Brunswick and Fitzroy are both inner-north icons with strong creative cultures, but from an investment standpoint, Brunswick wins on almost every financial metric at a significantly lower entry price.
At a Glance
| Metric | Brunswick | Fitzroy |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $1.32M | $1.95M |
| Median unit price | $590k | $750k |
| Gross yield (houses) | 4.2% | 3.1% |
| Gross yield (units) | 4.8% | 4.0% |
| Annual growth | +3.8% YoY | +4.9% YoY |
| GeeVee Score | 7.9/10 | 7.6/10 |
| Distance to CBD | 4km | 3km |
| Walk score | 91 | 96 |
Why Brunswick Wins on Finance
Brunswick’s GeeVee score of 7.9/10 beats Fitzroy’s 7.6/10 because: (1) entry price is $630k lower on houses, (2) rental yield is 1.1 percentage points higher, (3) the yield-adjusted return on capital deployed is significantly better. Fitzroy wins on growth rate and walkability, but the $630k premium makes it hard to justify for yield-focused investors.
The Fitzroy Premium — Is It Worth It?
Fitzroy’s 4.9% annual growth rate versus Brunswick’s 3.8% does partially justify the premium over long time horizons. On a $1.95M purchase at 4.9% growth, you gain $95,550/year in capital appreciation versus $50,160/year on a $1.32M Brunswick purchase at 3.8%. The compounding advantage widens over 10+ years — but the cash flow cost is significant in years 1-5.
Who Should Buy Brunswick?
- Yield-first investors who want inner-north at a $600k discount to Fitzroy
- SMSF and positive cash flow investors needing 4.8%+ unit yields
- First home buyers who want creative inner-north lifestyle without Fitzroy prices
Who Should Buy Fitzroy?
- Long-term growth investors with a 10+ year horizon who can absorb lower yield
- Lifestyle-first buyers who want to live in Melbourne’s most walkable suburb
- High net worth investors for whom the $630k premium is proportionally small
Whether you’re buying your first investment property, building a portfolio, or exploring SMSF property investment, the Collings Property Platform gives you access to off-market opportunities, portfolio tracking, investment tools, and property insights powered by GeeVee AI. Join free today and start building your property future. collings.com.au/portal
Find your next property with Collings
Track suburbs, get matched to on-market and off-market listings, and manage your whole property search in one place. Access the Collings property portal.
