Great properties and prices abound.

Space and convenience are two of Essendon’s trademarks. Although only about 10 kilometres from Melbourne’s core and a quick dash from Melbourne Airport, the sprawling northern suburb has plenty of four- and five-bedroom houses in its footprint and an enviable spread of parks.

Home to the fervently supported Bombers football club, Essendon is also a spot where community spirit still thrives. Residents take pride in their properties and both the Mount Alexander Road and Napier Street shopping strips are abuzz with a host of well-patronised, independent retailers.

For these reasons, as well as for the types of property available, Essendon is seen as good value for money, leasing agents say.

“We are finding there are a lot of people coming in from the south-east because the commute is not as treacherous as coming in from the east into the city,” says Filomena Vilas, of Thomson Real Estate. “And, we’re getting a lot of business people who commute across to Sydney quite often and they’re finding that it’s just a lot easier to live on this side of the city and commute to the airports.”

Rental prices range widely, reflecting the diversity of property. Jane Campbell, of Frank Dowling Real Estate, says the cheapest rentals would be one-bedroom apartments with a basic finish, which rent from about $220 a week.

“The cheapest for a house would probably be about $330 (a week),” Ms Campbell says. “That’s something pretty rough.”

Many of Essendon’s apartments and units are clustered around Mount Alexander Road. Most are older-style properties from the 1960s or ’70s, although some new developments are filtering into the mix.

Radiating out from this spine are plenty of three-bedroom, period-style houses.

Essendon’s larger, sometimes palatial houses dominate Essendon North, where Ms Vilas says block sizes can range up to about 900 square metres.

“Some of Essendon’s top properties start from $900 a week and can range up to $1300 a week,” Ms Vilas says. “They’re more elaborate homes – five bedrooms, swimming pools.” But she notes anything priced at more than $500 a week is “struggling” to rent, on the back of a slowdown in the market.

Ms Campbell says Essendon’s mid-market for rentals is about $450 a week for houses and about $280 a week for two-bedroom units.

“I think we’ve got a really nice area. It’s leafy, it’s hilly, it’s pretty and it’s convenient,” she says. “It’s got trains, trams, all forms of transport, everything. I reckon it’s the Toorak of this side of town.”