Keep in mind though majority of the population of melbourne has been in the North/South/East for a lot longer than the West.  Most people will stay near their families when they buy a first, second home especially with young children to raise.  My husband can remember when Altona Meadows (in the west) used to be paddocks just for rabbiting! I believe each generation of families move out 1 or 2 suburbs past their parents and then eventually try and work their way back in (if they can).  Well at least that's what i see.

Yes, there is a difference in terms of facilities between East/West, but If you are in a good suburb like Willy,Altona, Newport, Yarraville then prices are going up and infrastructure is going in.  Hoppers, Point Cook, Werribee are definately the lower income ranges.  Most houses are the same and were built just like altona once was – on a shoe string….. but Altona is not a first home buyers area now! Of course these areas will go up, Point cook seemed so far away 6yrs ago, but in another 6yrs who knows maybe Melton won't seem so bad either. just a thought

We don't have money worries and we choose to live in Altona.  We would rather spend $300k (which is what it would cost extra to move to the equivalent in the SE suburbs) on a nice boat, nice cars and investment deposits.  We have family here but most of our friends are in the SE suburbs of Brighton East, Mentone etc and we realise what they have and what we don't in terms of suburb comparison, but we have wide open spaces, less traffic, more money to spend on living life!