Fitzroy vs Clifton Hill

In Fitzroy, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Clifton Hill, most households own their home. Fitzroy is closer to the city centre: 2.8 km, against 5.6 km. On these figures, Fitzroy 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

They split

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

  • Fitzroy has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • Clifton Hill has more separate houses rather than flats (24% vs 3%)

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

First-home buyers

Clifton Hill

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($675,000 vs $780,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Fitzroy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (61% vs 40%)
  • has cheaper rent ($451/wk vs $550/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Fitzroy

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (2.8 km vs 5.6 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (9 min vs 14 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Fitzroy has more units and townhouses to downsize into (97% vs 76%)
  • Clifton Hill carries lower crime risk (81/100 vs 96/100)

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

Investors

Fitzroy

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.1% vs 4.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
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.

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Walkability 96 / 89
Fitzroy — Walkability: 96/100 Clifton Hill — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 4 / 19
Fitzroy — Safety: 4/100 Clifton Hill — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Fitzroy — Low fire risk: 100/100 Clifton Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 56
Fitzroy — Low flood risk: 63/100 Clifton Hill — Low flood risk: 56/100

Demographics

Fitzroy has more residents (10,431 vs 6,606); Clifton Hill has higher household incomes ($143,260 vs $114,088).

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Population 10,431
+37% vs other
 6,606
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.1% +4.2%
Median age 35 37
Median household income $114,088/yr $143,260/yr
+26% vs other
Median weekly rent $451/wk $550/wk
+22% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
0-4 4.3% / 5.6%
Fitzroy — 0-4: 4.3% Clifton Hill — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 5.9% / 10.4%
Fitzroy — 5-14: 5.9% Clifton Hill — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 2.6% / 3.1%
Fitzroy — 15-19: 2.6% Clifton Hill — 15-19: 3.1%
20-24 6.8% / 4.7%
Fitzroy — 20-24: 6.8% Clifton Hill — 20-24: 4.7%
25-34 29.5% / 21.5%
Fitzroy — 25-34: 29.5% Clifton Hill — 25-34: 21.5%
35-44 17.6% / 17.2%
Fitzroy — 35-44: 17.6% Clifton Hill — 35-44: 17.2%
45-54 11.5% / 12.5%
Fitzroy — 45-54: 11.5% Clifton Hill — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 10.6% / 10.6%
Fitzroy — 55-64: 10.6% Clifton Hill — 55-64: 10.6%
65-74 6.7% / 9.3%
Fitzroy — 65-74: 6.7% Clifton Hill — 65-74: 9.3%
75-84 3.1% / 3.9%
Fitzroy — 75-84: 3.1% Clifton Hill — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 1.3% / 1.3%
Fitzroy — 85+: 1.3% Clifton Hill — 85+: 1.3%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
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%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Fitzroy 60.7% renting
Fitzroy — Owned Outright: 18.6% Fitzroy — Mortgage: 20.8% Fitzroy — Renting: 60.7%
Clifton Hill 39.7% renting
Clifton Hill — Owned Outright: 29.6% Clifton Hill — Mortgage: 30.7% Clifton Hill — Renting: 39.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Bachelor Degree 29.4% / 29.1%
Fitzroy — Bachelor Degree: 29.4% Clifton Hill — Bachelor Degree: 29.1%
Postgraduate Degree 15.2% / 18.2%
Fitzroy — Postgraduate Degree: 15.2% Clifton Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 18.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 5.5%
Fitzroy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Clifton Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.5%
Certificate III & IV 4.9% / 4.6%
Fitzroy — Certificate III & IV: 4.9% Clifton Hill — Certificate III & IV: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.9% / 5.6%
Fitzroy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.9% Clifton Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.4%).

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.

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
England 4.5% / 4.3%
Fitzroy — England: 4.5% Clifton Hill — England: 4.3%
New Zealand 3.0% / 2.5%
Fitzroy — New Zealand: 3.0% Clifton Hill — New Zealand: 2.5%
Vietnam 3.3% / —
Fitzroy — Vietnam: 3.3% Clifton Hill — Vietnam: not among its largest
China 2.1% / —
Fitzroy — China: 2.1% Clifton Hill — China: not among its largest
Malaysia 0.9% / 0.7%
Fitzroy — Malaysia: 0.9% Clifton Hill — Malaysia: 0.7%
Ireland 0.7% / 0.7%
Fitzroy — Ireland: 0.7% Clifton Hill — Ireland: 0.7%
Greece — / 1.3%
Fitzroy — Greece: not among its largest Clifton Hill — Greece: 1.3%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Fitzroy 36.5% townhouses
Fitzroy — Townhouses: 36.5% Fitzroy — Flats / Apartments: 60.3% Fitzroy — Houses: 3.2%
Clifton Hill 50.8% townhouses
Clifton Hill — Townhouses: 50.8% Clifton Hill — Flats / Apartments: 25.5% Clifton Hill — Houses: 23.8%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Median house price $1,525,000 $1,607,500
Median unit price $780,000 $675,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 67 sales
 23 days
from 31 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.

