South Melbourne vs Port Melbourne

South Melbourne is the younger of the two, with a median age of 39 against 42 in Port Melbourne. In South Melbourne, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. In Port Melbourne, most households own their home, about half of homes are flats or apartments, and about half of households are people living alone. Units cost more in Port Melbourne: a median of $668,000, against $580,000 in South Melbourne, and rent is higher there too. South Melbourne is closer to the city centre: 3.8 km, against 5.9 km. On these figures, South Melbourne tends to suit renters.

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

Port Melbourne

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (30 vs 11)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • is already more of a family suburb (41% vs 30%)

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

First-home buyers

South Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($580,000 vs $667,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

South Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($421/wk vs $540/wk)
  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (56% vs 44%)

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

Commuting to the city

South Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (3.8 km vs 5.9 km)
  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 68/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

South Melbourne

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (96/100 vs 68/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

South Melbourne and Port Melbourne 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 Port Melbourne
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 Port Melbourne
Walkability 96 / 68
South Melbourne — Walkability: 96/100 Port Melbourne — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 3 / 11
South Melbourne — Safety: 3/100 Port Melbourne — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
South Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100 Port Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 56 / 63
South Melbourne — Low flood risk: 56/100 Port Melbourne — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Port Melbourne has more residents (17,633 vs 11,548); Port Melbourne rents higher ($540/wk vs $421/wk).

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Population 11,548 17,633
+53% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.8% +9.0%
Median age 39 42
Median household income $109,252/yr $123,344/yr
+13% vs other
Median weekly rent $421/wk $540/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
0-4 4.2% / 4.7%
South Melbourne — 0-4: 4.2% Port Melbourne — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 7.4% / 9.0%
South Melbourne — 5-14: 7.4% Port Melbourne — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 3.3% / 3.9%
South Melbourne — 15-19: 3.3% Port Melbourne — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 5.5% / 4.0%
South Melbourne — 20-24: 5.5% Port Melbourne — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 21.7% / 15.4%
South Melbourne — 25-34: 21.7% Port Melbourne — 25-34: 15.4%
35-44 17.3% / 17.7%
South Melbourne — 35-44: 17.3% Port Melbourne — 35-44: 17.7%
45-54 14.3% / 16.5%
South Melbourne — 45-54: 14.3% Port Melbourne — 45-54: 16.5%
55-64 11.5% / 12.7%
South Melbourne — 55-64: 11.5% Port Melbourne — 55-64: 12.7%
65-74 7.8% / 9.5%
South Melbourne — 65-74: 7.8% Port Melbourne — 65-74: 9.5%
75-84 4.6% / 5.2%
South Melbourne — 75-84: 4.6% Port Melbourne — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 2.4% / 1.4%
South Melbourne — 85+: 2.4% Port Melbourne — 85+: 1.4%

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%
Port Melbourne 52.1% lone person
Port Melbourne — Lone Person: 52.1% Port Melbourne — Couple Families: 29.2% Port Melbourne — One Parent Families: 11.7% Port Melbourne — Group Household: 5.6% Port Melbourne — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Port Melbourne 44.4% renting
Port Melbourne — Owned Outright: 26.4% Port Melbourne — Mortgage: 29.2% Port Melbourne — Renting: 44.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Bachelor Degree 27.9% / 24.1%
South Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 27.9% Port Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 24.1%
Postgraduate Degree 12.9% / 10.3%
South Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 12.9% Port Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 8.9%
South Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Port Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9%
Certificate III & IV 5.8% / 7.2%
South Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 5.8% Port Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.6% / 3.5%
South Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6% Port Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.5%

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 Port Melbourne
England 4.8% / 4.9%
South Melbourne — England: 4.8% Port Melbourne — England: 4.9%
New Zealand 2.7% / 2.5%
South Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.7% Port Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.5%
China 2.6% / 1.5%
South Melbourne — China: 2.6% Port Melbourne — China: 1.5%
Greece 1.1% / 1.7%
South Melbourne — Greece: 1.1% Port Melbourne — Greece: 1.7%
India 1.7% / 0.8%
South Melbourne — India: 1.7% Port Melbourne — India: 0.8%
Malaysia 1.3% / 0.9%
South Melbourne — Malaysia: 1.3% Port Melbourne — Malaysia: 0.9%
Italy 0.8% / 0.9%
South Melbourne — Italy: 0.8% Port Melbourne — Italy: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

