Parkville vs Carlton

In both, most households rent and most homes are flats or apartments. In Parkville, about half of households are people living alone. In Carlton, most households are people living alone. Carlton is closer to the city centre: 2 km, against 3.6 km. On these figures, Carlton tends to suit young adults and 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

Parkville

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (9 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (38 vs 18)
  • is already more of a family suburb (27% vs 15%)
  • But Carlton has more childcare (11 vs 3)

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 leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 34%)
  • Carlton has cheaper houses ($1,275,000 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 leaves renters under less rental stress (21% vs 28%)
  • Carlton has cheaper rent ($365/wk vs $396/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Carlton

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (6 min vs 11 min)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 91/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Carlton

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 2)
  • is more walkable (99/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

Parkville

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (-4.5% vs -13.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.9% vs 6.2%)
  • But Carlton returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Parkville and Carlton 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
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
Walkability 91 / 99
Parkville — Walkability: 91/100 Carlton — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 11 / 7
Parkville — Safety: 11/100 Carlton — Safety: 7/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Parkville — Low fire risk: 100/100 Carlton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 75 / 71
Parkville — Low flood risk: 75/100 Carlton — Low flood risk: 71/100

Demographics

Carlton has more residents (16,055 vs 7,074); Parkville has higher household incomes ($98,020 vs $67,184).

Parkville Carlton
Population 7,074 16,055
+127% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -4.5% -13.4%
Median age 26 27
Median household income $98,020/yr
+31% vs other
 $67,184/yr
Median weekly rent $396/wk
+8% vs other
 $365/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Parkville Carlton
0-4 2.5% / 1.9%
Parkville — 0-4: 2.5% Carlton — 0-4: 1.9%
5-14 4.1% / 3.5%
Parkville — 5-14: 4.1% Carlton — 5-14: 3.5%
15-19 17.5% / 6.3%
Parkville — 15-19: 17.5% Carlton — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 21.5% / 24.2%
Parkville — 20-24: 21.5% Carlton — 20-24: 24.2%
25-34 23.4% / 33.8%
Parkville — 25-34: 23.4% Carlton — 25-34: 33.8%
35-44 10.2% / 10.8%
Parkville — 35-44: 10.2% Carlton — 35-44: 10.8%
45-54 5.9% / 6.0%
Parkville — 45-54: 5.9% Carlton — 45-54: 6.0%
55-64 5.2% / 5.0%
Parkville — 55-64: 5.2% Carlton — 55-64: 5.0%
65-74 4.5% / 4.2%
Parkville — 65-74: 4.5% Carlton — 65-74: 4.2%
75-84 3.1% / 2.8%
Parkville — 75-84: 3.1% Carlton — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 2.1% / 1.4%
Parkville — 85+: 2.1% Carlton — 85+: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.8%).

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 57.7% lone person
Carlton — Lone Person: 57.7% Carlton — Group Household: 23.2% Carlton — Couple Families: 8.8% Carlton — One Parent Families: 6.4% Carlton — Other Families: 3.8%
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 75.6% renting
Carlton — Owned Outright: 13.9% Carlton — Mortgage: 10.5% Carlton — Renting: 75.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Parkville Carlton
Bachelor Degree 23.5% / 29.7%
Parkville — Bachelor Degree: 23.5% Carlton — Bachelor Degree: 29.7%
Postgraduate Degree 17.2% / 17.9%
Parkville — Postgraduate Degree: 17.2% Carlton — Postgraduate Degree: 17.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 4.7% / 6.2%
Parkville — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 4.7% Carlton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.2%
Certificate III & IV 3.7% / 4.0%
Parkville — Certificate III & IV: 3.7% Carlton — Certificate III & IV: 4.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.4% / 2.3%
Parkville — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.4% Carlton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.7%).

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
China 4.8% / 14.0%
Parkville — China: 4.8% Carlton — China: 14.0%
India 2.7% / 5.0%
Parkville — India: 2.7% Carlton — India: 5.0%
Malaysia 2.6% / 3.9%
Parkville — Malaysia: 2.6% Carlton — Malaysia: 3.9%
England 3.4% / 2.1%
Parkville — England: 3.4% Carlton — England: 2.1%
New Zealand 2.2% / 1.9%
Parkville — New Zealand: 2.2% Carlton — New Zealand: 1.9%
Vietnam 1.1% / 2.0%
Parkville — Vietnam: 1.1% Carlton — Vietnam: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.0%).

