Collingwood vs Fitzroy North

Collingwood is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 36 in Fitzroy North. In Collingwood, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Fitzroy North, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Fitzroy North: a median of $1.6 million, against $1.25 million in Collingwood, and rent is higher there too. Collingwood is closer to the city centre: 3.4 km, against 4.7 km. On these figures, Collingwood 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

Fitzroy North

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 10)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 5)
  • is already more of a family suburb (35% vs 23%)

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

First-home buyers

Collingwood

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,248,500 vs $1,600,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Collingwood

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (66% vs 51%)
  • has cheaper rent ($425/wk vs $481/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Fitzroy North

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 7%)
  • has more GPs (10 vs 7)
  • carries lower crime risk (81/100 vs 96/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Collingwood returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.1% vs 3.5%)
  • Fitzroy North returns a higher gross yield on units (6.4% vs 5.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Collingwood 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.

Collingwood 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.

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Walkability 97 / 99
Collingwood — Walkability: 97/100 Fitzroy North — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 4 / 19
Collingwood — Safety: 4/100 Fitzroy North — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Collingwood — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fitzroy North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 65
Collingwood — Low flood risk: 56/100 Fitzroy North — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Fitzroy North has more residents (12,781 vs 9,179); Fitzroy North rents higher ($481/wk vs $425/wk).

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Population 9,179 12,781
+39% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.8% +3.6%
Median age 33 36
Median household income $110,760/yr $119,600/yr
+8% vs other
Median weekly rent $425/wk $481/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Collingwood Fitzroy North
0-4 4.1% / 4.1%
Collingwood — 0-4: 4.1% Fitzroy North — 0-4: 4.1%
5-14 5.7% / 8.1%
Collingwood — 5-14: 5.7% Fitzroy North — 5-14: 8.1%
15-19 2.3% / 3.5%
Collingwood — 15-19: 2.3% Fitzroy North — 15-19: 3.5%
20-24 6.9% / 6.6%
Collingwood — 20-24: 6.9% Fitzroy North — 20-24: 6.6%
25-34 36.5% / 24.7%
Collingwood — 25-34: 36.5% Fitzroy North — 25-34: 24.7%
35-44 19.1% / 15.4%
Collingwood — 35-44: 19.1% Fitzroy North — 35-44: 15.4%
45-54 11.2% / 12.1%
Collingwood — 45-54: 11.2% Fitzroy North — 45-54: 12.1%
55-64 7.2% / 9.8%
Collingwood — 55-64: 7.2% Fitzroy North — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 4.3% / 8.2%
Collingwood — 65-74: 4.3% Fitzroy North — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 2.1% / 5.2%
Collingwood — 75-84: 2.1% Fitzroy North — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 0.7% / 2.3%
Collingwood — 85+: 0.7% Fitzroy North — 85+: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (36.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Collingwood 60.0% lone person
Collingwood — Lone Person: 60.0% Collingwood — Couple Families: 12.7% Collingwood — Group Household: 15.2% Collingwood — One Parent Families: 9.9% Collingwood — Other Families: 2.1%
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.

Collingwood 65.9% renting
Collingwood — Owned Outright: 11.0% Collingwood — Mortgage: 23.1% Collingwood — Renting: 65.9%
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.

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Bachelor Degree 30.8% / 30.8%
Collingwood — Bachelor Degree: 30.8% Fitzroy North — Bachelor Degree: 30.8%
Postgraduate Degree 14.4% / 16.0%
Collingwood — Postgraduate Degree: 14.4% Fitzroy North — Postgraduate Degree: 16.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.0% / 6.2%
Collingwood — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0% Fitzroy North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Certificate III & IV 6.3% / 4.7%
Collingwood — Certificate III & IV: 6.3% Fitzroy North — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 5.2%
Collingwood — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Fitzroy North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.2%

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.

Collingwood Fitzroy North
England 4.3% / 4.7%
Collingwood — England: 4.3% Fitzroy North — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 3.6% / 2.8%
Collingwood — New Zealand: 3.6% Fitzroy North — New Zealand: 2.8%
Vietnam 3.1% / 0.8%
Collingwood — Vietnam: 3.1% Fitzroy North — Vietnam: 0.8%
China 1.8% / 0.9%
Collingwood — China: 1.8% Fitzroy North — China: 0.9%
Italy — / 1.9%
Collingwood — Italy: not among its largest Fitzroy North — Italy: 1.9%
Malaysia 1.1% / —
Collingwood — Malaysia: 1.1% Fitzroy North — Malaysia: not among its largest
Greece — / 0.9%
Collingwood — Greece: not among its largest Fitzroy North — Greece: 0.9%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Collingwood 68.6% flats / apartments
Collingwood — Flats / Apartments: 68.6% Collingwood — Townhouses: 25.6% Collingwood — Houses: 5.8%
Fitzroy North 37.1% flats / apartments
Fitzroy North — Flats / Apartments: 37.1% Fitzroy North — Townhouses: 48.6% Fitzroy North — Houses: 14.3%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Median house price $1,248,500 $1,600,000
Median unit price $599,500 $620,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 38 sales
 23 days
from 113 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.

