Melbourne vs South Wharf

Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 29 against 34 in South Wharf. In both, most households rent and the large majority of homes are flats or apartments. In Melbourne, most households are people living alone. In South Wharf, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Melbourne tends to suit young adults and people living alone, while South Wharf suits families with children and couples.

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 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (12 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (11 vs 1)
  • But South Wharf is already more of a family suburb (46% vs 12%)

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

First-home buyers

South Wharf

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (17% vs 29%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($381/wk vs $622/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (30 vs 0)

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 -33.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Melbourne and South Wharf 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 Wharf
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 Wharf
Walkability 100 / 98
Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 South Wharf — Walkability: 98/100
Safety 3 / 0
Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 South Wharf — Safety: 0/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Wharf — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 36 / 21
Melbourne — Low flood risk: 36/100 South Wharf — Low flood risk: 21/100

Demographics

Melbourne has more residents (54,941 vs 71); South Wharf has higher household incomes ($149,448 vs $75,296).

Melbourne South Wharf
Population 54,941
+100% vs other
 71
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.2% -33.0%
Median age 29 34
Median household income $75,296/yr $149,448/yr
+98% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $622/wk
+63% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Melbourne South Wharf
0-4 2.0% / 9.9%
Melbourne — 0-4: 2.0% South Wharf — 0-4: 9.9%
5-14 2.2% / 8.5%
Melbourne — 5-14: 2.2% South Wharf — 5-14: 8.5%
15-19 3.5% / —
Melbourne — 15-19: 3.5% South Wharf — 15-19: not among its largest
20-24 21.0% / —
Melbourne — 20-24: 21.0% South Wharf — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 38.3% / 18.3%
Melbourne — 25-34: 38.3% South Wharf — 25-34: 18.3%
35-44 14.8% / 18.3%
Melbourne — 35-44: 14.8% South Wharf — 35-44: 18.3%
45-54 6.8% / 8.5%
Melbourne — 45-54: 6.8% South Wharf — 45-54: 8.5%
55-64 5.1% / 9.9%
Melbourne — 55-64: 5.1% South Wharf — 55-64: 9.9%
65-74 3.7% / 5.6%
Melbourne — 65-74: 3.7% South Wharf — 65-74: 5.6%
75-84 1.9% / —
Melbourne — 75-84: 1.9% South Wharf — 75-84: not among its largest
85+ 0.7% / —
Melbourne — 85+: 0.7% South Wharf — 85+: not among its largest

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 — Couple Families: 7.7% Melbourne — Group Household: 20.6% Melbourne — Other Families: 4.2% Melbourne — One Parent Families: 4.2%
South Wharf 54.5% lone person
South Wharf — Lone Person: 54.5% South Wharf — Couple Families: 45.5% South Wharf — Group Household: 0.0% South Wharf — Other Families: 0.0% South Wharf — One Parent Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household Other Families One Parent 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 Wharf 66.7% renting
South Wharf — Owned Outright: 14.3% South Wharf — Mortgage: 19.0% South Wharf — Renting: 66.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Melbourne South Wharf
Bachelor Degree 30.6% / 22.5%
Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 30.6% South Wharf — Bachelor Degree: 22.5%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / —
Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% South Wharf — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 4.2%
Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% South Wharf — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 5.6%
Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% South Wharf — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.6%
Certificate III & IV 4.6% / —
Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.6% South Wharf — Certificate III & IV: not among its largest

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 Wharf
Afghanistan — / 23.9%
Melbourne — Afghanistan: not among its largest South Wharf — Afghanistan: 23.9%
China 15.1% / 4.2%
Melbourne — China: 15.1% South Wharf — China: 4.2%
India 7.0% / —
Melbourne — India: 7.0% South Wharf — India: not among its largest
Malaysia 6.2% / —
Melbourne — Malaysia: 6.2% South Wharf — Malaysia: not among its largest
Egypt — / 4.2%
Melbourne — Egypt: not among its largest South Wharf — Egypt: 4.2%
Indonesia 3.7% / —
Melbourne — Indonesia: 3.7% South Wharf — Indonesia: not among its largest
Thailand 2.6% / —
Melbourne — Thailand: 2.6% South Wharf — Thailand: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.9%).

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 Wharf 100.0% flats / apartments
South Wharf — Flats / Apartments: 100.0% South Wharf — Townhouses: 0.0% South Wharf — Houses: 0.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Melbourne South Wharf
Median house price $516,000 —
Median unit price $452,000 —
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 39 days
from 10 sales
 —

Zoning mix

South Wharf has more commercially zoned land (63% vs 41%).

Melbourne South Wharf
Commercial 41% 63%
Parks and recreation 37% 15%
Infrastructure and transport 16% 22%
Residential 3% 0%
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 Wharf
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
same for both
Approvals change year on year +195%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Melbourne South Wharf
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Schools Higher than 46% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 77% of VIC

Liveability

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

Risk profile

South Wharf carries more flood risk (79 vs 64).

Melbourne South Wharf
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
100/100
Flood Moderate
64/100
 High
79/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 38
within 5 km

Schools

Melbourne South Wharf
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
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 1.7 km

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 Wharf

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Melbourne South Wharf
Walkability score 100/100 98/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.4 km
+9% vs other
 3.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 9 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 77/100
Tram
Peak arrivals per hour 3733.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 24.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 5.3%
postcode 3000
 2.1%
postcode 3006
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3000
 0
postcode 3006

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 Wharf
Worked from Home 41.2% / 50.0%
Melbourne — Worked from Home: 41.2% South Wharf — Worked from Home: 50.0%
Car (driver) 12.4% / 50.0%
Melbourne — Car (driver): 12.4% South Wharf — Car (driver): 50.0%
Walked Only 17.3% / —
Melbourne — Walked Only: 17.3% South Wharf — Walked Only: not among its largest
Tram / Light Rail 14.0% / —
Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 14.0% South Wharf — Tram / Light Rail: not among its largest
Train 10.2% / —
Melbourne — Train: 10.2% South Wharf — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (50.0%).

Setting

Melbourne South Wharf
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 2 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 2.4 km
2.5 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Melbourne South Wharf
Connectivity score 76/100 66/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 31%
68,501 premises
 2%
389 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Melbourne South Wharf
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 Wharf

Apartments Cafe Culture Coastal Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals River Trams Young Families

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 Wharf

South Wharf vs Southbank South Wharf vs Docklands
Full data on Melbourne Full data on South Wharf
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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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