Melbourne vs North Melbourne

In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Melbourne, most households are people living alone. In North Melbourne, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Melbourne tends to suit 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

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (40 vs 10)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • But North Melbourne is already more of a family suburb (29% vs 12%)

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

First-home buyers

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($516,000 vs $1,225,000)

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

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (24% vs 11%)

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 0.1%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Melbourne and North 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 North 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 North Melbourne
Walkability 100 / 100
Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 North Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100
Safety 3 / 10
Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 North Melbourne — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 North Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 24
Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 North Melbourne — Low flood risk: 24/100

Demographics

Melbourne has more residents (54,941 vs 14,953); North Melbourne has higher household incomes ($89,284 vs $75,296).

Melbourne North Melbourne
Population 54,941
+73% vs other
 14,953
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% +0.1%
Median age 29 31
Median household income $75,296/yr $89,284/yr
+19% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melbourne North Melbourne
0-4 2.0% / 3.7%
Melbourne — 0-4: 2.0% North Melbourne — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 2.2% / 7.9%
Melbourne — 5-14: 2.2% North Melbourne — 5-14: 7.9%
15-19 3.5% / 4.7%
Melbourne — 15-19: 3.5% North Melbourne — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 21.0% / 13.8%
Melbourne — 20-24: 21.0% North Melbourne — 20-24: 13.8%
25-34 38.3% / 28.6%
Melbourne — 25-34: 38.3% North Melbourne — 25-34: 28.6%
35-44 14.8% / 15.7%
Melbourne — 35-44: 14.8% North Melbourne — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 6.8% / 9.8%
Melbourne — 45-54: 6.8% North Melbourne — 45-54: 9.8%
55-64 5.1% / 7.4%
Melbourne — 55-64: 5.1% North Melbourne — 55-64: 7.4%
65-74 3.7% / 5.2%
Melbourne — 65-74: 3.7% North Melbourne — 65-74: 5.2%
75-84 1.9% / 2.2%
Melbourne — 75-84: 1.9% North Melbourne — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ 0.7% / 0.8%
Melbourne — 85+: 0.7% North Melbourne — 85+: 0.8%

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%
North Melbourne 52.1% lone person
North Melbourne — Lone Person: 52.1% North Melbourne — Group Household: 16.0% North Melbourne — Couple Families: 18.7% North Melbourne — One Parent Families: 10.6% North Melbourne — Other Families: 2.5%
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%
North Melbourne 65.8% renting
North Melbourne — Owned Outright: 13.7% North Melbourne — Mortgage: 20.5% North Melbourne — Renting: 65.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melbourne North Melbourne
Bachelor Degree 30.6% / 26.4%
Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 30.6% North Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 26.4%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / 16.7%
Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% North Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 6.2%
Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% North Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 4.7%
Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% North Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.3%
Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% North Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3%

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 North Melbourne
China 15.1% / 7.7%
Melbourne — China: 15.1% North Melbourne — China: 7.7%
India 7.0% / 2.6%
Melbourne — India: 7.0% North Melbourne — India: 2.6%
Malaysia 6.2% / 2.6%
Melbourne — Malaysia: 6.2% North Melbourne — Malaysia: 2.6%
Vietnam 2.1% / 2.8%
Melbourne — Vietnam: 2.1% North Melbourne — Vietnam: 2.8%
Indonesia 3.7% / 0.8%
Melbourne — Indonesia: 3.7% North Melbourne — Indonesia: 0.8%
Thailand 2.6% / —
Melbourne — Thailand: 2.6% North Melbourne — Thailand: not among its largest
England — / 2.3%
Melbourne — England: not among its largest North Melbourne — England: 2.3%

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%
North Melbourne 69.0% flats / apartments
North Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 69.0% North Melbourne — Townhouses: 26.8% North Melbourne — Houses: 4.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Melbourne North Melbourne
Median house price $516,000 $1,225,000
Median unit price $452,000 $485,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 25 days
from 63 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 North Melbourne
1 bed $349K / $368K
Melbourne — 1 bed: $349K (787 sales) North Melbourne — 1 bed: $368K (116 sales)

787 vs 116 sales

2 bed $540K / $570K
Melbourne — 2 bed: $540K (999 sales) North Melbourne — 2 bed: $570K (139 sales)

999 vs 139 sales

3 bed $890K / $805K
Melbourne — 3 bed: $890K (131 sales) North Melbourne — 3 bed: $805K (21 sales)

131 vs 21 sales

Zoning mix

Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (41% vs 17%).

Melbourne North Melbourne
Residential 3% 48%
Commercial 41% 17%
Parks and recreation 37% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 14%
Other and special use 3% 15%
Industrial 0% 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 North 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 North Melbourne
Houses — 3.8%
$850/wk on $1.18M
Units — 6.4%
$650/wk on $530K

Ranking within VIC

Melbourne North Melbourne
House price — Higher than 80% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
Affordability — Higher than 14% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 51% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 95% of VIC

Liveability

Melbourne scores higher overall (64 vs 58).

Melbourne North Melbourne
Grade B
same for both
Score 64/100 58/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

North Melbourne carries more flood risk (76 vs 64).

Melbourne North Melbourne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
90/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
76/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 33
within 5 km

Schools

Melbourne North Melbourne
Inside the suburb 12 9
Rated above peers 2 1
Rated at peers 0 3
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.0 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.2% 8.3%

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 North Melbourne

  • Saints College - North Melbourne Campus Catholic · Secondary · Special school above peers
  • North Melbourne Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Aloysius College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Michael's Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Mount Alexander 7-12 College-River Nile Campus Government · Secondary
  • North Melbourne Primary School - Molesworth Street Campus Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Melbourne North Melbourne
Supermarkets 25 6
Cafes & restaurants 944 56
Parks & reserves 40 10
Childcare 11 10
GPs 30 5
Pharmacies 28 5
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 43 2
Fuel stations 1 5
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 5 1

Mobility

Melbourne North Melbourne
Walkability score 100/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km
+3% vs other
 3.3 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 9 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 3733.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 415.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.3%
postcode 3000
 1.7%
postcode 3051
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3000
 4
postcode 3051

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 North Melbourne
Worked from Home 41.2% / 46.1%
Melbourne — Worked from Home: 41.2% North Melbourne — Worked from Home: 46.1%
Car (driver) 12.4% / 21.8%
Melbourne — Car (driver): 12.4% North Melbourne — Car (driver): 21.8%
Walked Only 17.3% / 14.3%
Melbourne — Walked Only: 17.3% North Melbourne — Walked Only: 14.3%
Tram / Light Rail 14.0% / 6.8%
Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 14.0% North Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 6.8%
Train 10.2% / 4.3%
Melbourne — Train: 10.2% North Melbourne — Train: 4.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (46.1%).

Setting

Melbourne North Melbourne
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 4.9 km

NBN connectivity

Melbourne North Melbourne
Connectivity score 76/100 81/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
68,501 premises
 34%
10,965 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Melbourne North 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

North Melbourne

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses 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 Carlton Melbourne vs Docklands

Other comparisons with North Melbourne

North Melbourne vs Kensington North Melbourne vs West Melbourne North Melbourne vs Parkville North Melbourne vs Flemington
Full data on Melbourne Full data on North 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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