Carlton, VIC 3053 — Suburb Profile
Last reviewed: · By Knowburb Research Team
In short
Carlton is an inner-Melbourne suburb 2 km north of the CBD, home to the University of Melbourne, Lygon Street's Italian dining strip and Royal Park. Mostly Victorian terraces and student apartments.
Snapshot
Demographics
- Population
- 18,968
- Median age
- 27 years
- Median household income
- $1,292 /week
- Median personal income
- $659 /week
- Median family income
- $2,066 /week
- Average household size
- 1.8
- Persons per bedroom
- 1.0
- Local government area
- Melbourne
- Statistical region (SA4)
- Melbourne - Inner
- Remoteness classification
- Major Cities of Australia
- Federal electorate
- Melbourne
Property & cost of living
- Median rent
- $600 /week
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,898
- Median house price
- $1,620,000
- Rent share of household income
- 46%
Schools
- Carlton Gardens Primary School
- Academy of Mary Immaculate
- Holmes Grammar School
- Carlton Primary School
- Saints College
Transport
- Within 800 m walk: 8 metro stops, 28 tram stops, 39 bus stops
- Within 1.6 km: 21 metro stops, 153 tram stops, 116 bus stops
- Argyle Square/Lygon St
- Queensberry St/Lygon St
- Lincoln Square/Swanston St #3
- Exhibition Building/Rathdowne St
- State Library Station
Lifestyle & amenities
- 437 cafés
- 870 restaurants
- 250 pubs and bars
- 192 parks and reserves
- 40 gyms and fitness centres
- 21 libraries
- 38 supermarkets
- 39 playgrounds
Climate
- Warmest month: Jan (25.9°C avg max)
- Coolest month: Jul (13.5°C avg max)
- Annual rainfall: 648 mm
- Reference station: Melbourne Regional Office, 0.8 km away
NBN & connectivity
Fibre to the Premises serves 82.6% of the 14,230 resolvable premises in Carlton. Most premises here have a fibre cable running directly into the property — the fastest and most reliable NBN option, with plans available up to NBN 1000.
- Fibre to the Premises: 82.6%
- Fibre to the Building: 17.4%
Safety
- Recorded offences: 3,142 across postcode 3053 in the year to December 2025.
- Most common categories: 2,369 property offences, 364 violent offences, 128 public order offences.
- Wider Melbourne LGA: 23,998 offences per 100,000 residents.
Nearby suburbs
Frequently asked questions
Is Carlton walkable?
Yes — Carlton is one of Melbourne's most walkable inner suburbs, anchored by Lygon Street and adjacent to the CBD and Royal Park.
What is the population of Carlton?
Carlton (VIC 3053) had 18,968 residents at the most recent ABS Census. The median age is 27. It sits within the Melbourne local government area.
What is the median rent in Carlton?
The median advertised rent in Carlton is $600/week, based on SQM Research listings data. Rents vary by property type, bedrooms and condition.
Are there schools in Carlton?
Yes — 5 schools are listed within or near Carlton covering government, catholic, independent sectors. Nearest include: Carlton Gardens Primary School (0.3 km), Academy of Mary Immaculate (0.7 km), Holmes Grammar School (0.9 km). School data sourced from ACARA and state education departments.
What NBN technology is available in Carlton?
Carlton is predominantly served by Fibre to the Premises (82.6% of premises). Coverage data is sourced from the NBN upgrade map aggregated from NBN Co address checks.
How safe is Carlton?
Across postcode 3053, 3,142 offences were recorded in the 12 months to December 2025. The most common offence categories were property (2,369), violent (364), public order (128). Crime statistics are recorded by area (postcode or LGA), not by individual suburb. Data sourced from each state's crime statistics agency.
What is the climate like in Carlton?
In Carlton, mean daily temperatures range from 10.3°C to 19.9°C and annual rainfall is 648 mm measured at the Melbourne Regional Office weather station (0.8 km away). Long-term averages from the Bureau of Meteorology.
What public transport options are in Carlton?
290 public transport stops are mapped within 1.6 km of the Carlton centroid. Within 800 m, you'll find 39 bus stops, 28 tram stops, 8 metro stops. Stop data is sourced from state government GTFS feeds.
Sources & methodology
Demographics from ABS Census. Property data from SQM Research. Climate from Bureau of Meteorology. Schools from ACARA. NBN from NBN Co. Amenities from OpenStreetMap. See full methodology.
Additional sources for this profile: