West Melbourne vs North Melbourne

In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In West Melbourne, most households are people living alone. In North Melbourne, about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in West Melbourne: a median of $530,000, against $485,000 in North Melbourne. North Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 3.3 km, against 4.6 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

North Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

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

North Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 38/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

North Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 38/100)

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

Investors

West Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (45.5% vs 0.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

West Melbourne and North 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.

West Melbourne North 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.

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Walkability 38 / 100
West Melbourne — Walkability: 38/100 North Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 8 / 10
West Melbourne — Safety: 8/100 North Melbourne — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
West Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 24
West Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 North Melbourne — Low flood risk: 24/100

Demographics

North Melbourne has more residents (14,953 vs 8,025).

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Population 8,025 14,953
+86% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +45.5% +0.1%
Median age 31
same for both
Median household income $92,976/yr
+4% vs other
 $89,284/yr
Median weekly rent $388/wk
+2% vs other
 $381/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Melbourne North Melbourne
0-4 3.1% / 3.7%
West Melbourne — 0-4: 3.1% North Melbourne — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 4.2% / 7.9%
West Melbourne — 5-14: 4.2% North Melbourne — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 2.8% / 4.7%
West Melbourne — 15-19: 2.8% North Melbourne — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 13.7% / 13.8%
West Melbourne — 20-24: 13.7% North Melbourne — 20-24: 13.8%
25-34 40.5% / 28.6%
West Melbourne — 25-34: 40.5% North Melbourne — 25-34: 28.6%
35-44 17.2% / 15.7%
West Melbourne — 35-44: 17.2% North Melbourne — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 8.7% / 9.8%
West Melbourne — 45-54: 8.7% North Melbourne — 45-54: 9.8%
55-64 5.4% / 7.4%
West Melbourne — 55-64: 5.4% North Melbourne — 55-64: 7.4%
65-74 3.1% / 5.2%
West Melbourne — 65-74: 3.1% North Melbourne — 65-74: 5.2%
75-84 1.1% / 2.2%
West Melbourne — 75-84: 1.1% North Melbourne — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ 0.2% / 0.8%
West Melbourne — 85+: 0.2% North Melbourne — 85+: 0.8%

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 — Group Household: 19.1% West Melbourne — Couple Families: 16.2% West Melbourne — One Parent Families: 5.8% West Melbourne — Other Families: 2.7%
North Melbourne 52.1% lone person
North Melbourne — Lone Person: 52.1% North Melbourne — Group Household: 16.0% North Melbourne — Couple Families: 18.7% North Melbourne — One Parent Families: 10.6% North Melbourne — Other Families: 2.5%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families 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%
North Melbourne 65.8% renting
North Melbourne — Owned Outright: 13.7% North Melbourne — Mortgage: 20.5% North Melbourne — Renting: 65.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Bachelor Degree 31.6% / 26.4%
West Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 31.6% North Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 26.4%
Postgraduate Degree 17.5% / 16.7%
West Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 17.5% North Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 6.2%
West Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% North Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 4.7%
West Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% North Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.3%
West Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% North Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

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 North Melbourne
China 10.6% / 7.7%
West Melbourne — China: 10.6% North Melbourne — China: 7.7%
India 6.9% / 2.6%
West Melbourne — India: 6.9% North Melbourne — India: 2.6%
Malaysia 3.2% / 2.6%
West Melbourne — Malaysia: 3.2% North Melbourne — Malaysia: 2.6%
England 2.4% / 2.3%
West Melbourne — England: 2.4% North Melbourne — England: 2.3%
Vietnam 1.8% / 2.8%
West Melbourne — Vietnam: 1.8% North Melbourne — Vietnam: 2.8%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.1%
West Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.0% North Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.1%

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%
North Melbourne 69.0% flats / apartments
North Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 69.0% North Melbourne — Townhouses: 26.8% North Melbourne — Houses: 4.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Median house price $1,272,500 $1,225,000
Median unit price $530,000 $485,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 18 sales
 25 days
from 63 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 North Melbourne
2 bed $1.07M / $1M
West Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.07M (12 sales) North Melbourne — 2 bed: $1M (45 sales)

12 vs 45 sales

3 bed $1.45M / $1.33M
West Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.45M (11 sales) North Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.33M (37 sales)

11 vs 37 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 North Melbourne
1 bed $392K / $368K
West Melbourne — 1 bed: $392K (112 sales) North Melbourne — 1 bed: $368K (116 sales)

112 vs 116 sales

2 bed $605K / $570K
West Melbourne — 2 bed: $605K (164 sales) North Melbourne — 2 bed: $570K (139 sales)

164 vs 139 sales

3 bed $978K / $805K
West Melbourne — 3 bed: $978K (28 sales) North Melbourne — 3 bed: $805K (21 sales)

28 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

West Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (44% vs 17%); West Melbourne has more industrially zoned land (15% vs 2%).

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Residential 5% 48%
Commercial 44% 17%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 14%
Industrial 15% 2%
Other and special use 5% 15%
Parks and recreation 3% 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 North Melbourne
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 North Melbourne
Houses 3.7%
$810/wk on $1.15M
 3.8%
$850/wk on $1.18M
Units 6.5%
$670/wk on $536K
 6.4%
$650/wk on $530K

Ranking within VIC

West Melbourne North Melbourne
House price Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Income Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
Schools Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC

Liveability

North Melbourne is more walkable (100 vs 38); North Melbourne scores higher overall (58 vs 52).

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Grade B
same for both
Score 52/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

North Melbourne carries more flood risk (76 vs 64).

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
90/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
76/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 42
within 5 km
 33
within 5 km

Schools

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Inside the suburb 3 9
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 3
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 2.8 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.8% 8.3%

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 North Melbourne

  • Saints College - North Melbourne Campus Catholic · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • North Melbourne Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Aloysius College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Michael's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Mount Alexander 7-12 College-River Nile Campus Government · Secondary
  • North Melbourne Primary School - Molesworth Street Campus Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Supermarkets 3 6
Cafes & restaurants 31 56
Parks & reserves 12 10
Childcare 2 10
GPs 1 5
Pharmacies 0 5
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 1 5
Waterways 12 1

Mobility

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Walkability score 38/100 100/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.6 km
+28% vs other
 3.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 9 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 309.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 415.0
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 3051
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 3
postcode 3003
 4
postcode 3051

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 North Melbourne
Worked from Home 45.4% / 46.1%
West Melbourne — Worked from Home: 45.4% North Melbourne — Worked from Home: 46.1%
Car (driver) 19.3% / 21.8%
West Melbourne — Car (driver): 19.3% North Melbourne — Car (driver): 21.8%
Walked Only 13.6% / 14.3%
West Melbourne — Walked Only: 13.6% North Melbourne — Walked Only: 14.3%
Tram / Light Rail 7.0% / 6.8%
West Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 7.0% North Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 6.8%
Train 8.8% / 4.3%
West Melbourne — Train: 8.8% North Melbourne — Train: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.1%).

Setting

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.4 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 4.9 km

NBN connectivity

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Connectivity score 87/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
6,126 premises
 34%
10,965 premises

Climate

West Melbourne North 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

West Melbourne North Melbourne
Division Melbourne
same for both
Member Sarah Witty
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

West Melbourne North Melbourne
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

North Melbourne

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural 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 Kensington

Other comparisons with North Melbourne

North Melbourne vs Melbourne North Melbourne vs Kensington North Melbourne vs Parkville North Melbourne vs Flemington
Full data on West Melbourne Full data on North Melbourne
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.

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