Carlton North vs Brunswick East

In both, about half of households rent. In Brunswick East, about half of homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Carlton North is closer to the city centre: 4.3 km, against 5.9 km. On these figures, Carlton North tends to suit share households, while Brunswick East suits people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Brunswick East

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (23% vs 6%)
  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 5)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Brunswick East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($530,000 vs $660,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brunswick East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($421/wk vs $552/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Carlton North

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (14% vs 9%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (94% vs 77%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Brunswick East

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (15.4% vs -2.0%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.5% vs 2.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Carlton North and Brunswick East drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Carlton North Brunswick East
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Carlton North Brunswick East
Walkability 89 / 94
Carlton North — Walkability: 89/100 Brunswick East — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 26 / 25
Carlton North — Safety: 26/100 Brunswick East — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carlton North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brunswick East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 37
Carlton North — Low flood risk: 63/100 Brunswick East — Low flood risk: 37/100

Demographics

Brunswick East has more residents (13,279 vs 6,177); Carlton North rents higher ($552/wk vs $421/wk).

Carlton North Brunswick East
Population 6,177 13,279
+115% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.0% +15.4%
Median age 33
same for both
Median household income $124,800/yr
+13% vs other
 $108,576/yr
Median weekly rent $552/wk
+24% vs other
 $421/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carlton North Brunswick East
0-4 3.9% / 3.7%
Carlton North — 0-4: 3.9% Brunswick East — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 6.4% / 5.7%
Carlton North — 5-14: 6.4% Brunswick East — 5-14: 5.7%
15-19 2.9% / 2.7%
Carlton North — 15-19: 2.9% Brunswick East — 15-19: 2.7%
20-24 10.7% / 8.1%
Carlton North — 20-24: 10.7% Brunswick East — 20-24: 8.1%
25-34 28.5% / 33.5%
Carlton North — 25-34: 28.5% Brunswick East — 25-34: 33.5%
35-44 13.9% / 20.0%
Carlton North — 35-44: 13.9% Brunswick East — 35-44: 20.0%
45-54 10.4% / 10.6%
Carlton North — 45-54: 10.4% Brunswick East — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 9.6% / 7.0%
Carlton North — 55-64: 9.6% Brunswick East — 55-64: 7.0%
65-74 8.2% / 4.5%
Carlton North — 65-74: 8.2% Brunswick East — 65-74: 4.5%
75-84 4.3% / 2.8%
Carlton North — 75-84: 4.3% Brunswick East — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 1.6% / 1.3%
Carlton North — 85+: 1.6% Brunswick East — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Carlton North 38.6% lone person
Carlton North — Lone Person: 38.6% Carlton North — Couple Families: 25.2% Carlton North — Group Household: 24.8% Carlton North — One Parent Families: 8.8% Carlton North — Other Families: 2.5%
Brunswick East 53.3% lone person
Brunswick East — Lone Person: 53.3% Brunswick East — Couple Families: 19.3% Brunswick East — Group Household: 17.2% Brunswick East — One Parent Families: 8.0% Brunswick East — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Carlton North 51.4% renting
Carlton North — Owned Outright: 28.9% Carlton North — Mortgage: 19.7% Carlton North — Renting: 51.4%
Brunswick East 54.5% renting
Brunswick East — Owned Outright: 18.4% Brunswick East — Mortgage: 27.1% Brunswick East — Renting: 54.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Carlton North Brunswick East
Bachelor Degree 33.7% / 31.3%
Carlton North — Bachelor Degree: 33.7% Brunswick East — Bachelor Degree: 31.3%
Postgraduate Degree 18.0% / 16.4%
Carlton North — Postgraduate Degree: 18.0% Brunswick East — Postgraduate Degree: 16.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 7.0%
Carlton North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Brunswick East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 6.2%
Carlton North — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Brunswick East — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.7% / 5.0%
Carlton North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7% Brunswick East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.7%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Carlton North Brunswick East
England 3.8% / 3.9%
Carlton North — England: 3.8% Brunswick East — England: 3.9%
New Zealand 2.4% / 3.0%
Carlton North — New Zealand: 2.4% Brunswick East — New Zealand: 3.0%
Italy 1.8% / 2.8%
Carlton North — Italy: 1.8% Brunswick East — Italy: 2.8%
Malaysia 0.7% / 1.0%
Carlton North — Malaysia: 0.7% Brunswick East — Malaysia: 1.0%
India 0.7% / 1.0%
Carlton North — India: 0.7% Brunswick East — India: 1.0%
Greece — / 1.3%
Carlton North — Greece: not among its largest Brunswick East — Greece: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Carlton North 71.4% townhouses
Carlton North — Townhouses: 71.4% Carlton North — Flats / Apartments: 22.5% Carlton North — Houses: 6.1%
Brunswick East 25.8% townhouses
Brunswick East — Townhouses: 25.8% Brunswick East — Flats / Apartments: 51.6% Brunswick East — Houses: 22.6%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Carlton North Brunswick East
Median house price $1,500,000 $1,435,000
Median unit price $660,000 $530,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 56 sales
 23 days
from 93 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Carlton North Brunswick East
1 bed $476K / $388K
Carlton North — 1 bed: $476K (16 sales) Brunswick East — 1 bed: $388K (128 sales)

