VIC · Melbourne Council
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,462
Growth (1 yr)
+1.8%
Growth (5 yr)
-0.6%
Median age
33
Median income
$2,400/wk
Employment rate
72.9%
University qualified
62.8%
Work from home
46.8%
Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025
$1,800,000
Languages at home
14.5%non-English
Most common: Italian, Greek, Spanish
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
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Suburb profile
Carlton North is an inner metropolitan suburb of Melbourne, in Melbourne Council. It is primarily residential, without a particularly distinct commercial centre or landmark identity.
Employment is stronger than in comparable places, with employment 11% above the peer median. Dining and cafés are a relative strength, placing it among the highest-ranked inner metropolitan suburbs. School access is exceptionally strong, with school access 54% above the peer median. University qualifications are among the highest in the peer group, with university qualifications 34% above the peer median. The clearer weaknesses are higher rents and higher recorded crash rates relative to resident population.
Carlton North's appeal is better explained by housing, access and location than by a strong standalone precinct or destination.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.
Strengths and weaknesses
Inner metropolitan suburb · compared with inner metropolitan suburbs in Victoria (50)
Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.
Who it suits
Housing, growth and risk
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median house price
$1.8M
+4.3% change
Median rent
$760/wk
Population (ERP)
6,462
+1.8% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.4%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#24
among Metro Melbourne · Growth area
Crime rate
64th
percentile in state (higher = more crime)
Pop. growth
85th
percentile in VIC
Rented dwellings
51%
2021 Census tenure
Advantage (IRSAD)
10/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
92nd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Data sources & freshness
Median weekly rent from Victorian government rent reports. Council median fallback may apply where suburb rent is unavailable.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (10%) · Future Growth (6%)
Household crowding and healthy vacancy — not cheapness Modest price change as a healthy-growth band
Data sources & freshness
Estimated resident population
6,462(June 2025)
+1.8% annual · -0.6% over 5 years · 85th percentile in VIC
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~6,500), extrapolated at +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)
Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus
Data sources & freshness
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
62.8% of adults have a university degree, compared with 29.2% across Victoria. 5.1% have a trade or vocational qualification.
Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).
| Measure | Definition |
|---|---|
| University qualified | Bachelor degree or higher |
| Diploma qualified | Advanced Diploma / Diploma |
| Trade / vocational | Certificate III + IV |
| Year 12 | Year 12 as highest attainment |
| Below Year 12 | Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below |
People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
University qualifications from the 2021 Census
Data sources & freshness
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
92nd percentile in VIC · +16% vs Australia
90th percentile in VIC · +9% vs Australia
79th percentile in VIC · +16% vs Australia
38th percentile in VIC · +12% vs Australia
80th percentile in VIC · +35% vs Australia
Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 3054 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.
Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in VIC, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.
Data sources & freshness
14.5% speak a language other than English at home; 23.6% born overseas
Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).
64%No religion
No religion is the most common response at 64%, while Christianity accounts for 25.5%.
| Measure | Suburb | State |
|---|---|---|
| No religion | 64% | 38.8% |
| Christianity | 25.5% | 40.9% |
| Other / not stated | 10.5% | 20.3% |
| Denomination | Suburb | State |
|---|---|---|
| Catholic | 15.4% | 20.5% |
| Anglican | 3.8% | 6.5% |
| Eastern Orthodox | 2.6% | 3.3% |
2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.
