Southbank vs South Melbourne

Southbank is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 39 in South Melbourne. In both, most households rent, most homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Southbank is closer to the city centre: 2.4 km, against 3.8 km. On these figures, Southbank tends to suit renters, young adults, and share households.

Southbank is nearly twice as populous as South Melbourne (22,631 vs 11,548 people) and sits closer to the CBD at 2.4 km compared to 3.8 km, with a perfect walkability score of 100. South Melbourne commands significantly higher house prices at $1,616,500 versus $645,000, though unit prices are similar around $570,000–$580,000. Southbank skews younger (median age 31 vs 39) and offers better rental yields on units at 6.6%, while South Melbourne residents earn a higher median household income of $109,252 compared to $100,152. Both suburbs share the same socio-economic decile and zero bushfire risk, though Southbank carries a higher flood risk rating.

Written by an AI language model from the figures below. Every number in it is checked against those figures before it is published.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Southbank has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)
  • South Melbourne has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 2)

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

First-home buyers

Southbank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($660,000 vs $1,625,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Southbank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (69% vs 56%)

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

Commuting to the city

Southbank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (16% vs 8%)

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

Downsizers and retirees

South Melbourne

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (15% vs 6%)
  • has more GPs (8 vs 5)

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

Investors

Southbank

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (21.0% vs 5.8%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.4%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on units (6.6% vs 5.8%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Southbank and South 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.

Southbank South 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.

Southbank South Melbourne
Walkability 100 / 96
Southbank — Walkability: 100/100 South Melbourne — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 7 / 3
Southbank — Safety: 7/100 South Melbourne — Safety: 3/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Southbank — Low fire risk: 100/100 South Melbourne — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 7 / 56
Southbank — Low flood risk: 7/100 South Melbourne — Low flood risk: 56/100

Demographics

Southbank has more residents (22,631 vs 11,548); South Melbourne skews older (39 vs 31).

Southbank South Melbourne
Population 22,631
+49% vs other
 11,548
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +21.0% +5.8%
Median age 31 39
Median household income $100,152/yr $109,252/yr
+9% vs other
Median weekly rent $411/wk $421/wk
+2% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Southbank South Melbourne
0-4 3.1% / 4.2%
Southbank — 0-4: 3.1% South Melbourne — 0-4: 4.2%
5-14 2.9% / 7.4%
Southbank — 5-14: 2.9% South Melbourne — 5-14: 7.4%
15-19 2.0% / 3.3%
Southbank — 15-19: 2.0% South Melbourne — 15-19: 3.3%
20-24 12.6% / 5.5%
Southbank — 20-24: 12.6% South Melbourne — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 41.6% / 21.7%
Southbank — 25-34: 41.6% South Melbourne — 25-34: 21.7%
35-44 18.6% / 17.3%
Southbank — 35-44: 18.6% South Melbourne — 35-44: 17.3%
45-54 7.7% / 14.3%
Southbank — 45-54: 7.7% South Melbourne — 45-54: 14.3%
55-64 5.8% / 11.5%
Southbank — 55-64: 5.8% South Melbourne — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 3.8% / 7.8%
Southbank — 65-74: 3.8% South Melbourne — 65-74: 7.8%
75-84 1.6% / 4.6%
Southbank — 75-84: 1.6% South Melbourne — 75-84: 4.6%
85+ 0.3% / 2.4%
Southbank — 85+: 0.3% South Melbourne — 85+: 2.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (41.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Southbank 61.4% lone person
Southbank — Lone Person: 61.4% Southbank — Couple Families: 11.5% Southbank — Group Household: 18.3% Southbank — One Parent Families: 5.8% Southbank — Other Families: 3.0%
South Melbourne 59.5% lone person
South Melbourne — Lone Person: 59.5% South Melbourne — Couple Families: 20.9% South Melbourne — Group Household: 8.0% South Melbourne — One Parent Families: 9.6% South Melbourne — Other Families: 1.9%
Lone Person Couple Families Group Household One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Southbank 68.9% renting
Southbank — Owned Outright: 12.9% Southbank — Mortgage: 18.2% Southbank — Renting: 68.9%
South Melbourne 56.5% renting
South Melbourne — Owned Outright: 19.5% South Melbourne — Mortgage: 24.0% South Melbourne — Renting: 56.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Southbank South Melbourne
China 8.9% / 2.6%
Southbank — China: 8.9% South Melbourne — China: 2.6%
India 9.4% / 1.7%
Southbank — India: 9.4% South Melbourne — India: 1.7%
England 3.0% / 4.8%
Southbank — England: 3.0% South Melbourne — England: 4.8%
New Zealand 2.7% / 2.7%
Southbank — New Zealand: 2.7% South Melbourne — New Zealand: 2.7%
Malaysia 3.7% / 1.3%
Southbank — Malaysia: 3.7% South Melbourne — Malaysia: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.4%).

