West Melbourne vs Kensington

West Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 35 in Kensington. In West Melbourne, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Kensington, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, West Melbourne tends to suit renters, young adults, and 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

Kensington

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (17% vs 1%)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (24 vs 12)

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

First-home buyers

Kensington

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($480,000 vs $530,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

West Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (67% vs 50%)

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

  • West Melbourne gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (16% vs 8%)
  • Kensington is more walkable (99/100 vs 38/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Kensington

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 38/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (10% vs 4%)
  • But West Melbourne has more units and townhouses to downsize into (99% vs 83%)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • West Melbourne is growing faster (45.5% vs -0.6%)
  • Kensington returns a higher gross yield on units (7.3% vs 6.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

West Melbourne and Kensington 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 Kensington
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 Kensington
Walkability 38 / 99
West Melbourne — Walkability: 38/100 Kensington — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 8 / 14
West Melbourne — Safety: 8/100 Kensington — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
West Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Kensington — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 25
West Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 Kensington — Low flood risk: 25/100

Demographics

Kensington has more residents (10,745 vs 8,025); Kensington has higher household incomes ($115,232 vs $92,976).

West Melbourne Kensington
Population 8,025 10,745
+34% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +45.5% -0.6%
Median age 31 35
Median household income $92,976/yr $115,232/yr
+24% vs other
Median weekly rent $388/wk $416/wk
+7% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Melbourne Kensington
0-4 3.1% / 5.9%
West Melbourne — 0-4: 3.1% Kensington — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 4.2% / 8.7%
West Melbourne — 5-14: 4.2% Kensington — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 2.8% / 3.4%
West Melbourne — 15-19: 2.8% Kensington — 15-19: 3.4%
20-24 13.7% / 7.0%
West Melbourne — 20-24: 13.7% Kensington — 20-24: 7.0%
25-34 40.5% / 23.7%
West Melbourne — 25-34: 40.5% Kensington — 25-34: 23.7%
35-44 17.2% / 19.9%
West Melbourne — 35-44: 17.2% Kensington — 35-44: 19.9%
45-54 8.7% / 12.4%
West Melbourne — 45-54: 8.7% Kensington — 45-54: 12.4%
55-64 5.4% / 8.9%
West Melbourne — 55-64: 5.4% Kensington — 55-64: 8.9%
65-74 3.1% / 6.2%
West Melbourne — 65-74: 3.1% Kensington — 65-74: 6.2%
75-84 1.1% / 2.8%
West Melbourne — 75-84: 1.1% Kensington — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 0.2% / 1.2%
West Melbourne — 85+: 0.2% Kensington — 85+: 1.2%

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%
Kensington 47.7% lone person
Kensington — Lone Person: 47.7% Kensington — Couple Families: 27.7% Kensington — Group Household: 12.0% Kensington — One Parent Families: 10.4% Kensington — Other Families: 2.3%
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%
Kensington 50.2% renting
Kensington — Owned Outright: 18.5% Kensington — Mortgage: 31.3% Kensington — Renting: 50.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

West Melbourne Kensington
Bachelor Degree 31.6% / 28.1%
West Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 31.6% Kensington — Bachelor Degree: 28.1%
Postgraduate Degree 17.5% / 14.5%
West Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 17.5% Kensington — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.7%
West Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Kensington — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 5.8%
West Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Kensington — Certificate III & IV: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 4.2%
West Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Kensington — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

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 Kensington
China 10.6% / 2.8%
West Melbourne — China: 10.6% Kensington — China: 2.8%
India 6.9% / 1.6%
West Melbourne — India: 6.9% Kensington — India: 1.6%
England 2.4% / 3.2%
West Melbourne — England: 2.4% Kensington — England: 3.2%
Vietnam 1.8% / 3.0%
West Melbourne — Vietnam: 1.8% Kensington — Vietnam: 3.0%
Malaysia 3.2% / 1.3%
West Melbourne — Malaysia: 3.2% Kensington — Malaysia: 1.3%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.5%
West Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.0% Kensington — New Zealand: 2.5%

