West Melbourne vs Port Melbourne.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,430,000 and $1,500,000. Port Melbourne edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
West Melbourne (median $1,430,000) is roughly 5% cheaper to buy into than Port Melbourne ($1,500,000).
Port Melbourne scores higher on walkability (4/100 vs 32/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Port Melbourne (1112) sits above West Melbourne (1064). Port Melbourne skews owner-occupied (54%), West Melbourne runs more rental-dense (32% owner).
For buyers
West Melbourne is the lower entry point at $1,430,000 median, 5% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
West Melbourne offers the higher gross rental yield (3.10% vs 2.76%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Port Melbourne edges out on average school ICSEA (1112 vs 1064). Port Melbourne also has a higher family-household share (59% vs 48%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is West Melbourne or Port Melbourne cheaper to buy in?
West Melbourne has the lower median house price at $1,430,000, roughly 5% below Port Melbourne ($1,500,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does West Melbourne or Port Melbourne have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Port Melbourne scores 1112 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, West Melbourne or Port Melbourne?
Port Melbourne scores 32/100 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 Port Melbourne?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.10% in West Melbourne vs 2.76% in Port 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