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%
Carlton 81.5% flats / apartments
Carlton — Flats / Apartments: 81.5% Carlton — Townhouses: 17.1% Carlton — Houses: 1.3%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Parkville Carlton
Median house price $1,820,000 $1,275,000
Median unit price $460,000 $430,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 19 sales
 23 days
from 39 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
3 bed $1.82M / $1.53M
Parkville — 3 bed: $1.82M (13 sales) Carlton — 3 bed: $1.53M (16 sales)

13 vs 16 sales

4 bed $1.86M / $1.72M
Parkville — 4 bed: $1.86M (6 sales) Carlton — 4 bed: $1.72M (13 sales)

6 vs 13 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
1 bed $380K / $283K
Parkville — 1 bed: $380K (42 sales) Carlton — 1 bed: $283K (136 sales)

42 vs 136 sales

2 bed $508K / $574K
Parkville — 2 bed: $508K (68 sales) Carlton — 2 bed: $574K (140 sales)

68 vs 140 sales

3 bed $1.02M / $950K
Parkville — 3 bed: $1.02M (7 sales) Carlton — 3 bed: $950K (13 sales)

7 vs 13 sales

Zoning mix

Carlton has more commercially zoned land (20% vs 2%).

Parkville Carlton
Residential 16% 54%
Parks and recreation 50% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 29% 12%
Commercial 2% 20%
Industrial 3% 0%
Other and special use 0% 2%
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
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
Houses 2.6%
$875/wk on $1.75M
 3.4%
$995/wk on $1.5M
Units 6.9%
$585/wk on $442K
 6.2%
$500/wk on $420K

Ranking within VIC

Parkville Carlton
House price Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Income Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Schools Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 29% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 6% of VIC Higher than 3% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC

Liveability

Parkville scores higher overall (71 vs 61); Carlton is more walkable (99 vs 91).

Parkville Carlton
Grade A B
Score 71/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Parkville Carlton
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
89/100
 High
93/100
Flood Low
25/100
 Low
29/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 24
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Parkville Carlton
Inside the suburb 9 3
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 0.0 km
 3
Australian Catholic University-Melbourne Campus, 1.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 29.8% 19.5%

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

  • Carlton Gardens Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Carlton Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Saints College - BlendED Campus Catholic · Secondary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Parkville Carlton
Supermarkets 1 8
Cafes & restaurants 37 155
Parks & reserves 38 18
Childcare 3 11
GPs 2 5
Pharmacies 2 4
Hospitals 2 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 0 3
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 3 0

Mobility

Parkville Carlton
Walkability score 91/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.6 km
+44% vs other
 2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 11 min 6 min
Public transport score 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
 81/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 375.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 615.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 3.0%
postcode 3052
 1.5%
postcode 3053
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 6
postcode 3052
 2
postcode 3053

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
Worked from Home 42.9% / 43.7%
Parkville — Worked from Home: 42.9% Carlton — Worked from Home: 43.7%
Car (driver) 26.1% / 17.5%
Parkville — Car (driver): 26.1% Carlton — Car (driver): 17.5%
Walked Only 11.6% / 16.3%
Parkville — Walked Only: 11.6% Carlton — Walked Only: 16.3%
Tram / Light Rail 7.7% / 9.8%
Parkville — Tram / Light Rail: 7.7% Carlton — Tram / Light Rail: 9.8%
Bicycle 5.6% / 4.0%
Parkville — Bicycle: 5.6% Carlton — Bicycle: 4.0%
Train 3.0% / 5.4%
Parkville — Train: 3.0% Carlton — Train: 5.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (43.7%).

Setting

Parkville Carlton
Elevation 46 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 6.3 km 5.5 km

NBN connectivity

Parkville Carlton
Connectivity score 94/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 81%
3,751 premises
 84%
14,751 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Parkville Carlton
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

Affordable Apartments Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Students Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Parkville

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

Other comparisons with Carlton

Carlton vs Melbourne Carlton vs Fitzroy North Carlton vs Fitzroy Carlton vs Carlton North Carlton vs East Melbourne
Full data on Parkville Full data on Carlton
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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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