Melbourne vs South Melbourne

Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 39 in South Melbourne. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Units cost more in South Melbourne: a median of $580,000, against $452,000 in Melbourne, and rent is higher there too. Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 3.4 km, against 3.8 km. On these figures, Melbourne tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households.

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 parks and reserves (40 vs 11)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 7)
  • But South Melbourne is already more of a family suburb (30% 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 $1,625,000)
  • has cheaper units ($452,000 vs $580,000)

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 56%)
  • has cheaper rent ($381/wk vs $421/wk)
  • But South 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 8%)

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 8)
  • South Melbourne has more residents already 65 and over (15% 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 5.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Melbourne and South 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 South 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 South Melbourne
Walkability 100 / 96
Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 South Melbourne — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 3 / 3
Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 South Melbourne — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 56
Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 South Melbourne — Low flood risk: 56/100

Demographics

Melbourne has more residents (54,941 vs 11,548); South Melbourne has higher household incomes ($109,252 vs $75,296).

Melbourne South Melbourne
Population 54,941
+79% vs other
 11,548
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% +5.8%
Median age 29 39
Median household income $75,296/yr $109,252/yr
+45% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $421/wk
+10% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melbourne South Melbourne
0-4 2.0% / 4.2%
Melbourne — 0-4: 2.0% South Melbourne — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 2.2% / 7.4%
Melbourne — 5-14: 2.2% South Melbourne — 5-14: 7.4%
15-19 3.5% / 3.3%
Melbourne — 15-19: 3.5% South Melbourne — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 21.0% / 5.5%
Melbourne — 20-24: 21.0% South Melbourne — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 38.3% / 21.7%
Melbourne — 25-34: 38.3% South Melbourne — 25-34: 21.7%
35-44 14.8% / 17.3%
Melbourne — 35-44: 14.8% South Melbourne — 35-44: 17.3%
45-54 6.8% / 14.3%
Melbourne — 45-54: 6.8% South Melbourne — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 5.1% / 11.5%
Melbourne — 55-64: 5.1% South Melbourne — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 3.7% / 7.8%
Melbourne — 65-74: 3.7% South Melbourne — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 1.9% / 4.6%
Melbourne — 75-84: 1.9% South Melbourne — 75-84: 4.6%
85+ 0.7% / 2.4%
Melbourne — 85+: 0.7% South 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%
South Melbourne 59.5% lone person
South Melbourne — Lone Person: 59.5% South Melbourne — Group Household: 8.0% South Melbourne — Couple Families: 20.9% South Melbourne — One Parent Families: 9.6% South Melbourne — Other Families: 1.9%
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%
South Melbourne 56.5% renting
South Melbourne — Owned Outright: 19.5% South Melbourne — Mortgage: 24.0% South Melbourne — Renting: 56.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melbourne South Melbourne
Bachelor Degree 30.6% / 27.9%
Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 30.6% South Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 27.9%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / 12.9%
Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% South Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.3%
Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% South Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / 5.8%
Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% South Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 3.6%
Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% South Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

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 South Melbourne
China 15.1% / 2.6%
Melbourne — China: 15.1% South Melbourne — China: 2.6%
India 7.0% / 1.7%
Melbourne — India: 7.0% South Melbourne — India: 1.7%
Malaysia 6.2% / 1.3%
Melbourne — Malaysia: 6.2% South Melbourne — Malaysia: 1.3%
England — / 4.8%
Melbourne — England: not among its largest South Melbourne — England: 4.8%
New Zealand 1.9% / 2.7%
Melbourne — New Zealand: 1.9% South Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.7%
Indonesia 3.7% / —
Melbourne — Indonesia: 3.7% South Melbourne — Indonesia: not among its largest
Thailand 2.6% / —
Melbourne — Thailand: 2.6% South Melbourne — 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%
South Melbourne 59.9% flats / apartments
South Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 59.9% South Melbourne — Townhouses: 35.5% South Melbourne — Houses: 4.7%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Melbourne South Melbourne
Median house price $516,000 $1,625,000
Median unit price $452,000 $580,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 24 days
from 85 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 South Melbourne
1 bed $349K / $400K
Melbourne — 1 bed: $349K (787 sales) South Melbourne — 1 bed: $400K (84 sales)

787 vs 84 sales

2 bed $540K / $614K
Melbourne — 2 bed: $540K (999 sales) South Melbourne — 2 bed: $614K (156 sales)

999 vs 156 sales

3 bed $890K / $940K
Melbourne — 3 bed: $890K (131 sales) South Melbourne — 3 bed: $940K (31 sales)

131 vs 31 sales

Zoning mix

Melbourne South Melbourne
Residential 3% 50%
Commercial 41% 36%
Parks and recreation 37% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 12%
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 South Melbourne
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
 891
across Port Phillip
Approvals change year on year +195% +4175%

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 South Melbourne
Houses — 3.4%
$1,080/wk on $1.65M
Units — 5.8%
$700/wk on $625K

Ranking within VIC

Melbourne South Melbourne
House price — Higher than 87% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC Higher than 12% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 17% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 31% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 89% of VIC

Liveability

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

Risk profile

Melbourne carries more flood risk (64 vs 44).

Melbourne South Melbourne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
same for both
Flood Moderate
64/100
 Moderate
44/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 29
within 5 km

Schools

Melbourne South Melbourne
Inside the suburb 12 4
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.0 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 12.2% 2.6%

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 South Melbourne

  • Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Youth2Industry College Independent · Secondary
  • Hester Hornbrook Academy - South Melbourne Independent · Secondary · Special school
  • Montague School Government · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Melbourne South Melbourne
Supermarkets 25 2
Cafes & restaurants 944 85
Parks & reserves 40 11
Childcare 11 7
GPs 30 8
Pharmacies 28 4
Hospitals 3 0
Police stations 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 43 6
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 5 0

Mobility

Melbourne South Melbourne
Walkability score 100/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km 3.8 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 10 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 97/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 3733.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 278.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.3%
postcode 3000
 5.4%
postcode 3205
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3000
 5
postcode 3205

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 South Melbourne
Worked from Home 41.2% / 53.5%
Melbourne — Worked from Home: 41.2% South Melbourne — Worked from Home: 53.5%
Car (driver) 12.4% / 23.8%
Melbourne — Car (driver): 12.4% South Melbourne — Car (driver): 23.8%
Walked Only 17.3% / 9.9%
Melbourne — Walked Only: 17.3% South Melbourne — Walked Only: 9.9%
Tram / Light Rail 14.0% / 6.5%
Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 14.0% South Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 6.5%
Train 10.2% / 1.6%
Melbourne — Train: 10.2% South Melbourne — Train: 1.6%
Bicycle 1.9% / 2.6%
Melbourne — Bicycle: 1.9% South Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.5%).

Setting

Melbourne South Melbourne
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Melbourne South Melbourne
Connectivity score 76/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
68,501 premises
 42%
10,996 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Melbourne South Melbourne
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $1,765/yr
Council Melbourne Port Phillip

Federal electorate

Melbourne South Melbourne
Division Melbourne Macnamara
Member Sarah Witty Josh Burns
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Melbourne South 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

South Melbourne

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Inner 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 South Melbourne

South Melbourne vs Southbank South Melbourne vs Port Melbourne South Melbourne vs Docklands South Melbourne vs Albert Park
Full data on Melbourne Full data on South 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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or