North Melbourne vs Parkville

Parkville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 26 against 31 in North Melbourne. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • North Melbourne has more childcare (10 vs 3)
  • Parkville has more parks and reserves (38 vs 10)

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

First-home buyers

North Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,225,000 vs $1,820,000)

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

North Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 91/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

North Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (100/100 vs 91/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • North Melbourne returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.8% vs 2.6%)
  • Parkville returns a higher gross yield on units (6.9% vs 6.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

North 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.

North 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.

North Melbourne Parkville
Walkability 100 / 91
North Melbourne — Walkability: 100/100 Parkville — Walkability: 91/100
Safety 10 / 11
North Melbourne — Safety: 10/100 Parkville — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
North Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Parkville — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 24 / 75
North Melbourne — Low flood risk: 24/100 Parkville — Low flood risk: 75/100

Demographics

North Melbourne has more residents (14,953 vs 7,074); North Melbourne skews older (31 vs 26).

North Melbourne Parkville
Population 14,953
+53% vs other
 7,074
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.1% -4.5%
Median age 31 26
Median household income $89,284/yr $98,020/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $381/wk $396/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

North Melbourne Parkville
0-4 3.7% / 2.5%
North Melbourne — 0-4: 3.7% Parkville — 0-4: 2.5%
5-14 7.9% / 4.1%
North Melbourne — 5-14: 7.9% Parkville — 5-14: 4.1%
15-19 4.7% / 17.5%
North Melbourne — 15-19: 4.7% Parkville — 15-19: 17.5%
20-24 13.8% / 21.5%
North Melbourne — 20-24: 13.8% Parkville — 20-24: 21.5%
25-34 28.6% / 23.4%
North Melbourne — 25-34: 28.6% Parkville — 25-34: 23.4%
35-44 15.7% / 10.2%
North Melbourne — 35-44: 15.7% Parkville — 35-44: 10.2%
45-54 9.8% / 5.9%
North Melbourne — 45-54: 9.8% Parkville — 45-54: 5.9%
55-64 7.4% / 5.2%
North Melbourne — 55-64: 7.4% Parkville — 55-64: 5.2%
65-74 5.2% / 4.5%
North Melbourne — 65-74: 5.2% Parkville — 65-74: 4.5%
75-84 2.2% / 3.1%
North Melbourne — 75-84: 2.2% Parkville — 75-84: 3.1%
85+ 0.8% / 2.1%
North Melbourne — 85+: 0.8% Parkville — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

North Melbourne 52.1% lone person
North Melbourne — Lone Person: 52.1% North Melbourne — Couple Families: 18.7% North Melbourne — Group Household: 16.0% North Melbourne — One Parent Families: 10.6% North Melbourne — Other Families: 2.5%
Parkville 48.9% lone person
Parkville — Lone Person: 48.9% Parkville — Couple Families: 19.3% Parkville — Group Household: 21.6% Parkville — One Parent Families: 7.8% Parkville — Other Families: 2.4%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

North Melbourne 65.8% renting
North Melbourne — Owned Outright: 13.7% North Melbourne — Mortgage: 20.5% North Melbourne — Renting: 65.8%
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.

North Melbourne Parkville
Bachelor Degree 26.4% / 23.5%
North Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 26.4% Parkville — Bachelor Degree: 23.5%
Postgraduate Degree 16.7% / 17.2%
North Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 16.7% Parkville — Postgraduate Degree: 17.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.2% / 4.7%
North Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2% Parkville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.7%
Certificate III & IV 4.7% / 3.7%
North Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 4.7% Parkville — Certificate III & IV: 3.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.3% / 2.4%
North Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.3% Parkville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.4%).

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.

North Melbourne Parkville
China 7.7% / 4.8%
North Melbourne — China: 7.7% Parkville — China: 4.8%
England 2.3% / 3.4%
North Melbourne — England: 2.3% Parkville — England: 3.4%
India 2.6% / 2.7%
North Melbourne — India: 2.6% Parkville — India: 2.7%
Malaysia 2.6% / 2.6%
North Melbourne — Malaysia: 2.6% Parkville — Malaysia: 2.6%
New Zealand 2.1% / 2.2%
North Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.1% Parkville — New Zealand: 2.2%
Vietnam 2.8% / 1.1%
North Melbourne — Vietnam: 2.8% Parkville — Vietnam: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

