Carlton vs Carlton North

Carlton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 27 against 33 in Carlton North. In Carlton, the large majority of households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Carlton North, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Carlton North: a median of $1.5 million, against $1.27 million in Carlton, and rent is higher there too. Carlton is closer to the city centre: 2 km, against 4.3 km. On these figures, Carlton tends to suit renters, young adults, and 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

Carlton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 5)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • But Carlton North is already more of a family suburb (34% vs 15%)

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

First-home buyers

Carlton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($430,000 vs $660,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,275,000 vs $1,500,000)
  • But Carlton North leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 34%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Carlton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $552/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (76% vs 51%)
  • But Carlton North leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Carlton

ahead on 4 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (6 min vs 17 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (2 km vs 4.3 km)
  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (15% vs 7%)

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 8%)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 93/100)
  • But Carlton is more walkable (99/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

Carlton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.2% vs 4.6%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.8%)
  • But Carlton North is growing faster (-2.0% vs -13.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Carlton and Carlton North 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 Carlton North
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 Carlton North
Walkability 99 / 89
Carlton — Walkability: 99/100 Carlton North — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 7 / 26
Carlton — Safety: 7/100 Carlton North — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carlton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Carlton North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 71 / 63
Carlton — Low flood risk: 71/100 Carlton North — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Carlton has more residents (16,055 vs 6,177); Carlton North has higher household incomes ($124,800 vs $67,184).

Carlton Carlton North
Population 16,055
+62% vs other
 6,177
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -13.4% -2.0%
Median age 27 33
Median household income $67,184/yr $124,800/yr
+86% vs other
Median weekly rent $365/wk $552/wk
+51% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carlton Carlton North
0-4 1.9% / 3.9%
Carlton — 0-4: 1.9% Carlton North — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 3.5% / 6.4%
Carlton — 5-14: 3.5% Carlton North — 5-14: 6.4%
15-19 6.3% / 2.9%
Carlton — 15-19: 6.3% Carlton North — 15-19: 2.9%
20-24 24.2% / 10.7%
Carlton — 20-24: 24.2% Carlton North — 20-24: 10.7%
25-34 33.8% / 28.5%
Carlton — 25-34: 33.8% Carlton North — 25-34: 28.5%
35-44 10.8% / 13.9%
Carlton — 35-44: 10.8% Carlton North — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 6.0% / 10.4%
Carlton — 45-54: 6.0% Carlton North — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 5.0% / 9.6%
Carlton — 55-64: 5.0% Carlton North — 55-64: 9.6%
65-74 4.2% / 8.2%
Carlton — 65-74: 4.2% Carlton North — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 2.8% / 4.3%
Carlton — 75-84: 2.8% Carlton North — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 1.4% / 1.6%
Carlton — 85+: 1.4% Carlton North — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Carlton 57.7% lone person
Carlton — Lone Person: 57.7% Carlton — Group Household: 23.2% Carlton — Couple Families: 8.8% Carlton — One Parent Families: 6.4% Carlton — Other Families: 3.8%
Carlton North 38.6% lone person
Carlton North — Lone Person: 38.6% Carlton North — Group Household: 24.8% Carlton North — Couple Families: 25.2% Carlton North — One Parent Families: 8.8% Carlton North — Other Families: 2.5%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Carlton 75.6% renting
Carlton — Owned Outright: 13.9% Carlton — Mortgage: 10.5% Carlton — Renting: 75.6%
Carlton North 51.4% renting
Carlton North — Owned Outright: 28.9% Carlton North — Mortgage: 19.7% Carlton North — Renting: 51.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carlton Carlton North
Bachelor Degree 29.7% / 33.7%
Carlton — Bachelor Degree: 29.7% Carlton North — Bachelor Degree: 33.7%
Postgraduate Degree 17.9% / 18.0%
Carlton — Postgraduate Degree: 17.9% Carlton North — Postgraduate Degree: 18.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 6.4%
Carlton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Carlton North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 4.0% / 4.6%
Carlton — Certificate III & IV: 4.0% Carlton North — Certificate III & IV: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 4.7%
Carlton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Carlton North — 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 Carlton North
China 14.0% / —
Carlton — China: 14.0% Carlton North — China: not among its largest
England 2.1% / 3.8%
Carlton — England: 2.1% Carlton North — England: 3.8%
India 5.0% / 0.7%
Carlton — India: 5.0% Carlton North — India: 0.7%
Malaysia 3.9% / 0.7%
Carlton — Malaysia: 3.9% Carlton North — Malaysia: 0.7%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.4%
Carlton — New Zealand: 1.9% Carlton North — New Zealand: 2.4%
Italy 1.3% / 1.8%
Carlton — Italy: 1.3% Carlton North — Italy: 1.8%
Vietnam 2.0% / —
Carlton — Vietnam: 2.0% Carlton North — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Carlton 81.5% flats / apartments
Carlton — Flats / Apartments: 81.5% Carlton — Townhouses: 17.1% Carlton — Houses: 1.3%
Carlton North 22.5% flats / apartments
Carlton North — Flats / Apartments: 22.5% Carlton North — Townhouses: 71.4% Carlton North — Houses: 6.1%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Carlton Carlton North
Median house price $1,275,000 $1,500,000
Median unit price $430,000 $660,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 39 sales
 23 days
from 56 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 Carlton North
1 bed $283K / $476K
Carlton — 1 bed: $283K (136 sales) Carlton North — 1 bed: $476K (16 sales)

