Carlton vs Fitzroy

Carlton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 27 against 35 in Fitzroy. In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Carlton, most households are people living alone. In Fitzroy, about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Fitzroy: a median of $780,000, against $430,000 in Carlton, and rent is higher there too. Carlton is closer to the city centre: 2 km, against 2.8 km. On these figures, Carlton tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Carlton has more childcare (11 vs 8)
  • Fitzroy has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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 $780,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,275,000 vs $1,525,000)
  • But Fitzroy leaves households under less mortgage stress (26% vs 34%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Carlton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (76% vs 61%)
  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $451/wk)
  • But Fitzroy leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)

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

Commuting to the city

Carlton

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (15% vs 7%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Fitzroy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (-0.1% vs -13.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.4%)
  • But Carlton returns a higher gross yield on units (6.2% vs 5.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Carlton and Fitzroy 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 Fitzroy
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 Fitzroy
Walkability 99 / 96
Carlton — Walkability: 99/100 Fitzroy — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 7 / 4
Carlton — Safety: 7/100 Fitzroy — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Carlton — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fitzroy — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 71 / 63
Carlton — Low flood risk: 71/100 Fitzroy — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Fitzroy has higher household incomes ($114,088 vs $67,184); Carlton has more residents (16,055 vs 10,431).

Carlton Fitzroy
Population 16,055
+35% vs other
 10,431
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -13.4% -0.1%
Median age 27 35
Median household income $67,184/yr $114,088/yr
+70% vs other
Median weekly rent $365/wk $451/wk
+24% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Carlton Fitzroy
0-4 1.9% / 4.3%
Carlton — 0-4: 1.9% Fitzroy — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 3.5% / 5.9%
Carlton — 5-14: 3.5% Fitzroy — 5-14: 5.9%
15-19 6.3% / 2.6%
Carlton — 15-19: 6.3% Fitzroy — 15-19: 2.6%
20-24 24.2% / 6.8%
Carlton — 20-24: 24.2% Fitzroy — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 33.8% / 29.5%
Carlton — 25-34: 33.8% Fitzroy — 25-34: 29.5%
35-44 10.8% / 17.6%
Carlton — 35-44: 10.8% Fitzroy — 35-44: 17.6%
45-54 6.0% / 11.5%
Carlton — 45-54: 6.0% Fitzroy — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 5.0% / 10.6%
Carlton — 55-64: 5.0% Fitzroy — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 4.2% / 6.7%
Carlton — 65-74: 4.2% Fitzroy — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 2.8% / 3.1%
Carlton — 75-84: 2.8% Fitzroy — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 1.4% / 1.3%
Carlton — 85+: 1.4% Fitzroy — 85+: 1.3%

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%
Fitzroy 53.1% lone person
Fitzroy — Lone Person: 53.1% Fitzroy — Group Household: 16.9% Fitzroy — Couple Families: 16.6% Fitzroy — One Parent Families: 11.1% Fitzroy — Other Families: 2.3%
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%
Fitzroy 60.7% renting
Fitzroy — Owned Outright: 18.6% Fitzroy — Mortgage: 20.8% Fitzroy — Renting: 60.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Carlton Fitzroy
Bachelor Degree 29.7% / 29.4%
Carlton — Bachelor Degree: 29.7% Fitzroy — Bachelor Degree: 29.4%
Postgraduate Degree 17.9% / 15.2%
Carlton — Postgraduate Degree: 17.9% Fitzroy — Postgraduate Degree: 15.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 6.3%
Carlton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Fitzroy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Certificate III & IV 4.0% / 4.9%
Carlton — Certificate III & IV: 4.0% Fitzroy — Certificate III & IV: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.9%
Carlton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Fitzroy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.7%).

