Clifton Hill vs Fitzroy North

In Clifton Hill, most households own their home. In Fitzroy North, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Fitzroy North is closer to the city centre: 4.7 km, against 5.6 km. On these figures, Fitzroy North tends to suit renters.

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

Fitzroy North

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 10)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 5)
  • But Clifton Hill is already more of a family suburb (46% vs 35%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fitzroy North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (51% vs 40%)
  • has cheaper rent ($481/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Fitzroy North

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

Fitzroy North

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (10 vs 3)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

Fitzroy North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.4% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Clifton Hill and Fitzroy 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.

Clifton Hill Fitzroy 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.

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Walkability 89 / 99
Clifton Hill — Walkability: 89/100 Fitzroy North — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 19 / 19
Clifton Hill — Safety: 19/100 Fitzroy North — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Clifton Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fitzroy North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 65
Clifton Hill — Low flood risk: 56/100 Fitzroy North — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Fitzroy North has more residents (12,781 vs 6,606); Clifton Hill has higher household incomes ($143,260 vs $119,600).

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Population 6,606 12,781
+93% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.2% +3.6%
Median age 37 36
Median household income $143,260/yr
+17% vs other
 $119,600/yr
Median weekly rent $550/wk
+13% vs other
 $481/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
0-4 5.6% / 4.1%
Clifton Hill — 0-4: 5.6% Fitzroy North — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 10.4% / 8.1%
Clifton Hill — 5-14: 10.4% Fitzroy North — 5-14: 8.1%
15-19 3.1% / 3.5%
Clifton Hill — 15-19: 3.1% Fitzroy North — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 4.7% / 6.6%
Clifton Hill — 20-24: 4.7% Fitzroy North — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 21.5% / 24.7%
Clifton Hill — 25-34: 21.5% Fitzroy North — 25-34: 24.7%
35-44 17.2% / 15.4%
Clifton Hill — 35-44: 17.2% Fitzroy North — 35-44: 15.4%
45-54 12.5% / 12.1%
Clifton Hill — 45-54: 12.5% Fitzroy North — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 10.6% / 9.8%
Clifton Hill — 55-64: 10.6% Fitzroy North — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 9.3% / 8.2%
Clifton Hill — 65-74: 9.3% Fitzroy North — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 3.9% / 5.2%
Clifton Hill — 75-84: 3.9% Fitzroy North — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 1.3% / 2.3%
Clifton Hill — 85+: 1.3% Fitzroy North — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (24.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 39.0% lone person
Clifton Hill — Lone Person: 39.0% Clifton Hill — Couple Families: 37.0% Clifton Hill — Group Household: 13.0% Clifton Hill — One Parent Families: 9.2% Clifton Hill — Other Families: 1.8%
Fitzroy North 46.8% lone person
Fitzroy North — Lone Person: 46.8% Fitzroy North — Couple Families: 26.5% Fitzroy North — Group Household: 16.6% Fitzroy North — One Parent Families: 8.7% Fitzroy North — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 39.7% renting
Clifton Hill — Owned Outright: 29.6% Clifton Hill — Mortgage: 30.7% Clifton Hill — Renting: 39.7%
Fitzroy North 50.6% renting
Fitzroy North — Owned Outright: 26.5% Fitzroy North — Mortgage: 23.0% Fitzroy North — Renting: 50.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Bachelor Degree 29.1% / 30.8%
Clifton Hill — Bachelor Degree: 29.1% Fitzroy North — Bachelor Degree: 30.8%
Postgraduate Degree 18.2% / 16.0%
Clifton Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 18.2% Fitzroy North — Postgraduate Degree: 16.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.5% / 6.2%
Clifton Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5% Fitzroy North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 5.6% / 5.2%
Clifton Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6% Fitzroy North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 4.7%
Clifton Hill — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Fitzroy North — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.8%).

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.

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
England 4.3% / 4.7%
Clifton Hill — England: 4.3% Fitzroy North — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 2.5% / 2.8%
Clifton Hill — New Zealand: 2.5% Fitzroy North — New Zealand: 2.8%
Italy 0.6% / 1.9%
Clifton Hill — Italy: 0.6% Fitzroy North — Italy: 1.9%
Greece 1.3% / 0.9%
Clifton Hill — Greece: 1.3% Fitzroy North — Greece: 0.9%
China — / 0.9%
Clifton Hill — China: not among its largest Fitzroy North — China: 0.9%
Malaysia 0.7% / —
Clifton Hill — Malaysia: 0.7% Fitzroy North — Malaysia: not among its largest
Ireland 0.7% / —
Clifton Hill — Ireland: 0.7% Fitzroy North — Ireland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Clifton Hill 50.8% townhouses
Clifton Hill — Townhouses: 50.8% Clifton Hill — Flats / Apartments: 25.5% Clifton Hill — Houses: 23.8%
Fitzroy North 48.6% townhouses
Fitzroy North — Townhouses: 48.6% Fitzroy North — Flats / Apartments: 37.1% Fitzroy North — Houses: 14.3%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Median house price $1,607,500 $1,600,000
Median unit price $675,000 $620,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 31 sales
 23 days
from 113 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.

