Median house price
$1.35M
-21% change
VIC · Moonee Valley Council
Essendon West, 3040
Est. population · Jun 2025
1,612
Growth (1 yr)
+1.8%
Growth (5 yr)
+5.1%
Median age
39
Median income
$2,338/wk
Employment rate
65.5%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$1,350,000
Languages at home
23%non-English
Most common: Italian, Greek, Arabic
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Education hub
- National parks
- Excellent transport
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Essendon West is a well-connected smaller community in Moonee Valley Council with everyday amenities close at hand. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with plenty of young families in the mix. Education outcomes and school provision stand out relative to comparable suburbs.
Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. A car helps for most daily errands, though buses still link the suburb further afield.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. Renewal is happening in measured doses, with new development complementing what is already there.
Desirability lands around average here: softer growth momentum weighing on the result versus similar metro suburbs, even with community and employment holding up better. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Essendon West snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$550/wk
Population (ERP)
1,612
+1.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
8.2%
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
#22
among Metro Melbourne · Emerging
Safety
37th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
85th
percentile in VIC
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
83rd
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
- 47.8/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 41% of Victoria's suburbs
- National rank
- 2459th in Australia
- State rank
- 518th in VIC
- Peer rank
- #22 among Metro Melbourne · Emerging suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #313 among Metro Melbourne suburbs
- Data confidence
- 93%
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)
- $1,350,000
- Median price change
- -20.6%
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
1,612(June 2025)
+1.8% annual · +5.1% over 5 years · 85th percentile in VIC
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.8%
- 5-year growth
- +5.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +29
- Change in 5 years
- +78
- Growth rank in VIC
- 85th 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 (~1,750), extrapolated at +1.6% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 1,559
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $2,338
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 51 of 624
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,682
- Employment rate
- 65.5%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 387 / 187 / 0 (+ 4 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)
- 65
- Against the person
- 7
- Against property
- 41
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 40.3
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 223 residents
- State safety percentile
- 37.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +1.6%
Most common offence types
- B21 Criminal Damage6
- B41 Motor Vehicle Theft5
- B42 Steal From A Motor Vehicle17
- C32 Drug Possession8
- E21 Breach Family Violence Order4
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
- 10
- Median school ICSEA (10 schools)
- 1,094
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 83th
School list
- St Bernard's CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1100 · 84th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 1,567 students · Top SEA quarter 38% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
- Rosehill Secondary CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1027 · 59th percentile · LBOTE 34% · 1,109 students · Top SEA quarter 13% · 0.8 km awayView on My School →
- Aberfeldie Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1108 · 86th percentile · LBOTE 34% · 374 students · Top SEA quarter 43% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Our Lady of the Nativity SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1111 · 87th percentile · LBOTE 15% · 364 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
- Niddrie Autistic SchoolSpecial · Government · ICSEA 1038 · 63th percentile · LBOTE 56% · 153 students · Top SEA quarter 21% · 1.1 km awayView on My School →
- Ave Maria CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1082 · 79th percentile · LBOTE 5% · 826 students · Top SEA quarter 29% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- St John Bosco's SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1108 · 86th percentile · LBOTE 8% · 413 students · Top SEA quarter 40% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Buckley Park CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1088 · 81th percentile · LBOTE 47% · 888 students · Top SEA quarter 34% · 1.4 km awayView on My School →
- St Margaret's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1125 · 90th percentile · LBOTE 58% · 441 students · Top SEA quarter 48% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Essendon Keilor CollegeSecondary · Government · ICSEA 1004 · 49th percentile · LBOTE 37% · 697 students · Top SEA quarter 10% · 1.9 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
Public transport
8 public transport stops in this suburb
- Garnet St/Buckley St
- Hoffmans Rd/Buckley St
- Prospect St/Buckley St
- Prospect St/Buckley St
- St Bernards College/Hampton Rd
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
82 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 fast food · 1 places of worship · 3 playgrounds · 1 sports centres · 16 swimming pools
