Parkville vs Carlton North

Parkville is the younger of the two, with a median age of 26 against 33 in Carlton North. In Parkville, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. In Carlton North, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Parkville: a median of $1.82 million, against $1.5 million in Carlton North, though rent is higher in Carlton North. Parkville is closer to the city centre: 3.6 km, against 4.3 km. On these figures, Parkville tends to suit renters and people living alone, while Carlton North 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

Parkville

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (38 vs 5)
  • But Carlton North carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 89/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Parkville has cheaper units ($460,000 vs $660,000)
  • Carlton North has cheaper houses ($1,500,000 vs $1,820,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Parkville

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($396/wk vs $552/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (66% vs 51%)

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

Commuting to the city

Parkville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a shorter drive in (11 min vs 17 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Carlton North

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • carries lower crime risk (74/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

Parkville

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.9% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Parkville and Carlton North 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 Carlton North
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 Carlton North
Walkability 91 / 89
Parkville — Walkability: 91/100 Carlton North — Walkability: 89/100
Safety 11 / 26
Parkville — Safety: 11/100 Carlton North — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Parkville — Low fire risk: 100/100 Carlton North — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 75 / 63
Parkville — Low flood risk: 75/100 Carlton North — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Carlton North rents higher ($552/wk vs $396/wk); Carlton North has higher household incomes ($124,800 vs $98,020).

Parkville Carlton North
Population 7,074
+13% vs other
 6,177
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.5% -2.0%
Median age 26 33
Median household income $98,020/yr $124,800/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $396/wk $552/wk
+39% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Parkville Carlton North
0-4 2.5% / 3.9%
Parkville — 0-4: 2.5% Carlton North — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 4.1% / 6.4%
Parkville — 5-14: 4.1% Carlton North — 5-14: 6.4%
15-19 17.5% / 2.9%
Parkville — 15-19: 17.5% Carlton North — 15-19: 2.9%
20-24 21.5% / 10.7%
Parkville — 20-24: 21.5% Carlton North — 20-24: 10.7%
25-34 23.4% / 28.5%
Parkville — 25-34: 23.4% Carlton North — 25-34: 28.5%
35-44 10.2% / 13.9%
Parkville — 35-44: 10.2% Carlton North — 35-44: 13.9%
45-54 5.9% / 10.4%
Parkville — 45-54: 5.9% Carlton North — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 5.2% / 9.6%
Parkville — 55-64: 5.2% Carlton North — 55-64: 9.6%
65-74 4.5% / 8.2%
Parkville — 65-74: 4.5% Carlton North — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 3.1% / 4.3%
Parkville — 75-84: 3.1% Carlton North — 75-84: 4.3%
85+ 2.1% / 1.6%
Parkville — 85+: 2.1% Carlton North — 85+: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (28.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Carlton North 38.6% lone person
Carlton North — Lone Person: 38.6% Carlton North — Group Household: 24.8% Carlton North — Couple Families: 25.2% Carlton North — One Parent Families: 8.8% Carlton North — Other Families: 2.5%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families 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%
Carlton North 51.4% renting
Carlton North — Owned Outright: 28.9% Carlton North — Mortgage: 19.7% Carlton North — Renting: 51.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Parkville Carlton North
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 33.7%
Parkville — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Carlton North — Bachelor Degree: 33.7%
Postgraduate Degree 17.2% / 18.0%
Parkville — Postgraduate Degree: 17.2% Carlton North — Postgraduate Degree: 18.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.7% / 6.4%
Parkville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.7% Carlton North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 4.6%
Parkville — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Carlton North — Certificate III & IV: 4.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 4.7%
Parkville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Carlton North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.7%).

