Side by sideSuburb comparison

North Melbourne vs Parkville.

Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,326,000 and $2,025,000. North Melbourne edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.

North Melbourne (median $1,326,000) is roughly 35% cheaper to buy into than Parkville ($2,025,000).

North Melbourne scores higher on walkability (100/100 vs 52/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Parkville (1082) sits above North Melbourne (1053).

The takeWhich suburb suits which buyer

For buyers

North Melbourne is the lower entry point at $1,326,000 median, 35% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.

For investors

North Melbourne offers the higher gross rental yield (3.35% vs 2.44%), favouring cash-flow investors.

For families

Parkville edges out on average school ICSEA (1082 vs 1053).

Common questionsNorth Melbourne vs Parkville

Common questions

Is North Melbourne or Parkville cheaper to buy in?

North Melbourne has the lower median house price at $1,326,000, roughly 35% below Parkville ($2,025,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does North Melbourne or Parkville have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Parkville scores 1082 vs 1053 in North Melbourne. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.

Which is more walkable, North Melbourne or Parkville?

North Melbourne scores 100/100 on walkability vs 52/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.

Which suburb has higher rental yield, North Melbourne or Parkville?

Gross rental yield on houses is 3.35% in North Melbourne vs 2.44% in Parkville. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.

The numbers behind the take

North Melbourne
Metric
Parkville

Price & Market

$1,326,000
Median house
$2,025,000
$517,500
Median unit
$507,500
+0.0%
Annual growth (house)
+0.0%
Days on market

Rental

$853/wk
Rent (house / wk)
$950/wk
$660/wk
Rent (unit / wk)
$670/wk
33.0%
Owner occupied
64.0%
Renter occupied

Lifestyle & Demographics

100
Walk score
52
80
Transit score
60
100
Bike score
100
14,953
Population
7,297
31
Median age
26

Risk & Hazard

Flood class
Bushfire risk

Schools

20
Schools nearby
20
1053
Avg ICSEA
1082

Climate

639 mm
Annual rainfall
639 mm
25.9°C
Mean max (Jan)
25.9°C

Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).