West Melbourne VIC 3003
West Melbourne sits 5 km from Melbourne CBD in Victoria, around 11 minutes by car. Census data records 8,025 residents with a median age of 31 and a median household income of $92,976 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 20% nationally. Population grew 45.5% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $388 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,106. The area shows high crime risk and high flood risk. 3 schools sit within the suburb boundary, and walkability is low.
Is West Melbourne a good suburb?
West Melbourne scores a B (52/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit and community, weaker on schools, prices, and safety.
Below the state average
3 schools · Bottom 7% in VIC
Close to the CBD
Walkability 38/100 · 4.6 km · 11 min drive to Melbourne
Above the state median
Median $1.27M · Less affordable than 75% of VIC
High crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 92/100 · Flood 64/100
Very advantaged
SEIFA decile 10/10 · median age 31 · 8,025 residents
Liveability Rating
52 / 100 · Ranked #396 in VICEach bar is West Melbourne's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
How do you rate the liveability in West Melbourne?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
52 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median Unit Price
Public listings dataWest Melbourne's unit market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $530,000, roughly 15% above where it sat a year earlier.
Units
$530,000
16% above its 8 neighbours (median $455,900)
Based on 308 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 41 days — median across 218 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 1 bed 112 sales $392K
- 2 bed 164 sales $605K
- 3 bed 28 sales $978K
Houses
$1,272,500
6% above its 8 neighbours (median $1,200,000)
Based on 32 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 28 days — median across 18 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 12 sales $1.07M
- 3 bed 11 sales $1.45M
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in West Melbourne are currently listed at around $1.15 million on average. Based on 33 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$1.15M
33 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$536K
188 units listed in the last 6 months.
221 of the suburb's 3,853 dwellings (5.7%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in West Melbourne rent for around $810 a week on average, based on 13 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$810/wk
5% below its 6 neighbours (median $850/wk)
13 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$670/wk
8% below its 7 neighbours (median $730/wk)
224 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
237 rentals advertised against an estimated 2,574 rented homes (9.2%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025111 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 27% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3003.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$810/week ($42,000 a year) on a $1.15 million median
$670/week ($35,000 a year) on a $536,000 median
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Short-Stay Rentals
171 active Airbnb listings: 133 whole homes and 38 rooms. Whole homes are about 2.7% of the suburb's homes.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months. The share is against private dwellings at the 2021 Census.
Is West Melbourne safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in West Melbourne sits in the high band, with 1,322 incidents recorded in 2026 — down about 7% on the prior year.
1,322 offences
7.4% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–2025111 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 3 of them fatal
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Three schools serve West Melbourne, and performance is broadly on par with peer-suburb schools.
- • 359 students in one school (avg 359)
- • Sectors: 2 Independent, 1 Catholic
- • Largest: Simonds Catholic College (359 students)
Secondary
Combined
Universities nearby
- 2.8 kmVictoria University Footscray ParkVictoria University · 138 courses
- 3.4 kmThe University of MelbourneThe University of Melbourne · 404 courses
- 4.4 kmMelbourne C.Q.U CampusCentral Queensland University · 59 courses
6.8% of residents here are full-time university students aged 15–24.
Distance is measured to the suburb centre. A campus nearby does not by itself mean a student rental market — most suburbs within a few kilometres of one have a student share close to the national norm, and the figure above is what tells them apart.
Walkability
West Melbourne is car-dependent on foot — at 38/100, most errands require a car. Within the suburb there are 3 supermarkets, 12 parks and 31 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside West Melbourne.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 309.5 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 240.2 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 192.8 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 0 min
- Span of service
- 20.2 hours
- Direct to CBD (peak)
- 1 min wait
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in West Melbourne.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 56%
- Premises covered
- 6,126
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Melbourne: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 15 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 4 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
West Melbourne is home to about 8,000 residents, and skews young, with a median age of 31 against the national 38. Median household income runs at $93,000 a year, with unemployment at 6.4%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
8,025
Median Age
31
Median Household Income
$92,976/yr
Census Median Rent
$388/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,106/mo
Avg Household Size
1.9
Median Personal Income
$55,016/yr
Unemployment Rate
6.4%
Unoccupied Dwellings
28.9%
Total Dwellings
3,853
Owner-Occupier Rate
33.2%
Houses
1.2%
Rental Stress
21.7%
Mortgage Stress
27.2%
Work From Home
45.4%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
52 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 27 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 2,511 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 41.6%
- English Spoken at Home
- 47.7%
- Employment Rate
- 70.7%
- Completed Year 12
- 75.2%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
2,003 residents (25.0%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 7,775 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
58% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (3,062 of 5,262), an area that takes in all or part of this suburb, so many of them work close to home.
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 10,165 people work here; 5,262 employed residents live here.
