East Melbourne vs Carlton

Carlton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 27 against 42 in East Melbourne. In both, most homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In East Melbourne, about half of households rent. In Carlton, the large majority of households rent. Units cost more in East Melbourne: a median of $688,000, against $430,000 in Carlton, and rent is higher there too. Carlton is closer to the city centre: 2 km, against 2.5 km. On these figures, East Melbourne tends to suit people living alone and older residents, while Carlton suits 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

Carlton

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (11 vs 2)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 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 houses ($1,275,000 vs $2,675,000)
  • has cheaper units ($430,000 vs $687,500)
  • But East Melbourne 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 a bigger rental market to choose from (76% vs 54%)
  • has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $480/wk)
  • But East Melbourne leaves renters under less rental stress (20% 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

They split

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

  • East Melbourne has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 8%)
  • Carlton has more GPs (5 vs 2)

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

Investors

East Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (-1.4% vs -13.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.5% vs 3.4%)
  • But Carlton returns a higher gross yield on units (6.2% vs 5.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

East Melbourne and Carlton drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

East Melbourne Carlton
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.

East Melbourne Carlton
Walkability 97 / 99
East Melbourne — Walkability: 97/100 Carlton — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 5 / 7
East Melbourne — Safety: 5/100 Carlton — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
East Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Carlton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 86 / 71
East Melbourne — Low flood risk: 86/100 Carlton — Low flood risk: 71/100

Demographics

Carlton has more residents (16,055 vs 4,896); East Melbourne has higher household incomes ($121,940 vs $67,184).

East Melbourne Carlton
Population 4,896 16,055
+228% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.4% -13.4%
Median age 42 27
Median household income $121,940/yr
+45% vs other
 $67,184/yr
Median weekly rent $480/wk
+24% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Melbourne Carlton
0-4 2.2% / 1.9%
East Melbourne — 0-4: 2.2% Carlton — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 3.6% / 3.5%
East Melbourne — 5-14: 3.6% Carlton — 5-14: 3.5%
15-19 1.9% / 6.3%
East Melbourne — 15-19: 1.9% Carlton — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 5.6% / 24.2%
East Melbourne — 20-24: 5.6% Carlton — 20-24: 24.2%
25-34 23.4% / 33.8%
East Melbourne — 25-34: 23.4% Carlton — 25-34: 33.8%
35-44 16.1% / 10.8%
East Melbourne — 35-44: 16.1% Carlton — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 11.3% / 6.0%
East Melbourne — 45-54: 11.3% Carlton — 45-54: 6.0%
55-64 13.5% / 5.0%
East Melbourne — 55-64: 13.5% Carlton — 55-64: 5.0%
65-74 13.3% / 4.2%
East Melbourne — 65-74: 13.3% Carlton — 65-74: 4.2%
75-84 6.6% / 2.8%
East Melbourne — 75-84: 6.6% Carlton — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 2.4% / 1.4%
East Melbourne — 85+: 2.4% Carlton — 85+: 1.4%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Melbourne 66.6% lone person
East Melbourne — Lone Person: 66.6% East Melbourne — Group Household: 10.9% East Melbourne — Couple Families: 14.9% East Melbourne — One Parent Families: 5.4% East Melbourne — Other Families: 2.1%
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%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

East Melbourne 54.1% renting
East Melbourne — Owned Outright: 27.6% East Melbourne — Mortgage: 18.3% East Melbourne — Renting: 54.1%
Carlton 75.6% renting
Carlton — Owned Outright: 13.9% Carlton — Mortgage: 10.5% Carlton — Renting: 75.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

East Melbourne Carlton
Bachelor Degree 33.7% / 29.7%
East Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 33.7% Carlton — Bachelor Degree: 29.7%
Postgraduate Degree 18.5% / 17.9%
East Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 18.5% Carlton — Postgraduate Degree: 17.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.2%
East Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Carlton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.1% / 4.0%
East Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.1% Carlton — Certificate III & IV: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.9% / 2.3%
East Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.9% Carlton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

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.

