Princes Hill vs Brunswick

Brunswick is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 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, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Princes Hill: a median of $1.91 million, against $1.26 million in Brunswick. Princes Hill is closer to the city centre: 4.3 km, against 5.6 km. On these figures, Princes Hill tends to suit older residents, while Brunswick suits young adults and 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

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (29 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 2)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (35% vs 14%)

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

First-home buyers

Brunswick

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($1,260,000 vs $1,905,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper units ($555,000 vs $690,000)

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

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

Princes Hill

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 11%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (86% vs 65%)
  • But Brunswick has more GPs (14 vs 1)

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

Investors

Brunswick

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1.7% vs -5.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Princes Hill and Brunswick 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
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
Walkability 97 / 99
Princes Hill — Walkability: 97/100 Brunswick — Walkability: 99/100
Safety 14 / 18
Princes Hill — Safety: 14/100 Brunswick — Safety: 18/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Princes Hill — Low fire risk: 100/100 Brunswick — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 63 / 56
Princes Hill — Low flood risk: 63/100 Brunswick — Low flood risk: 56/100

Demographics

Brunswick has more residents (24,896 vs 2,005); Princes Hill skews older (39 vs 34).

Princes Hill Brunswick
Population 2,005 24,896
+1142% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -5.7% +1.7%
Median age 39 34
Median household income $115,336/yr
+6% vs other
 $108,992/yr
Median weekly rent $462/wk
+5% vs other
 $441/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Princes Hill Brunswick
0-4 4.0% / 3.9%
Princes Hill — 0-4: 4.0% Brunswick — 0-4: 3.9%
5-14 8.7% / 6.3%
Princes Hill — 5-14: 8.7% Brunswick — 5-14: 6.3%
15-19 4.3% / 2.7%
Princes Hill — 15-19: 4.3% Brunswick — 15-19: 2.7%
20-24 9.0% / 9.3%
Princes Hill — 20-24: 9.0% Brunswick — 20-24: 9.3%
25-34 19.5% / 29.2%
Princes Hill — 25-34: 19.5% Brunswick — 25-34: 29.2%
35-44 12.7% / 17.8%
Princes Hill — 35-44: 12.7% Brunswick — 35-44: 17.8%
45-54 11.1% / 11.2%
Princes Hill — 45-54: 11.1% Brunswick — 45-54: 11.2%
55-64 10.9% / 8.4%
Princes Hill — 55-64: 10.9% Brunswick — 55-64: 8.4%
65-74 11.2% / 5.7%
Princes Hill — 65-74: 11.2% Brunswick — 65-74: 5.7%
75-84 6.4% / 3.7%
Princes Hill — 75-84: 6.4% Brunswick — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 2.4% / 1.8%
Princes Hill — 85+: 2.4% Brunswick — 85+: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.2%).

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 47.0% lone person
Brunswick — Lone Person: 47.0% Brunswick — Couple Families: 23.2% Brunswick — Group Household: 19.4% Brunswick — One Parent Families: 8.1% Brunswick — Other Families: 2.3%
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 49.1% renting
Brunswick — Owned Outright: 24.2% Brunswick — Mortgage: 26.8% Brunswick — Renting: 49.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Princes Hill Brunswick
Bachelor Degree 27.9% / 29.4%
Princes Hill — Bachelor Degree: 27.9% Brunswick — Bachelor Degree: 29.4%
Postgraduate Degree 18.1% / 15.6%
Princes Hill — Postgraduate Degree: 18.1% Brunswick — Postgraduate Degree: 15.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.3% / 6.7%
Princes Hill — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.3% Brunswick — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Certificate III & IV 5.1% / 6.1%
Princes Hill — Certificate III & IV: 5.1% Brunswick — Certificate III & IV: 6.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.4% / 4.7%
Princes Hill — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.4% Brunswick — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (29.4%).

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.

