West Melbourne vs North Melbourne.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,430,000 and $1,326,000. North Melbourne edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
North Melbourne (median $1,326,000) is roughly 8% cheaper to buy into than West Melbourne ($1,430,000).
North Melbourne scores higher on walkability (4/100 vs 100/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving West Melbourne (1064) sits above North Melbourne (1053).
For buyers
North Melbourne is the lower entry point at $1,326,000 median, 8% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
North Melbourne offers the higher gross rental yield (3.35% vs 3.10%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
West Melbourne edges out on average school ICSEA (1064 vs 1053).
Common questions
Is West Melbourne or North Melbourne cheaper to buy in?
North Melbourne has the lower median house price at $1,326,000, roughly 8% below West Melbourne ($1,430,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does West Melbourne or North Melbourne have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), West Melbourne scores 1064 vs 1053 in North 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, West Melbourne or North Melbourne?
North Melbourne 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, West Melbourne or North Melbourne?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.35% in North Melbourne 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.
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 West Melbourne against another suburb