East Melbourne vs Fitzroy

Fitzroy is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 42 in East Melbourne. In both, most homes are flats or apartments. In East Melbourne, about half of households rent and most households are people living alone. In Fitzroy, most households rent and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Fitzroy: a median of $780,000, against $688,000 in East Melbourne, though rent is higher in East Melbourne. East Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 2.5 km, against 2.8 km. On these figures, East Melbourne tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

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

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (8 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • East Melbourne has cheaper units ($687,500 vs $780,000)
  • Fitzroy has cheaper houses ($1,525,000 vs $2,675,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

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

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

They split

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

  • East Melbourne has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 11%)
  • Fitzroy has more GPs (4 vs 2)

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

Investors

East Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.7% vs 5.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

East Melbourne 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.

East Melbourne 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.

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Walkability 97 / 96
East Melbourne — Walkability: 97/100 Fitzroy — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 5 / 4
East Melbourne — Safety: 5/100 Fitzroy — Safety: 4/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
East Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Fitzroy — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 86 / 63
East Melbourne — Low flood risk: 86/100 Fitzroy — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Fitzroy has more residents (10,431 vs 4,896); East Melbourne skews older (42 vs 35).

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Population 4,896 10,431
+113% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -1.4% -0.1%
Median age 42 35
Median household income $121,940/yr
+6% vs other
 $114,088/yr
Median weekly rent $480/wk
+6% vs other
 $451/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

East Melbourne Fitzroy
0-4 2.2% / 4.3%
East Melbourne — 0-4: 2.2% Fitzroy — 0-4: 4.3%
5-14 3.6% / 5.9%
East Melbourne — 5-14: 3.6% Fitzroy — 5-14: 5.9%
15-19 1.9% / 2.6%
East Melbourne — 15-19: 1.9% Fitzroy — 15-19: 2.6%
20-24 5.6% / 6.8%
East Melbourne — 20-24: 5.6% Fitzroy — 20-24: 6.8%
25-34 23.4% / 29.5%
East Melbourne — 25-34: 23.4% Fitzroy — 25-34: 29.5%
35-44 16.1% / 17.6%
East Melbourne — 35-44: 16.1% Fitzroy — 35-44: 17.6%
45-54 11.3% / 11.5%
East Melbourne — 45-54: 11.3% Fitzroy — 45-54: 11.5%
55-64 13.5% / 10.6%
East Melbourne — 55-64: 13.5% Fitzroy — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 13.3% / 6.7%
East Melbourne — 65-74: 13.3% Fitzroy — 65-74: 6.7%
75-84 6.6% / 3.1%
East Melbourne — 75-84: 6.6% Fitzroy — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 2.4% / 1.3%
East Melbourne — 85+: 2.4% Fitzroy — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

East Melbourne 66.6% lone person
East Melbourne — Lone Person: 66.6% East Melbourne — Couple Families: 14.9% East Melbourne — Group Household: 10.9% East Melbourne — One Parent Families: 5.4% East Melbourne — Other Families: 2.1%
Fitzroy 53.1% lone person
Fitzroy — Lone Person: 53.1% Fitzroy — Couple Families: 16.6% Fitzroy — Group Household: 16.9% Fitzroy — One Parent Families: 11.1% Fitzroy — Other Families: 2.3%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household 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%
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.

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Bachelor Degree 33.7% / 29.4%
East Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 33.7% Fitzroy — Bachelor Degree: 29.4%
Postgraduate Degree 18.5% / 15.2%
East Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 18.5% Fitzroy — Postgraduate Degree: 15.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.1% / 6.3%
East Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1% Fitzroy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Certificate III & IV 4.1% / 4.9%
East Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.1% Fitzroy — Certificate III & IV: 4.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.9% / 3.9%
East Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.9% Fitzroy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9%

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 Fitzroy
England 4.4% / 4.5%
East Melbourne — England: 4.4% Fitzroy — England: 4.5%
New Zealand 2.9% / 3.0%
East Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.9% Fitzroy — New Zealand: 3.0%
China 2.0% / 2.1%
East Melbourne — China: 2.0% Fitzroy — China: 2.1%
Vietnam — / 3.3%
East Melbourne — Vietnam: not among its largest Fitzroy — Vietnam: 3.3%
Malaysia 1.3% / 0.9%
East Melbourne — Malaysia: 1.3% Fitzroy — Malaysia: 0.9%
Italy 0.9% / —
East Melbourne — Italy: 0.9% Fitzroy — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.5%).

