West Melbourne vs Port Melbourne

West Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 42 in Port Melbourne. In West Melbourne, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Port Melbourne, most households own their home, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Port Melbourne: a median of $668,000, against $530,000 in West Melbourne, and rent is higher there too. West Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 4.6 km, against 5.9 km. On these figures, West Melbourne tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households.

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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (8 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (30 vs 12)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

West Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($530,000 vs $667,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,272,500 vs $1,500,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

West Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (67% vs 44%)
  • has cheaper rent ($388/wk vs $540/wk)

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 3%)
  • Port Melbourne is more walkable (68/100 vs 38/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Port Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (7 vs 1)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 4%)
  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 38/100)

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 9.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.5% vs 5.5%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

West Melbourne 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.

West Melbourne 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.

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Walkability 38 / 68
West Melbourne — Walkability: 38/100 Port Melbourne — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 8 / 11
West Melbourne — Safety: 8/100 Port Melbourne — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
West Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Port Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 63
West Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 Port Melbourne — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Port Melbourne has more residents (17,633 vs 8,025); Port Melbourne rents higher ($540/wk vs $388/wk).

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Population 8,025 17,633
+120% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +45.5% +9.0%
Median age 31 42
Median household income $92,976/yr $123,344/yr
+33% vs other
Median weekly rent $388/wk $540/wk
+39% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
0-4 3.1% / 4.7%
West Melbourne — 0-4: 3.1% Port Melbourne — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 4.2% / 9.0%
West Melbourne — 5-14: 4.2% Port Melbourne — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 2.8% / 3.9%
West Melbourne — 15-19: 2.8% Port Melbourne — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 13.7% / 4.0%
West Melbourne — 20-24: 13.7% Port Melbourne — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 40.5% / 15.4%
West Melbourne — 25-34: 40.5% Port Melbourne — 25-34: 15.4%
35-44 17.2% / 17.7%
West Melbourne — 35-44: 17.2% Port Melbourne — 35-44: 17.7%
45-54 8.7% / 16.5%
West Melbourne — 45-54: 8.7% Port Melbourne — 45-54: 16.5%
55-64 5.4% / 12.7%
West Melbourne — 55-64: 5.4% Port Melbourne — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 3.1% / 9.5%
West Melbourne — 65-74: 3.1% Port Melbourne — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 1.1% / 5.2%
West Melbourne — 75-84: 1.1% Port Melbourne — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 0.2% / 1.4%
West Melbourne — 85+: 0.2% Port Melbourne — 85+: 1.4%

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%
Port Melbourne 52.1% lone person
Port Melbourne — Lone Person: 52.1% Port Melbourne — Couple Families: 29.2% Port Melbourne — Group Household: 5.6% Port Melbourne — One Parent Families: 11.7% Port Melbourne — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
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.

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Bachelor Degree 31.6% / 24.1%
West Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 31.6% Port Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 24.1%
Postgraduate Degree 17.5% / 10.3%
West Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 17.5% Port Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.6% / 8.9%
West Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.6% Port Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Certificate III & IV 5.4% / 7.2%
West Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 5.4% Port Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.5%
West Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Port Melbourne — 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 Port Melbourne
China 10.6% / 1.5%
West Melbourne — China: 10.6% Port Melbourne — China: 1.5%
India 6.9% / 0.8%
West Melbourne — India: 6.9% Port Melbourne — India: 0.8%
England 2.4% / 4.9%
West Melbourne — England: 2.4% Port Melbourne — England: 4.9%
New Zealand 2.0% / 2.5%
West Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.0% Port Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.5%
Malaysia 3.2% / 0.9%
West Melbourne — Malaysia: 3.2% Port Melbourne — Malaysia: 0.9%
Greece — / 1.7%
West Melbourne — Greece: not among its largest Port Melbourne — Greece: 1.7%
Italy — / 0.9%
West Melbourne — Italy: not among its largest Port Melbourne — Italy: 0.9%

