Fitzroy
A crime rate of 285.6 per 1,000 residents makes Fitzroy one of Melbourne's highest-crime suburbs by rate, yet it simultaneously holds IRSAD decile 8 and a university qualification rate of 63.7%, sitting 33.6 percentage points above the national baseline. This paradox is partly explained by its role as an entertainment and commercial precinct: the 2,979 offences are generated by visitors and transient populations passing through 1.41 km2 at a density of 7,413 per km2, not solely by its 10,431 residents. Prices peaked at $1,625,000 in 2017 and have since fallen 22.0% to a current $1,267,000, a correction few inner Melbourne suburbs have experienced at this magnitude. The SEIFA split is extreme: IEO decile 9 versus IER decile 1.
Population
10,431
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,194/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
51
Median House
$1.8M
Apr-Jun 2024
The $1,750,000 median reflects the overall market including terrace houses, but actual transacted medians have been $1,267,000 in recent quarters, meaning buyers need to distinguish between listing expectations and settled prices. The 22.0% decline from the 2017 peak of $1,625,000 is among the sharpest in inner Melbourne, driven by rising interest rates hitting the apartment and terrace segments that dominate Fitzroy's stock. Detached houses account for just 3.2%, making this overwhelmingly an apartment (59.5%) and semi-detached (36.6%) market. Two-bedroom units dominate at 46.5%, with one-bedroom/studios at 20.9%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% is moderate, and 45.5% of families are couples without children, consistent with a DINK and young-professional buyer profile.
For Buyers
The $1,750,000 median reflects the overall market including terrace houses, but actual transacted medians have been $1,267,000 in recent quarters, meaning buyers need to distinguish between listing expectations and settled prices. The 22.0% decline from the 2017 peak of $1,625,000 is among the sharpest in inner Melbourne, driven by rising interest rates hitting the apartment and terrace segments that dominate Fitzroy's stock. Detached houses account for just 3.2%, making this overwhelmingly an apartment (59.5%) and semi-detached (36.6%) market. Two-bedroom units dominate at 46.5%, with one-bedroom/studios at 20.9%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.3% is moderate, and 45.5% of families are couples without children, consistent with a DINK and young-professional buyer profile.
For Investors
Renters comprise 60.7% of households, more than double the national average, providing one of Melbourne's deepest tenant pools. Median weekly rent of $451 against the $1,267,000 transacted median produces gross yield around 1.8%, low even by inner Melbourne standards. The vacancy rate of 18.8% is the highest in this dataset and well above any sustainable threshold, indicating serious oversupply likely linked to Airbnb withdrawals and student accommodation fluctuations. Rent growth of 28.9% over the decade is modest for inner Melbourne. Only 15 DAs were lodged in 12 months, reflecting the suburb's heritage overlay constraints. The gentrification score of 26 with early signs suggests the suburb's character shift is ongoing but far from complete.
Development Activity
Total DAs
55
Last 12 Months
51
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2450.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Fitzroy iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Academy of Mary Immaculate
7-12 · 612 students
Fitzroy Primary School
Prep-6 · 198 students
Sacred Heart School
Prep-6 · 152 students
Demographics
English ancestry leads at 3,266, with Irish (1,626) and Scottish (1,170) forming a traditional inner-Melbourne base, while 34.2% were born overseas, 12.6 percentage points above national. Mandarin (90), Cantonese (77), Arabic (75), Italian (64) and Greek (51) are spoken in small numbers. The university qualification rate of 63.7% is 33.6 points above national, the second highest in this batch. The median age of 35 is 5 years below national, and 45.5% of families are couples without children. Islam (538) and Buddhism (384) form notable minority religions alongside Christianity (2,127). The average household size of 2.0 is well below the national 2.5, typical of high-density inner suburbs dominated by small dwellings.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
3.2%
Houses
36.6%
Townhouse
59.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Apartments at 59.5% and semi-detached at 36.6% together account for 96.1% of dwelling stock, leaving detached houses at just 3.2%. The tenure split is renter-dominated: 60.7% rent, 20.8% hold mortgages, and 18.6% own outright. Two-bedroom units at 46.5% are the most common format, followed by three-bedroom at 25.3% and one-bedroom/studios at 20.9%. The 14-year price history shows a CAGR of 2.5% from $945,000 in 2013 to $1,267,000 in 2024, well below the Melbourne average. The 22.0% decline from the 2017 peak is significant and reflects the interest-rate sensitivity of small-format, high-leverage apartment markets. The price-to-income ratio works out to roughly 11.1 times annual household income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,500
Rent / wk
$451
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,265
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.8%
Unoccupied
1,057
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
45.5%
Couples, no children
5,649
Total families
Economy & Employment
Professional/Technical services dominate at 23.8% (1,200 workers), followed by Healthcare at 16.5%, Education at 10.3%, Public Administration at 8.0% and Retail at 6.1%. This knowledge-economy concentration is among the highest nationally. Professionals form the largest occupation at 2,949 workers, nearly triple Managers at 1,089. The full-time rate of 70.4% is above average, and participation at 65.2% is strong. The SEIFA split is the most extreme in this batch: IEO decile 9 (elite education) versus IER decile 1 (lowest economic resources). This gap reflects the renter-dominated tenure where high personal incomes flow to rent rather than accumulating as household wealth, a structural feature of high-density inner suburbs.
