Northcote VIC 3070
Located in Victoria, Northcote sits 8 km from Melbourne CBD, around 17 minutes by car. The suburb has 25,276 residents, a median age of 37, and a median household income of $118,924 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the top 20% nationally. Population grew 2.9% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $475 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $2,400. The area shows high crime risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. 6 schools sit within the suburb boundary, and walkability is high.
Is Northcote a good suburb?
Northcote scores a B (66/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — strong on transit and community, weaker on schools and prices.
Below the state average
6 schools · Bottom 4% in VIC
Walkable and central
Walkability 99/100 · 7.5 km · 17 min drive to Melbourne
Above the state median
Median $1.65M · Less affordable than 86% of VIC
Moderate crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 70/100 · Flood 53/100
Very advantaged
SEIFA decile 10/10 · median age 37 · 25,276 residents
Liveability Rating
66 / 100 · Ranked #198 in VICEach bar is Northcote's rank among VIC suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
How do you rate the liveability in Northcote?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
66 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataNorthcote's house market is moving lower: the median sale price reached $1.65 million, 0.1% below where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$1,650,000
15% above its 5 neighbours (median $1,440,000)
Based on 364 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 23 days — median across 201 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 2 bed 90 sales $1.32M
- 3 bed 167 sales $1.65M
- 4 bed 81 sales $2.27M
- 5 bed 16 sales $2.47M
Units
$568,750
7% above its 5 neighbours (median $530,000)
Based on 278 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 22 days — median across 156 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 1 bed 102 sales $399K
- 2 bed 159 sales $645K
- 3 bed 13 sales $1.05M
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Northcote are currently listed at around $1.6 million on average. Based on 214 houses listed in the past six months.
Houses
$1.6M
214 houses listed in the last 6 months.
Units
$565K
96 units listed in the last 6 months.
310 of the suburb's 10,237 dwellings (3.0%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Northcote rent for around $922 a week on average, based on 58 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
Houses
$922/wk
5% above its 4 neighbours (median $878/wk)
58 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
Units
$550/wk
5% below its 5 neighbours (median $580/wk)
74 units advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
132 rentals advertised against an estimated 3,921 rented homes (3.4%) in the last 6 months.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025111 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 27% of its income on the median rent in postcode 3070.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$922/week ($48,000 a year) on a $1.6 million median
$550/week ($29,000 a year) on a $565,000 median
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Short-Stay Rentals
96 active Airbnb listings: 73 whole homes and 23 rooms. Whole homes are about 0.6% of the suburb's homes.
Airbnb only, as at Jun 2026; other platforms are not included. Active means reviewed in the past 12 months. The share is against private dwellings at the 2021 Census.
Is Northcote safe? Crime statistics
2026Crime in Northcote sits in the high band, with 1,635 incidents recorded in 2026 — down about 6% on the prior year.
1,635 offences
6.1% since 2025Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2021–202565 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the suburb carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Six schools serve Northcote, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 3,620 students across 6 schools (avg 603)
- • Sectors: 4 Government, 2 Catholic
- • ICSEA 1008-1204, median 1132 (well above the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Northcote High School (1,668 students)
Primary
Secondary
Combined
Universities nearby
- 3.7 kmAustralian Catholic University-Melbourne CampusAustralian Catholic University · 137 courses
- 4.6 kmThe University of MelbourneThe University of Melbourne · 404 courses
- 6.4 kmMelbourne C.Q.U CampusCentral Queensland University · 59 courses
2.7% of residents here are full-time university students aged 15–24.
Distance is measured to the suburb centre. A campus nearby does not by itself mean a student rental market — most suburbs within a few kilometres of one have a student share close to the national norm, and the figure above is what tells them apart.
Walkability
Northcote is exceptionally walkable on foot — at 99/100, daily errands don't require a car at all. Within the suburb there are 5 supermarkets, 24 parks and 69 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
Public transport
Weekday and weekend service frequency across every stop inside Northcote.
