Kensington vs North Melbourne
The verdict
Kensington is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.10M versus $1.26M in North Melbourne. North Melbourne has a shorter estimated CBD commute (13 vs 16 min). On the separate residential safety score, Kensington rates higher (49 vs 28/100 in North Melbourne).
Scores
| Kensington | North Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 95 | 96 |
| Transport | 99 | 100 |
| Education | 88 | 90 |
| Liveability | 97 | 98 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Kensington | North Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,745 | 14,953 |
| Median age | 35 | 31 |
| Median household income (wk) | $2,216 | $1,717 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 71.6% | 68.6% |
| Born in Australia | 65.3% | 49.0% |
| Avg household size | 2.1 | 2 |
Growth: Kensington High Growth · North Melbourne High Growth
Property
| Kensington | North Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.10M | $1.26M |
| Median unit price | $516K | $570K |
| House price YoY | -8.7% | -26.6% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Rental yield (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
Median price history
Safety
| Kensington | North Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 49 | 28 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 503 | 1,010 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 893 | 963 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 261 | 334 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 9,186 | 12,399 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Kensington | North Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 4 | 8 |
| Government | 2 | 2 |
| Independent | 1 | 3 |
| Average ICSEA | 1,092 | 1,009 |
See the full school list on each profile: Kensington · North Melbourne
Transport
| Kensington | North Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 99 | 100 |
| Train stations | 0 | 0 |
| Bus stops | 12 | 23 |
| Light rail stops | 5 | 28 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 16 | 13 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 320 m | 130 m |
Liveability
| Kensington | North Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 25.8°C | 25.8°C |
| Winter max temp | 14.2°C | 14.2°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 600 | 600 |
| Supermarkets | 5 | 5 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 31 | 51 |
| Parks | 29 | 18 |
| Playgrounds | 12 | 5 |
| Swimming pools | 1 | 3 |
| Medical GPs | 3 | 13 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 5.0 km | 4.8 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 3.8 km | 2.3 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | 5.3 km | 4.9 km |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 2.0 km | 640 m |
Population & growth
| Kensington | North Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 10,745 | 14,953 |
| Estimated 2025 | 12,278 | 18,086 |
| Projected 2041 | 18,963 | 26,390 |
| Annual growth rate | 3.39% | 4.87% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Kensington or North Melbourne?
Kensington has the higher residential safety score (Kensington 49/100 vs North Melbourne 28/100).
Which is more affordable, Kensington or North Melbourne?
Kensington is more affordable, with a median house price of $1.10M versus $1.26M.
Which has better schools, Kensington or North Melbourne?
Kensington has a higher average school ICSEA (Kensington 1092 vs North Melbourne 1009; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Kensington or North Melbourne?
North Melbourne has the higher transport score (Kensington 99/100 vs North Melbourne 100/100).
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