16 vs 128 sales

2 bed $748K / $585K
Carlton North — 2 bed: $748K (26 sales) Brunswick East — 2 bed: $585K (212 sales)

26 vs 212 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Carlton North Brunswick East
2 bed $1.31M / $1.21M
Carlton North — 2 bed: $1.31M (68 sales) Brunswick East — 2 bed: $1.21M (40 sales)

68 vs 40 sales

3 bed $1.68M / $1.46M
Carlton North — 3 bed: $1.68M (54 sales) Brunswick East — 3 bed: $1.46M (73 sales)

54 vs 73 sales

4 bed $1.94M / $1.77M
Carlton North — 4 bed: $1.94M (25 sales) Brunswick East — 4 bed: $1.77M (20 sales)

25 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Carlton North Brunswick East
Residential 47% 63%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 4%
Parks and recreation 23% 15%
Commercial 2% 12%
Industrial 0% 4%
Other and special use 0% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Carlton North Brunswick East
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
 1,387
across Merri-bek
Approvals change year on year +195% +68%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Carlton North Brunswick East
Houses 2.8%
$900/wk on $1.65M
 3.5%
$840/wk on $1.25M
Units 4.6%
$590/wk on $662K
 5.5%
$580/wk on $545K

Ranking within VIC

Carlton North Brunswick East
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 72% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC

Liveability

Carlton North scores higher overall (86 vs 76).

Carlton North Brunswick East
Grade A+ A
Score 86/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brunswick East carries more flood risk (63 vs 37).

Carlton North Brunswick East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 High
75/100
Flood Low
37/100
 Moderate
63/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 19
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Carlton North Brunswick East
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.5 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 3.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.8% 3.8%

Schools in Carlton North

  • Carlton North Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Brunswick East

  • Our Lady Help of Christians School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Brunswick East Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Brunswick South Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carlton North Brunswick East
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 24 65
Parks & reserves 5 16
Childcare 3 6
GPs 4
same for both
Pharmacies 2 4
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Carlton North Brunswick East
Walkability score 89/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.3 km 5.9 km
+37% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 15 min
Public transport score 96/100
Tram · Bus
 81/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 246.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 430.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 3054
 1.7%
postcode 3057
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 12
postcode 3054
 11
postcode 3057

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Carlton North Brunswick East
Worked from Home 54.1% / 54.8%
Carlton North — Worked from Home: 54.1% Brunswick East — Worked from Home: 54.8%
Car (driver) 22.6% / 24.5%
Carlton North — Car (driver): 22.6% Brunswick East — Car (driver): 24.5%
Bicycle 7.3% / 6.5%
Carlton North — Bicycle: 7.3% Brunswick East — Bicycle: 6.5%
Tram / Light Rail 5.9% / 7.3%
Carlton North — Tram / Light Rail: 5.9% Brunswick East — Tram / Light Rail: 7.3%
Walked Only 6.4% / 3.4%
Carlton North — Walked Only: 6.4% Brunswick East — Walked Only: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.8%).

Setting

Carlton North Brunswick East
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.9 km 9.0 km

NBN connectivity

Carlton North Brunswick East
Connectivity score 100/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
3,415 premises
 86%
8,455 premises

Climate

Carlton North Brunswick East
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Carlton North Brunswick East
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Carlton North Brunswick East
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $1,914/yr
Council Melbourne Merri-bek

Federal electorate

Carlton North Brunswick East
Division Wills
same for both
Member Peter Khalil
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Carlton North Brunswick East
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Carlton North

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Brunswick East

Apartments Cafe Culture Gentrifying Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carlton North

Carlton North vs Brunswick Carlton North vs Carlton Carlton North vs Fitzroy North Carlton North vs Fitzroy Carlton North vs Parkville Carlton North vs Princes Hill

Other comparisons with Brunswick East

Brunswick East vs Coburg Brunswick East vs Northcote Brunswick East vs Brunswick Brunswick East vs Thornbury Brunswick East vs Fitzroy North Brunswick East vs Princes Hill
Full data on Carlton North Full data on Brunswick East
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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