Princes Hill vs Brunswick East

Brunswick East is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 39 in Princes Hill. In both, about half of households are people living alone. In Princes Hill, most households own their home. In Brunswick East, about half of households rent and about half of homes are flats or apartments. Houses cost more in Princes Hill: a median of $1.91 million, against $1.44 million in Brunswick East, and rent is higher there too. Princes Hill is closer to the city centre: 4.3 km, against 5.9 km. On these figures, Princes Hill tends to suit older residents, while Brunswick East suits renters, 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

Brunswick East

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (16 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (6 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Princes Hill is already more of a family suburb (38% vs 27%)

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

First-home buyers

Brunswick East

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (22% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,435,000 vs $1,905,000)
  • has cheaper units ($530,000 vs $690,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Brunswick East

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (54% vs 44%)
  • has cheaper rent ($421/wk vs $462/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Downsizers and retirees

Brunswick East

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (4 vs 1)
  • carries lower crime risk (75/100 vs 86/100)
  • But Princes Hill has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 9%)

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

Investors

Brunswick East

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (15.4% vs -5.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Princes Hill Brunswick East
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.

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Walkability 97 / 94
Princes Hill — Walkability: 97/100 Brunswick East — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 14 / 25
Princes Hill — Safety: 14/100 Brunswick East — Safety: 25/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Princes Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brunswick East — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 37
Princes Hill — Low flood risk: 63/100 Brunswick East — Low flood risk: 37/100

Demographics

Brunswick East has more residents (13,279 vs 2,005); Princes Hill skews older (39 vs 33).

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Population 2,005 13,279
+562% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.7% +15.4%
Median age 39 33
Median household income $115,336/yr
+6% vs other
 $108,576/yr
Median weekly rent $462/wk
+9% vs other
 $421/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Princes Hill Brunswick East
0-4 4.0% / 3.7%
Princes Hill — 0-4: 4.0% Brunswick East — 0-4: 3.7%
5-14 8.7% / 5.7%
Princes Hill — 5-14: 8.7% Brunswick East — 5-14: 5.7%
15-19 4.3% / 2.7%
Princes Hill — 15-19: 4.3% Brunswick East — 15-19: 2.7%
20-24 9.0% / 8.1%
Princes Hill — 20-24: 9.0% Brunswick East — 20-24: 8.1%
25-34 19.5% / 33.5%
Princes Hill — 25-34: 19.5% Brunswick East — 25-34: 33.5%
35-44 12.7% / 20.0%
Princes Hill — 35-44: 12.7% Brunswick East — 35-44: 20.0%
45-54 11.1% / 10.6%
Princes Hill — 45-54: 11.1% Brunswick East — 45-54: 10.6%
55-64 10.9% / 7.0%
Princes Hill — 55-64: 10.9% Brunswick East — 55-64: 7.0%
65-74 11.2% / 4.5%
Princes Hill — 65-74: 11.2% Brunswick East — 65-74: 4.5%
75-84 6.4% / 2.8%
Princes Hill — 75-84: 6.4% Brunswick East — 75-84: 2.8%
85+ 2.4% / 1.3%
Princes Hill — 85+: 2.4% Brunswick East — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Princes Hill 45.2% lone person
Princes Hill — Lone Person: 45.2% Princes Hill — Couple Families: 28.0% Princes Hill — Group Household: 15.1% Princes Hill — One Parent Families: 9.8% Princes Hill — Other Families: 2.0%
Brunswick East 53.3% lone person
Brunswick East — Lone Person: 53.3% Brunswick East — Couple Families: 19.3% Brunswick East — Group Household: 17.2% Brunswick East — One Parent Families: 8.0% Brunswick East — 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.

Princes Hill 44.5% renting
Princes Hill — Owned Outright: 37.5% Princes Hill — Mortgage: 18.1% Princes Hill — Renting: 44.5%
Brunswick East 54.5% renting
Brunswick East — Owned Outright: 18.4% Brunswick East — Mortgage: 27.1% Brunswick East — Renting: 54.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Bachelor Degree 27.9% / 31.3%
Princes Hill — Bachelor Degree: 27.9% Brunswick East — Bachelor Degree: 31.3%
Postgraduate Degree 18.1% / 16.4%
Princes Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 18.1% Brunswick East — Postgraduate Degree: 16.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.3% / 7.0%
Princes Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3% Brunswick East — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Certificate III & IV 5.1% / 6.2%
Princes Hill — Certificate III & IV: 5.1% Brunswick East — Certificate III & IV: 6.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 5.0%
Princes Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Brunswick East — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 5.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (31.3%).

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.