Princes Hill Brunswick
England 3.3% / 3.6%
Princes Hill — England: 3.3% Brunswick — England: 3.6%
New Zealand 1.9% / 3.0%
Princes Hill — New Zealand: 1.9% Brunswick — New Zealand: 3.0%
Italy 1.5% / 2.6%
Princes Hill — Italy: 1.5% Brunswick — Italy: 2.6%
Greece 0.8% / 2.5%
Princes Hill — Greece: 0.8% Brunswick — Greece: 2.5%
China — / 1.2%
Princes Hill — China: not among its largest Brunswick — China: 1.2%
Scotland 0.9% / —
Princes Hill — Scotland: 0.9% Brunswick — Scotland: not among its largest
Germany 0.9% / —
Princes Hill — Germany: 0.9% Brunswick — Germany: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.6%).

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 29.3% townhouses
Brunswick — Townhouses: 29.3% Brunswick — Flats / Apartments: 35.4% Brunswick — Houses: 35.3%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

Princes Hill Brunswick
Median house price $1,905,000 $1,260,000
Median unit price $690,000 $555,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) — 23 days
from 169 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
2 bed $1.33M / $1.12M
Princes Hill — 2 bed: $1.33M (10 sales) Brunswick — 2 bed: $1.12M (118 sales)

10 vs 118 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $1.36M
Princes Hill — 3 bed: $1.8M (15 sales) Brunswick — 3 bed: $1.36M (131 sales)

15 vs 131 sales

4 bed $2.85M / $1.5M
Princes Hill — 4 bed: $2.85M (15 sales) Brunswick — 4 bed: $1.5M (32 sales)

15 vs 32 sales

Zoning mix

Brunswick has more industrially zoned land (11% vs 0%); Brunswick has more commercially zoned land (11% vs 1%).

Princes Hill Brunswick
Residential 87% 68%
Industrial 0% 11%
Commercial 1% 11%
Parks and recreation 7% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 5%
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
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
Houses — 3.8%
$880/wk on $1.2M
Units — 5.5%
$625/wk on $592K

Ranking within VIC

Princes Hill Brunswick
House price Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 19% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 99% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 11% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 56% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 83% of VIC

Liveability

Princes Hill scores higher overall (81 vs 64).

Princes Hill Brunswick
Grade A B
Score 81/100 64/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Princes Hill Brunswick
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
86/100
 High
82/100
Flood Low
37/100
 Moderate
44/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 19
within 5 km
 11
within 5 km

Schools

Princes Hill Brunswick
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
The University of Melbourne, 1.5 km
 3
The University of Melbourne, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.4% 4.3%

Schools in Princes Hill

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

Schools in Brunswick

  • Brunswick Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Margaret Mary's School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Sydney Road Community School Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Princes Hill Brunswick
Supermarkets 0 12
Cafes & restaurants 0 132
Parks & reserves 2 29
Childcare 2 14
GPs 1 14
Pharmacies 0 7
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 5

Mobility

Princes Hill Brunswick
Walkability score 97/100 99/100
Distance to Melbourne 4.3 km 5.6 km
+30% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 12 min 15 min
Public transport score 81/100
Tram
 96/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 29.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 516.8
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 3056
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 12
postcode 3054
 14
postcode 3056

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
Worked from Home 52.8% / 52.1%
Princes Hill — Worked from Home: 52.8% Brunswick — Worked from Home: 52.1%
Car (driver) 24.7% / 24.7%
Princes Hill — Car (driver): 24.7% Brunswick — Car (driver): 24.7%
Bicycle 7.1% / 7.0%
Princes Hill — Bicycle: 7.1% Brunswick — Bicycle: 7.0%
Walked Only 6.6% / 4.4%
Princes Hill — Walked Only: 6.6% Brunswick — Walked Only: 4.4%
Tram / Light Rail 5.2% / 5.5%
Princes Hill — Tram / Light Rail: 5.2% Brunswick — Tram / Light Rail: 5.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.8%).

Setting

Princes Hill Brunswick
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 53 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.3 km 8.7 km

NBN connectivity

Princes Hill Brunswick
Connectivity score 100/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,069 premises
 67%
15,802 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Princes Hill Brunswick
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
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

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Princes Hill

Princes Hill vs Brunswick East Princes Hill vs Carlton North

Other comparisons with Brunswick

Brunswick vs Coburg Brunswick vs Brunswick West Brunswick vs Brunswick East Brunswick vs Parkville Brunswick vs Carlton North
Full data on Princes Hill Full data on Brunswick
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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