Unemployment
8.9%
Labour Force
8,493
Unemployed
757
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.4%
Part-time
24.8%
Participation
65.2%
Employed
5,809
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.7%
Postgraduate
21.7%
Born Overseas
34.2%
Dwellings
4,557
Transport to Work
Walking and cycling dominate at 44.1% of commutes, among the highest nationally, while car driving is 50.3% and formal public transport is just 3.3%. The low public transport figure is misleading because tram usage may not be fully captured in census categories. Crime totalled 2,979 incidents at 285.6 per 1,000, the highest rate in this dataset. Property and deception offences dominate at 2,105 (70.7%), with crimes against the person at 397 and drug offences at 182. Schools are mixed: Academy of Mary Immaculate (ICSEA 1,079, 612 students) and Fitzroy Primary (1,028, 198 students) sit above the 1,000 benchmark, while Sacred Heart (936, 152 students) falls below. The 18.3% volunteering rate is above the national average.
Drive
50.3%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
44.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.97%/yr
(+118 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth of 0.97% per year adds 118 people annually. The 10-year change of 10.6% is slightly below the national average. The suburb suffered a 6.7% COVID dip but has fully recovered, unlike Darlinghurst and Croydon NSW. Net overseas migration of 432 per year drives growth, offset by internal outflow of 110 per year. The working-age share grew by 2.2 percentage points, while the young share contracted by 1.5 points and seniors grew by 1.7 points, a mixed trajectory. Real income growth of 30.5% over the decade is strong, suggesting the resident base is becoming wealthier even as aggregate area-level metrics lag. The gentrification score of 45 at shift level indicates active gentrification.
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
2,979
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
285.6
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fitzroy a good suburb to live in?
Fitzroy suits professionals who value walkability (44.1% walk/cycle) and inner-city culture over low crime. The 285.6 per 1,000 crime rate is high, though property offences dominate at 70.7%. IRSAD decile 8, 63.7% university qualifications and a median age of 35 define a young, educated resident base. Mortgage stress at 26.3% is manageable.
What is the median house price in Fitzroy?
The reported median is $1,750,000, but recent transacted medians sit at $1,267,000 (2024). Prices peaked at $1,625,000 in 2017 and have declined 22.0%. Over 12 years, the CAGR is 2.5% from $945,000 in 2013. Median weekly rent is $451 and monthly mortgage repayments are $2,500.
What schools are in Fitzroy?
Fitzroy has 3 schools. Academy of Mary Immaculate (ICSEA 1,079, Catholic secondary, 612 students) and Fitzroy Primary (1,028, Government, 198 students) exceed the national benchmark. Sacred Heart School (936, Catholic primary, 152 students) sits below 1,000. The IEO decile 9 confirms very high adult education attainment in the area.
Is Fitzroy safe?
Fitzroy recorded 2,979 offences at 285.6 per 1,000 residents, well above the Melbourne metropolitan median. Property and deception offences dominate at 2,105 (70.7%), with crimes against the person at 397 and drug offences at 182. The high rate is partly driven by the entertainment precinct attracting visitors to a 1.41 km2 area.
Is Fitzroy good for property investment?
The 60.7% renter share is one of Melbourne's highest, but the 18.8% vacancy rate is alarmingly high, suggesting oversupply. Gross yield is roughly 1.8% ($451/week on $1,267,000 transacted median). Prices are down 22.0% from the 2017 peak. Only 15 DAs in 12 months means new supply is constrained by heritage overlays. Capital growth has averaged 2.5% per year over 12 years.
How is Fitzroy's population changing?
Growth runs at 0.97% per year (118 persons). The suburb fully recovered from a 6.7% COVID dip. Net overseas migration of 432 per year drives growth, offset by 110 internal departures. The 10-year change of 10.6% is slightly below the national average. Real income growth of 30.5% over the decade suggests the resident base is becoming wealthier.
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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