Fitzroy North
Its 12,781 residents occupy just 2.48 square kilometres at 5,162.2 people per square kilometre, while household income ranks at the 88.1st percentile. Compared with nearby Collingwood, Fitzroy North has a more residential housing emphasis, with 48.7% semi-detached dwellings and 36.3% apartments. A university-educated population, 56.6% working from home and 49.2% renting support amenity demand, although the 92.6 per 1,000 crime rate and 33.7% turnover rate warrant address-level checking.
Population
12,781
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,300/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
115
Median House
$1.8M
October to December 2025
The housing mix is unusually compact, with 48.7% semi-detached dwellings, 36.3% apartments and only 14.3% separate houses, so buyers can target terraces, units or smaller-lot homes rather than a conventional detached-house market. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,500 monthly, equal to 25.1% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged. Compared with the 44.4 affordability measure in 2011, the 2021 figure is 35.7 and the trend is labelled improving. The $481 weekly rent and 49.2% renting share also indicate strong competition for well-located stock.
For Buyers
The housing mix is unusually compact, with 48.7% semi-detached dwellings, 36.3% apartments and only 14.3% separate houses, so buyers can target terraces, units or smaller-lot homes rather than a conventional detached-house market. Mortgage repayments are listed at $2,500 monthly, equal to 25.1% of household income, and mortgage stress is not flagged. Compared with the 44.4 affordability measure in 2011, the 2021 figure is 35.7 and the trend is labelled improving. The $481 weekly rent and 49.2% renting share also indicate strong competition for well-located stock.
For Investors
Fitzroy North offers a rental case built on location and tenant depth, but not a low-risk yield story. Renting accounts for 49.2% of households, weekly rent is $481 and vacancy is 12.1%, so investors should allow for more letting competition than in a tightly held market. Rent growth of 28.9% supports long-run rental momentum, yet the high vacancy rate can soften bargaining power between leases. Development activity is material at 112 applications in 12 months, which may improve housing choice but can also add construction disruption or competing stock. Compared with the 44.4 affordability measure in 2011, the 35.7 figure in 2021 is labelled improving. This suits investors prioritising established inner-city demand and asset quality over maximum occupancy certainty.
Development Activity
Total DAs
125
Last 12 Months
115
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2200.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fitzroy North
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Fitzroy Community School
Fitzroy North Primary School
Merri Creek Primary School
Fitzroy High School
Demographics
Fitzroy North has 12,781 residents, a median age of 36 that is 4 years below the national figure, and 67.6% university participation, 37.5 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents make up 25.9%, 4.3 points above national, with Italian, Greek, German, Mandarin and French among the leading home languages. English, Irish, Scottish and Italian ancestry are prominent, while 8,160 people report no religion compared with 3,122 identifying with Christianity. Average household size is 2.2, 0.3 below national, consistent with 49.9% of families being couples without children. A 33.7% turnover rate means local services need to work for both established residents and newer arrivals.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
14.3%
Houses
48.7%
Townhouse
36.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Fitzroy North's housing is compact and tenure-diverse: 48.7% of dwellings are semi-detached, 36.3% apartments and 14.3% separate houses. Two-bedroom homes account for 40.5%, three-bedroom homes 29.9%, and four or more bedrooms 12.7%, reflecting an inner-urban market where space is traded for proximity. Outright ownership is 25.7%, mortgage ownership 22.3% and renting 49.2%, so the renter share is higher than either ownership category. Compared with detached-house suburbs, the apartment and semi-detached mix creates more entry formats, although the house median remains firmly premium.
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $481.
