Carlton North vs Princes Hill

Carlton North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 39 in Princes Hill. In Carlton North, about half of households rent. In Princes Hill, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Princes Hill: a median of $1.91 million, against $1.5 million in Carlton North, though rent is higher in Carlton North. On these figures, Carlton North tends to suit young adults, share households, 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

Carlton North

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 86/100)

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

First-home buyers

Carlton North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,500,000 vs $1,905,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Princes Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($462/wk vs $552/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Princes Hill

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (12 min vs 17 min)
  • is more walkable (97/100 vs 89/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Carlton North has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • Princes Hill has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Carlton North and Princes Hill 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 Princes Hill
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 Princes Hill
Walkability 89 / 97
Carlton North — Walkability: 89/100 Princes Hill — Walkability: 97/100
Safety 26 / 14
Carlton North — Safety: 26/100 Princes Hill — Safety: 14/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carlton North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Princes Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 63
Carlton North — Low flood risk: 63/100 Princes Hill — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Carlton North has more residents (6,177 vs 2,005); Carlton North rents higher ($552/wk vs $462/wk).

Carlton North Princes Hill
Population 6,177
+68% vs other
 2,005
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.0% -5.7%
Median age 33 39
Median household income $124,800/yr
+8% vs other
 $115,336/yr
Median weekly rent $552/wk
+16% vs other
 $462/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carlton North Princes Hill
0-4 3.9% / 4.0%
Carlton North — 0-4: 3.9% Princes Hill — 0-4: 4.0%
5-14 6.4% / 8.7%
Carlton North — 5-14: 6.4% Princes Hill — 5-14: 8.7%
15-19 2.9% / 4.3%
Carlton North — 15-19: 2.9% Princes Hill — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 10.7% / 9.0%
Carlton North — 20-24: 10.7% Princes Hill — 20-24: 9.0%
25-34 28.5% / 19.5%
Carlton North — 25-34: 28.5% Princes Hill — 25-34: 19.5%
35-44 13.9% / 12.7%
Carlton North — 35-44: 13.9% Princes Hill — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 10.4% / 11.1%
Carlton North — 45-54: 10.4% Princes Hill — 45-54: 11.1%
55-64 9.6% / 10.9%
Carlton North — 55-64: 9.6% Princes Hill — 55-64: 10.9%
65-74 8.2% / 11.2%
Carlton North — 65-74: 8.2% Princes Hill — 65-74: 11.2%
75-84 4.3% / 6.4%
Carlton North — 75-84: 4.3% Princes Hill — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 1.6% / 2.4%
Carlton North — 85+: 1.6% Princes Hill — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.5%).

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%
Princes Hill 45.2% lone person
Princes Hill — Lone Person: 45.2% Princes Hill — Couple Families: 28.0% Princes Hill — Group Household: 15.1% Princes Hill — One Parent Families: 9.8% Princes Hill — Other Families: 2.0%
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%
Princes Hill 44.5% renting
Princes Hill — Owned Outright: 37.5% Princes Hill — Mortgage: 18.1% Princes Hill — Renting: 44.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carlton North Princes Hill
Bachelor Degree 33.7% / 27.9%
Carlton North — Bachelor Degree: 33.7% Princes Hill — Bachelor Degree: 27.9%
Postgraduate Degree 18.0% / 18.1%
Carlton North — Postgraduate Degree: 18.0% Princes Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 18.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.4% / 5.3%
Carlton North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4% Princes Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 5.1%
Carlton North — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Princes Hill — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.7% / 4.4%
Carlton North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7% Princes Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

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 Princes Hill
England 3.8% / 3.3%
Carlton North — England: 3.8% Princes Hill — England: 3.3%
New Zealand 2.4% / 1.9%
Carlton North — New Zealand: 2.4% Princes Hill — New Zealand: 1.9%
Italy 1.8% / 1.5%
Carlton North — Italy: 1.8% Princes Hill — Italy: 1.5%
Germany 0.7% / 0.9%
Carlton North — Germany: 0.7% Princes Hill — Germany: 0.9%
Malaysia 0.7% / 0.7%
Carlton North — Malaysia: 0.7% Princes Hill — Malaysia: 0.7%
Scotland — / 0.9%
Carlton North — Scotland: not among its largest Princes Hill — Scotland: 0.9%
India 0.7% / —
Carlton North — India: 0.7% Princes Hill — India: not among its largest

