Overall score
Middle Park
61.3/100
Port Melbourne
67.9/100
Middle Park for retirees and families; Port Melbourne for beach lifestyle and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Middle Park
61.3/100
Port Melbourne
67.9/100
Crime rate
Middle Park
78.3 / 1k
Port Melbourne
158.7 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Middle Park
110
Port Melbourne
496
Population
Middle Park
4,000
Port Melbourne
17,633
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 | Middle Park | Port Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 61.3/100 | 67.9/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 21.6/100 | 36.8/100 |
| Crime rate | 78.3 / 1k | 158.7 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | 10 | 3 |
| Parks & reserves | 3 | 29 |
| Public transport stops | 23 | 98 |
| Walkability | 94.0/100 | 100.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 110 | 496 |
| Planning activity | 122 | 306 |
| Population | 4,000 | 17,633 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 10/10 | 10/10 |
Middle Park is a coastal mid-sized suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm, while Port Melbourne is a coastal established suburb with an easy, sea-led rhythm.
Middle Park pulls ahead on a quieter safety profile and schools and education options, whereas Port Melbourne is the better pick for housing affordability and parks and reserves.
Middle Park suits retirees and families more clearly, whereas Port Melbourne is the stronger match for people chasing a beach lifestyle and value-focused buyers.