Data sources & freshness
The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates
Data sources & freshness
Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts
Data sources & freshness
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)
Childcare centres per 1,000 residents
Data sources & freshness
35 public transport stops in this suburb
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
Public transport stops per 1,000 residents and walkability
Data sources & freshness
323 mapped amenities
13 restaurants · 11 cafes · 3 pubs · 4 bars · 2 pharmacies · 6 fast food · 5 bakeries · 1 libraries
765 Nicholson Street
757 Nicholson Street
649 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
187 Fenwick Street
809 Nicholson Street
743-745 Nicholson Street
386 Rathdowne Street
555 Nicholson Street
653 Nicholson Street
623 Rathdowne Street
733 Nicholson Street
412 Rathdowne Street
617 Rathdowne Street
693 Rathdowne Street
717 Rathdowne Street
787 Nicholson Street
709 Nicholson Street
707 Nicholson Street
779 Nicholson Street
713 Nicholson Street
639 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
923 Rathdowne Street
382 Rathdowne Street
18-20 Lee Street
644 Rathdowne Street
370 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
651 Nicholson Street
647 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
797 Nicholson Street
296-298 Rathdowne Street
479 Nicholson Street, Carlton North
645 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
320 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
687 Rathdowne Street
651 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
344 Rathdowne Street
507 Nicholson Street, Carlton North
749 Nicholson Street
691 Nicholson Street
348 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
282 Rathdowne Street
50 Princes Street
717 Nicholson Street
719-721 Rathdowne Street
799 Nicholson Street
374 Rathdowne Street
384 Rathdowne Street
747 Nicholson Street
1006 Lygon Street
312 Rathdowne Street
483 Nicholson Street
721 Nicholson Street
546 Rathdowne Street
20 Princes Street
36 Newry Street
667 Rathdowne Street, Carlton North
60 Lee Street
695-697 Rathdowne Street
773 Nicholson Street
409 Nicholson Street, Carlton North
695-697 Nicholson Street
751 Nicholson Street
Unit 1 701-703 Rathdowne Street
603 Rathdowne Street
657 Nicholson Street
305-321 Nicholson Street
7-15 Shakespeare Street
121 Princes Park Drive, Carlton North
14 bus stops · 13 tram stops
769 Nicholson Street
725 Nicholson Street
705 Nicholson Street
683 Nicholson Street
641 Rathdowne Street
633A Rathdowne Street
733 Rathdowne Street
637 Nicholson Street
639 Nicholson Street
633 Nicholson Street
635 Rathdowne Street
739 Nicholson Street
920 Lygon Street
793-795 Nicholson Street
378 Rathdowne Street
400 Rathdowne Street
813 Nicholson Street
836-842 Lygon Street
1018 Lygon Street
54 Princes Street, Carlton North
785 Nicholson Street
380 Rathdowne Street
1020 Lygon Street
406 Rathdowne Street
789 Nicholson Street
398 Rathdowne Street
324 Park Street
701 Nicholson Street
795 Rathdowne Street
791 Nicholson Street
689 Nicholson Street
753 Nicholson Street
755 Nicholson Street
763 Nicholson Street
396 Rathdowne Street
685 Nicholson Street
625 Rathdowne Street
681 Nicholson Street
369 Nicholson Street
759 Nicholson Street
711 Nicholson Street
410 Rathdowne Street
761 Nicholson Street
645 Nicholson Street
288 Rathdowne Street
585A Canning Street, Carlton North
531 Nicholson Street
687 Nicholson Street
777 Nicholson Street
643 Nicholson Street
699 Nicholson Street
320 Park Street
765-769 Drummond Street, Carlton North
567 Rathdowne Street
998 Lygon Street
667 Nicholson Street
622-624 Lygon Street
414 Rathdowne Street
625 Nicholson Street
Unit 1 699 Rathdowne Street
781 Nicholson Street
737 Nicholson Street
655 Nicholson Street
771 Nicholson Street
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
3 named sporting clubs in this suburb
Tennis
Lawn Bowls · +61 3 9380 1458
Named sporting clubs from OpenStreetMap, assigned to this suburb's boundary. Sporting facilities such as ovals, courts and recreation centres are listed under Amenities.
Data sources & freshness
5 parks and public open space in this suburb
Data sources & freshness
Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000
Data sources & freshness
3 places of worship within ~1.5 km
765-769 Drummond Street, Carlton North
567 Rathdowne Street
998 Lygon Street
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)
Hospitals, GPs and aged care
Data sources & freshness
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).
151 planning-related records
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
Data sources & freshness
3 active roadworks / incidents
Data sources & freshness
4 heritage places
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)
Heritage listings as established streetscape
Data sources & freshness
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping. Flood cover uses inundation overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)
Bushfire and flood hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
Two-party preferred (2025)
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 1.9 km away).
8.7 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +3.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)
Data sources & freshness
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.