- Peak (7-9am + 5-7pm)
- 566.5 arrivals/hr
- Off-peak weekday
- 459.9 arrivals/hr
- Saturday
- 342.4 arrivals/hr
- Median peak wait
- 0 min
- Span of service
- 20.2 hours
- Direct to CBD (peak)
- 2 min wait
Scheduled service only, based on the 21 October 2026 timetable. Reliability (delays, cancellations) not measured.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Northcote.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 7%
- Premises covered
- 13,047
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Darebin: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this suburb alone — this suburb's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 58 small areas inside this suburb and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 5 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this suburb rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Northcote is home to about 25,300 residents, with a median age of 37, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $119,000 a year, with unemployment at 4.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
25,276
Median Age
37
Median Household Income
$118,924/yr
Census Median Rent
$475/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$2,400/mo
Avg Household Size
2.3
Median Personal Income
$60,632/yr
Unemployment Rate
4.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
10.1%
Total Dwellings
10,237
Owner-Occupier Rate
61.7%
Houses
49.1%
Rental Stress
20.8%
Mortgage Stress
24.2%
Work From Home
54.4%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
299 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 59 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 3,838 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 72.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 77.2%
- Employment Rate
- 69.4%
- Completed Year 12
- 65.4%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
822 residents (3.3%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 24,123 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
34% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (5,093 of 14,919).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this suburb against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 7,064 people work here; 14,919 employed residents live here.
Mostly a place people commute from: 0.5 jobs per working resident. At least 52% of employed residents must work outside the suburb.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,764 a year through Darebin based on 2024 figures.
How this land is zoned
- Residential 72%
- Parks and recreation 11%
- Infrastructure and transport 11%
- Commercial 5%
- Industrial 1%
Rezoned since Oct 2025
- Neighbourhood Residential Zone → Housing Choice and Transport Zone · GC270, Mar 2026 37.8 ha
- General Residential Zone → Housing Choice and Transport Zone · GC270, Mar 2026 9.9 ha
- Residential Growth Zone → Housing Choice and Transport Zone · GC270, Mar 2026 1.7 ha
- Industrial 3 Zone → Mixed Use Zone · C234dare, Oct 2026 0.8 ha
and 1 smaller change
Land in this suburb moved from one zone to another by a planning scheme amendment (Vicmap Planning, CC BY 4.0). Exhibited amendments are proposals and can change or lapse.
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 — the property page shows the zone for one address.
Building Approvals: Darebin
In the year to August 2026, 1,213 new dwellings were approved across Darebin. That mix is 212 houses and 1,001 units.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this suburb: 1,392 homes
- Apartment and townhouse projects under construction 272 homes
- Projects firmly planned 704 homes
- Projects likely to go ahead 301 homes
- Projects possible in the longer term 115 homes
From the Victorian Government's Urban Development Program: growth-area land and approved lots (metropolitan 2025, regional June 2024) and projects of 10 or more homes in Melbourne (2025), by stage. Lots and homes are counted as published; a lot usually becomes one home.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Registered Aboriginal Party for this area is Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (appointed 2008).
Registered Aboriginal Parties are appointed by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal cultural heritage for their area. They are the body to contact about cultural heritage here.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 7.3 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³). 1 day exceeded the daily threshold of 25 µg/m³.
PM10 averaged 17.8 µg/m³ · NO₂ averaged 0.82 pphm. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 0 · NO₂ 0 · ozone 0.
From the Alphington monitoring station, 2.7 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Essendon Airport, 9.7 kmModerate rainfall — hot summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 67 m
- above sea level, at the suburb centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 9.6 km
- Near high-voltage lines
- 0.1% of addresses
- 15 within 100 m of an overhead line of 110 kV or more
- Annual rainfall
- 534 mm
- 85 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 26.7°C
- 13 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 6.5°C
- 2 frost days ≤ 0°C
Elevation is the ground at the suburb centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
12 facilities within 5 km- 2.9 kmLaundry and Dry-Cleaning ServicesTop reported: Carbon monoxide · Oxides of Nitrogen · Particulate Matter ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5)
- 3.1 kmPulp, Paper and Paperboard ManufacturingTop reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
- 3.5 kmPrintingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Ethyl acetate · Ethanol
- 4.0 kmBeer ManufacturingTop reported: Total Volatile Organic Compounds · Ethanol · Oxides of Nitrogen
- 4.5 kmHospitals (Except Psychiatric Hospitals)Top reported: Oxides of Nitrogen · Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10)
EV adoption
In postcode 3070, 363 of 14,775 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 5.3% (784 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 7.8%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 3070, 2,773 rooftop-solar systems totalling 14.7 MW have been installed since 2001, against 11,280 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 174 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$10,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
The separate First Home Buyer Duty Reduction (stamp-duty concession) runs alongside this grant.