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%
Port Melbourne 50.2% flats / apartments
Port Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 50.2% Port Melbourne — Townhouses: 43.9% Port Melbourne — Houses: 6.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Median house price $1,272,500 $1,500,000
Median unit price $530,000 $667,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 18 sales
 24 days
from 115 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 Port Melbourne
2 bed $1.07M / $1.25M
West Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.07M (12 sales) Port Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.25M (71 sales)

12 vs 71 sales

3 bed $1.45M / $1.72M
West Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.45M (11 sales) Port Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.72M (76 sales)

11 vs 76 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 Port Melbourne
1 bed $392K / $490K
West Melbourne — 1 bed: $392K (112 sales) Port Melbourne — 1 bed: $490K (93 sales)

112 vs 93 sales

2 bed $605K / $741K
West Melbourne — 2 bed: $605K (164 sales) Port Melbourne — 2 bed: $741K (182 sales)

164 vs 182 sales

3 bed $978K / $1.67M
West Melbourne — 3 bed: $978K (28 sales) Port Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.67M (32 sales)

28 vs 32 sales

Zoning mix

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Commercial 44% 47%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 10%
Residential 5% 20%
Industrial 15% 13%
Parks and recreation 3% 9%
Other and special use 5% 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

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
 891
across Port Phillip
Approvals change year on year +195% +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.

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Houses 3.7%
$810/wk on $1.15M
 3.5%
$1,025/wk on $1.51M
Units 6.5%
$670/wk on $536K
 5.5%
$780/wk on $735K

Ranking within VIC

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
House price Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Income Higher than 62% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools Higher than 7% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 25% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC

Liveability

Port Melbourne is more walkable (68 vs 38); Port Melbourne scores higher overall (70 vs 52).

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Grade B A
Score 52/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

West Melbourne carries more flood risk (64 vs 37).

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
92/100
 High
89/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
76/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 42
within 5 km
 36
within 5 km

Schools

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Inside the suburb 3 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 2.8 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 4.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 6.8% 1.9%

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 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

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Supermarkets 3 4
Cafes & restaurants 31 55
Parks & reserves 12 30
Childcare 2 8
GPs 1 7
Pharmacies 0 3
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 1 5
EV chargers 0 4
Waterways 12 1

Mobility

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Walkability score 38/100 68/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.6 km 5.9 km
+28% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 14 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 309.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 654.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3003
 2.9%
postcode 3207
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 3
postcode 3003
 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.

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Worked from Home 45.4% / 52.1%
West Melbourne — Worked from Home: 45.4% Port Melbourne — Worked from Home: 52.1%
Car (driver) 19.3% / 33.9%
West Melbourne — Car (driver): 19.3% Port Melbourne — Car (driver): 33.9%
Walked Only 13.6% / 4.4%
West Melbourne — Walked Only: 13.6% Port Melbourne — Walked Only: 4.4%
Tram / Light Rail 7.0% / 2.6%
West Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 7.0% Port Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 2.6%
Train 8.8% / 0.6%
West Melbourne — Train: 8.8% Port Melbourne — Train: 0.6%
Bicycle 2.8% / 2.9%
West Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.8% Port Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.9%

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

Setting

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.4 km
3.4 km to a named beach
 792 m
813 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Connectivity score 87/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 56%
6,126 premises
 18%
12,195 premises

Climate

West Melbourne 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)

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

Council rates

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $1,765/yr
Council Melbourne Port Phillip

Federal electorate

West Melbourne Port Melbourne
Division Melbourne Macnamara
Member Sarah Witty Josh Burns
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

West Melbourne Port 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

Port Melbourne

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with West Melbourne

West Melbourne vs Melbourne West Melbourne vs Footscray West Melbourne vs Yarraville West Melbourne vs Docklands West Melbourne vs North Melbourne West Melbourne vs Kensington

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 Albert Park Port Melbourne vs Spotswood
Full data on West Melbourne Full data on Port 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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