Melbourne vs Carlton

In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Carlton is closer to the city centre: 2 km, against 3.4 km.

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

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (12 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (40 vs 18)

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

First-home buyers

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($516,000 vs $1,275,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (29% vs 34%)

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

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (24% vs 15%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (30 vs 5)

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

Investors

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.2% vs -13.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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.

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.

Melbourne Carlton
Walkability 100 / 99
Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 Carlton — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 3 / 7
Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 Carlton — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Carlton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 71
Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 Carlton — Low flood risk: 71/100

Demographics

Melbourne has more residents (54,941 vs 16,055); Melbourne has higher household incomes ($75,296 vs $67,184).

Melbourne Carlton
Population 54,941
+71% vs other
 16,055
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% -13.4%
Median age 29 27
Median household income $75,296/yr
+11% vs other
 $67,184/yr
Median weekly rent $381/wk
+4% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melbourne Carlton
0-4 2.0% / 1.9%
Melbourne — 0-4: 2.0% Carlton — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 2.2% / 3.5%
Melbourne — 5-14: 2.2% Carlton — 5-14: 3.5%
15-19 3.5% / 6.3%
Melbourne — 15-19: 3.5% Carlton — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 21.0% / 24.2%
Melbourne — 20-24: 21.0% Carlton — 20-24: 24.2%
25-34 38.3% / 33.8%
Melbourne — 25-34: 38.3% Carlton — 25-34: 33.8%
35-44 14.8% / 10.8%
Melbourne — 35-44: 14.8% Carlton — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 6.8% / 6.0%
Melbourne — 45-54: 6.8% Carlton — 45-54: 6.0%
55-64 5.1% / 5.0%
Melbourne — 55-64: 5.1% Carlton — 55-64: 5.0%
65-74 3.7% / 4.2%
Melbourne — 65-74: 3.7% Carlton — 65-74: 4.2%
75-84 1.9% / 2.8%
Melbourne — 75-84: 1.9% Carlton — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 0.7% / 1.4%
Melbourne — 85+: 0.7% Carlton — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (38.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Melbourne 63.4% lone person
Melbourne — Lone Person: 63.4% Melbourne — Group Household: 20.6% Melbourne — Couple Families: 7.7% Melbourne — One Parent Families: 4.2% Melbourne — Other Families: 4.2%
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.

Melbourne 73.3% renting
Melbourne — Owned Outright: 13.1% Melbourne — Mortgage: 13.6% Melbourne — Renting: 73.3%
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.

Melbourne Carlton
Bachelor Degree 30.6% / 29.7%
Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 30.6% Carlton — Bachelor Degree: 29.7%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / 17.9%
Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% Carlton — Postgraduate Degree: 17.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 6.2%
Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Carlton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 4.0%
Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Carlton — Certificate III & IV: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.3%
Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Carlton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.6%).

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.

Melbourne Carlton
China 15.1% / 14.0%
Melbourne — China: 15.1% Carlton — China: 14.0%
India 7.0% / 5.0%
Melbourne — India: 7.0% Carlton — India: 5.0%
Malaysia 6.2% / 3.9%
Melbourne — Malaysia: 6.2% Carlton — Malaysia: 3.9%
Indonesia 3.7% / 2.0%
Melbourne — Indonesia: 3.7% Carlton — Indonesia: 2.0%
Vietnam 2.1% / 2.0%
Melbourne — Vietnam: 2.1% Carlton — Vietnam: 2.0%
Thailand 2.6% / —
Melbourne — Thailand: 2.6% Carlton — Thailand: not among its largest
England — / 2.1%
Melbourne — England: not among its largest Carlton — England: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Melbourne 99.7% flats / apartments
Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 99.7% Melbourne — Townhouses: 0.2% Melbourne — Houses: 0.1%
Carlton 81.5% flats / apartments
Carlton — Flats / Apartments: 81.5% Carlton — Townhouses: 17.1% Carlton — Houses: 1.3%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Melbourne Carlton
Median house price $516,000 $1,275,000
Median unit price $452,000 $430,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 23 days
from 39 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.

Melbourne Carlton
1 bed $349K / $283K
Melbourne — 1 bed: $349K (787 sales) Carlton — 1 bed: $283K (136 sales)

787 vs 136 sales

2 bed $540K / $574K
Melbourne — 2 bed: $540K (999 sales) Carlton — 2 bed: $574K (140 sales)

999 vs 140 sales

3 bed $890K / $950K
Melbourne — 3 bed: $890K (131 sales) Carlton — 3 bed: $950K (13 sales)

131 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (41% vs 20%).

Melbourne Carlton
Residential 3% 54%
Commercial 41% 20%
Parks and recreation 37% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 12%
Other and special use 3% 2%
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

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.

Melbourne Carlton
Houses — 3.4%
$995/wk on $1.5M
Units — 6.2%
$500/wk on $420K

Ranking within VIC

Melbourne Carlton
House price — Higher than 83% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 29% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
Affordability — Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 33% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 94% of VIC

Liveability

Melbourne Carlton
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Melbourne carries more flood risk (64 vs 29).

Melbourne Carlton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
93/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Low
29/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Melbourne Carlton
Inside the suburb 12 3
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.2% 19.5%

Schools in Melbourne

  • MacRobertson Girls High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • Melbourne Grammar School Independent · Combined above peers
  • Wesley College Independent · Combined below peers
  • Eltham College - Lonsdale Street Campus Independent · Combined
  • Holmes Grammar School Independent · Secondary
  • Melbourne Grammar School - Wadhurst Campus Independent · Combined

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

Melbourne Carlton
Supermarkets 25 8
Cafes & restaurants 944 155
Parks & reserves 40 18
Childcare 11
same for both
GPs 30 5
Pharmacies 28 4
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 43 5
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Melbourne Carlton
Walkability score 100/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km
+41% 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 3733.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 615.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.3%
postcode 3000
 1.5%
postcode 3053
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3000
 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.

Melbourne Carlton
Worked from Home 41.2% / 43.7%
Melbourne — Worked from Home: 41.2% Carlton — Worked from Home: 43.7%
Walked Only 17.3% / 16.3%
Melbourne — Walked Only: 17.3% Carlton — Walked Only: 16.3%
Car (driver) 12.4% / 17.5%
Melbourne — Car (driver): 12.4% Carlton — Car (driver): 17.5%
Tram / Light Rail 14.0% / 9.8%
Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 14.0% Carlton — Tram / Light Rail: 9.8%
Train 10.2% / 5.4%
Melbourne — Train: 10.2% Carlton — Train: 5.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (43.7%).

Setting

Melbourne Carlton
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 5.5 km

NBN connectivity

Melbourne Carlton
Connectivity score 76/100 94/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
68,501 premises
 84%
14,751 premises

Climate

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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Melbourne

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals River Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

Carlton

Affordable Apartments Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melbourne

Melbourne vs Richmond Melbourne vs South Yarra Melbourne vs Southbank Melbourne vs St Kilda Melbourne vs Docklands Melbourne vs North Melbourne

Other comparisons with Carlton

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