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%
Princes Hill 57.2% townhouses
Princes Hill — Townhouses: 57.2% Princes Hill — Flats / Apartments: 28.5% Princes Hill — Houses: 14.3%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Carlton North Princes Hill
Median house price $1,500,000 $1,905,000
Median unit price $660,000 $690,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 56 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 Princes Hill
2 bed $1.31M / $1.33M
Carlton North — 2 bed: $1.31M (68 sales) Princes Hill — 2 bed: $1.33M (10 sales)

68 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.68M / $1.8M
Carlton North — 3 bed: $1.68M (54 sales) Princes Hill — 3 bed: $1.8M (15 sales)

54 vs 15 sales

4 bed $1.94M / $2.85M
Carlton North — 4 bed: $1.94M (25 sales) Princes Hill — 4 bed: $2.85M (15 sales)

25 vs 15 sales

Zoning mix

Carlton North Princes Hill
Residential 47% 87%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 6%
Parks and recreation 23% 7%
Commercial 2% 1%
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 Princes Hill
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
 1,675
across Yarra
Approvals change year on year +195% +646%

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 Princes Hill
Houses 2.8%
$900/wk on $1.65M
 —
Units 4.6%
$590/wk on $662K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Carlton North Princes Hill
House price Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 8% of VIC —
Rental yield (units) Higher than 40% of VIC —

Liveability

Princes Hill is more walkable (97 vs 89); Carlton North scores higher overall (86 vs 81).

Carlton North Princes Hill
Grade A+ A
Score 86/100 81/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Princes Hill carries more crime risk (86 vs 74).

Carlton North Princes Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
74/100
 High
86/100
Flood Low
37/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 19
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Carlton North Princes Hill
Inside the suburb 1 2
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.5 km
same for both
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.8% 5.4%

Schools in Carlton North

  • Carlton North Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Princes Hill

  • Princes Hill Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Princes Hill Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carlton North Princes Hill
Cafes & restaurants 24 0
Parks & reserves 5 2
Childcare 3 2
GPs 4 1
Pharmacies 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1

Mobility

Carlton North Princes Hill
Walkability score 89/100 97/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.3 km
same for both
Drive time (normal traffic) 17 min 12 min
Public transport score 96/100
Tram · Bus
 81/100
Tram
Peak arrivals per hour 246.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 29.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 3054
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 12
postcode 3054
same for both

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 Princes Hill
Worked from Home 54.1% / 52.8%
Carlton North — Worked from Home: 54.1% Princes Hill — Worked from Home: 52.8%
Car (driver) 22.6% / 24.7%
Carlton North — Car (driver): 22.6% Princes Hill — Car (driver): 24.7%
Bicycle 7.3% / 7.1%
Carlton North — Bicycle: 7.3% Princes Hill — Bicycle: 7.1%
Walked Only 6.4% / 6.6%
Carlton North — Walked Only: 6.4% Princes Hill — Walked Only: 6.6%
Tram / Light Rail 5.9% / 5.2%
Carlton North — Tram / Light Rail: 5.9% Princes Hill — Tram / Light Rail: 5.2%

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

Setting

Carlton North Princes Hill
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.9 km 7.3 km

NBN connectivity

Carlton North Princes Hill
Connectivity score 100/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 99%
3,415 premises
 100%
1,069 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Carlton North Princes Hill
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $1,937/yr
Council Melbourne Yarra

Federal electorate

Carlton North Princes Hill
Division Wills
same for both
Member Peter Khalil
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Carlton North Princes Hill
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

Princes Hill

Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carlton North

Carlton North vs Brunswick Carlton North vs Carlton Carlton North vs Brunswick East Carlton North vs Fitzroy North Carlton North vs Fitzroy Carlton North vs Parkville

Other comparisons with Princes Hill

Princes Hill vs Brunswick Princes Hill vs Brunswick East
Full data on Carlton North Full data on Princes Hill
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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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