Melbourne vs East Melbourne

Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 42 in East Melbourne. In both, most homes are flats or apartments and most households are people living alone. In Melbourne, most households rent. In East Melbourne, about half of households rent. Units cost more in East Melbourne: a median of $688,000, against $452,000 in Melbourne, and rent is higher there too. East Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 2.5 km, against 3.4 km. On these figures, Melbourne tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while East Melbourne suits 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

Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (12 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 2)
  • has more parks and reserves (40 vs 15)
  • But East Melbourne is already more of a family suburb (20% vs 12%)

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 $2,675,000)
  • has cheaper units ($452,000 vs $687,500)
  • But East Melbourne leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 29%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (73% vs 54%)
  • has cheaper rent ($381/wk vs $480/wk)
  • But East Melbourne leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 26%)

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 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

  • Melbourne has more GPs (30 vs 2)
  • East Melbourne has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 6%)

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 -1.4%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Melbourne and East Melbourne 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 East Melbourne
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 East Melbourne
Walkability 100 / 97
Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 East Melbourne — Walkability: 97/100
Safety 3 / 5
Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 East Melbourne — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 East Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 86
Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 East Melbourne — Low flood risk: 86/100

Demographics

Melbourne has more residents (54,941 vs 4,896); East Melbourne has higher household incomes ($121,940 vs $75,296).

Melbourne East Melbourne
Population 54,941
+91% vs other
 4,896
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% -1.4%
Median age 29 42
Median household income $75,296/yr $121,940/yr
+62% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $480/wk
+26% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melbourne East Melbourne
0-4 2.0% / 2.2%
Melbourne — 0-4: 2.0% East Melbourne — 0-4: 2.2%
5-14 2.2% / 3.6%
Melbourne — 5-14: 2.2% East Melbourne — 5-14: 3.6%
15-19 3.5% / 1.9%
Melbourne — 15-19: 3.5% East Melbourne — 15-19: 1.9%
20-24 21.0% / 5.6%
Melbourne — 20-24: 21.0% East Melbourne — 20-24: 5.6%
25-34 38.3% / 23.4%
Melbourne — 25-34: 38.3% East Melbourne — 25-34: 23.4%
35-44 14.8% / 16.1%
Melbourne — 35-44: 14.8% East Melbourne — 35-44: 16.1%
45-54 6.8% / 11.3%
Melbourne — 45-54: 6.8% East Melbourne — 45-54: 11.3%
55-64 5.1% / 13.5%
Melbourne — 55-64: 5.1% East Melbourne — 55-64: 13.5%
65-74 3.7% / 13.3%
Melbourne — 65-74: 3.7% East Melbourne — 65-74: 13.3%
75-84 1.9% / 6.6%
Melbourne — 75-84: 1.9% East Melbourne — 75-84: 6.6%
85+ 0.7% / 2.4%
Melbourne — 85+: 0.7% East Melbourne — 85+: 2.4%

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%
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%
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%
East Melbourne 54.1% renting
East Melbourne — Owned Outright: 27.6% East Melbourne — Mortgage: 18.3% East Melbourne — Renting: 54.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melbourne East Melbourne
Bachelor Degree 30.6% / 33.7%
Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 30.6% East Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 33.7%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / 18.5%
Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% East Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 18.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.1%
Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% East Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 4.1%
Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% East Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 4.9%
Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% East Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.9%

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.

Melbourne East Melbourne
China 15.1% / 2.0%
Melbourne — China: 15.1% East Melbourne — China: 2.0%
India 7.0% / 0.7%
Melbourne — India: 7.0% East Melbourne — India: 0.7%
Malaysia 6.2% / 1.3%
Melbourne — Malaysia: 6.2% East Melbourne — Malaysia: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.9%
Melbourne — New Zealand: 1.9% East Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.9%
England — / 4.4%
Melbourne — England: not among its largest East Melbourne — England: 4.4%
Indonesia 3.7% / —
Melbourne — Indonesia: 3.7% East Melbourne — Indonesia: not among its largest
Thailand 2.6% / —
Melbourne — Thailand: 2.6% East Melbourne — Thailand: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.9%
Melbourne — Italy: not among its largest East Melbourne — Italy: 0.9%

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%
East Melbourne 74.3% flats / apartments
East Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 74.3% East Melbourne — Townhouses: 22.5% East Melbourne — Houses: 3.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Melbourne East Melbourne
Median house price $516,000 $2,675,000
Median unit price $452,000 $687,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 28 days
from 21 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 East Melbourne
1 bed $349K / $538K
Melbourne — 1 bed: $349K (787 sales) East Melbourne — 1 bed: $538K (54 sales)

787 vs 54 sales

2 bed $540K / $842K
Melbourne — 2 bed: $540K (999 sales) East Melbourne — 2 bed: $842K (44 sales)

999 vs 44 sales

3 bed $890K / $1.7M
Melbourne — 3 bed: $890K (131 sales) East Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.7M (9 sales)

131 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (41% vs 11%).

Melbourne East Melbourne
Commercial 41% 11%
Parks and recreation 37% 41%
Residential 3% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 16%
same for both
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 East Melbourne
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 East Melbourne
Houses — 4.5%
$1,600/wk on $1.85M
Units — 5.7%
$800/wk on $730K

Ranking within VIC

Melbourne East Melbourne
House price — Higher than 94% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 10% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 86% of VIC

Liveability

East Melbourne scores higher overall (89 vs 64).

Melbourne East Melbourne
Grade B A+
Score 64/100 89/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Melbourne carries more flood risk (64 vs 14).

Melbourne East Melbourne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
95/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Low
14/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Melbourne East Melbourne
Inside the suburb 12 0
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.2% 2.9%

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 East Melbourne

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

Amenities in the suburb

Melbourne East Melbourne
Supermarkets 25 1
Cafes & restaurants 944 28
Parks & reserves 40 15
Childcare 11 2
GPs 30 2
Pharmacies 28 6
Hospitals 3 2
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 43 1
Fuel stations 1
same for both
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Melbourne East Melbourne
Walkability score 100/100 97/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km
+26% vs other
 2.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min
same for both
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 3733.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 583.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.3%
postcode 3000
 3.5%
postcode 3002
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3000
 3
postcode 3002

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 East Melbourne
Worked from Home 41.2% / 55.1%
Melbourne — Worked from Home: 41.2% East Melbourne — Worked from Home: 55.1%
Car (driver) 12.4% / 20.5%
Melbourne — Car (driver): 12.4% East Melbourne — Car (driver): 20.5%
Walked Only 17.3% / 13.2%
Melbourne — Walked Only: 17.3% East Melbourne — Walked Only: 13.2%
Tram / Light Rail 14.0% / 4.4%
Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 14.0% East Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 4.4%
Train 10.2% / 2.3%
Melbourne — Train: 10.2% East Melbourne — Train: 2.3%
Bicycle 1.9% / 2.5%
Melbourne — Bicycle: 1.9% East Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.5%

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

Setting

Melbourne East Melbourne
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 36 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 4.8 km
4.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Melbourne East Melbourne
Connectivity score 76/100 74/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
68,501 premises
 19%
5,012 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Melbourne East Melbourne
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

East Melbourne

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Melbourne

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

Other comparisons with East Melbourne

East Melbourne vs Richmond East Melbourne vs Carlton East Melbourne vs Fitzroy East Melbourne vs Collingwood
Full data on Melbourne Full data on East Melbourne
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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