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
1 bed $444K / $429K
Clifton Hill — 1 bed: $444K (24 sales) Fitzroy North — 1 bed: $429K (44 sales)

24 vs 44 sales

2 bed $755K / $689K
Clifton Hill — 2 bed: $755K (23 sales) Fitzroy North — 2 bed: $689K (64 sales)

23 vs 64 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.

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
2 bed $1.28M / $1.36M
Clifton Hill — 2 bed: $1.28M (36 sales) Fitzroy North — 2 bed: $1.36M (78 sales)

36 vs 78 sales

3 bed $1.65M / $1.7M
Clifton Hill — 3 bed: $1.65M (42 sales) Fitzroy North — 3 bed: $1.7M (77 sales)

42 vs 77 sales

4 bed $2.02M / $2.15M
Clifton Hill — 4 bed: $2.02M (16 sales) Fitzroy North — 4 bed: $2.15M (40 sales)

16 vs 40 sales

Zoning mix

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Residential 53% 73%
Parks and recreation 26% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 17% 11%
Commercial 5% 3%
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

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
New dwellings approved 1,675
across Yarra
same for both
Approvals change year on year +646%
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.

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Houses 3.3%
$948/wk on $1.5M
 3.5%
$1,050/wk on $1.57M
Units 4.3%
$608/wk on $735K
 6.4%
$775/wk on $625K

Ranking within VIC

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
House price Higher than 90% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Schools Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 97% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 26% of VIC Higher than 34% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 22% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC

Liveability

Fitzroy North scores higher overall (74 vs 65); Fitzroy North is more walkable (99 vs 89).

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Grade B A
Score 65/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
81/100
same for both
Flood Moderate
44/100
 Low
35/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 15
within 5 km
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Inside the suburb 3 8
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 1 3
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 2.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.3% 3.3%

Schools in Clifton Hill

  • Clifton Hill Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Spensley Street Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St John's School Catholic · Primary

Schools in Fitzroy North

  • Fitzroy Community School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Merri Creek Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Deutsche Schule Melbourne Independent · Primary below peers
  • Fitzroy High School Government · Secondary below peers
  • Fitzroy North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Fitzroy High School - Wurun Senior Campus Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Supermarkets 1 3
Cafes & restaurants 10 46
Parks & reserves 10 21
Childcare 5 9
GPs 3 10
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Walkability score 89/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 5.6 km
+16% vs other
 4.7 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 14 min 13 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 128.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 351.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.5%
postcode 3068
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 16
postcode 3068
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.

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Worked from Home 56.2% / 56.1%
Clifton Hill — Worked from Home: 56.2% Fitzroy North — Worked from Home: 56.1%
Car (driver) 26.4% / 23.3%
Clifton Hill — Car (driver): 26.4% Fitzroy North — Car (driver): 23.3%
Bicycle 6.2% / 6.8%
Clifton Hill — Bicycle: 6.2% Fitzroy North — Bicycle: 6.8%
Walked Only 3.7% / 5.4%
Clifton Hill — Walked Only: 3.7% Fitzroy North — Walked Only: 5.4%
Tram / Light Rail 1.1% / 4.9%
Clifton Hill — Tram / Light Rail: 1.1% Fitzroy North — Tram / Light Rail: 4.9%
Train 4.1% / 1.3%
Clifton Hill — Train: 4.1% Fitzroy North — Train: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.2%).

Setting

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Elevation 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.8 km
same for both

NBN connectivity

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Connectivity score 77/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 7%
3,270 premises
 6%
7,088 premises

Climate

Clifton Hill Fitzroy 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)

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Average residential rate $1,937/yr
same for both
Council Yarra
same for both

Federal electorate

Clifton Hill Fitzroy North
Division Cooper Wills
Member Ged Kearney Peter Khalil
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Clifton Hill

Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trains Trams Transport Hub Urban

Fitzroy North

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill vs Northcote Clifton Hill vs Fitzroy Clifton Hill vs Collingwood Clifton Hill vs Abbotsford Clifton Hill vs Fairfield

Other comparisons with Fitzroy North

Fitzroy North vs Northcote Fitzroy North vs Carlton Fitzroy North vs Brunswick East Fitzroy North vs Fitzroy Fitzroy North vs Collingwood Fitzroy North vs Carlton North
Full data on Clifton Hill Full data on Fitzroy 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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