Overall score
Airport West
53.2/100
Essendon North
47.4/100
Airport West for value; Essendon North for schools.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Airport West
53.2/100
Essendon North
47.4/100
Crime rate
Airport West
125.6 / 1k
Essendon North
97.5 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Airport West
235
Essendon North
109
Population
Airport West
8,173
Essendon North
3,071
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Airport West | Essendon North |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 53.2/100 | 47.4/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 57.2/100 | 51.0/100 |
| Crime rate | 125.6 / 1k | 97.5 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 3 | 9 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 7 | 2 |
| Public transport stops | 57 | 13 |
| Walkability | 90.0/100 | 46.5/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 235 | 109 |
| Planning activity | 135 | 27 |
| Green cover | 7.4% | 2.2% |
| Population | 8,173 | 3,071 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 7/10 | 9/10 |
Airport West reads as a well-serviced metro established suburb with plenty happening nearby; Essendon North is a well-serviced metro mid-sized suburb with plenty happening nearby. Airport West sits in a middle-ring position, whereas Essendon North is closer to the city centre.
Airport West pulls ahead on housing affordability, parks and reserves, and public transport access, whereas Essendon North is the better pick for a quieter safety profile, schools and education options, and a calmer planning outlook.
On balance, families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Airport West, while Essendon North remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.