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 6 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Reasonable bus and transport access — 8 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 22 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 14/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.64
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.85
Food & drink(1)
- Hampton Road Fish & ChipsFast food
28 Hampton Road
Community(1)
- St Bernard's CollegeSchool
41 Rosehill Road
Health & services(1)
- Essendon Private ClinicHospital
Sport & outdoors(29)
- Cliff Whitworth ReservePark
- Garnet ReservePark
23 Ruby Street
- Ian J McWilliams ParkPark
28-34 Ruby Street
- Lily ReservePark
10-20 Lily Street
- Neil Heinze ReservePark
- Smiley Crescent ReservePark
3-29 Smiley Crescent
- Picnic area
- Playground (3)
- Paul Sadler's Swimland EssendonSports centre
- Covered Outdoor Learning AreaSports field
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (16)
Entertainment(3)
- Viewpoint (3)
Transport(4)
4 bus stops
Other(13)
- Bench (10)
- Bicycle Parking
- Drinking water (2)
- Caution: Concrete Path EndsInformation
- Sand QuarryInformation
- Afton Street Conservation ReserveNature Reserve
100-98 Afton Street
- Parking (19)
- Picnic Table (2)
- Marian ChapelPlace of worship
- Shelter
- Slipway
- Ruby Village Retirement UnitsSocial Facility
1-11 Ruby Street
- Waste Basket (2)
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
- Afton Street Conservation ReserveNature reserve
- Cliff Whitworth ReservePark
- Garnet ReservePark
- Ian J McWilliams ParkPark
- Lily ReservePark
- Neil Heinze ReservePark
- Smiley Crescent ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
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
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Marian Chapel
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Essendon Private Clinic (0.6 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Essendon Private ClinicHospital
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)
- 42
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 26.1
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).
25 planning-related records
2021· 8 proposals
June 2021
- Construction of a dwelling to the rear of an existing dwelling467 BUCKLEY STREET ESSENDON WEST 3040NOD issued by a delegate
- Two Lot Subdivision22 Emerald StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2021
- St Bernard's College - Buildings and works for the construction of a multi storey building associated with an existing school and the display of business identification signage.41 ROSEHILL ROADPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Three Lot Subdivision27 Emerald StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- VICSMART - Two Lot Subdivision21 Rosehill RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2021
- Four Lot Subdivision4 Hampton RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision - VicSmart53 Clydebank RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2021
- Two Lot Subdivision - VicSmart17 Hampton RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
2020· 17 proposals
December 2020
- Construct and use the land for a private illuminated tennis court associated with a dwelling13 View StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision - VicSmart20 Prospect StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
November 2020
- Two Lot Subdivision - VicSmart53 Clydebank RoadWithdrawn
October 2020
- Three Lot Subdivision18 Garnet StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two dwellings35 Hampton RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
August 2020
- Subdivision which realigns the common boundary between two lots.1/ 10 Beryl StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
July 2020
- Construction of two dwellings and alteration and creation of access to a road in a Road Zone, Category 1487 Buckley StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
June 2020
- Construction of two dwellings22 Ruby StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
May 2020
- Two Lot Subdivision PS 840515E VicSmart7 Diamond StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Pruning of vegetation in an Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO2)27 View StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
April 2020
- Construction of a double storey dwelling to the rear of the existing dwelling6 Garnet StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two dwellings16 Emerald StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
March 2020
- Construction of three dwellings27 Emerald StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Construction of two dwellings1 Diamond StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
- Two Lot Subdivision PS836264C VicSmart2 Diamond StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
February 2020
- Construct an extension to a dwelling on a lot less than 300 square metres5/ 25 Hampton RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
January 2020
- Construction of two dwellings - AMENDMENT53 Clydebank RoadPermit 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 2.3 km away).
Coalition 43.4%Labor 56.6%
6.0 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- AberfeldieLabor 60.1% · Coalition 39.9% TPP (2025)1.0 km away
- Niddrie CentralLabor 53.4% · Coalition 46.6% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Essendon HeightsLabor 55.8% · Coalition 44.2% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Essendon WestLabor 51.0% · Coalition 49.0% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
- Avondale Heights CentralLabor 55.4% · Coalition 44.6% TPP (2025)2.0 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)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 9/10
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.