Carlton North vs Brunswick

In both, about half of households rent. In Brunswick, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Carlton North: a median of $1.5 million, against $1.26 million in Brunswick, and rent is higher there too. Carlton North is closer to the city centre: 4.3 km, against 5.6 km. On these figures, Brunswick tends to suit people living alone and buyers on a tighter budget.

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

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 5)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (35% vs 6%)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 3)

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

First-home buyers

Brunswick

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,260,000 vs $1,500,000)
  • has cheaper units ($555,000 vs $660,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brunswick

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($441/wk vs $552/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Brunswick

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 89/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Brunswick

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (14 vs 4)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 89/100)
  • But Carlton North has more units and townhouses to downsize into (94% vs 65%)

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

Investors

Brunswick

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% 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 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
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
Walkability 89 / 99
Carlton North — Walkability: 89/100 Brunswick — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 26 / 18
Carlton North — Safety: 26/100 Brunswick — Safety: 18/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carlton North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brunswick — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 56
Carlton North — Low flood risk: 63/100 Brunswick — Low flood risk: 56/100

Demographics

Brunswick has more residents (24,896 vs 6,177); Carlton North rents higher ($552/wk vs $441/wk).

Carlton North Brunswick
Population 6,177 24,896
+303% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.0% +1.7%
Median age 33 34
Median household income $124,800/yr
+13% vs other
 $108,992/yr
Median weekly rent $552/wk
+20% vs other
 $441/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carlton North Brunswick
0-4 3.9% / 3.9%
Carlton North — 0-4: 3.9% Brunswick — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 6.4% / 6.3%
Carlton North — 5-14: 6.4% Brunswick — 5-14: 6.3%
15-19 2.9% / 2.7%
Carlton North — 15-19: 2.9% Brunswick — 15-19: 2.7%
20-24 10.7% / 9.3%
Carlton North — 20-24: 10.7% Brunswick — 20-24: 9.3%
25-34 28.5% / 29.2%
Carlton North — 25-34: 28.5% Brunswick — 25-34: 29.2%
35-44 13.9% / 17.8%
Carlton North — 35-44: 13.9% Brunswick — 35-44: 17.8%
45-54 10.4% / 11.2%
Carlton North — 45-54: 10.4% Brunswick — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 9.6% / 8.4%
Carlton North — 55-64: 9.6% Brunswick — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 8.2% / 5.7%
Carlton North — 65-74: 8.2% Brunswick — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 4.3% / 3.7%
Carlton North — 75-84: 4.3% Brunswick — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 1.6% / 1.8%
Carlton North — 85+: 1.6% Brunswick — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.2%).

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 47.0% lone person
Brunswick — Lone Person: 47.0% Brunswick — Couple Families: 23.2% Brunswick — Group Household: 19.4% Brunswick — One Parent Families: 8.1% Brunswick — Other Families: 2.3%
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 49.1% renting
Brunswick — Owned Outright: 24.2% Brunswick — Mortgage: 26.8% Brunswick — Renting: 49.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carlton North Brunswick
Bachelor Degree 33.7% / 29.4%
Carlton North — Bachelor Degree: 33.7% Brunswick — Bachelor Degree: 29.4%
Postgraduate Degree 18.0% / 15.6%
Carlton North — Postgraduate Degree: 18.0% Brunswick — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 6.7%
Carlton North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Brunswick — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 6.1%
Carlton North — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Brunswick — Certificate III & IV: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.7% / 4.7%
Carlton North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7% Brunswick — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7%

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
England 3.8% / 3.6%
Carlton North — England: 3.8% Brunswick — England: 3.6%
New Zealand 2.4% / 3.0%
Carlton North — New Zealand: 2.4% Brunswick — New Zealand: 3.0%
Italy 1.8% / 2.6%
Carlton North — Italy: 1.8% Brunswick — Italy: 2.6%
Greece — / 2.5%
Carlton North — Greece: not among its largest Brunswick — Greece: 2.5%
India 0.7% / 1.0%
Carlton North — India: 0.7% Brunswick — India: 1.0%
Malaysia 0.7% / 0.9%
Carlton North — Malaysia: 0.7% Brunswick — Malaysia: 0.9%
China — / 1.2%
Carlton North — China: not among its largest Brunswick — China: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.8%).

