Melbourne vs Parkville

Parkville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 26 against 29 in Melbourne. In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Melbourne, most households are people living alone. In Parkville, 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 childcare (11 vs 3)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 1)
  • But Parkville is already more of a family suburb (27% 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 $1,820,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Parkville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 26%)

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

Commuting to the city

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (24% vs 11%)
  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 91/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (30 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 91/100)

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 -4.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Melbourne and Parkville 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 Parkville
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 Parkville
Walkability 100 / 91
Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 Parkville — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 3 / 11
Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 Parkville — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Parkville — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 75
Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 Parkville — Low flood risk: 75/100

Demographics

Melbourne has more residents (54,941 vs 7,074); Parkville has higher household incomes ($98,020 vs $75,296).

Melbourne Parkville
Population 54,941
+87% vs other
 7,074
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% -4.5%
Median age 29 26
Median household income $75,296/yr $98,020/yr
+30% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $396/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melbourne Parkville
0-4 2.0% / 2.5%
Melbourne — 0-4: 2.0% Parkville — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 2.2% / 4.1%
Melbourne — 5-14: 2.2% Parkville — 5-14: 4.1%
15-19 3.5% / 17.5%
Melbourne — 15-19: 3.5% Parkville — 15-19: 17.5%
20-24 21.0% / 21.5%
Melbourne — 20-24: 21.0% Parkville — 20-24: 21.5%
25-34 38.3% / 23.4%
Melbourne — 25-34: 38.3% Parkville — 25-34: 23.4%
35-44 14.8% / 10.2%
Melbourne — 35-44: 14.8% Parkville — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 6.8% / 5.9%
Melbourne — 45-54: 6.8% Parkville — 45-54: 5.9%
55-64 5.1% / 5.2%
Melbourne — 55-64: 5.1% Parkville — 55-64: 5.2%
65-74 3.7% / 4.5%
Melbourne — 65-74: 3.7% Parkville — 65-74: 4.5%
75-84 1.9% / 3.1%
Melbourne — 75-84: 1.9% Parkville — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 0.7% / 2.1%
Melbourne — 85+: 0.7% Parkville — 85+: 2.1%

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%
Parkville 48.9% lone person
Parkville — Lone Person: 48.9% Parkville — Group Household: 21.6% Parkville — Couple Families: 19.3% Parkville — One Parent Families: 7.8% Parkville — Other Families: 2.4%
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%
Parkville 66.3% renting
Parkville — Owned Outright: 18.8% Parkville — Mortgage: 14.8% Parkville — Renting: 66.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melbourne Parkville
Bachelor Degree 30.6% / 23.5%
Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 30.6% Parkville — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / 17.2%
Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% Parkville — Postgraduate Degree: 17.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 4.7%
Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Parkville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.7%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 3.7%
Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% Parkville — Certificate III & IV: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 2.4%
Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Parkville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

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 Parkville
China 15.1% / 4.8%
Melbourne — China: 15.1% Parkville — China: 4.8%
India 7.0% / 2.7%
Melbourne — India: 7.0% Parkville — India: 2.7%
Malaysia 6.2% / 2.6%
Melbourne — Malaysia: 6.2% Parkville — Malaysia: 2.6%
Indonesia 3.7% / 0.8%
Melbourne — Indonesia: 3.7% Parkville — Indonesia: 0.8%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.2%
Melbourne — New Zealand: 1.9% Parkville — New Zealand: 2.2%
England — / 3.4%
Melbourne — England: not among its largest Parkville — England: 3.4%
Thailand 2.6% / —
Melbourne — Thailand: 2.6% Parkville — Thailand: not among its largest

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%
Parkville 61.7% flats / apartments
Parkville — Flats / Apartments: 61.7% Parkville — Townhouses: 36.1% Parkville — Houses: 2.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Melbourne Parkville
Median house price $516,000 $1,820,000
Median unit price $452,000 $460,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 23 days
from 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.

Melbourne Parkville
1 bed $349K / $380K
Melbourne — 1 bed: $349K (787 sales) Parkville — 1 bed: $380K (42 sales)

787 vs 42 sales

2 bed $540K / $508K
Melbourne — 2 bed: $540K (999 sales) Parkville — 2 bed: $508K (68 sales)

999 vs 68 sales

3 bed $890K / $1.02M
Melbourne — 3 bed: $890K (131 sales) Parkville — 3 bed: $1.02M (7 sales)

131 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (41% vs 2%).

Melbourne Parkville
Parks and recreation 37% 50%
Commercial 41% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 29%
Residential 3% 16%
Industrial 0% 3%
Other and special use 3% 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

Melbourne Parkville
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 Parkville
Houses — 2.6%
$875/wk on $1.75M
Units — 6.9%
$585/wk on $442K

Ranking within VIC

Melbourne Parkville
House price — Higher than 92% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 6% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 5% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 97% of VIC

Liveability

Parkville scores higher overall (71 vs 64); Melbourne is more walkable (100 vs 91).

Melbourne Parkville
Grade B A
Score 64/100 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Melbourne carries more flood risk (64 vs 25).

Melbourne Parkville
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
89/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Low
25/100
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 Parkville
Inside the suburb 12 9
Rated above peers 2 1
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
The University of Melbourne, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.2% 29.8%

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 Parkville

  • University High School Government · Secondary above peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Brens Pavilion Royal Park Independent · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Melbourne Sports Centres Parkville Independent · Secondary
  • University High School-Elizabeth Blackburn School of Sciences Government · Secondary
  • Parkville College Government · Secondary · Special school
  • Parkville College-Ascot Vale Secure Welfare Campus Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Melbourne Parkville
Supermarkets 25 1
Cafes & restaurants 944 37
Parks & reserves 40 38
Childcare 11 3
GPs 30 2
Pharmacies 28 2
Hospitals 3 2
Police stations 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 43 1
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 5 3

Mobility

Melbourne Parkville
Walkability score 100/100 91/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km 3.6 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 11 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 3733.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 375.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.3%
postcode 3000
 3.0%
postcode 3052
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3000
 6
postcode 3052

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 Parkville
Worked from Home 41.2% / 42.9%
Melbourne — Worked from Home: 41.2% Parkville — Worked from Home: 42.9%
Car (driver) 12.4% / 26.1%
Melbourne — Car (driver): 12.4% Parkville — Car (driver): 26.1%
Walked Only 17.3% / 11.6%
Melbourne — Walked Only: 17.3% Parkville — Walked Only: 11.6%
Tram / Light Rail 14.0% / 7.7%
Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 14.0% Parkville — Tram / Light Rail: 7.7%
Train 10.2% / 3.0%
Melbourne — Train: 10.2% Parkville — Train: 3.0%
Bicycle 1.9% / 5.6%
Melbourne — Bicycle: 1.9% Parkville — Bicycle: 5.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (42.9%).

Setting

Melbourne Parkville
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 6.3 km

NBN connectivity

Melbourne Parkville
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
 81%
3,751 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Melbourne Parkville
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

Parkville

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals River Students 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 Parkville

Parkville vs Brunswick Parkville vs Moonee Ponds Parkville vs Carlton Parkville vs Ascot Vale Parkville vs North Melbourne Parkville vs Brunswick West
Full data on Melbourne Full data on Parkville
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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