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%
Kensington 29.5% flats / apartments
Kensington — Flats / Apartments: 29.5% Kensington — Townhouses: 53.4% Kensington — Houses: 17.1%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

West Melbourne Kensington
Median house price $1,272,500 $1,190,000
Median unit price $530,000 $480,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 18 sales
 22 days
from 77 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 Kensington
2 bed $1.07M / $990K
West Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.07M (12 sales) Kensington — 2 bed: $990K (62 sales)

12 vs 62 sales

3 bed $1.45M / $1.28M
West Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.45M (11 sales) Kensington — 3 bed: $1.28M (60 sales)

11 vs 60 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 Kensington
1 bed $392K / $376K
West Melbourne — 1 bed: $392K (112 sales) Kensington — 1 bed: $376K (44 sales)

112 vs 44 sales

2 bed $605K / $511K
West Melbourne — 2 bed: $605K (164 sales) Kensington — 2 bed: $511K (100 sales)

164 vs 100 sales

Zoning mix

West Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (44% vs 12%).

West Melbourne Kensington
Residential 5% 59%
Commercial 44% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 8%
Industrial 15% 7%
Parks and recreation 3% 14%
Other and special use 5% 0%
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 Kensington
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
same for both
Approvals change year on year +195%
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 Melbourne Kensington
Houses 3.7%
$810/wk on $1.15M
 3.8%
$750/wk on $1.01M
Units 6.5%
$670/wk on $536K
 7.3%
$670/wk on $480K

Ranking within VIC

West Melbourne Kensington
House price Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC
Income Higher than 62% of VIC —
Schools Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 25% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC

Liveability

Kensington is more walkable (99 vs 38); Kensington scores higher overall (57 vs 52).

West Melbourne Kensington
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 57/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Kensington carries more flood risk (75 vs 64).

West Melbourne Kensington
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
86/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
75/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 42
within 5 km
 35
within 5 km

Schools

West Melbourne Kensington
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 2.8 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 2.3 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 Kensington

  • Holy Rosary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Kensington Community High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Kensington Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Melbourne City Talented Player Program - Kensington Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

West Melbourne Kensington
Supermarkets 3 5
Cafes & restaurants 31 29
Parks & reserves 12 24
Childcare 2 6
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 1
same for both
Waterways 12 1

Mobility

West Melbourne Kensington
Walkability score 38/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.6 km 4.8 km
+4% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 12 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 309.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 117.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3003
 1.7%
postcode 3031
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 3
postcode 3003
 11
postcode 3031

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 Kensington
Worked from Home 45.4% / 54.0%
West Melbourne — Worked from Home: 45.4% Kensington — Worked from Home: 54.0%
Car (driver) 19.3% / 26.5%
West Melbourne — Car (driver): 19.3% Kensington — Car (driver): 26.5%
Walked Only 13.6% / 3.7%
West Melbourne — Walked Only: 13.6% Kensington — Walked Only: 3.7%
Train 8.8% / 7.7%
West Melbourne — Train: 8.8% Kensington — Train: 7.7%
Tram / Light Rail 7.0% / 0.7%
West Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 7.0% Kensington — Tram / Light Rail: 0.7%
Bicycle 2.8% / 4.5%
West Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.8% Kensington — Bicycle: 4.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.0%).

Setting

West Melbourne Kensington
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 26 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.4 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 5.1 km

NBN connectivity

West Melbourne Kensington
Connectivity score 87/100 82/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
6,126 premises
 30%
6,258 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

West Melbourne Kensington
Average residential rate $2,345/yr
same for both
Council Melbourne
same for both

Federal electorate

West Melbourne Kensington
Division Melbourne Maribyrnong
Member Sarah Witty Jo Briskey
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

West Melbourne Kensington
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

Kensington

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with West Melbourne

West Melbourne vs Melbourne West Melbourne vs Port Melbourne West Melbourne vs Footscray West Melbourne vs Yarraville West Melbourne vs Docklands West Melbourne vs North Melbourne

Other comparisons with Kensington

Kensington vs Footscray Kensington vs North Melbourne Kensington vs Flemington
Full data on West Melbourne Full data on Kensington
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