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 Fitzroy
China 14.0% / 2.1%
Carlton — China: 14.0% Fitzroy — China: 2.1%
England 2.1% / 4.5%
Carlton — England: 2.1% Fitzroy — England: 4.5%
Vietnam 2.0% / 3.3%
Carlton — Vietnam: 2.0% Fitzroy — Vietnam: 3.3%
India 5.0% / —
Carlton — India: 5.0% Fitzroy — India: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.9% / 3.0%
Carlton — New Zealand: 1.9% Fitzroy — New Zealand: 3.0%
Malaysia 3.9% / 0.9%
Carlton — Malaysia: 3.9% Fitzroy — Malaysia: 0.9%

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%
Fitzroy 60.3% flats / apartments
Fitzroy — Flats / Apartments: 60.3% Fitzroy — Townhouses: 36.5% Fitzroy — Houses: 3.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Carlton Fitzroy
Median house price $1,275,000 $1,525,000
Median unit price $430,000 $780,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 39 sales
 23 days
from 67 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 Fitzroy
2 bed $1.11M / $1.29M
Carlton — 2 bed: $1.11M (24 sales) Fitzroy — 2 bed: $1.29M (51 sales)

24 vs 51 sales

3 bed $1.53M / $1.83M
Carlton — 3 bed: $1.53M (16 sales) Fitzroy — 3 bed: $1.83M (46 sales)

16 vs 46 sales

4 bed $1.72M / $2.3M
Carlton — 4 bed: $1.72M (13 sales) Fitzroy — 4 bed: $2.3M (19 sales)

13 vs 19 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 Fitzroy
1 bed $283K / $520K
Carlton — 1 bed: $283K (136 sales) Fitzroy — 1 bed: $520K (59 sales)

136 vs 59 sales

2 bed $574K / $867K
Carlton — 2 bed: $574K (140 sales) Fitzroy — 2 bed: $867K (87 sales)

140 vs 87 sales

3 bed $950K / $1.85M
Carlton — 3 bed: $950K (13 sales) Fitzroy — 3 bed: $1.85M (8 sales)

13 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Carlton Fitzroy
Residential 54% 63%
Commercial 20% 26%
Parks and recreation 13% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 10%
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 Fitzroy
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 Fitzroy
Houses 3.4%
$995/wk on $1.5M
 4.4%
$1,300/wk on $1.55M
Units 6.2%
$500/wk on $420K
 5.1%
$745/wk on $765K

Ranking within VIC

Carlton Fitzroy
House price Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Income Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Schools Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 73% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 3% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC

Liveability

Fitzroy scores higher overall (73 vs 61).

Carlton Fitzroy
Grade B A
Score 61/100 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Carlton Fitzroy
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 High
96/100
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
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Carlton Fitzroy
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 19.5% 3.1%

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 Fitzroy

  • Academy of Mary Immaculate Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • Fitzroy Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sacred Heart School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Carlton Fitzroy
Supermarkets 8 14
Cafes & restaurants 155 139
Parks & reserves 18 14
Childcare 11 8
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 4 5
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 5 3
Fuel stations 3 2
EV chargers 1 0

Mobility

Carlton Fitzroy
Walkability score 99/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 2 km 2.8 km
+40% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 6 min 9 min
Public transport score 81/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 81/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 615.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 379.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3053
 2.4%
postcode 3065
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 2
postcode 3053
 7
postcode 3065

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 Fitzroy
Worked from Home 43.7% / 55.1%
Carlton — Worked from Home: 43.7% Fitzroy — Worked from Home: 55.1%
Car (driver) 17.5% / 19.3%
Carlton — Car (driver): 17.5% Fitzroy — Car (driver): 19.3%
Walked Only 16.3% / 12.1%
Carlton — Walked Only: 16.3% Fitzroy — Walked Only: 12.1%
Tram / Light Rail 9.8% / 5.2%
Carlton — Tram / Light Rail: 9.8% Fitzroy — Tram / Light Rail: 5.2%
Bicycle 4.0% / 4.9%
Carlton — Bicycle: 4.0% Fitzroy — Bicycle: 4.9%
Train 5.4% / 1.9%
Carlton — Train: 5.4% Fitzroy — Train: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.1%).

Setting

Carlton Fitzroy
Elevation 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.5 km 5.9 km

NBN connectivity

Carlton Fitzroy
Connectivity score 94/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 84%
14,751 premises
 19%
7,755 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Carlton Fitzroy
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $1,937/yr
Council Melbourne Yarra

Federal electorate

Carlton Fitzroy
Division Melbourne
same for both
Member Sarah Witty
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Carlton Fitzroy
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

Fitzroy

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Carlton

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

Other comparisons with Fitzroy

Fitzroy vs Fitzroy North Fitzroy vs Collingwood Fitzroy vs Clifton Hill Fitzroy vs Carlton North Fitzroy vs East Melbourne
Full data on Carlton Full data on Fitzroy
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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