A jobs hub: 1.9 jobs for every working resident. At least 46% of the people who work here must live elsewhere.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $2,345 a year through Melbourne based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Commercial 44%
- Infrastructure and transport 28%
- Industrial 15%
- Other and special use 5%
- Residential 5%
- Parks and recreation 3%
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 — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Melbourne
In the year to August 2026, 4,715 new dwellings were approved across Melbourne. That mix is 7 houses and 4,708 units. Approvals are up 195.2% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this suburb: 1,469 homes
- Projects firmly planned 774 homes
- Projects likely to go ahead 598 homes
- Projects possible in the longer term 97 homes
From the Victorian Government's Urban Development Program: growth-area land and approved lots (metropolitan 2025, regional June 2024) and projects of 10 or more homes in Melbourne (2025), by stage. Lots and homes are counted as published; a lot usually becomes one home.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2008).
Registered Aboriginal Parties are appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage for their area. They are the body to contact about cultural heritage here.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 7.9 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³).
From the Melbourne CBD monitoring station, 3.9 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Essendon Airport, 9.3 kmModerate rainfall — hot summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 6 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 3.4 km
- 3.4 km to a named beach
- Near high-voltage lines
- 0.7% of addresses
- 69 within 100 m of an overhead line of 110 kV or more
- Annual rainfall
- 534 mm
- 85 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 26.7°C
- 13 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 6.5°C
- 2 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
42 facilities within 5 km- 0.5 kmStevedoring ServicesTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
- 0.7 kmRail Passenger TransportTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Cumene (1-methylethylbenzene) · Xylenes (individual or mixed isomers)
- 0.9 kmOther Transport Support Services n.e.c.Top reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Total Volatile Organic Compounds
- 1.3 kmStevedoring ServicesTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
- 1.3 kmRail Freight TransportTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Xylenes (individual or mixed isomers) · Cumene (1-methylethylbenzene)
EV adoption
In postcode 3003, 104 of 4,209 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 5.3% (222 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 7.7%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3003, 150 rooftop-solar systems totalling 2.2 MW have been installed since 2001, against 4,968 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 12 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
The separate First Home Buyer Duty Reduction (stamp-duty concession) runs alongside this grant.
2 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3003 in 2025-26, rank 176 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 73, in 2019-20.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
12 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb.
Land transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with State Revenue Office Victoria
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with State Revenue Office Victoria.
At $530,000 this is under the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with State Revenue Office Victoria.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Sarah Witty Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sarah Witty | 74.0% | 26.0% | +0.9 |
| 2022 | Adam Bandt | 77.9% | 22.1% | -10.1 |
| 2019 | Adam Bandt | 67.1% | 32.9% | -0.1 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Ellen Sandell Australian Greens
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Ellen Sandell GRN | 60.2% | 75.0% | 25.0% |
| 2018 | Ellen Sandell GRN | 51.3% | 75.2% | 24.8% |
| 2014 | Ellen Sandell GRN | 52.4% | 70.5% | 29.5% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in West Melbourne?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 8,025 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
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Checking the whole city?
Suburbs to avoid in Melbourne There is no list of bad suburbs, but there are hazards the state measures and publishes — recorded crime, bushfire exposure, flood overlays and aircraft noise. Melbourne suburbs ranked on them, with what the numbers do and don't mean.Nearby suburbs
Melbourne VIC 3000
Port Melbourne VIC 3207
Footscray VIC 3011
Yarraville VIC 3013
Docklands VIC 3008
North Melbourne VIC 3051
Compare West Melbourne to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about West Melbourne
Is West Melbourne a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in West Melbourne is high (92/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect West Melbourne?
West Melbourne has no recorded bushfire history. Flood overlays cover a moderate share of it (64/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is West Melbourne a good place to live?
West Melbourne has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of B (52/100), ranked against other VIC suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of West Melbourne?
West Melbourne, VIC had a population of 8,025 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for West Melbourne, VIC?
The postcode for West Melbourne, VIC is 3003.
How far is West Melbourne from Melbourne?
West Melbourne is 5 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 11 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in West Melbourne?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in West Melbourne was $92,976 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in West Melbourne?
The median advertised rent in West Melbourne is $810 a week for houses (13 listings) and $670 a week for units (224 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in West Melbourne?
The median age of residents in West Melbourne was 31 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in West Melbourne?
There are 3 schools inside the West Melbourne boundary: 1 at similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is West Melbourne walkable?
West Melbourne scores 38/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it car-dependent. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the air quality in West Melbourne?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to West Melbourne (Melbourne CBD) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 7.9 µg/m³. That puts West Melbourne below the Australian NEPM annual standard of 8 µg/m³ but above the stricter WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in West Melbourne?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to West Melbourne, Essendon Airport (9.3 km away), summer days average 26.7°C, winter nights 6.5°C, 534 mm of rain a year over 85 rainy days, and 13 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in West Melbourne?
First-home buyers in VIC may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office Victoria; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does West Melbourne belong to?
West Melbourne sits within the Melbourne local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in West Melbourne?
The average residential rates bill through Melbourne is $2,345 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near West Melbourne?
Across Melbourne, 4,715 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's up 195.2% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is West Melbourne in?
West Melbourne sits within the federal Division of Melbourne, currently held by Sarah Witty (Australian Labor Party).
Search another suburb or address
Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- Short-stay rentals · Jun 2026
- State electorate · 2022
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.