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 29.3% townhouses
Brunswick — Townhouses: 29.3% Brunswick — Flats / Apartments: 35.4% Brunswick — Houses: 35.3%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Carlton North Brunswick
Median house price $1,500,000 $1,260,000
Median unit price $660,000 $555,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 56 sales
 23 days
from 169 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
1 bed $476K / $376K
Carlton North — 1 bed: $476K (16 sales) Brunswick — 1 bed: $376K (173 sales)

16 vs 173 sales

2 bed $748K / $629K
Carlton North — 2 bed: $748K (26 sales) Brunswick — 2 bed: $629K (301 sales)

26 vs 301 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
2 bed $1.31M / $1.12M
Carlton North — 2 bed: $1.31M (68 sales) Brunswick — 2 bed: $1.12M (118 sales)

68 vs 118 sales

3 bed $1.68M / $1.36M
Carlton North — 3 bed: $1.68M (54 sales) Brunswick — 3 bed: $1.36M (131 sales)

54 vs 131 sales

4 bed $1.94M / $1.5M
Carlton North — 4 bed: $1.94M (25 sales) Brunswick — 4 bed: $1.5M (32 sales)

25 vs 32 sales

Zoning mix

Brunswick has more industrially zoned land (11% vs 0%).

Carlton North Brunswick
Residential 47% 68%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 5%
Parks and recreation 23% 5%
Industrial 0% 11%
Commercial 2% 11%
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
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
Houses 2.8%
$900/wk on $1.65M
 3.8%
$880/wk on $1.2M
Units 4.6%
$590/wk on $662K
 5.5%
$625/wk on $592K

Ranking within VIC

Carlton North Brunswick
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 19% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 8% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC

Liveability

Carlton North scores higher overall (86 vs 64); Brunswick is more walkable (99 vs 89).

Carlton North Brunswick
Grade A+ B
Score 86/100 64/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Carlton North Brunswick
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 High
82/100
Flood Low
37/100
 Moderate
44/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 19
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Carlton North Brunswick
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.5 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.8% 4.3%

Schools in Carlton North

  • Carlton North Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Brunswick

  • Brunswick Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Margaret Mary's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Sydney Road Community School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carlton North Brunswick
Supermarkets 0 12
Cafes & restaurants 24 132
Parks & reserves 5 29
Childcare 3 14
GPs 4 14
Pharmacies 2 7
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 4
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 5

Mobility

Carlton North Brunswick
Walkability score 89/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.3 km 5.6 km
+30% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 15 min
Public transport score 96/100
Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 246.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 516.8
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 3056
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 12
postcode 3054
 14
postcode 3056

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
Worked from Home 54.1% / 52.1%
Carlton North — Worked from Home: 54.1% Brunswick — Worked from Home: 52.1%
Car (driver) 22.6% / 24.7%
Carlton North — Car (driver): 22.6% Brunswick — Car (driver): 24.7%
Bicycle 7.3% / 7.0%
Carlton North — Bicycle: 7.3% Brunswick — Bicycle: 7.0%
Tram / Light Rail 5.9% / 5.5%
Carlton North — Tram / Light Rail: 5.9% Brunswick — Tram / Light Rail: 5.5%
Walked Only 6.4% / 4.4%
Carlton North — Walked Only: 6.4% Brunswick — Walked Only: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.1%).

Setting

Carlton North Brunswick
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.9 km 8.7 km

NBN connectivity

Carlton North Brunswick
Connectivity score 100/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
3,415 premises
 67%
15,802 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Carlton North Brunswick
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
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

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carlton North

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

Other comparisons with Brunswick

Brunswick vs Coburg Brunswick vs Brunswick West Brunswick vs Brunswick East Brunswick vs Parkville Brunswick vs Princes Hill
Full data on Carlton North Full data on Brunswick
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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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