, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in West Melbourne: a median of $530,000, against $456,000 in Footscray, and rent is higher there too. West Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 7 km. On these figures, West Melbourne tends to suit 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

Footscray

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (32% vs 1%)
  • has more childcare (16 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Footscray

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($882,500 vs $1,272,500)
  • has cheaper units ($455,900 vs $530,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Footscray

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($355/wk vs $388/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

West Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (11 min vs 17 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (4.6 km vs 7 km)
  • But Footscray is more walkable (100/100 vs 38/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Footscray

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (18 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 38/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (11% vs 4%)
  • But West Melbourne has more units and townhouses to downsize into (99% vs 68%)

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

Investors

West Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (45.5% vs 4.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 6.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

West Melbourne and Footscray 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 Melbourne Footscray
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 Melbourne Footscray
Walkability 38 / 100
West Melbourne — Walkability: 38/100 Footscray — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 8 / 5
West Melbourne — Safety: 8/100 Footscray — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
West Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Footscray — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 36
West Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 Footscray — Low flood risk: 36/100

Demographics

Footscray has more residents (17,131 vs 8,025); Footscray skews older (34 vs 31).

West Melbourne Footscray
Population 8,025 17,131
+113% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +45.5% +4.8%
Median age 31 34
Median household income $92,976/yr
+1% vs other
 $91,676/yr
Median weekly rent $388/wk
+9% vs other
 $355/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Melbourne Footscray
0-4 3.1% / 4.7%
West Melbourne — 0-4: 3.1% Footscray — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 4.2% / 5.9%
West Melbourne — 5-14: 4.2% Footscray — 5-14: 5.9%
15-19 2.8% / 2.7%
West Melbourne — 15-19: 2.8% Footscray — 15-19: 2.7%
20-24 13.7% / 8.3%
West Melbourne — 20-24: 13.7% Footscray — 20-24: 8.3%
25-34 40.5% / 30.3%
West Melbourne — 25-34: 40.5% Footscray — 25-34: 30.3%
35-44 17.2% / 18.4%
West Melbourne — 35-44: 17.2% Footscray — 35-44: 18.4%
45-54 8.7% / 10.3%
West Melbourne — 45-54: 8.7% Footscray — 45-54: 10.3%
55-64 5.4% / 8.4%
West Melbourne — 55-64: 5.4% Footscray — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 3.1% / 5.7%
West Melbourne — 65-74: 3.1% Footscray — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 1.1% / 3.3%
West Melbourne — 75-84: 1.1% Footscray — 75-84: 3.3%
85+ 0.2% / 1.9%
West Melbourne — 85+: 0.2% Footscray — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (40.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

West Melbourne 56.2% lone person
West Melbourne — Lone Person: 56.2% West Melbourne — Couple Families: 16.2% West Melbourne — Group Household: 19.1% West Melbourne — One Parent Families: 5.8% West Melbourne — Other Families: 2.7%
Footscray 50.7% lone person
Footscray — Lone Person: 50.7% Footscray — Couple Families: 21.5% Footscray — Group Household: 13.9% Footscray — One Parent Families: 10.9% Footscray — Other Families: 3.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

West Melbourne 66.8% renting
West Melbourne — Owned Outright: 12.1% West Melbourne — Mortgage: 21.1% West Melbourne — Renting: 66.8%
Footscray 57.5% renting
Footscray — Owned Outright: 14.7% Footscray — Mortgage: 27.7% Footscray — Renting: 57.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

West Melbourne Footscray
Bachelor Degree 31.6% / 23.5%
West Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 31.6% Footscray — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 17.5% / 11.6%
West Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 17.5% Footscray — Postgraduate Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 7.6%
West Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Footscray — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 7.3%
West Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Footscray — Certificate III & IV: 7.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.5%
West Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Footscray — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.6%).

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 Melbourne Footscray
China 10.6% / 2.2%
West Melbourne — China: 10.6% Footscray — China: 2.2%
India 6.9% / 4.7%
West Melbourne — India: 6.9% Footscray — India: 4.7%
Vietnam 1.8% / 8.5%
West Melbourne — Vietnam: 1.8% Footscray — Vietnam: 8.5%
Malaysia 3.2% / 1.4%
West Melbourne — Malaysia: 3.2% Footscray — Malaysia: 1.4%
England 2.4% / 2.2%
West Melbourne — England: 2.4% Footscray — England: 2.2%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.0%
West Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.0% Footscray — New Zealand: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (10.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

West Melbourne 80.2% flats / apartments
West Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 80.2% West Melbourne — Townhouses: 18.6% West Melbourne — Houses: 1.2%
Footscray 53.2% flats / apartments
Footscray — Flats / Apartments: 53.2% Footscray — Townhouses: 15.3% Footscray — Houses: 31.5%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