$725
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $998 · units $690
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$1,241
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
12.1%
Unoccupied
756
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
36.1%
Couples with children
49.9%
Couples, no children
11.9%
Single parent
2,956
Total families
Economy & Employment
Fitzroy North's economic profile is weighted toward knowledge and service work. Professional and technical industries employ 22.2% of workers, followed by healthcare at 16.9%, education at 12.3%, public administration at 8.9% and retail at 5.6%. Occupations reinforce that pattern: professionals number 3,762 and managers 1,344, ahead of clerical/admin at 749, community and personal services at 614 and trades at 435. Labour-force participation is 70.9%, unemployment is 3.6% and full-time employment is 63.3%, supporting household purchasing capacity. Household income sits at the 88.1st percentile nationally, above the broad average, while SEIFA education and occupation is in decile 10. However, the SEIFA economic resources decile is only 3, so high qualifications do not remove affordability pressure. This split helps explain why premium prices coexist with 49.2% renting.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
7,953
Unemployed
283
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.3%
Part-time
31.1%
Participation
70.9%
Employed
7,670
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
67.6%
Postgraduate
23.1%
Born Overseas
25.9%
Dwellings
5,481
Transport to Work
Daily life is suited to people who can use inner-north services without relying heavily on a car. Work from home is reported by 56.6%, while 12.4% walk or cycle and 6.1% use public transport. Four local schools provide 3 government options and 1 independent option, spanning 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school. Check enrolment zones against the exact address, since they cut across suburb boundaries. The crime rate is 92.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 905 property and deception offences, so security deserves careful attention. SEIFA IRSAD is in decile 10 and IRSD in decile 9, indicating strong overall advantage, while the 5.2% need-assistance rate shows some support needs. Compared with the national age profile, Fitzroy North is 4 years younger, helping sustain local services.
Drive
23.5%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
12.4%
Work from Home
56.6%
Population Forecast
+0.97%/yr
(+118 people/yr)
EstablishedFitzroy North is an established market with a forecast trend of 0.97% annual growth, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 10.6% over 10 years, while the forecast shift trajectory is Mixed rather than a simple expansion story. Gentrification readings are also mixed, with a score of 45 and stage Active alongside a score of 26 and stage Early signs. That tension fits a suburb where prices have risen 83.2% from 2013 to late 2025, but the latest median is still 3.4% below the 2023 peak. COVID caused a 6.7% dip before a recorded 12.0% recovery, showing resilience because established inner-city demand returned after disruption. Rent growth of 28.9% and 112 development applications in 12 months add pressure for renewal, although construction may affect short-term amenity.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+432
Net Internal / yr
-110
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +19% since 2011, Net internal outflow -110/yr, Strong overseas inflow +432/yr, COVID recovered (-7% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,184
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
92.6
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 Fitzroy North compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
What schools are in Fitzroy North?
Fitzroy North has 4 listed schools: 3 government schools and 1 independent school. They cover 3 primary schools and 1 secondary school, including Fitzroy High School, Fitzroy North Primary School, Merri Creek Primary School and Fitzroy Community School. Confirm the enrolment zone for the exact address.
Is Fitzroy North safe?
Safety should be assessed carefully. The recorded crime rate is 92.6 per 1,000 residents, with 1,184 total offences. Property and deception offences account for 905, versus 120 crimes against the person. Check recent street-level conditions, lighting and building security before renting or buying.
Is Fitzroy North good for property investment?
It can suit an investor seeking established inner-city demand, with 49.2% renting, $481 weekly rent and 28.9% rent growth. The 12.1% vacancy rate is a clear risk, while 112 development applications in 12 months may add competing stock. Run a property-level yield and maintenance assessment.
How is Fitzroy North's population changing?
The wider area has a forecast population change of 10.6% over 10 years, with growth trending at 0.97% annually and overseas migration the primary driver. The trajectory is Mixed, while Fitzroy North's current population is 12,781. Expect established-suburb change rather than a simple high-growth story.
What development is happening in Fitzroy North?
Development activity is substantial, with 112 applications recorded over 12 months. Recent examples include a single-storey dwelling addition, alterations to an existing dwelling and a mixed-use development stage. This may improve housing choice over time, but buyers should check permits, construction timing and likely impacts on parking, privacy and local amenity.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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