Brunswick West vs Essendon.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,332,500 and $1,655,000. Brunswick West edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Brunswick West (median $1,332,500) is roughly 19% cheaper to buy into than Essendon ($1,655,000).
On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Brunswick West (1112) sits above Essendon (1109). Essendon skews owner-occupied (62%), Brunswick West runs more rental-dense (50% owner).
For buyers
Brunswick West is the lower entry point at $1,332,500 median, 19% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Essendon offers the higher gross rental yield (1.73% vs 1.43%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Brunswick West edges out on average school ICSEA (1112 vs 1109). Essendon also has a higher family-household share (64% vs 52%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Brunswick West or Essendon cheaper to buy in?
Brunswick West has the lower median house price at $1,332,500, roughly 19% below Essendon ($1,655,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Brunswick West or Essendon have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Brunswick West scores 1112 vs 1109 in Essendon. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Brunswick West or Essendon?
Gross rental yield on houses is 1.73% in Essendon vs 1.43% in Brunswick West. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
Compare Brunswick West against another suburb