136 vs 16 sales

2 bed $574K / $748K
Carlton — 2 bed: $574K (140 sales) Carlton North — 2 bed: $748K (26 sales)

140 vs 26 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 Carlton North
2 bed $1.11M / $1.31M
Carlton — 2 bed: $1.11M (24 sales) Carlton North — 2 bed: $1.31M (68 sales)

24 vs 68 sales

3 bed $1.53M / $1.68M
Carlton — 3 bed: $1.53M (16 sales) Carlton North — 3 bed: $1.68M (54 sales)

16 vs 54 sales

4 bed $1.72M / $1.94M
Carlton — 4 bed: $1.72M (13 sales) Carlton North — 4 bed: $1.94M (25 sales)

13 vs 25 sales

Zoning mix

Carlton has more commercially zoned land (20% vs 2%).

Carlton Carlton North
Residential 54% 47%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 28%
Parks and recreation 13% 23%
Commercial 20% 2%
Other and special use 2% 0%
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 Carlton North
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
same for both
Approvals change year on year +195%
same for both

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 Carlton North
Houses 3.4%
$995/wk on $1.5M
 2.8%
$900/wk on $1.65M
Units 6.2%
$500/wk on $420K
 4.6%
$590/wk on $662K

Ranking within VIC

Carlton Carlton North
House price Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Income Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools Higher than 29% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC

Liveability

Carlton North scores higher overall (86 vs 61); Carlton is more walkable (99 vs 89).

Carlton Carlton North
Grade B A+
Score 61/100 86/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Carlton carries more crime risk (93 vs 74).

Carlton Carlton North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 High
74/100
Flood Low
29/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Carlton Carlton North
Inside the suburb 3 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.0 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 19.5% 5.8%

Schools in Carlton

  • Carlton Gardens Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Carlton Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Saints College - BlendED Campus Catholic · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Carlton North

  • Carlton North Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carlton Carlton North
Supermarkets 8 0
Cafes & restaurants 155 24
Parks & reserves 18 5
Childcare 11 3
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 4 2
Banks & Bank@Post 5 0
Fuel stations 3 0
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Carlton North sits further from the CBD (4.3 km vs 2 km).

Carlton Carlton North
Walkability score 99/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 2 km 4.3 km
+115% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 6 min 17 min
Public transport score 81/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 615.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 246.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3053
 2.2%
postcode 3054
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 2
postcode 3053
 12
postcode 3054

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 Carlton North
Worked from Home 43.7% / 54.1%
Carlton — Worked from Home: 43.7% Carlton North — Worked from Home: 54.1%
Car (driver) 17.5% / 22.6%
Carlton — Car (driver): 17.5% Carlton North — Car (driver): 22.6%
Walked Only 16.3% / 6.4%
Carlton — Walked Only: 16.3% Carlton North — Walked Only: 6.4%
Tram / Light Rail 9.8% / 5.9%
Carlton — Tram / Light Rail: 9.8% Carlton North — Tram / Light Rail: 5.9%
Bicycle 4.0% / 7.3%
Carlton — Bicycle: 4.0% Carlton North — Bicycle: 7.3%
Train 5.4% / 1.3%
Carlton — Train: 5.4% Carlton North — Train: 1.3%

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

Setting

Carlton Carlton North
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.5 km 6.9 km

NBN connectivity

Carlton Carlton North
Connectivity score 94/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 84%
14,751 premises
 99%
3,415 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Carlton Carlton North
Average residential rate $2,345/yr
same for both
Council Melbourne
same for both

Federal electorate

Carlton Carlton North
Division Melbourne Wills
Member Sarah Witty Peter Khalil
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Carlton

Affordable Apartments Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

Carlton North

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carlton

Carlton vs Melbourne Carlton vs Fitzroy North Carlton vs Fitzroy Carlton vs Parkville Carlton vs East Melbourne

Other comparisons with Carlton North

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