Collingwood Fitzroy North
1 bed $488K / $963K
Collingwood — 1 bed: $488K (5 sales) Fitzroy North — 1 bed: $963K (5 sales)

5 vs 5 sales

2 bed $1.14M / $1.36M
Collingwood — 2 bed: $1.14M (28 sales) Fitzroy North — 2 bed: $1.36M (78 sales)

28 vs 78 sales

3 bed $1.45M / $1.7M
Collingwood — 3 bed: $1.45M (26 sales) Fitzroy North — 3 bed: $1.7M (77 sales)

26 vs 77 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.

Collingwood Fitzroy North
1 bed $450K / $429K
Collingwood — 1 bed: $450K (104 sales) Fitzroy North — 1 bed: $429K (44 sales)

104 vs 44 sales

2 bed $670K / $689K
Collingwood — 2 bed: $670K (142 sales) Fitzroy North — 2 bed: $689K (64 sales)

142 vs 64 sales

3 bed $1.59M / $1.15M
Collingwood — 3 bed: $1.59M (16 sales) Fitzroy North — 3 bed: $1.15M (10 sales)

16 vs 10 sales

Zoning mix

Collingwood has more commercially zoned land (42% vs 3%).

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Residential 47% 73%
Commercial 42% 3%
Parks and recreation 0% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 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

Collingwood 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.

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Houses 4.1%
$997/wk on $1.26M
 3.5%
$1,050/wk on $1.57M
Units 5.9%
$682/wk on $605K
 6.4%
$775/wk on $625K

Ranking within VIC

Collingwood Fitzroy North
House price Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Income Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Schools Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 18% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 34% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC

Liveability

Fitzroy North scores higher overall (74 vs 65).

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Grade B A
Score 65/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Collingwood carries more crime risk (96 vs 81).

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
96/100
 High
81/100
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 20
within 5 km
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Inside the suburb 5 8
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 3
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 0.8 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.9 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 3.3%

Schools in Collingwood

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Collingwood College Government · Combined below peers
  • Collingwood College-Collingwood Alternative School Government · Combined
  • Victorian School Of Languages Government · Combined
  • Collingwood English Language School Government · Combined · Special school

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

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Supermarkets 5 3
Cafes & restaurants 77 46
Parks & reserves 10 21
Childcare 6 9
GPs 7 10
Pharmacies 5 2
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 2 3
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Walkability score 97/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km 4.7 km
+38% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 13 min
Public transport score 80/100
Tram · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 357.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 351.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 3066
 2.5%
postcode 3068
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 5
postcode 3066
 16
postcode 3068

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.

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Worked from Home 54.5% / 56.1%
Collingwood — Worked from Home: 54.5% Fitzroy North — Worked from Home: 56.1%
Car (driver) 21.5% / 23.3%
Collingwood — Car (driver): 21.5% Fitzroy North — Car (driver): 23.3%
Walked Only 10.1% / 5.4%
Collingwood — Walked Only: 10.1% Fitzroy North — Walked Only: 5.4%
Bicycle 4.4% / 6.8%
Collingwood — Bicycle: 4.4% Fitzroy North — Bicycle: 6.8%
Tram / Light Rail 4.7% / 4.9%
Collingwood — Tram / Light Rail: 4.7% Fitzroy North — Tram / Light Rail: 4.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (56.1%).

Setting

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Elevation 25 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.2 km 7.8 km

NBN connectivity

Collingwood Fitzroy North
Connectivity score 81/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
7,186 premises
 6%
7,088 premises

Climate

Collingwood 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Collingwood

Apartments Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses 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 Collingwood

Collingwood vs Richmond Collingwood vs Fitzroy Collingwood vs Abbotsford Collingwood vs Clifton Hill Collingwood vs East Melbourne

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 Clifton Hill Fitzroy North vs Carlton North
Full data on Collingwood 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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