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 Carlton North
England 3.4% / 3.8%
Parkville — England: 3.4% Carlton North — England: 3.8%
China 4.8% / —
Parkville — China: 4.8% Carlton North — China: not among its largest
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.4%
Parkville — New Zealand: 2.2% Carlton North — New Zealand: 2.4%
India 2.7% / 0.7%
Parkville — India: 2.7% Carlton North — India: 0.7%
Malaysia 2.6% / 0.7%
Parkville — Malaysia: 2.6% Carlton North — Malaysia: 0.7%
Italy — / 1.8%
Parkville — Italy: not among its largest Carlton North — Italy: 1.8%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Parkville 36.1% townhouses
Parkville — Townhouses: 36.1% Parkville — Flats / Apartments: 61.7% Parkville — Houses: 2.2%
Carlton North 71.4% townhouses
Carlton North — Townhouses: 71.4% Carlton North — Flats / Apartments: 22.5% Carlton North — Houses: 6.1%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Parkville Carlton North
Median house price $1,820,000 $1,500,000
Median unit price $460,000 $660,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 19 sales
 23 days
from 56 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 Carlton North
3 bed $1.82M / $1.68M
Parkville — 3 bed: $1.82M (13 sales) Carlton North — 3 bed: $1.68M (54 sales)

13 vs 54 sales

4 bed $1.86M / $1.94M
Parkville — 4 bed: $1.86M (6 sales) Carlton North — 4 bed: $1.94M (25 sales)

6 vs 25 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 Carlton North
1 bed $380K / $476K
Parkville — 1 bed: $380K (42 sales) Carlton North — 1 bed: $476K (16 sales)

42 vs 16 sales

2 bed $508K / $748K
Parkville — 2 bed: $508K (68 sales) Carlton North — 2 bed: $748K (26 sales)

68 vs 26 sales

Zoning mix

Parkville Carlton North
Parks and recreation 50% 23%
Residential 16% 47%
Infrastructure and transport 29% 28%
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 Carlton North
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.

Parkville Carlton North
Houses 2.6%
$875/wk on $1.75M
 2.8%
$900/wk on $1.65M
Units 6.9%
$585/wk on $442K
 4.6%
$590/wk on $662K

Ranking within VIC

Parkville Carlton North
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Income Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools Higher than 38% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 8% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC

Liveability

Carlton North scores higher overall (86 vs 71).

Parkville Carlton North
Grade A A+
Score 71/100 86/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Carlton North carries more flood risk (37 vs 25); Parkville carries more crime risk (89 vs 74).

Parkville Carlton North
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
89/100
 High
74/100
Flood Low
25/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
 19
within 5 km

Schools

Parkville Carlton North
Inside the suburb 9 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 0.0 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 29.8% 5.8%

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 Carlton North

  • Carlton North Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Parkville Carlton North
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 37 24
Parks & reserves 38 5
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 2 4
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Parkville Carlton North
Walkability score 91/100 89/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.6 km 4.3 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 17 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 96/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 375.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 246.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.0%
postcode 3052
 2.2%
postcode 3054
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 6
postcode 3052
 12
postcode 3054

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 Carlton North
Worked from Home 42.9% / 54.1%
Parkville — Worked from Home: 42.9% Carlton North — Worked from Home: 54.1%
Car (driver) 26.1% / 22.6%
Parkville — Car (driver): 26.1% Carlton North — Car (driver): 22.6%
Walked Only 11.6% / 6.4%
Parkville — Walked Only: 11.6% Carlton North — Walked Only: 6.4%
Tram / Light Rail 7.7% / 5.9%
Parkville — Tram / Light Rail: 7.7% Carlton North — Tram / Light Rail: 5.9%
Bicycle 5.6% / 7.3%
Parkville — Bicycle: 5.6% Carlton North — Bicycle: 7.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.1%).

Setting

Parkville Carlton North
Elevation 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 42 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 6.9 km

NBN connectivity

Parkville Carlton North
Connectivity score 94/100 100/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 81%
3,751 premises
 99%
3,415 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Parkville Carlton North
Division Melbourne Wills
Member Sarah Witty Peter Khalil
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Parkville Carlton North
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

Carlton North

Cafe Culture Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium 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 Carlton North

Carlton North vs Brunswick Carlton North vs Carlton Carlton North vs Brunswick East Carlton North vs Fitzroy North Carlton North vs Fitzroy Carlton North vs Princes Hill
Full data on Parkville Full data on Carlton North
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