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

Property market

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Median house price $2,675,000 $1,525,000
Median unit price $687,500 $780,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 21 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.

East Melbourne Fitzroy
3 bed $2.9M / $1.83M
East Melbourne — 3 bed: $2.9M (15 sales) Fitzroy — 3 bed: $1.83M (46 sales)

15 vs 46 sales

4 bed $3.05M / $2.3M
East Melbourne — 4 bed: $3.05M (8 sales) Fitzroy — 4 bed: $2.3M (19 sales)

8 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.

East Melbourne Fitzroy
1 bed $538K / $520K
East Melbourne — 1 bed: $538K (54 sales) Fitzroy — 1 bed: $520K (59 sales)

54 vs 59 sales

2 bed $842K / $867K
East Melbourne — 2 bed: $842K (44 sales) Fitzroy — 2 bed: $867K (87 sales)

44 vs 87 sales

3 bed $1.7M / $1.85M
East Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.7M (9 sales) Fitzroy — 3 bed: $1.85M (8 sales)

9 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Fitzroy has more commercially zoned land (26% vs 11%).

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Residential 29% 63%
Parks and recreation 41% 1%
Commercial 11% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 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

East Melbourne 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.

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Houses 4.5%
$1,600/wk on $1.85M
 4.4%
$1,300/wk on $1.55M
Units 5.7%
$800/wk on $730K
 5.1%
$745/wk on $765K

Ranking within VIC

East Melbourne Fitzroy
House price Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Income Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 73% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 65% of VIC

Liveability

East Melbourne scores higher overall (89 vs 73).

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Grade A+ A
Score 89/100 73/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Fitzroy carries more flood risk (37 vs 14).

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
95/100
 High
96/100
Flood Low
14/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 21
within 5 km
 20
within 5 km

Schools

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.5 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 3.1%

Schools in East Melbourne

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

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

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Supermarkets 1 14
Cafes & restaurants 28 139
Parks & reserves 15 14
Childcare 2 8
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 6 5
Hospitals 2 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 3
Fuel stations 1 2

Mobility

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Walkability score 97/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 2.5 km 2.8 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 9 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 81/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 583.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 379.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.5%
postcode 3002
 2.4%
postcode 3065
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 3
postcode 3002
 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.

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Worked from Home 55.1% / 55.1%
East Melbourne — Worked from Home: 55.1% Fitzroy — Worked from Home: 55.1%
Car (driver) 20.5% / 19.3%
East Melbourne — Car (driver): 20.5% Fitzroy — Car (driver): 19.3%
Walked Only 13.2% / 12.1%
East Melbourne — Walked Only: 13.2% Fitzroy — Walked Only: 12.1%
Tram / Light Rail 4.4% / 5.2%
East Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 4.4% Fitzroy — Tram / Light Rail: 5.2%
Bicycle 2.5% / 4.9%
East Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.5% Fitzroy — Bicycle: 4.9%

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

Setting

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 4.8 km
4.8 km to a named beach
 5.9 km

NBN connectivity

East Melbourne Fitzroy
Connectivity score 74/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
5,012 premises
 19%
7,755 premises

Climate

East Melbourne 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

East Melbourne Fitzroy
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

Fitzroy

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with East Melbourne

East Melbourne vs Melbourne East Melbourne vs Richmond East Melbourne vs Carlton East Melbourne vs Collingwood

Other comparisons with Fitzroy

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