West Melbourne Footscray
Median house price $1,272,500 $882,500
Median unit price $530,000 $455,900
Median land price — $551,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 18 sales
 25 days
from 83 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 Melbourne Footscray
2 bed $1.07M / $819K
West Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.07M (12 sales) Footscray — 2 bed: $819K (78 sales)

12 vs 78 sales

3 bed $1.45M / $961K
West Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.45M (11 sales) Footscray — 3 bed: $961K (83 sales)

11 vs 83 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 Melbourne Footscray
1 bed $392K / $346K
West Melbourne — 1 bed: $392K (112 sales) Footscray — 1 bed: $346K (174 sales)

112 vs 174 sales

2 bed $605K / $485K
West Melbourne — 2 bed: $605K (164 sales) Footscray — 2 bed: $485K (319 sales)

164 vs 319 sales

3 bed $978K / $682K
West Melbourne — 3 bed: $978K (28 sales) Footscray — 3 bed: $682K (54 sales)

28 vs 54 sales

Zoning mix

West Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (44% vs 22%).

West Melbourne Footscray
Commercial 44% 22%
Residential 5% 34%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 20%
Industrial 15% 7%
Parks and recreation 3% 13%
Other and special use 5% 4%
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 Melbourne Footscray
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
 774
across Maribyrnong
Approvals change year on year +195% +198%

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 Melbourne Footscray
Houses 3.7%
$810/wk on $1.15M
 3.8%
$650/wk on $892K
Units 6.5%
$670/wk on $536K
 6.0%
$560/wk on $482K

Ranking within VIC

West Melbourne Footscray
House price Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 68% of VIC
Income Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 61% of VIC
Schools Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 1% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 54% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC

Liveability

Footscray is more walkable (100 vs 38).

West Melbourne Footscray
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100
same for both
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

West Melbourne Footscray
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
95/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 42
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

West Melbourne Footscray
Inside the suburb 3 10
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 2.8 km
 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.8% 3.6%

Schools in West Melbourne

  • Simonds Catholic College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Haileybury College - City Boys Independent · Combined
  • Haileybury College - City Girls Independent · Combined

Schools in Footscray

  • Footscray City Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Footscray High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Footscray North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Footscray Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St John's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Monica's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

West Melbourne Footscray
Supermarkets 3 11
Cafes & restaurants 31 117
Parks & reserves 12 28
Childcare 2 16
GPs 1 18
Pharmacies 0 10
Hospitals 0 3
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 3
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 12 2

Mobility

Footscray sits further from the CBD (7 km vs 4.6 km).

West Melbourne Footscray
Walkability score 38/100 100/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.6 km 7 km
+52% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 17 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 309.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 853.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3003
 1.6%
postcode 3011
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 3
postcode 3003
 11
postcode 3011

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 Melbourne Footscray
Worked from Home 45.4% / 42.7%
West Melbourne — Worked from Home: 45.4% Footscray — Worked from Home: 42.7%
Car (driver) 19.3% / 34.5%
West Melbourne — Car (driver): 19.3% Footscray — Car (driver): 34.5%
Train 8.8% / 11.4%
West Melbourne — Train: 8.8% Footscray — Train: 11.4%
Walked Only 13.6% / 3.7%
West Melbourne — Walked Only: 13.6% Footscray — Walked Only: 3.7%
Tram / Light Rail 7.0% / 0.4%
West Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 7.0% Footscray — Tram / Light Rail: 0.4%
Bus 1.0% / 2.9%
West Melbourne — Bus: 1.0% Footscray — Bus: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (45.4%).

Setting

West Melbourne Footscray
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 27 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.4 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 5.0 km

NBN connectivity

West Melbourne Footscray
Connectivity score 87/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
6,126 premises
 60%
13,147 premises

Climate

West Melbourne Footscray
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 Melbourne Footscray
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³ —
PM10 — 18.9 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

West Melbourne Footscray
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $2,450/yr
Council Melbourne Maribyrnong

Federal electorate

West Melbourne Footscray
Division Melbourne Fraser
Member Sarah Witty Daniel Mulino
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

West Melbourne

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Professionals Trains Trams Transport Hub

Footscray

Affordable Apartments Cafe Culture Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with West Melbourne

West Melbourne vs Melbourne West Melbourne vs Port Melbourne West Melbourne vs Yarraville West Melbourne vs Docklands West Melbourne vs North Melbourne West Melbourne vs Kensington

Other comparisons with Footscray

Footscray vs Yarraville Footscray vs Ascot Vale Footscray vs Maribyrnong Footscray vs West Footscray Footscray vs Kensington Footscray vs Maidstone
Full data on West Melbourne Full data on Footscray
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or