North Melbourne
A renter majority of 65.8% defines North Melbourne more than its terrace image: apartments make up 68.3% of dwellings and density reaches 6,348.4 people per sq km. The area skews much younger than the national average, with a median age of 31, and far more educated, with 63.7% university qualified, 33.6 percentage points above national. Compared with Kensington and Parkville, it reads as more intensely apartment led because only 4.2% of homes are separate houses.
Population
14,953
Median Age
31.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,717/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
165
Median House
$1.2M
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers are buying access and compact living rather than land. The median house price was $1,245,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, but only 4.2% of dwellings are separate houses, so scarce family homes carry a premium. Apartments dominate at 68.3%, with 48.9% of dwellings having 2 bedrooms and 25.7% having 0 to 1. Mortgage costs sit at 27.4% of income, below common stress levels, while prices remain 14.7% lower than the Jul-Sep 2023 peak.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are buying access and compact living rather than land. The median house price was $1,245,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, but only 4.2% of dwellings are separate houses, so scarce family homes carry a premium. Apartments dominate at 68.3%, with 48.9% of dwellings having 2 bedrooms and 25.7% having 0 to 1. Mortgage costs sit at 27.4% of income, below common stress levels, while prices remain 14.7% lower than the Jul-Sep 2023 peak.
For Investors
Investors face deep rental demand but also visible vacancy risk. Renters make up 65.8% of households, far higher than an owner-led suburb, and the median weekly rent is $381. Vacancy is 19.7%, so income planning needs allowances for leasing gaps, especially in apartment stock. The pipeline is active with 162 development applications in 12 months, while overseas migration averages +1,147 people a year, supporting demand despite -385 average net internal migration.
Development Activity
Total DAs
238
Last 12 Months
165
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+150.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$1.9M
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in North Melbourne iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
North Melbourne Primary School
Prep-6 · 910 students
St Aloysius College
7-12 · 673 students
St Michael's Primary School
Prep-6 · 236 students
Demographics
North Melbourne is young, educated and internationally connected. The median age of 31 is 9.0 years below the national average, and 63.7% of residents hold a university qualification, 33.6 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 46.3%, also 24.7 points above national, which helps explain Mandarin 621, Cantonese 234 and Arabic 144 speakers. English 3,255 and Chinese 2,593 are the largest named ancestries.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
4.2%
Houses
26.9%
Townhouse
68.3%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing mix is closer to an inner-city apartment market than a conventional family suburb. Apartments account for 68.3%, semi-detached homes 26.9% and separate houses only 4.2%, so supply below the house segment is broad but land is scarce. Ownership is thin: 13.7% own outright, 20.5% have a mortgage and 65.8% rent. Prices rose 55.2% from $802,500 in 2013 to $1,245,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, but sit 14.7% below the $1,460,000 peak.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,035
Rent / wk
$381
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$943
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
19.7%
Unoccupied
1,587
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
37.5%
Couples, no children
8,118
Total families
Economy & Employment
The worker base is highly skilled but uneven in resources. Professional/Tech employs 1,313 people, or 19.6%, followed by Healthcare at 1,217 and Education at 870, which aligns with 3,692 professionals and 1,048 managers. SEIFA captures the split: education and occupation ranks in decile 10, while economic resources sit in decile 1 and disadvantage in decile 4. That gap is plausible because 65.8% rent and household income sits at the 60.3 percentile, not at the top.
Unemployment
8.3%
Labour Force
13,625
Unemployed
1,132
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.5%
Part-time
28.1%
Participation
63.9%
Employed
7,816
Occupations
Top Industries
University
63.7%
Postgraduate
24.7%
Born Overseas
46.3%
Dwellings
6,482
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for walkable, school-focused inner-city households but weaker on safety metrics. Three local schools cover Government and Catholic options, led by North Melbourne Primary at ICSEA 1136 with 910 students and St Aloysius College at ICSEA 1127 with 673; the ICSEA range is 1098 to 1136, above the national centre. Daily movement is practical because 41.4% walk or cycle compared with 48.8% driving, but crime is high at 134.0 offences per 1,000.
Drive
48.8%
Public Transport
6.1%
Walk / Cycle
41.4%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+2.07%/yr
(+400 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive. The trend adds 400 people a year, or 2.07% annually, taking the medium scenario from 19,519 in 2026 to 21,520 in 2031. Overseas migration is the primary driver, averaging +1,147 net people a year, while internal migration averages -385, so churn offsets some demand. The gentrification score is 38 with an Early signs stage, below the stronger shift score of 45 marked Active, and the COVID dip of 11.1% has recovered.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+1,147
Net Internal / yr
-385
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +53% since 2011, Net internal outflow -385/yr, Strong overseas inflow +1147/yr, COVID recovered (-11% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
2,003
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
134.0
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 North Melbourne compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Melbourne a good suburb to live in?
Yes for buyers and renters who value density, walkability and schools over quiet suburban space. The median age is 31, 41.4% walk or cycle to work, and school ICSEA scores run from 1098 to 1136. The trade-off is a crime rate of 134.0 per 1,000, higher than many lower-density areas.
What is the median house price in North Melbourne?
The median house price in North Melbourne was $1,245,500 in Apr-Jun 2024. That is below the $1,460,000 peak recorded in Jul-Sep 2023, but 55.2% higher than the $802,500 level in 2013, showing long-run growth despite the recent pullback.
What schools are in North Melbourne?
North Melbourne has 3 local schools, with Government and Catholic options across primary and secondary years. The highest ICSEA is North Melbourne Primary at 1136 with 910 enrolments, followed by St Aloysius College at 1127 with 673, above the national centre.
Is North Melbourne safe?
Safety is a clear watchpoint. There were 2,003 recorded offences, equal to 134.0 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than many residential suburbs. Property and deception offences dominate with 1,386 incidents, so apartment security and street-level exposure matter.
Is North Melbourne good for property investment?
North Melbourne suits investors who can manage vacancy risk. Renters are 65.8% of households, higher than owner-occupiers, and overseas migration averages +1,147 people a year. However, vacancy is 19.7% and 162 development applications add competition.
How is North Melbourne's population changing?
North Melbourne is growing again after a COVID-era 11.1% dip. The current outlook adds 400 people a year, or 2.07% annually, with the medium scenario reaching 21,520 by 2031. Growth is driven more by +1,147 overseas migration than by local moves, which average -385.
What languages are spoken in North Melbourne?
English remains common, but the overseas-born share is 46.3%, 24.7 percentage points above national. Mandarin has 621 speakers, Cantonese 234, Arabic 144, Italian 94 and Hindi 63, reflecting a stronger Asian and migrant profile than many older inner suburbs.
Is there much development in North Melbourne?
Development activity is high, with 162 applications recorded in 12 months. That is above a quiet established market and matters because apartments already make up 68.3% of dwellings. New supply can support choice but also compete with existing rentals.
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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