Moving to Essendon VIC 3040
What the official numbers say about living in Essendon — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Budget around $1,741,500 for a median house or $542,500 for a unit (based on 2024 sales). Sale prices moved up about 85% between 2014 and 2024.
Renting? The census median is $380 a week, against a median household income of $2,132 a week.
About 63% of homes are owner-occupied and 36% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Essendon grew 13% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (18,852 → 21,240 people).
Around 64% of households are families, averaging 2.4 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: India, Italy, England; most spoken languages besides English: Italian, Greek, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Essendon sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 10 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (50% of workers), while 41% work from home.
Nearest train station: Essendon, 800 m south-east.
Nearest tram stop: Stop 44: Thorn Street, 200 m north-east.
Nearest bus interchange: Highpoint Shopping Centre, 3.3 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Essendon Fields Airport, 2.9 km north.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 8 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 74 schools · 93 cafes & restaurants · 14 supermarkets · 70 parks — see them all on the Essendon profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: St Therese's Primary School 150 m · Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Essendon Campus 850 m · St Columba's College 850 m · Essendon Primary School 900 m · Essendon Keilor College Essendon Campus 1000 m · Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School 1.1 km · Essendon North Primary School 1.3 km · Buckley Park College 1.3 km
Groceries: Foodworks 600 m · Coles 700 m · IGA 700 m · Boundy's Supa IGA 1.4 km · Coles 1.9 km · Yahweh 1.9 km · ALDI 2 km · Woolworths 2.1 km
Parks and reserves: Lincoln Park 200 m · Cliff Allison Park 300 m · Woodlands Park 800 m · Salmon Reserve 850 m · L.T. Thompson Park 850 m · Napier Park 1.1 km · Clarinda Park 1.2 km · Five Mile Creek Reserve 1.4 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Essendon, most often seen first: Common Myna · Rainbow Lorikeet · Red Wattlebird · Magpie-lark · Little Raven · Australian Magpie.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Essendon, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essendon here | 21,240 | $1,741,500 | 10/10 | 6% |
| Essendon North | 3,071 | $1,231,000 | 9/10 | 3% |
| Strathmore | 8,980 | $1,612,000 | 10/10 | 8% |
| Aberfeldie | 3,925 | $1,950,000 | 10/10 | 6% |
| Moonee Ponds | 16,224 | $1,512,500 | 10/10 | 4% |
| Essendon West | 1,559 | $1,675,000 | 10/10 | 12% |
| Ascot Vale | 15,197 | $1,300,000 | 9/10 | 5% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Moonee Valley — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Maribyrnong — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3040 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Essendon profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
A house in Essendon has a median sale price of $1,741,500 (2024 sales), and a unit $542,500. Renters pay a median $380 a week, and about 36% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 13% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 18,852 people to 21,240. It sits about 8 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line, and Essendon station is roughly 0.8 km away. Local government is Moonee Valley council, and the federal seat is Maribyrnong.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Essendon vs Moonee Ponds · Essendon vs Ascot Vale.
Nearby guides: Essendon North · Strathmore · Aberfeldie · Moonee Ponds · Essendon West · Ascot Vale.
Keep an eye on Essendon
One email when this data meaningfully changes — new census figures, prices, rankings. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.