Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Carlton
2 km²
Renting is far more common in Carlton than in most other areas, with 72.3% of households paying rent. It is a strikingly young community where the typical resident is just 27, and many are highly qualified professionals. The area is a global hub, with over half the population born overseas and nearly half of all homes having no car. This mix of young adults and international arrivals creates a dense, urban character focused on education and city living.
Carlton's schools draw a more advantaged community than local incomes would suggest.
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Carlton is far younger than the national figure, with a typical age of 27 and very few children under 15. It is a place of transition, with 74% of adults never married and a much higher proportion of de facto relationships than most areas.
The community is very diverse, with 54.9% of people born overseas, which is far above the national figure of 27.7%. Chinese ancestry is the most common, making up nearly a quarter of the population.
Multiculturalism is highly visible here, as 47.7% of people use a language other than English at home. This is far above the national rate, and Mandarin is the most common non-English language spoken.
A majority of residents—52.4%—report having no religion, a figure far above the national average of 38.9%.
Education levels are exceptionally high, with 52.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far above the state and national figures, and 83.4% of residents have completed Year 12.
While typical family incomes are about the same as the national figure, typical household and personal incomes are lower than most areas. Only 16.6% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, which is well below the state average.
Residents are generally healthy, with a much lower rate of long-term health conditions than most areas. However, 10.3% of people report a mental health condition, which is a little above the national figure.
Very few people here provide unpaid care for children or the elderly compared to other areas. Despite this, 17.4% of residents volunteer, which is well above the national figure.
First Nations residents in Carlton have a Year 12 completion rate of 79.3%, far above the national average, though the unemployment rate is much higher than most areas at 20.3%.
The area is dominated by small households, with 45.3% of people living alone—far above the national figure of 25.6%. Consequently, there are only 1.8 people per home on average.
Flats and apartments make up 80.7% of the housing stock, and very few people own their homes outright. Renting is the norm, with a typical weekly rent of $365.
Many residents forgo cars, with 48.6% of homes having no motor vehicle. Public transport use is very high, and 35.8% of the workforce works from home, far above the national figure.
Carlton is a highly transient area, with 70.2% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 46.6% of the population, far above the national average.
Professional and technical roles are common, and 41.3% of the workforce are professionals. However, the unemployment rate is 11.4%, which is well above the state and national figures.
Described as a walker's paradise, 100% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, and parks. It is an exceptionally connected area with a walkability score of 9.8.