24 first-home grants were paid in postcode 3070 in 2025-26, rank 46 of 298 Victorian postcodes. The most was 175, in 2004-05.
Grants on new and established homes; established homes stopped qualifying in mid-2013.
Mortgage repayments
19 mortgage brokers are registered in this suburb.
Land transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with State Revenue Office Victoria
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $10,000 — see what qualifies with State Revenue Office Victoria.
At $1,650,000 this is $900,000 above the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $10,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with State Revenue Office Victoria.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Ged Kearney Australian Labor Party
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ged Kearney | 78.5% | 21.5% | +2.8 |
| 2022 | Ged Kearney | 75.5% | 24.5% | +0.8 |
| 2019 | Ged Kearney | 76.3% | 23.7% | -4.2 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact suburb's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Kat Theophanous Australian Labor Party - Victorian Branch
Next state election: 28 November 2026.
| Year | Winner | Won with | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kat Theophanous ALP | 50.2% | 81.7% | 18.3% |
| 2018 | Kat Theophanous ALP | 51.7% | 83.2% | 16.8% |
| 2014 | Fiona Richardson ALP | 56.0% | 79.8% | 20.2% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2021, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this suburb's voters. Results: Victorian Electoral Commission, CC BY 4.0.
Looking at a specific address in Northcote?
Every figure above is a suburb average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 25,276 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
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Suburbs to avoid in Melbourne There is no list of bad suburbs, but there are hazards the state measures and publishes — recorded crime, bushfire exposure, flood overlays and aircraft noise. Melbourne suburbs ranked on them, with what the numbers do and don't mean.Nearby suburbs
Compare Northcote to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other VIC suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Northcote
Is Northcote a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Northcote is high (70/100, ranked against other VIC suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Northcote?
Northcote has no recorded bushfire history. Flood overlays cover a moderate share of it (53/100). These are suburb-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Northcote a good place to live?
Northcote has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of B (66/100), ranked against other VIC suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Northcote?
Northcote, VIC had a population of 25,276 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Northcote, VIC?
The postcode for Northcote, VIC is 3070.
How far is Northcote from Melbourne?
Northcote is 8 km from Melbourne CBD by road, about 17 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Northcote?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Northcote was $118,924 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Northcote?
The median advertised rent in Northcote is $922 a week for houses (58 listings) and $550 a week for units (74 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Northcote?
The median age of residents in Northcote was 37 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Northcote?
There are 6 schools inside the Northcote boundary: 3 at and 2 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
Is Northcote walkable?
Northcote scores 99/100 on the SuburbScan Walkability Score, making it exceptionally walkable. The score is a weighted average of public transport, schools, parks, supermarkets, GPs, pharmacies, childcare, and hospitals within walking distance.
What is the air quality in Northcote?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Northcote (Alphington) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 7.3 µg/m³ and PM10 of 17.8 µg/m³. That puts Northcote below the Australian NEPM annual standard of 8 µg/m³ but above the stricter WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in Northcote?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Northcote, Essendon Airport (9.7 km away), summer days average 26.7°C, winter nights 6.5°C, 534 mm of rain a year over 85 rainy days, and 13 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Northcote?
First-home buyers in VIC may be eligible for $10,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by State Revenue Office Victoria; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Northcote belong to?
Northcote sits within the Darebin local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Northcote?
The average residential rates bill through Darebin is $1,764 a year (2024). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Northcote?
Across Darebin, 1,213 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Northcote in?
Northcote sits within the federal Division of Cooper, currently held by Ged Kearney (Australian Labor Party).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2024–25
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- Public transport · Oct 2026
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2026
- Road crashes · 2021–2025
- Air quality · 2025
- Climate · 2006–2026
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- Short-stay rentals · Jun 2026
- State electorate · 2022
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.