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
1 bed $520K / $444K
Fitzroy — 1 bed: $520K (59 sales) Clifton Hill — 1 bed: $444K (24 sales)

59 vs 24 sales

2 bed $867K / $755K
Fitzroy — 2 bed: $867K (87 sales) Clifton Hill — 2 bed: $755K (23 sales)

87 vs 23 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.

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
2 bed $1.29M / $1.28M
Fitzroy — 2 bed: $1.29M (51 sales) Clifton Hill — 2 bed: $1.28M (36 sales)

51 vs 36 sales

3 bed $1.83M / $1.65M
Fitzroy — 3 bed: $1.83M (46 sales) Clifton Hill — 3 bed: $1.65M (42 sales)

46 vs 42 sales

4 bed $2.3M / $2.02M
Fitzroy — 4 bed: $2.3M (19 sales) Clifton Hill — 4 bed: $2.02M (16 sales)

19 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Fitzroy has more commercially zoned land (26% vs 5%).

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Residential 63% 53%
Commercial 26% 5%
Parks and recreation 1% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 17%
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

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
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.

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Houses 4.4%
$1,300/wk on $1.55M
 3.3%
$948/wk on $1.5M
Units 5.1%
$745/wk on $765K
 4.3%
$608/wk on $735K

Ranking within VIC

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
House price Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Income Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Schools Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 22% of VIC

Liveability

Fitzroy scores higher overall (73 vs 65).

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Grade A B
Score 73/100 65/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

Fitzroy carries more crime risk (96 vs 81).

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
96/100
 High
81/100
Flood Low
37/100
 Moderate
44/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 20
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Inside the suburb 3
same for both
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 2.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.1% 2.3%

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

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

Amenities in the suburb

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Supermarkets 14 1
Cafes & restaurants 139 10
Parks & reserves 14 10
Childcare 8 5
GPs 4 3
Pharmacies 5 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 3 2
Fuel stations 2 1

Mobility

Clifton Hill sits further from the CBD (5.6 km vs 2.8 km).

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Walkability score 96/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 2.8 km 5.6 km
+100% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 14 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 379.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 128.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 3065
 2.5%
postcode 3068
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 7
postcode 3065
 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.

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Worked from Home 55.1% / 56.2%
Fitzroy — Worked from Home: 55.1% Clifton Hill — Worked from Home: 56.2%
Car (driver) 19.3% / 26.4%
Fitzroy — Car (driver): 19.3% Clifton Hill — Car (driver): 26.4%
Walked Only 12.1% / 3.7%
Fitzroy — Walked Only: 12.1% Clifton Hill — Walked Only: 3.7%
Bicycle 4.9% / 6.2%
Fitzroy — Bicycle: 4.9% Clifton Hill — Bicycle: 6.2%
Tram / Light Rail 5.2% / 1.1%
Fitzroy — Tram / Light Rail: 5.2% Clifton Hill — Tram / Light Rail: 1.1%
Train 1.9% / 4.1%
Fitzroy — Train: 1.9% Clifton Hill — Train: 4.1%

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

Setting

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Elevation 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 5.9 km 7.8 km

NBN connectivity

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Connectivity score 78/100 77/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 19%
7,755 premises
 7%
3,270 premises

Climate

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Fitzroy Clifton Hill
Division Melbourne Cooper
Member Sarah Witty Ged Kearney
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Fitzroy

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

Clifton Hill

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Fitzroy

Fitzroy vs Carlton Fitzroy vs Fitzroy North Fitzroy vs Collingwood Fitzroy vs Carlton North Fitzroy vs East Melbourne

Other comparisons with Clifton Hill

Clifton Hill vs Northcote Clifton Hill vs Fitzroy North Clifton Hill vs Collingwood Clifton Hill vs Abbotsford Clifton Hill vs Fairfield
Full data on Fitzroy Full data on Clifton Hill
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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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