Qualifications

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

Southbank South Melbourne
Bachelor Degree 33.1% / 27.9%
Southbank — Bachelor Degree: 33.1% South Melbourne — Bachelor Degree: 27.9%
Postgraduate Degree 19.3% / 12.9%
Southbank — Postgraduate Degree: 19.3% South Melbourne — Postgraduate Degree: 12.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.3%
Southbank — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% South Melbourne — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Certificate III & IV 5.1% / 5.8%
Southbank — Certificate III & IV: 5.1% South Melbourne — Certificate III & IV: 5.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 3.6%
Southbank — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% South Melbourne — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Southbank 98.6% flats / apartments
Southbank — Flats / Apartments: 98.6% Southbank — Townhouses: 1.3% Southbank — Houses: 0.0%
South Melbourne 59.9% flats / apartments
South Melbourne — Flats / Apartments: 59.9% South Melbourne — Townhouses: 35.5% South Melbourne — Houses: 4.7%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Southbank South Melbourne
Median house price $660,000 $1,625,000
Median unit price $570,000 $580,000
Median land price $680,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 84 days
from 8 sales
 24 days
from 85 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.

Southbank South Melbourne
2 bed $708K / $1.25M
Southbank — 2 bed: $708K (10 sales) South Melbourne — 2 bed: $1.25M (54 sales)

10 vs 54 sales

3 bed $1.18M / $1.8M
Southbank — 3 bed: $1.18M (6 sales) South Melbourne — 3 bed: $1.8M (58 sales)

6 vs 58 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.

Southbank South Melbourne
1 bed $390K / $400K
Southbank — 1 bed: $390K (529 sales) South Melbourne — 1 bed: $400K (84 sales)

529 vs 84 sales

2 bed $600K / $614K
Southbank — 2 bed: $600K (1089 sales) South Melbourne — 2 bed: $614K (156 sales)

1089 vs 156 sales

3 bed $1M / $940K
Southbank — 3 bed: $1M (255 sales) South Melbourne — 3 bed: $940K (31 sales)

255 vs 31 sales

Zoning mix

Southbank has more commercially zoned land (54% vs 36%).

Southbank South Melbourne
Commercial 54% 36%
Residential 9% 50%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 12%
Parks and recreation 6% 1%
Other and special use 4% 0%
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

Southbank South Melbourne
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
 891
across Port Phillip
Approvals change year on year +195% +4175%

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.

Southbank South Melbourne
Houses 4.4%
$750/wk on $877K
 3.4%
$1,080/wk on $1.65M
Units 6.6%
$740/wk on $579K
 5.8%
$700/wk on $625K

Ranking within VIC

Southbank South Melbourne
House price — Higher than 87% of VIC
Income Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 12% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 17% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 100% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 31% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC

Liveability

Southbank scores higher overall (67 vs 61).

Southbank South Melbourne
Grade B
same for both
Score 67/100 61/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Southbank carries more flood risk (93 vs 44).

Southbank South Melbourne
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 High
97/100
Flood High
93/100
 Moderate
44/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 29
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Southbank South Melbourne
Inside the suburb 2 4
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.8 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 1.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.8% 2.6%

Schools in Southbank

  • South Melbourne Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary School Government · Secondary above peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Southbank South Melbourne
Supermarkets 8 2
Cafes & restaurants 75 85
Parks & reserves 15 11
Childcare 6 7
GPs 5 8
Pharmacies 3 4
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 6
Fuel stations 2 3
EV chargers 0 1

Mobility

Southbank South Melbourne
Walkability score 100/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 2.4 km 3.8 km
+58% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 10 min
Public transport score 82/100
Tram · Bus
 97/100
Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 391.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 278.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 3006
 5.4%
postcode 3205
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3006
 5
postcode 3205

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.

Southbank South Melbourne
Worked from Home 47.6% / 53.5%
Southbank — Worked from Home: 47.6% South Melbourne — Worked from Home: 53.5%
Car (driver) 17.7% / 23.8%
Southbank — Car (driver): 17.7% South Melbourne — Car (driver): 23.8%
Walked Only 15.1% / 9.9%
Southbank — Walked Only: 15.1% South Melbourne — Walked Only: 9.9%
Tram / Light Rail 9.9% / 6.5%
Southbank — Tram / Light Rail: 9.9% South Melbourne — Tram / Light Rail: 6.5%
Train 5.6% / 1.6%
Southbank — Train: 5.6% South Melbourne — Train: 1.6%
Bicycle 1.7% / 2.6%
Southbank — Bicycle: 1.7% South Melbourne — Bicycle: 2.6%

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

Setting

Southbank South Melbourne
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 17 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.8 km
2.8 km to a named beach
 1.8 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Southbank South Melbourne
Connectivity score 81/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 46%
18,885 premises
 42%
10,996 premises

Climate

Southbank South 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)

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

Council rates

Southbank South Melbourne
Average residential rate $2,345/yr $1,765/yr
Council Melbourne Port Phillip

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Southbank

Apartments Coastal Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

South Melbourne

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

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Southbank

Southbank vs Melbourne Southbank vs Docklands Southbank vs South Wharf

Other comparisons with South Melbourne

South Melbourne vs Melbourne South Melbourne vs Port Melbourne South Melbourne vs Docklands South Melbourne vs Albert Park
Full data on Southbank Full data on South 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