Coburg North
Italian ancestry (1,416 residents) is the third-largest group in Coburg North, and Italian remains the most spoken non-English language at 253 speakers, making this one of Melbourne's enduring Italian cultural pockets. The suburb's crime rate of 122.5 per 1,000 sits well above the metro average, driven by 640 property/deception offences. Despite this, university attainment at 49.3% runs 19.2 pp above the national average, and house prices doubled from $540,000 to $1,110,000 over 14 years (5.3% CAGR). Real income grew 54.9% over the decade, the fastest rate among comparable Moreland suburbs.
Population
8,327
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,981/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
25
Median House
$1.1M
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $1,110,000 doubled from $540,000 in 2013 (5.3% CAGR over 14 years). Recent movement shows stability: $1,109,500 (late 2023), $1,067,000 (early 2024), $1,110,000 (mid-2024). Detached houses dominate at 75.7%, with semi-detached at 19.6% and apartments just 4.2%. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.3%, and 4+ bedroom at 18.1%. Mortgage stress at 25.3% of income stays below the threshold. Household income at the 74th percentile provides reasonable borrowing capacity. Heritage overlay constraints show up in DA samples, which may limit extension or demolition options for buyers.
For Buyers
The median house price of $1,110,000 doubled from $540,000 in 2013 (5.3% CAGR over 14 years). Recent movement shows stability: $1,109,500 (late 2023), $1,067,000 (early 2024), $1,110,000 (mid-2024). Detached houses dominate at 75.7%, with semi-detached at 19.6% and apartments just 4.2%. Three-bedroom homes account for 49.3%, and 4+ bedroom at 18.1%. Mortgage stress at 25.3% of income stays below the threshold. Household income at the 74th percentile provides reasonable borrowing capacity. Heritage overlay constraints show up in DA samples, which may limit extension or demolition options for buyers.
For Investors
Renter share at 31.5% is moderate, and vacancy at 8.5% runs above the benchmark of 2-3%. Weekly rent of $401 on a $1.11M median gives a gross yield around 1.9%, below typical Melbourne inner-north returns. Net overseas migration at +158/year provides demand, but net internal outflows of -71/year partially offset it. Only 19 DAs were lodged in 12 months, and heritage overlay constraints limit new supply, which could support prices long-term. Rent growth of 42.7% over the decade outpaced many comparable suburbs. The COVID dip (-2.1%) recovered fully, demonstrating resilient demand.
Development Activity
Total DAs
42
Last 12 Months
25
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+212.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 1,967, but Italian (1,416) and Other (1,562) show the multicultural fabric. Arabic (192 speakers), Greek (158), and Mandarin (109) round out the linguistic diversity. Overseas-born at 32.6% sits 11.0 pp above the national average. Islam (570 adherents) and Hinduism (184) complement the Christian majority (3,167). University attainment at 49.3% is 19.2 pp above national, consistent with the gentrifying inner-north profile. Median age of 38 is 2 years below national, and the working-age share grew 4.0 pp over the decade, confirming young professional influx. Household stability is high: 79.1% of residents stayed at the same address over 5 years.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
75.7%
Houses
19.6%
Townhouse
4.2%
Apartment
Tenure
Prices doubled from $540,000 (2013) to $1,110,000 (mid-2024), a 105.6% gain at 5.3% CAGR. Ownership splits: 30.7% outright, 37.8% mortgage, 31.5% renting. Detached houses at 75.7% remain dominant, with semi-detached at 19.6% and apartments at just 4.2%. Three-bedroom homes (49.3%) are the most common. Mortgage stress at 25.3% of income is comfortable, and rent stress at 20.2% is also well below the 30% threshold. Affordability improved from 60.7% to 45.5% of income between 2011 and 2021, helped by 54.9% real income growth, one of the strongest shifts among inner-north suburbs.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$401
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$882
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.5%
Unoccupied
284
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.2%
Couples, no children
6,234
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare (16.0%), Education (14.6%), and Professional/Tech (14.0%) are the top employers, covering 44.6% of jobs. Public Admin (9.3%) and Construction (6.1%) follow. Professionals (1,439) dominate occupations at nearly 3x the Managers count (580). Unemployment at 5.4% is slightly above the national average. Full-time employment at 63.4% is solid. SEIFA reveals a split: IEO decile 8 (strong education) vs IER decile 4 (weaker economic resources). This divergence is typical of gentrifying areas where newer, educated residents mix with legacy working-class households. The IRSAD decile 7 balances these into moderate overall advantage.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
5,390
Unemployed
175
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.4%
Part-time
31.2%
Participation
60.8%
Employed
3,943
Occupations
Top Industries
University
49.3%
Postgraduate
16.4%
Born Overseas
32.6%
Dwellings
3,066
Transport to Work
Crime at 122.5 per 1,000 is significantly above the Melbourne metro average. Property/deception offences (640) account for the majority, with crimes against the person at 147 and justice procedures at 103. Public transport captures 6.3% of commuters, and walking/cycling at 7.7% is above average for the inner north. No schools are located within the suburb boundary; families use neighbouring Coburg and Pascoe Vale schools. Need-for-assistance at 8.0% is above the national average. SEIFA IRSAD decile 7 and IRSD decile 6 indicate moderate advantage overall.