Princes Hill Brunswick East
England 3.3% / 3.9%
Princes Hill — England: 3.3% Brunswick East — England: 3.9%
New Zealand 1.9% / 3.0%
Princes Hill — New Zealand: 1.9% Brunswick East — New Zealand: 3.0%
Italy 1.5% / 2.8%
Princes Hill — Italy: 1.5% Brunswick East — Italy: 2.8%
Greece 0.8% / 1.3%
Princes Hill — Greece: 0.8% Brunswick East — Greece: 1.3%
Malaysia 0.7% / 1.0%
Princes Hill — Malaysia: 0.7% Brunswick East — Malaysia: 1.0%
Scotland 0.9% / —
Princes Hill — Scotland: 0.9% Brunswick East — Scotland: not among its largest
Germany 0.9% / —
Princes Hill — Germany: 0.9% Brunswick East — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Princes Hill 57.2% townhouses
Princes Hill — Townhouses: 57.2% Princes Hill — Flats / Apartments: 28.5% Princes Hill — Houses: 14.3%
Brunswick East 25.8% townhouses
Brunswick East — Townhouses: 25.8% Brunswick East — Flats / Apartments: 51.6% Brunswick East — Houses: 22.6%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Median house price $1,905,000 $1,435,000
Median unit price $690,000 $530,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 23 days
from 93 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.

Princes Hill Brunswick East
2 bed $1.33M / $1.21M
Princes Hill — 2 bed: $1.33M (10 sales) Brunswick East — 2 bed: $1.21M (40 sales)

10 vs 40 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $1.46M
Princes Hill — 3 bed: $1.8M (15 sales) Brunswick East — 3 bed: $1.46M (73 sales)

15 vs 73 sales

4 bed $2.85M / $1.77M
Princes Hill — 4 bed: $2.85M (15 sales) Brunswick East — 4 bed: $1.77M (20 sales)

15 vs 20 sales

Zoning mix

Brunswick East has more commercially zoned land (12% vs 1%).

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Residential 87% 63%
Parks and recreation 7% 15%
Commercial 1% 12%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 4%
Industrial 0% 4%
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

Princes Hill Brunswick East
New dwellings approved 1,675
across Yarra
 1,387
across Merri-bek
Approvals change year on year +646% +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.

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Houses — 3.5%
$840/wk on $1.25M
Units — 5.5%
$580/wk on $545K

Ranking within VIC

Princes Hill Brunswick East
House price Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 72% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 24% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 36% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 85% of VIC

Liveability

Princes Hill scores higher overall (81 vs 76).

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Grade A
same for both
Score 81/100 76/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Brunswick East carries more flood risk (63 vs 37); Princes Hill carries more crime risk (86 vs 75).

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
86/100
 High
75/100
Flood Low
37/100
 Moderate
63/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 19
within 5 km
 15
within 5 km

Schools

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.5 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 3.0 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.4% 3.8%

Schools in Princes Hill

  • Princes Hill Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Princes Hill Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Schools in Brunswick East

  • Our Lady Help of Christians School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Brunswick East Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Brunswick South Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Supermarkets 0 6
Cafes & restaurants 0 65
Parks & reserves 2 16
Childcare 2 6
GPs 1 4
Pharmacies 0 4
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Walkability score 97/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.3 km 5.9 km
+37% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min 15 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram
 81/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 430.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 2.2%
postcode 3054
 1.7%
postcode 3057
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 12
postcode 3054
 11
postcode 3057

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.

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Worked from Home 52.8% / 54.8%
Princes Hill — Worked from Home: 52.8% Brunswick East — Worked from Home: 54.8%
Car (driver) 24.7% / 24.5%
Princes Hill — Car (driver): 24.7% Brunswick East — Car (driver): 24.5%
Bicycle 7.1% / 6.5%
Princes Hill — Bicycle: 7.1% Brunswick East — Bicycle: 6.5%
Tram / Light Rail 5.2% / 7.3%
Princes Hill — Tram / Light Rail: 5.2% Brunswick East — Tram / Light Rail: 7.3%
Walked Only 6.6% / 3.4%
Princes Hill — Walked Only: 6.6% Brunswick East — Walked Only: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (54.8%).

Setting

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 48 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.3 km 9.0 km

NBN connectivity

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Connectivity score 100/100 96/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,069 premises
 86%
8,455 premises

Climate

Princes Hill Brunswick East
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)

Princes Hill Brunswick East
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Average residential rate $1,937/yr $1,914/yr
Council Yarra Merri-bek

Federal electorate

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Division Wills
same for both
Member Peter Khalil
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Princes Hill Brunswick East
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Princes Hill

Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Brunswick East

Apartments Cafe Culture Gentrifying Inner Nightlife Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Princes Hill

Princes Hill vs Brunswick Princes Hill vs Carlton North

Other comparisons with Brunswick East

Brunswick East vs Coburg Brunswick East vs Northcote Brunswick East vs Brunswick Brunswick East vs Thornbury Brunswick East vs Fitzroy North Brunswick East vs Carlton North
Full data on Princes Hill Full data on Brunswick East
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