South Melbourne 59.9% flats / apartments
South Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 59.9% South Melbourne — Townhouses: 35.5% South Melbourne — Houses: 4.7%
Port Melbourne 50.2% flats / apartments
Port Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 50.2% Port Melbourne — Townhouses: 43.9% Port Melbourne — Houses: 6.0%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Median house price $1,625,000 $1,500,000
Median unit price $580,000 $667,500
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 85 sales
 24 days
from 115 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 Port Melbourne
2 bed $1.25M / $1.25M
South Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.25M (54 sales) Port Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.25M (71 sales)

54 vs 71 sales

3 bed $1.8M / $1.72M
South Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.8M (58 sales) Port Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.72M (76 sales)

58 vs 76 sales

4 bed $2.81M / $2.33M
South Melbourne — 4 bed: $2.81M (14 sales) Port Melbourne — 4 bed: $2.33M (22 sales)

14 vs 22 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 Port Melbourne
1 bed $400K / $490K
South Melbourne — 1 bed: $400K (84 sales) Port Melbourne — 1 bed: $490K (93 sales)

84 vs 93 sales

2 bed $614K / $741K
South Melbourne — 2 bed: $614K (156 sales) Port Melbourne — 2 bed: $741K (182 sales)

156 vs 182 sales

3 bed $940K / $1.67M
South Melbourne — 3 bed: $940K (31 sales) Port Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.67M (32 sales)

31 vs 32 sales

Zoning mix

Port Melbourne has more industrially zoned land (13% vs 1%); Port Melbourne has more commercially zoned land (47% vs 36%).

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Residential 50% 20%
Commercial 36% 47%
Industrial 1% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 10%
Parks and recreation 1% 9%
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

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
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 Port Melbourne
Houses 3.4%
$1,080/wk on $1.65M
 3.5%
$1,025/wk on $1.51M
Units 5.8%
$700/wk on $625K
 5.5%
$780/wk on $735K

Ranking within VIC

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
House price Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Income Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Schools Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 57% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 81% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC

Liveability

South Melbourne is more walkable (96 vs 68); Port Melbourne scores higher overall (70 vs 61).

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Grade B A
Score 61/100 70/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
97/100
 High
89/100
Flood Moderate
44/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
76/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 29
within 5 km
 36
within 5 km

Schools

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 1.6 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 4.4 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 1.9%

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 Port Melbourne

  • Port Melbourne Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Port Melbourne Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Albert Park College-Environmental Arts Hub Government · Secondary
  • Port Phillip Specialist School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 85 55
Parks & reserves 11 30
Childcare 7 8
GPs 8 7
Pharmacies 4 3
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 6 4
Fuel stations 3 5
EV chargers 1 4
Waterways 0 1

Mobility

Port Melbourne sits further from the CBD (5.9 km vs 3.8 km).

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Walkability score 96/100 68/100
Distance to Melbourne 3.8 km 5.9 km
+55% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 10 min 14 min
Public transport score 97/100
Tram · Bus
 94/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 278.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 654.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 5.4%
postcode 3205
 2.9%
postcode 3207
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 5
postcode 3205
 7
postcode 3207

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 Port Melbourne
Worked from Home 53.5% / 52.1%
South Melbourne — Worked from Home: 53.5% Port Melbourne — Worked from Home: 52.1%
Car (driver) 23.8% / 33.9%
South Melbourne — Car (driver): 23.8% Port Melbourne — Car (driver): 33.9%
Walked Only 9.9% / 4.4%
South Melbourne — Walked Only: 9.9% Port Melbourne — Walked Only: 4.4%
Tram / Light Rail 6.5% / 2.6%
South Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 6.5% Port Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 2.6%
Bicycle 2.6% / 2.9%
South Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.6% Port Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.5%).

Setting

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Elevation 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 792 m
813 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
Connectivity score 77/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 42%
10,996 premises
 18%
12,195 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

South Melbourne Port Melbourne
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

Port Melbourne

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Inner Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with South Melbourne

South Melbourne vs Melbourne South Melbourne vs Southbank South Melbourne vs Docklands South Melbourne vs Albert Park

Other comparisons with Port Melbourne

Port Melbourne vs Yarraville Port Melbourne vs Docklands Port Melbourne vs Newport Port Melbourne vs West Melbourne Port Melbourne vs Albert Park Port Melbourne vs Spotswood
Full data on South Melbourne Full data on Port Melbourne
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