Median house price
$1.1M
+20% change
VIC · Moonee Valley Council
Airport West, 3042
Est. population · Jun 2025
8,675
Growth (1 yr)
+2.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.0%
Median age
39
Median income
$1,761/wk
Employment rate
61.4%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$1,100,000
Languages at home
26.9%non-English
Most common: Italian, Greek, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- High desirability
- Excellent transport
- Café precinct
- Education hub
- Cycling
Suburb profile
In Moonee Valley Council, Airport West is a settled established suburb with a familiar suburban feel and good links to the wider city. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix. Overseas-born and multilingual households are a noticeable part of the local population.
Schooling is a clear local strength compared with many peer areas. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Everyday errands are walkable, and buses and trams keep the wider city within easy reach.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Reported crime has been rising recently.
The desirability picture is good, powered mainly by growth momentum, plus community and employment relative to similar metro suburbs.
At a glance
Airport West snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$550/wk
Population (ERP)
8,675
+2.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.2%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#67
among Metro Melbourne · Established
Safety
82nd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
87th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
7/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
80th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 66.7/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 14% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 420th in Australia
- State rank
- 166th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #67 among Metro Melbourne · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #123 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
- Data confidence
- 100%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Sep 2025 (council median))
- $550
- Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
- $1,100,000
- Median price change
- +19.9%
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DFFH rent report and Valuer-General property sales report — Department of Families, Fairness and Housing / Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 4th Quarter 2025; Sep 2025 (council median) · Updated · Quarterly releases; council median rent fallback where suburb rent unavailable
Population
Estimated resident population
8,675(June 2025)
+2.0% annual · +5.0% over 5 years · 87th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +2.0%
- 5-year growth
- +5.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +168
- Change in 5 years
- +414
- Growth rank in VIC
- 87th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~9,300), extrapolated at +1.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 8,173
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $1,761
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 347 of 3,790
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,085
- Employment rate
- 61.4%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 2,150 / 1,218 / 57 (+ 11 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (2026)
- 1,100
- Against the person
- 107
- Against property
- 722
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 126.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 76 residents
- State safety percentile
- 81.7th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +15.1%
Most common offence types
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft88
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle200
- B43 Steal From A Retail Store138
- B49 Other Theft109
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order79
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Recorded offences by suburb/town — Crime Statistics Agency (Victoria) · 2025 · Updated
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 1,083
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 80th
School list
- St Christopher's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1083 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 727 students · Top SEA quarter 28% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
- Niddrie Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1052 · 69th percentile · LBOTE 26% · 299 students · Top SEA quarter 22% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Penleigh & Essendon Grammar SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1173 · 98th percentile · LBOTE 33% · 2,913 students · Top SEA quarter 67% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
5 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- Airport West Child Care Co-operativekindergarten
- Airport West Kindergartenkindergarten
- BravissimiMcNamara Avenuekindergarten
- kindergartenkindergarten
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
57 public transport stops in this suburb
- Cameron St/Matthews Ave #55
- Earl St/Matthews Ave #56
- Fullarton Rd/Matthews Ave #54
- Fullarton Rd/Matthews Ave #54
- Hawker St/Matthews Ave #57
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
231 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 restaurants · 2 cafes · 4 supermarkets · 3 pharmacies · 6 fast food · 1 bakeries · 9 playgrounds · 25 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Highly walkable for everyday errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 18 parks mapped in suburb, 9 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 57 public transport stops
- Good everyday shopping nearby — 6 shops and services
- Strong local sport and recreation — 36 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 90/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.24
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.22
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.2
Food & drink(10)
- Airport West BakeryBakery
- Bola BakeCafe
22A Fraser Street
- Cafe
- Airport West Fish and ChipsFast food
- KFCFast food
- McDonald'sFast food
- Pablo's PizzaFast food
- Red RoosterFast food
- SchnitzFast food
- Skyways TavernRestaurant
Shopping(9)
- Convenience store
- Milk BarConvenience store
- AldiSupermarket
- ColesSupermarket
29-35 Louis Street
- IGA XpressSupermarket
- WoolworthsSupermarket
Community(9)
- Bowes Avenue Community CentreCommunity centre
- Airport West Child Care Co-operativeKindergarten
- Airport West KindergartenKindergarten
- BravissimiKindergarten
Unit 1 93 McNamara Avenue
- Kindergarten (2)
- Essendon Keilor College Niddrie CampusSchool
19 Peters Street
- Niddrie Primary SchoolSchool
25 Watt Street
- St Christopher's SchoolSchool
34 Roberts Road
Health & services(3)
- Chemist WarehousePharmacy
- Pharmacy
- Priceline PharmacyPharmacy
Sport & outdoors(55)
- Unified Fitness SystemsGym
- AJ Davis ReservePark
- Bowes ReservePark
- Etzel Street ReservePark
- Hansen ReservePark
- Harrington ReservePark
33-37 Harrington Road, Airport West
- McNamara ReservePark
- Park (11)
- Weather Station ReservePark
- Picnic area
- Playground (9)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (25)
Entertainment(1)
- Village CinemasCinema
Transport(21)
17 bus stops · 4 tram stops
Other(42)
