Parkville vs Brunswick West

Parkville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 26 against 34 in Brunswick West. In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Parkville, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Brunswick West, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Parkville: a median of $1.82 million, against $1.35 million in Brunswick West, and rent is higher there too. Parkville is closer to the city centre: 3.6 km, against 7.2 km. On these figures, Parkville tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households, while Brunswick West suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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

Brunswick West

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (38% vs 2%)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (36% vs 27%)
  • But Parkville has more parks and reserves (38 vs 13)

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

First-home buyers

Brunswick West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($1,350,000 vs $1,820,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Parkville has a bigger rental market to choose from (66% vs 49%)
  • Brunswick West has cheaper rent ($366/wk vs $396/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Parkville

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (3.6 km vs 7.2 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (11 min vs 17 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Brunswick West

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 89/100)
  • But Parkville has more units and townhouses to downsize into (98% vs 62%)

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

Investors

Brunswick West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (4.1% vs -4.5%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.9% vs 2.6%)
  • But Parkville returns a higher gross yield on units (6.9% vs 5.2%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Parkville and Brunswick West drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Parkville Brunswick West
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.

Parkville Brunswick West
Walkability 91 / 92
Parkville — Walkability: 91/100 Brunswick West — Walkability: 92/100
Safety 11 / 23
Parkville — Safety: 11/100 Brunswick West — Safety: 23/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Parkville — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brunswick West — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 75 / 61
Parkville — Low flood risk: 75/100 Brunswick West — Low flood risk: 61/100

Demographics

Brunswick West has more residents (14,746 vs 7,074); Brunswick West skews older (34 vs 26).

Parkville Brunswick West
Population 7,074 14,746
+108% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.5% +4.1%
Median age 26 34
Median household income $98,020/yr
+5% vs other
 $93,444/yr
Median weekly rent $396/wk
+8% vs other
 $366/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Parkville Brunswick West
0-4 2.5% / 4.8%
Parkville — 0-4: 2.5% Brunswick West — 0-4: 4.8%
5-14 4.1% / 8.0%
Parkville — 5-14: 4.1% Brunswick West — 5-14: 8.0%
15-19 17.5% / 3.6%
Parkville — 15-19: 17.5% Brunswick West — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 21.5% / 8.4%
Parkville — 20-24: 21.5% Brunswick West — 20-24: 8.4%
25-34 23.4% / 25.3%
Parkville — 25-34: 23.4% Brunswick West — 25-34: 25.3%
35-44 10.2% / 17.0%
Parkville — 35-44: 10.2% Brunswick West — 35-44: 17.0%
45-54 5.9% / 11.9%
Parkville — 45-54: 5.9% Brunswick West — 45-54: 11.9%
55-64 5.2% / 9.0%
Parkville — 55-64: 5.2% Brunswick West — 55-64: 9.0%
65-74 4.5% / 6.3%
Parkville — 65-74: 4.5% Brunswick West — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 3.1% / 3.9%
Parkville — 75-84: 3.1% Brunswick West — 75-84: 3.9%
85+ 2.1% / 2.0%
Parkville — 85+: 2.1% Brunswick West — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Brunswick West 49.7% lone person
Brunswick West — Lone Person: 49.7% Brunswick West — Couple Families: 26.9% Brunswick West — Group Household: 12.3% Brunswick West — One Parent Families: 9.0% Brunswick West — Other Families: 2.1%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Parkville 66.3% renting
Parkville — Owned Outright: 18.8% Parkville — Mortgage: 14.8% Parkville — Renting: 66.3%
Brunswick West 48.7% renting
Brunswick West — Owned Outright: 24.0% Brunswick West — Mortgage: 27.3% Brunswick West — Renting: 48.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Parkville Brunswick West
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 25.0%
Parkville — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Brunswick West — Bachelor Degree: 25.0%
Postgraduate Degree 17.2% / 12.7%
Parkville — Postgraduate Degree: 17.2% Brunswick West — Postgraduate Degree: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.7% / 7.4%
Parkville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.7% Brunswick West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 7.9%
Parkville — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Brunswick West — Certificate III & IV: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 4.4%
Parkville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Brunswick West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (25.0%).

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.

Parkville Brunswick West
China 4.8% / 1.3%
Parkville — China: 4.8% Brunswick West — China: 1.3%
England 3.4% / 2.6%
Parkville — England: 3.4% Brunswick West — England: 2.6%
India 2.7% / 1.8%
Parkville — India: 2.7% Brunswick West — India: 1.8%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.2%
Parkville — New Zealand: 2.2% Brunswick West — New Zealand: 2.2%
Malaysia 2.6% / 1.0%
Parkville — Malaysia: 2.6% Brunswick West — Malaysia: 1.0%
Italy — / 2.9%
Parkville — Italy: not among its largest Brunswick West — Italy: 2.9%
Greece — / 2.2%
Parkville — Greece: not among its largest Brunswick West — Greece: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Parkville 61.7% flats / apartments
Parkville — Flats / Apartments: 61.7% Parkville — Townhouses: 36.1% Parkville — Houses: 2.2%
Brunswick West 41.8% flats / apartments
Brunswick West — Flats / Apartments: 41.8% Brunswick West — Townhouses: 20.2% Brunswick West — Houses: 38.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Parkville Brunswick West
Median house price $1,820,000 $1,350,000
Median unit price $460,000 $475,000
Median land price — $1,577,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 19 sales
 25 days
from 80 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.

