🔍

Carlton North

VIC 3054 • Greater Melbourne

6,177
Population (2021)
$62,816
Median Income
1.87 km²
Area
$552/wk
Median Rent
Inner CityAffluentHistoricYoung Families

About Carlton North

Carlton North is an inner-city suburb of Melbourne, located approximately 4 kilometres north of the CBD within the Cities of Melbourne and Yarra local government areas. With a population of 6,177 at the 2021 census and a median age of 33, it is a densely settled, gentrified neighbourhood established in the 1860s and home to the iconic Melbourne General Cemetery and the sprawling Princes Park. The suburb's tree-lined streets are characterised by Victorian-era terrace houses and has become one of Melbourne's more affluent inner-northern suburbs.

Carlton North is a vibrant, highly liveable suburb popular with young professionals, academics, and families drawn to its blend of heritage character and modern amenities. Rathdowne Street is the beating heart of the suburb, lined with cafés, independent restaurants, boutiques, and bookshops, while Princes Park offers a beloved green space for walking, cycling, and sport. Residents enjoy excellent connectivity via trams along Lygon, Nicholson, and Royal Parade, with the Melbourne CBD easily accessible by bike or public transport.

Carlton North falls under postcode 3054 and is governed by Melbourne Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Brunswick (Northern Metropolitan) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3054
Urban Area
Melbourne - Central
LGA / Council
Melbourne
Federal Electorate
Wills
State Electorate
Brunswick (Northern Metropolitan)
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.79°, 144.97°
Statistical Area
Greater Melbourne
Area
1.87 km²
Elevation
47m

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • 250, 251 — Melbourne CBD via Lygon Street 20 min
  • 96, 112 — Melbourne CBD via Nicholson / Lygon St trams 15-20 min

Commute to Melbourne CBD

Distance
4 km
By Train
No direct train station — nearest is Jewell (Brunswick) or Melbourne Central (walk + tram)
By Car (Peak)
15-25 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
8-12 min

🛣️ Highly walkable and cyclable to CBD. Trams on Lygon, Nicholson, and Royal Parade. No train station within Carlton North.

Walkability Walker's Paradise

Dense café strip on Rathdowne St, excellent footpaths, trams on multiple corridors. Very bikeable.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🌳 Parks & Reserves

There are 6 parks and reserves in Carlton North.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$552
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,500
Avg Household Size
2.3 people
Median Age
33 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
1.8%

37 state housing + 11 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
6,300
Census 2021
6,177
▼ 2% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Income 2016
$51,532
Income 2021
$62,816
▲ 21.9% increase

Income Comparison

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 4,582
Born Overseas 1,416

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 232
  • 2. New Zealand 151
  • 3. Italy 110
  • 4. United States 86
  • 5. Malaysia 43
  • 6. India 42
  • 7. Germany 41
  • 8. Ireland 40
  • 9. Greece 38
  • 10. South Africa 38

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 2,284
Australian 1,638
Irish 1,150
Scottish 818
Italian 691
German 280
Greek 227
Chinese 192
Dutch 123
French 87

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,983
Both parents born in Australia
1,879
Both parents born overseas
1,110
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
65.4%
Christianity
25.5%
Islam
1.1%
Buddhism
1.1%
Judaism
1.0%
Hinduism
0.6%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
241 (3.9%)
5-14 years
394 (6.4%)
15-19 years
180 (2.9%)
20-24 years
663 (10.7%)
25-34 years
1,758 (28.5%)
35-44 years
856 (13.9%)
45-54 years
640 (10.4%)
55-64 years
591 (9.6%)
65-74 years
508 (8.2%)
75-84 years
263 (4.3%)
85+ years
96 (1.6%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a train station in Carlton North? +

Carlton North has no train station. The nearest stations are Jewell Station in Brunswick and Melbourne Central. Residents primarily use trams on Lygon Street, Nicholson Street, and Royal Parade to reach the CBD.

What trams serve Carlton North? +

Route 96 (East Brunswick to St Kilda Beach) runs along Nicholson Street, and Route 1/112 uses Lygon Street, both reaching Melbourne CBD in 15–20 minutes.

What is the median rent in Carlton North? +

At the 2021 census, the median weekly rent in Carlton North was $552, reflecting its status as a gentrified, inner-city suburb.

What parks are in Carlton North? +

Princes Park is the suburb's major open space — a large oval park home to the Carlton Football Club. Curtain Square, Hardy Reserve, and the Inner Circle Linear Park are popular smaller reserves.

What schools are in Carlton North? +

Carlton North Primary School (Government) is located within the suburb. The area is also served by nearby schools in Carlton, Brunswick, and Parkville.