Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Carlton suburb profile
Carlton, VIC · Postcode 3053
This Carlton suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Carlton, VIC (postcode 3053). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Carlton with nearby suburbs.
Carlton at a glance
Population
16,055
Median rent
$365/wk
Household income
$1,292/wk
Median age
27
Carlton trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+16% over 10 years
Population
16,055
was 18,535 in 2016
-2,480 · -13.4%
Median rent
$365/wk
was $385/wk in 2016
$20 · -5.2%
Household income
$1,292/wk
was $572/wk in 2016
+$720 · +125.9%
Median age
27
was 24 in 2016
+3 · +12.5%
Dig deeper: Carlton population growth · Carlton then and now
Carlton vs nearby & Greater Melbourne
Median Census 2021 figures for Carlton, nearby suburbs (8), and the Melbourne metro median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-6.5% vs area
- Carlton$365/wk
- Nearby$408.5/wk
- Melbourne$390.5/wk
Household income
-33.3% vs area
- Carlton$1,292/wk
- Nearby$1,986.5/wk
- Melbourne$1,936.5/wk
Median age
-30.8% vs area
- Carlton27
- Nearby33.5
- Melbourne39
Personal income
-21.9% vs area
- Carlton$659/wk
- Nearby$1,044.5/wk
- Melbourne$843.5/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC. See Melbourne rankings.
Socio-economic profile
How Carlton compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Carlton ranks among Australia's most advantaged suburbs. It shows limited economic resources and high education and occupation levels.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 3964.4
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 91,051.8
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 1776
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 101,143.6
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Carlton on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Carlton, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Carlton people
- Population
- 16,055
- Median age
- 27
- Born overseas
- 54.9%
- Average household size
- 1.8
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Carlton income
- Median household income
- $1,292/wk
- Median personal income
- $659/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Carlton housing
- Median rent
- $365/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,898/mo
- Separate houses
- 0.9%
- Flats & apartments
- 56.8%
- Owned outright
- 9.4%
- Mortgaged
- 7.1%
- Rented
- 50.9%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 29.6%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Carlton work
- Employment to population
- 56%
- Unemployment rate
- 11.4%
- Year 12 or above
- 83.4%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3053)
Compare Carlton with nearby suburbs
Carlton in numbers
Carlton had 16,055 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 112th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 27, 34% below the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 1.8 people. 54.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 9.4% own their home outright, 7.1% are paying a mortgage, 50.9% rent. Flats and apartments make up 56.8% of dwellings, with 0.9% separate houses. Median rent was $365/wk, 4% above the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,292/wk, 27% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 11.4%. 83.4% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population fell 13.4% (from 18,535 to 16,055). Median rent moved from $385/wk to $365/wk (-5.2%).
Carlton suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Carlton, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Carlton was $365/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Carlton, VIC?
- Carlton had 16,055 residents at the 2021 Census, down 13.4% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Carlton?
- Median household income in Carlton was $1,292/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Carlton?
- 50.9% of occupied homes in Carlton were rented, 9.4% were owned outright and 7.1% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Carlton suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Carlton (Vic.). Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology · Richest suburbs in Melbourne