North Melbourne 69.0% flats / apartments
North Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 69.0% North Melbourne — Townhouses: 26.8% North Melbourne — Houses: 4.2%
Parkville 61.7% flats / apartments
Parkville — Flats / Apartments: 61.7% Parkville — Townhouses: 36.1% Parkville — Houses: 2.2%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

North Melbourne Parkville
Median house price $1,225,000 $1,820,000
Median unit price $485,000 $460,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 63 sales
 23 days
from 19 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

North Melbourne Parkville
3 bed $1.33M / $1.82M
North Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.33M (37 sales) Parkville — 3 bed: $1.82M (13 sales)

37 vs 13 sales

4 bed $1.89M / $1.86M
North Melbourne — 4 bed: $1.89M (13 sales) Parkville — 4 bed: $1.86M (6 sales)

13 vs 6 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.

North Melbourne Parkville
1 bed $368K / $380K
North Melbourne — 1 bed: $368K (116 sales) Parkville — 1 bed: $380K (42 sales)

116 vs 42 sales

2 bed $570K / $508K
North Melbourne — 2 bed: $570K (139 sales) Parkville — 2 bed: $508K (68 sales)

139 vs 68 sales

3 bed $805K / $1.02M
North Melbourne — 3 bed: $805K (21 sales) Parkville — 3 bed: $1.02M (7 sales)

21 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

North Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (17% vs 2%).

North Melbourne Parkville
Parks and recreation 4% 50%
Residential 48% 16%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 29%
Commercial 17% 2%
Other and special use 15% 0%
Industrial 2% 3%
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

North 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.

North Melbourne Parkville
Houses 3.8%
$850/wk on $1.18M
 2.6%
$875/wk on $1.75M
Units 6.4%
$650/wk on $530K
 6.9%
$585/wk on $442K

Ranking within VIC

North Melbourne Parkville
House price Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Income Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
Schools Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC

Liveability

Parkville scores higher overall (71 vs 58); North Melbourne is more walkable (100 vs 91).

North Melbourne Parkville
Grade B A
Score 58/100 71/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 very advantaged area
decile 10/10

Risk profile

North Melbourne carries more flood risk (76 vs 25).

North Melbourne Parkville
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
90/100
 High
89/100
Flood High
76/100
 Low
25/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 33
within 5 km
 24
within 5 km

Schools

North Melbourne Parkville
Inside the suburb 9
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.4 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 0.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 8.3% 29.8%

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

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

North Melbourne Parkville
Supermarkets 6 1
Cafes & restaurants 56 37
Parks & reserves 10 38
Childcare 10 3
GPs 5 2
Pharmacies 5 2
Hospitals 0 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 2 1
Fuel stations 5 0
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

North Melbourne Parkville
Walkability score 100/100 91/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.3 km 3.6 km
+9% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 9 min 11 min
Public transport score 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 415.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 375.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.7%
postcode 3051
 3.0%
postcode 3052
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 4
postcode 3051
 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.

North Melbourne Parkville
Worked from Home 46.1% / 42.9%
North Melbourne — Worked from Home: 46.1% Parkville — Worked from Home: 42.9%
Car (driver) 21.8% / 26.1%
North Melbourne — Car (driver): 21.8% Parkville — Car (driver): 26.1%
Walked Only 14.3% / 11.6%
North Melbourne — Walked Only: 14.3% Parkville — Walked Only: 11.6%
Tram / Light Rail 6.8% / 7.7%
North Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 6.8% Parkville — Tram / Light Rail: 7.7%
Bicycle 4.2% / 5.6%
North Melbourne — Bicycle: 4.2% Parkville — Bicycle: 5.6%
Train 4.3% / 3.0%
North Melbourne — Train: 4.3% Parkville — Train: 3.0%

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

Setting

North 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 4.9 km 6.3 km

NBN connectivity

North Melbourne Parkville
Connectivity score 81/100 94/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 34%
10,965 premises
 81%
3,751 premises

Climate

North 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)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

North Melbourne Parkville
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

North Melbourne

Apartments Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Parkville

Affordable Apartments Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals River Students Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with North Melbourne

North Melbourne vs Melbourne North Melbourne vs Kensington North Melbourne vs West Melbourne North Melbourne vs Flemington

Other comparisons with Parkville

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