South Melbourne vs Albert Park

South Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 46 in Albert Park. In South Melbourne, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Albert Park, most households own their home and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Albert Park: a median of $2.31 million, against $1.62 million in South Melbourne, and rent is higher there too. South Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 3.8 km, against 5.5 km. On these figures, South Melbourne tends to suit 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

Albert Park

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (19% vs 5%)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (49% vs 30%)

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

First-home buyers

South Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($580,000 vs $1,097,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($1,625,000 vs $2,312,500)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 38%)
  • has cheaper rent ($421/wk vs $590/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

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • South Melbourne has more GPs (8 vs 3)
  • Albert Park has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 15%)

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

Investors

South Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (5.8% vs -2.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.4% vs 2.7%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.8% vs 5.3%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

South Melbourne and Albert Park drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

South Melbourne Albert Park
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.

South Melbourne Albert Park
Walkability 96 / 96
South Melbourne — Walkability: 96/100 Albert Park — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 3 / 17
South Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 Albert Park — Safety: 17/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
South Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Albert Park — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 68
South Melbourne — Low flood risk: 56/100 Albert Park — Low flood risk: 68/100

Demographics

South Melbourne has more residents (11,548 vs 6,044); Albert Park rents higher ($590/wk vs $421/wk).

South Melbourne Albert Park
Population 11,548
+48% vs other
 6,044
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.8% -2.8%
Median age 39 46
Median household income $109,252/yr $131,716/yr
+21% vs other
Median weekly rent $421/wk $590/wk
+40% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Melbourne Albert Park
0-4 4.2% / 5.3%
South Melbourne — 0-4: 4.2% Albert Park — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 7.4% / 11.1%
South Melbourne — 5-14: 7.4% Albert Park — 5-14: 11.1%
15-19 3.3% / 4.8%
South Melbourne — 15-19: 3.3% Albert Park — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 5.5% / 4.0%
South Melbourne — 20-24: 5.5% Albert Park — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 21.7% / 9.3%
South Melbourne — 25-34: 21.7% Albert Park — 25-34: 9.3%
35-44 17.3% / 13.5%
South Melbourne — 35-44: 17.3% Albert Park — 35-44: 13.5%
45-54 14.3% / 16.3%
South Melbourne — 45-54: 14.3% Albert Park — 45-54: 16.3%
55-64 11.5% / 14.1%
South Melbourne — 55-64: 11.5% Albert Park — 55-64: 14.1%
65-74 7.8% / 11.6%
South Melbourne — 65-74: 7.8% Albert Park — 65-74: 11.6%
75-84 4.6% / 7.9%
South Melbourne — 75-84: 4.6% Albert Park — 75-84: 7.9%
85+ 2.4% / 2.0%
South Melbourne — 85+: 2.4% Albert Park — 85+: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

South Melbourne 59.5% lone person
South Melbourne — Lone Person: 59.5% South Melbourne — Couple Families: 20.9% South Melbourne — One Parent Families: 9.6% South Melbourne — Group Household: 8.0% South Melbourne — Other Families: 1.9%
Albert Park 45.0% lone person
Albert Park — Lone Person: 45.0% Albert Park — Couple Families: 38.2% Albert Park — One Parent Families: 10.9% Albert Park — Group Household: 4.5% Albert Park — Other Families: 1.3%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

South Melbourne 56.5% renting
South Melbourne — Owned Outright: 19.5% South Melbourne — Mortgage: 24.0% South Melbourne — Renting: 56.5%
Albert Park 37.7% renting
Albert Park — Owned Outright: 37.8% Albert Park — Mortgage: 24.5% Albert Park — Renting: 37.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Melbourne Albert Park
Bachelor Degree 27.9% / 25.0%
South Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 27.9% Albert Park — Bachelor Degree: 25.0%
Postgraduate Degree 12.9% / 13.2%
South Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 12.9% Albert Park — Postgraduate Degree: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 6.8%
South Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Albert Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Certificate III & IV 5.8% / 5.3%
South Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 5.8% Albert Park — Certificate III & IV: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.6%
South Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Albert Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.9%).

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.

South Melbourne Albert Park
England 4.8% / 5.3%
South Melbourne — England: 4.8% Albert Park — England: 5.3%
New Zealand 2.7% / 2.1%
South Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.7% Albert Park — New Zealand: 2.1%
Greece 1.1% / 3.4%
South Melbourne — Greece: 1.1% Albert Park — Greece: 3.4%
India 1.7% / 1.8%
South Melbourne — India: 1.7% Albert Park — India: 1.8%
China 2.6% / —
South Melbourne — China: 2.6% Albert Park — China: not among its largest
Malaysia 1.3% / —
South Melbourne — Malaysia: 1.3% Albert Park — Malaysia: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.9%
South Melbourne — Ireland: not among its largest Albert Park — Ireland: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Melbourne 35.5% townhouses
South Melbourne — Townhouses: 35.5% South Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 59.9% South Melbourne — Houses: 4.7%
Albert Park 62.0% townhouses
Albert Park — Townhouses: 62.0% Albert Park — Flats / Apartments: 19.2% Albert Park — Houses: 18.8%
Townhouses Flats / Apartments Houses

Property market

South Melbourne Albert Park
Median house price $1,625,000 $2,312,500
Median unit price $580,000 $1,097,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 85 sales
 24 days
from 55 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.