Drive
80.9%
Public Transport
6.3%
Walk / Cycle
7.7%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.4%/yr
(+125 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 28.1% over the past decade at 1.4% annually, adding 125 people per year, well above the national average growth rate. The COVID dip was mild at -2.1% and recovered fully (+4.3% rebound). Medium forecasts project 9,807 by 2031, up from 8,932 in 2025. Net overseas migration (+158/year) drives growth, partly offset by internal outflows (-71/year). The gentrification score of 20 flags early signs, consistent with the 54.9% real income growth over the decade. The senior share actually declined 3.1 pp, opposite to most Melbourne suburbs, indicating younger residents are displacing older ones, a classic early-gentrification pattern.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+158
Net Internal / yr
-71
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +30% since 2011, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,020
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
122.5
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Coburg North compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coburg North a good suburb to live in?
Coburg North scores SEIFA IRSAD decile 7 with university attainment at 49.3% (19.2 pp above national). The main drawback is crime at 122.5 per 1,000, well above the Melbourne average. Walking/cycling captures 7.7% of commuters, higher than most middle suburbs. No schools sit within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Coburg North?
The median house price is $1,110,000 as of mid-2024, up 105.6% from $540,000 in 2013 (5.3% CAGR over 14 years). Detached houses account for 75.7% of stock. Mortgage repayments average $2,167/month, consuming 25.3% of household income, below the stress threshold.
What schools are in Coburg North?
No schools are located within Coburg North's suburb boundary. Families typically access schools in neighbouring Coburg, Pascoe Vale, and Fawkner. The suburb's university attainment at 49.3% (19.2 pp above national) suggests residents have high education expectations.
Is Coburg North safe?
Coburg North recorded 1,020 total crimes at 122.5 per 1,000 residents, above the Melbourne metro average. Property/deception offences (640) dominate, followed by crimes against the person (147), justice procedures (103), and public order (73). The rate is higher than neighbouring Coburg.
Is Coburg North good for property investment?
Gross yield sits around 1.9% ($401/week on $1.11M), below inner-north averages. Vacancy at 8.5% is elevated. However, 14-year capital growth of 105.6% (5.3% CAGR) and heritage overlay constraints limiting supply support long-term prices. Only 19 DAs in 12 months confirms limited new competition.
How is Coburg North's population changing?
Population grew 28.1% over the past decade to 8,932 in 2025, adding 125 people annually. The senior share declined 3.1 pp while the working-age share grew 4.0 pp, a classic early-gentrification pattern. Net overseas migration at +158/year drives growth. Forecasts project 9,807 by 2031.
What languages are spoken in Coburg North?
Italian (253 speakers), Arabic (192), Greek (158), Mandarin (109), and Nepali (72) are the top non-English languages. With 32.6% born overseas (11.0 pp above national), Coburg North reflects the multicultural layering of successive migration waves from Southern Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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