East Melbourne Carlton
China 2.0% / 14.0%
East Melbourne — China: 2.0% Carlton — China: 14.0%
England 4.4% / 2.1%
East Melbourne — England: 4.4% Carlton — England: 2.1%
India 0.7% / 5.0%
East Melbourne — India: 0.7% Carlton — India: 5.0%
Malaysia 1.3% / 3.9%
East Melbourne — Malaysia: 1.3% Carlton — Malaysia: 3.9%
New Zealand 2.9% / 1.9%
East Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.9% Carlton — New Zealand: 1.9%
Italy 0.9% / 1.3%
East Melbourne — Italy: 0.9% Carlton — Italy: 1.3%
Vietnam — / 2.0%
East Melbourne — Vietnam: not among its largest Carlton — Vietnam: 2.0%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

East Melbourne 74.3% flats / apartments
East Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 74.3% East Melbourne — Townhouses: 22.5% East Melbourne — Houses: 3.2%
Carlton 81.5% flats / apartments
Carlton — Flats / Apartments: 81.5% Carlton — Townhouses: 17.1% Carlton — Houses: 1.3%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

East Melbourne Carlton
Median house price $2,675,000 $1,275,000
Median unit price $687,500 $430,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 21 sales
 23 days
from 39 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.

East Melbourne Carlton
3 bed $2.9M / $1.53M
East Melbourne — 3 bed: $2.9M (15 sales) Carlton — 3 bed: $1.53M (16 sales)

15 vs 16 sales

4 bed $3.05M / $1.72M
East Melbourne — 4 bed: $3.05M (8 sales) Carlton — 4 bed: $1.72M (13 sales)

8 vs 13 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.

East Melbourne Carlton
1 bed $538K / $283K
East Melbourne — 1 bed: $538K (54 sales) Carlton — 1 bed: $283K (136 sales)

54 vs 136 sales

2 bed $842K / $574K
East Melbourne — 2 bed: $842K (44 sales) Carlton — 2 bed: $574K (140 sales)

44 vs 140 sales

3 bed $1.7M / $950K
East Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.7M (9 sales) Carlton — 3 bed: $950K (13 sales)

9 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

East Melbourne Carlton
Residential 29% 54%
Parks and recreation 41% 13%
Commercial 11% 20%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 12%
Other and special use 2%
same for both
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

East Melbourne Carlton
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.

East Melbourne Carlton
Houses 4.5%
$1,600/wk on $1.85M
 3.4%
$995/wk on $1.5M
Units 5.7%
$800/wk on $730K
 6.2%
$500/wk on $420K

Ranking within VIC

East Melbourne Carlton
House price Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Income Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 29% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC

Liveability

East Melbourne scores higher overall (89 vs 61).

East Melbourne Carlton
Grade A+ B
Score 89/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Carlton carries more flood risk (29 vs 14).

East Melbourne Carlton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 High
93/100
Flood Low
14/100
 Low
29/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 21
within 5 km
 24
within 5 km

Schools

East Melbourne Carlton
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.5 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 19.5%

Schools in East Melbourne

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

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

Amenities in the suburb

East Melbourne Carlton
Supermarkets 1 8
Cafes & restaurants 28 155
Parks & reserves 15 18
Childcare 2 11
GPs 2 5
Pharmacies 6 4
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

East Melbourne Carlton
Walkability score 97/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 2.5 km
+20% vs other
 2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 6 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 81/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 583.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 615.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.5%
postcode 3002
 1.5%
postcode 3053
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 3
postcode 3002
 2
postcode 3053

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.

East Melbourne Carlton
Worked from Home 55.1% / 43.7%
East Melbourne — Worked from Home: 55.1% Carlton — Worked from Home: 43.7%
Car (driver) 20.5% / 17.5%
East Melbourne — Car (driver): 20.5% Carlton — Car (driver): 17.5%
Walked Only 13.2% / 16.3%
East Melbourne — Walked Only: 13.2% Carlton — Walked Only: 16.3%
Tram / Light Rail 4.4% / 9.8%
East Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 4.4% Carlton — Tram / Light Rail: 9.8%
Train 2.3% / 5.4%
East Melbourne — Train: 2.3% Carlton — Train: 5.4%
Bicycle 2.5% / 4.0%
East Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.5% Carlton — Bicycle: 4.0%

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

Setting

East Melbourne Carlton
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.8 km
4.8 km to a named beach
 5.5 km

NBN connectivity

East Melbourne Carlton
Connectivity score 74/100 94/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
5,012 premises
 84%
14,751 premises

Climate

East Melbourne Carlton
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

East Melbourne

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

Carlton

Affordable Apartments Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Melbourne

East Melbourne vs Melbourne East Melbourne vs Richmond East Melbourne vs Fitzroy East Melbourne vs Collingwood

Other comparisons with Carlton

Carlton vs Melbourne Carlton vs Fitzroy North Carlton vs Fitzroy Carlton vs Parkville Carlton vs Carlton North
Full data on East Melbourne Full data on Carlton
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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