North Melbourne vs West Melbourne
The verdict
North Melbourne is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.26M versus $1.33M in West Melbourne. West Melbourne is closer to the coast (3.4 km vs 4.8 km).
Scores
| North Melbourne | West Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 96 | 96 |
| Transport | 100 | 100 |
| Education | 90 | 89 |
| Liveability | 98 | 98 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| North Melbourne | West Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,953 | 8,025 |
| Median age | 31 | 31 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,717 | $1,788 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 68.6% | 70.7% |
| Born in Australia | 49.0% | 41.6% |
| Avg household size | 2 | 1.9 |
Growth: North Melbourne High Growth · West Melbourne High Growth
Property
| North Melbourne | West Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.26M | $1.33M |
| Median unit price | $570K | $602K |
| House price YoY | -26.6% | 36.6% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Rental yield (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
Median price history
Safety
| North Melbourne | West Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 28 | 25 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 1,010 | 1,109 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 963 | 798 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 334 | 461 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 12,399 | 14,866 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| North Melbourne | West Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 8 | 1 |
| Government | 2 | 0 |
| Independent | 3 | 0 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,009 | 1,037 |
See the full school list on each profile: North Melbourne · West Melbourne
Transport
| North Melbourne | West Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 100 | 100 |
| Train stations | 0 | 1 |
| Bus stops | 23 | 34 |
| Light rail stops | 28 | 5 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 13 | 15 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 130 m | 1.1 km |
Liveability
| North Melbourne | West Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 25.8°C | 25.8°C |
| Winter max temp | 14.2°C | 14.2°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 600 | 600 |
| Supermarkets | 5 | 3 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 51 | 31 |
| Parks | 18 | 15 |
| Playgrounds | 5 | 4 |
| Swimming pools | 3 | Data not available |
| Medical GPs | 13 | 4 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 4.8 km | 3.4 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 2.3 km | 3.4 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 4.9 km | 3.6 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 640 m | 2.7 km |
Population & growth
| North Melbourne | West Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 14,953 | 8,025 |
| Estimated 2025 | 18,086 | Data not available |
| Projected 2041 | 26,390 | 14,163 |
| Annual growth rate | 4.87% | Data not available |
Common questions
Which is safer, North Melbourne or West Melbourne?
North Melbourne has the higher residential safety score (North Melbourne 28/100 vs West Melbourne 25/100).
Which is more affordable, North Melbourne or West Melbourne?
North Melbourne is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.26M versus $1.33M.
Which has better schools, North Melbourne or West Melbourne?
West Melbourne has a higher average school ICSEA (North Melbourne 1009 vs West Melbourne 1037; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, North Melbourne or West Melbourne?
North Melbourne and West Melbourne have similar transport scores.
Try another comparison
Compare two suburbs