South Melbourne Albert Park
2 bed $1.25M / $1.54M
South Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.25M (54 sales) Albert Park — 2 bed: $1.54M (42 sales)

54 vs 42 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $2.51M
South Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.8M (58 sales) Albert Park — 3 bed: $2.51M (66 sales)

58 vs 66 sales

4 bed $2.81M / $2.96M
South Melbourne — 4 bed: $2.81M (14 sales) Albert Park — 4 bed: $2.96M (26 sales)

14 vs 26 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.

South Melbourne Albert Park
1 bed $400K / $450K
South Melbourne — 1 bed: $400K (84 sales) Albert Park — 1 bed: $450K (7 sales)

84 vs 7 sales

2 bed $614K / $1.1M
South Melbourne — 2 bed: $614K (156 sales) Albert Park — 2 bed: $1.1M (18 sales)

156 vs 18 sales

3 bed $940K / $2.6M
South Melbourne — 3 bed: $940K (31 sales) Albert Park — 3 bed: $2.6M (8 sales)

31 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

South Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (36% vs 4%).

South Melbourne Albert Park
Parks and recreation 1% 54%
Residential 50% 35%
Commercial 36% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 7%
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

South Melbourne Albert Park
New dwellings approved 891
across Port Phillip
same for both
Approvals change year on year +4175%
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.

South Melbourne Albert Park
Houses 3.4%
$1,080/wk on $1.65M
 2.7%
$1,000/wk on $1.9M
Units 5.8%
$700/wk on $625K
 5.3%
$680/wk on $670K

Ranking within VIC

South Melbourne Albert Park
House price Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Schools Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 83% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC

Liveability

Albert Park scores higher overall (82 vs 61).

South Melbourne Albert Park
Grade B A
Score 61/100 82/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Melbourne carries more flood risk (44 vs 32); South Melbourne carries more crime risk (97 vs 83).

South Melbourne Albert Park
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
83/100
Flood Moderate
44/100
 Low
32/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Low
38/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 29
within 5 km
 18
within 5 km

Schools

South Melbourne Albert Park
Inside the suburb 4 6
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 1.6 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 2.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 2.7%

Schools in South Melbourne

  • Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Youth2Industry College Independent · Secondary
  • Hester Hornbrook Academy - South Melbourne Independent · Secondary · Special school
  • Montague School Government · Secondary · Special school

Schools in Albert Park

  • Albert Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • South Melbourne Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Albert Park College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Albert Park College-Performing Arts Centre (interim name) Government · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - MSAC Function Room Independent · Secondary
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Sailing - Albert Park Independent · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

South Melbourne Albert Park
Supermarkets 2 3
Cafes & restaurants 85 39
Parks & reserves 11 10
Childcare 7 6
GPs 8 3
Pharmacies 4 2
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 0
Fuel stations 3 1
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 0 1

Mobility

South Melbourne Albert Park
Walkability score 96/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 3.8 km 5.5 km
+45% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 13 min
Public transport score 97/100
Tram · Bus
 82/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 278.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 189.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.4%
postcode 3205
 2.8%
postcode 3206
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 5
postcode 3205
 11
postcode 3206

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.

South Melbourne Albert Park
Worked from Home 53.5% / 55.0%
South Melbourne — Worked from Home: 53.5% Albert Park — Worked from Home: 55.0%
Car (driver) 23.8% / 30.9%
South Melbourne — Car (driver): 23.8% Albert Park — Car (driver): 30.9%
Walked Only 9.9% / 5.1%
South Melbourne — Walked Only: 9.9% Albert Park — Walked Only: 5.1%
Tram / Light Rail 6.5% / 3.9%
South Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 6.5% Albert Park — Tram / Light Rail: 3.9%
Bicycle 2.6% / 2.5%
South Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.6% Albert Park — Bicycle: 2.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.0%).

Setting

South Melbourne Albert Park
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 850 m
913 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

South Melbourne Albert Park
Connectivity score 77/100 75/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
10,996 premises
 36%
3,619 premises

Climate

South Melbourne Albert Park
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)

South Melbourne Albert Park
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

South Melbourne Albert Park
Average residential rate $1,765/yr
same for both
Council Port Phillip
same for both

Federal electorate

South Melbourne Albert Park
Division Macnamara
same for both
Member Josh Burns
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

South Melbourne Albert Park
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

South Melbourne

Apartments Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub Urban

Albert Park

Beach Coastal Inner Luxury Parks Professionals Townhouses Trams Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Melbourne

South Melbourne vs Melbourne South Melbourne vs Southbank South Melbourne vs Port Melbourne South Melbourne vs Docklands

Other comparisons with Albert Park

Albert Park vs Melbourne Albert Park vs St Kilda Albert Park vs Port Melbourne Albert Park vs Middle Park Albert Park vs St Kilda West
Full data on South Melbourne Full data on Albert Park
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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