- Liquor StopAlcohol
- Westpac/BOMBank
- Bbq (2)
- Bench (34)
- Bicycle Parking (5)
- Red CrossBlood Donation
- BudgetCar Rental
- Airport West service centreCar repair
10 - 12 Louis Street
- Sully's Spray Painting & BodyCar repair
36 Fraser Street
- Helping Hands Mission Op ShopCharity
492 Fullarton Road
- Cotton OnClothes
- Jay JaysClothes
- Just JeansClothes
- LowesClothes
- The Body ShopCosmetics
- Harris ScarfeDepartment Store
29-35 Louis Street
- KmartDepartment Store
29 Louis Street
- TargetDepartment Store
- Drinking water (4)
- AltronicsElectrical
5 Dromana Avenue, Airport West
- JB Hi-FiElectronics
29-35 Louis Street
- ChargefoxEV charging
- Silver HouseGuest House
- Hair 4 KidsHairdresser
- PandoraJewelry
- Westfield Airport West Shopping CentreMall
- OptusMobile Phone
- Parking (27)
- Qantas Flight TrainingParking
- Rooftop ParkingParking
- Parking Space
- Petrol station
- Post Box (5)
- R.G. Ratcliff Community CentrePublic Building
1A South Road
- Public toilets
- Unisex ToiletsPublic toilets
- Schoolyard
- Shelter (2)
- OfficeworksStationery
- Telephone (3)
- TelstraTelephone
- Waste Basket (11)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- AJ Davis ReservePark
- Bowes ReservePark
- Etzel Street ReservePark
- Hansen ReservePark
- Harrington ReservePark
- McNamara ReservePark
- Weather Station ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 18
- Parks (OSM)
- 18
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 4
- Nearest hospital
- Essendon Private Clinic (2.8 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Blood_DonationBlood_Donation
- Chemist WarehousePharmacy
- PharmacyPharmacy
- Priceline PharmacyPharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 263
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 30.3
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 24° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 155 mm · ~19 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 20° / 11°
- Rainfall
- 186 mm · ~23 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 14° / 6°
- Rainfall
- 203 mm · ~25 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 9°
- Rainfall
- 207 mm · ~26 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
135 planning-related records
2021· 40 proposals
July 2021
- REDUCTION IN CAR PARKING77 MCNAMARA AVENUE AIRPORT WEST 3042No permit required
- Three Lot Subdivision54 HIGHRIDGE CRESCENT AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of a dwelling to the rear of an existing dwelling11 SOUTH ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Withdrawn
- Three Lot Subdivision44 ELSTONE AVENUE AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2021
- VICSMART - Two Lot Subdivision2 South RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of three dwellings within a Special Building Overlay84 ROBERTS ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042NOD issued by a delegate
- Construction of two dwellings50 WALTERS AVENUE AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision35 ELSTONE AVENUE AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of four dwellings - AMENDMENT24 HARRINGTON ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2021
- VICSMART - Two Lot Subdivision56 Fraser StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of three double storey dwellings126 PARER ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042NOD issued by a delegate
- Construction of two dwellings83 ROBERTS ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- New retractable outdoor awning9 MARSHALL ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Lapsed
- Two Lot Subdivision45 Matthews AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Six Lot Subdivision89 Parer RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of three dwellings19 MCNAMARA AVENUE AIRPORT WEST 3042NOD issued by a delegate
- Construction of two dwellings132 Victory RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of three dwellings21 HIGHLANDS AVENUE AIRPORT WEST 3042NOD issued by a delegate
April 2021
- Construction of a verandah to a dwelling on a lot less than 300 square metres68 MARSHALL ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision254 Parer RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of three double storey dwellings66-72 ROBERTS ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of three dwellings66 ROBERTS ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two double storey dwellings21 HIGHRIDGE CRESCENT AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two dwellings147 HALSEY ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Use of the land as a food and drink premises (cafe) and sale and consumption of liquor22 HOOD STREET AIRPORT WEST 3042NOD issued by a delegate
- VICSMART - Two Lot Subdivision14 Highridge CrescentPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two dwellings13 LAURENCE AVENUE AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two dwellings81 Moore RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision17 West CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision23 Highlands AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2021
- Construction of two dwellings204 PARER ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- VICSMART - Two Lot Subdivision6 Hilbert RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Four Lot Subdivision79 McIntosh StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- VICSMART - Two Lot Subdivision67 Fraser StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- VICSMART - Two Lot Subdivision28 Hilbert RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Two Lot Subdivision - VicSmart14 Walters AvenuePermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two dwellings17 West CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision - VicSmart45 Roberts RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two dwellings133 HALSEY ROAD AIRPORT WEST 3042Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of an extension to an existing dwelling in a Design and Development Overlay (DDO8)1 Cameron StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- PPARS planning permit activity (statewide) — Department of Transport and Planning (Victoria) · 2020–2022 · Updated · MapServer through FY 2022–23; newer data needs council/API access
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Maribyrnong
- Member of Parliament
- Jo BRISKEY (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 123,249
- Turnout (2025)
- 92.7%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -0.4 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 37.4%Labor 62.6%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 2.9 km away).
Coalition 41.3%Labor 58.7%
4.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.5 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Airport WestLabor 59.2% · Coalition 40.8% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- Keilor ParkLabor 57.6% · Coalition 42.4% TPP (2025)0.8 km away
- Keilor HeightsLabor 56.4% · Coalition 43.6% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
- Keilor SouthLabor 54.2% · Coalition 45.8% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- TullamarineLabor 61.2% · Coalition 38.8% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 7/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Moonee Valley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.