Kensington vs West Melbourne
Kensington (median $1,138,300) is roughly 20% cheaper to buy into than West Melbourne ($1,430,000).
Buying in Kensington or West Melbourne?
Selling in Kensington? The free selling guide
Kensington and West Melbourne side by side
| Measure | Kensington | West Melbourne |
|---|---|---|
| Price and market | ||
| Median house | $1,138,300 | $1,430,000 |
| Median unit | $502,500 | $515,000 |
| Renting | ||
| House rent | $760/wk | $853/wk |
| Unit rent | $560/wk | $660/wk |
| Owner occupied | – | 32.0% |
| Renter occupied | – | 65.0% |
| Schools | ||
| Schools nearby | 20 | 20 |
| Average ICSEA | 1070 | 1064 |
| Lifestyle and people | ||
| Walk score | 100 | 4 |
| Transit score | 20 | 0 |
| Bike score | 100 | 100 |
| Population | – | 8,025 |
| Median age | – | 31 |
| Climate | ||
| Annual rainfall | 582 mm | 582 mm |
| Mean max, January | 26.9°C | 26.9°C |
Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.
Which suits whom
Kensington scores higher on walkability (100/100 vs 4/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Kensington (1070) sits above West Melbourne (1064).
- For buyers
- Kensington is the lower entry point at $1,138,300 median, 20% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
- For investors
- Kensington offers the higher gross rental yield (3.47% vs 3.10%), favouring cash-flow investors.
- For families
- Kensington edges out on average school ICSEA (1070 vs 1064).
Kensington vs West Melbourne: common questions
Is Kensington or West Melbourne cheaper to buy in?
Kensington has the lower median house price at $1,138,300, roughly 20% below West Melbourne ($1,430,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Kensington or West Melbourne have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Kensington scores 1070 vs 1064 in West Melbourne. 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 is more walkable, Kensington or West Melbourne?
Kensington scores 100/100 on walkability vs 4/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Kensington or West Melbourne?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.47% in Kensington vs 3.10% in West Melbourne. 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.
Keep comparing
The two suburbs
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