Parkville Brunswick West
3 bed $1.82M / $1.31M
Parkville — 3 bed: $1.82M (13 sales) Brunswick West — 3 bed: $1.31M (71 sales)

13 vs 71 sales

4 bed $1.86M / $1.55M
Parkville — 4 bed: $1.86M (6 sales) Brunswick West — 4 bed: $1.55M (40 sales)

6 vs 40 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.

Parkville Brunswick West
1 bed $380K / $330K
Parkville — 1 bed: $380K (42 sales) Brunswick West — 1 bed: $330K (112 sales)

42 vs 112 sales

2 bed $508K / $528K
Parkville — 2 bed: $508K (68 sales) Brunswick West — 2 bed: $528K (209 sales)

68 vs 209 sales

3 bed $1.02M / $740K
Parkville — 3 bed: $1.02M (7 sales) Brunswick West — 3 bed: $740K (18 sales)

7 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Parkville Brunswick West
Residential 16% 81%
Parks and recreation 50% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 29% 9%
Industrial 3% 0%
Commercial 2%
same for both
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

Parkville Brunswick West
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
 1,387
across Merri-bek
Approvals change year on year +195% +68%

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.

Parkville Brunswick West
Houses 2.6%
$875/wk on $1.75M
 3.9%
$800/wk on $1.06M
Units 6.9%
$585/wk on $442K
 5.2%
$500/wk on $498K

Ranking within VIC

Parkville Brunswick West
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Schools Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 6% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 15% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC

Liveability

Parkville scores higher overall (71 vs 63).

Parkville Brunswick West
Grade A B
Score 71/100 63/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brunswick West carries more flood risk (39 vs 25); Parkville carries more crime risk (89 vs 77).

Parkville Brunswick West
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
89/100
 High
77/100
Flood Low
25/100
 Low
39/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Parkville Brunswick West
Inside the suburb 9 5
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 3
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 0.0 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 2.7 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 29.8% 3.6%

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

Schools in Brunswick West

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Brunswick North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brunswick North West Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Brunswick South West Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sydney Road Community School-The Brunswick Learning Space Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Parkville Brunswick West
Supermarkets 1 4
Cafes & restaurants 37 22
Parks & reserves 38 13
Childcare 3 9
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 2 4
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Brunswick West sits further from the CBD (7.2 km vs 3.6 km).

Parkville Brunswick West
Walkability score 91/100 92/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.6 km 7.2 km
+100% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 17 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 80/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 375.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 332.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.0%
postcode 3052
 1.4%
postcode 3055
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 6
postcode 3052
 13
postcode 3055

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.

Parkville Brunswick West
Worked from Home 42.9% / 44.1%
Parkville — Worked from Home: 42.9% Brunswick West — Worked from Home: 44.1%
Car (driver) 26.1% / 37.4%
Parkville — Car (driver): 26.1% Brunswick West — Car (driver): 37.4%
Walked Only 11.6% / 2.7%
Parkville — Walked Only: 11.6% Brunswick West — Walked Only: 2.7%
Tram / Light Rail 7.7% / 5.3%
Parkville — Tram / Light Rail: 7.7% Brunswick West — Tram / Light Rail: 5.3%
Bicycle 5.6% / 4.4%
Parkville — Bicycle: 5.6% Brunswick West — Bicycle: 4.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (44.1%).

Setting

Parkville Brunswick West
Elevation 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 8.7 km

NBN connectivity

Parkville Brunswick West
Connectivity score 94/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 81%
3,751 premises
 60%
8,591 premises

Climate

Parkville Brunswick West
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)

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

Council rates

Parkville Brunswick West
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $1,914/yr
Council Melbourne Merri-bek

Federal electorate

Parkville Brunswick West
Division Melbourne Wills
Member Sarah Witty Peter Khalil
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Parkville

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

Brunswick West

Apartments Gentrifying Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Parkville

Parkville vs Melbourne Parkville vs Brunswick Parkville vs Moonee Ponds Parkville vs Carlton Parkville vs Ascot Vale Parkville vs North Melbourne

Other comparisons with Brunswick West

Brunswick West vs Coburg Brunswick West vs Brunswick Brunswick West vs Essendon Brunswick West vs Moonee Ponds Brunswick West vs Ascot Vale Brunswick West vs Pascoe Vale South
Full data on Parkville Full data on Brunswick West
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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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