Albanvale vs Cairnlea

In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Cairnlea, most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Cairnlea: a median of $959,000, against $680,000 in Albanvale, and rent is higher there too. Cairnlea is closer to the city centre: 24.5 km, against 28 km. On these figures, Albanvale tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Cairnlea suits couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Cairnlea

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • is already more of a family suburb (83% vs 72%)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Cairnlea

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($407,500 vs $540,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (21% vs 27%)
  • But Albanvale has cheaper houses ($680,000 vs $959,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Albanvale has cheaper rent ($325/wk vs $400/wk)
  • Cairnlea leaves renters under less rental stress (19% vs 25%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Cairnlea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (24.5 km vs 28 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Albanvale has more residents already 65 and over (17% vs 10%)
  • Cairnlea has more GPs (3 vs 0)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Albanvale and Cairnlea drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Albanvale Cairnlea
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Albanvale Cairnlea
Walkability 79 / 82
Albanvale — Walkability: 79/100 Cairnlea — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 49 / 50
Albanvale — Safety: 49/100 Cairnlea — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 4 / 68
Albanvale — Low fire risk: 4/100 Cairnlea — Low fire risk: 68/100
Low flood risk 67 / 55
Albanvale — Low flood risk: 67/100 Cairnlea — Low flood risk: 55/100

Demographics

Cairnlea has more residents (10,038 vs 5,641); Cairnlea has higher household incomes ($107,224 vs $66,508).

Albanvale Cairnlea
Population 5,641 10,038
+78% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.7% +3.9%
Median age 37 36
Median household income $66,508/yr $107,224/yr
+61% vs other
Median weekly rent $325/wk $400/wk
+23% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Albanvale Cairnlea
0-4 6.0% / 5.1%
Albanvale — 0-4: 6.0% Cairnlea — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 12.6% / 14.2%
Albanvale — 5-14: 12.6% Cairnlea — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 5.7% / 7.8%
Albanvale — 15-19: 5.7% Cairnlea — 15-19: 7.8%
20-24 6.6% / 7.6%
Albanvale — 20-24: 6.6% Cairnlea — 20-24: 7.6%
25-34 15.0% / 13.1%
Albanvale — 25-34: 15.0% Cairnlea — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 13.6% / 14.3%
Albanvale — 35-44: 13.6% Cairnlea — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 11.8% / 15.5%
Albanvale — 45-54: 11.8% Cairnlea — 45-54: 15.5%
55-64 11.8% / 12.2%
Albanvale — 55-64: 11.8% Cairnlea — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 11.6% / 7.2%
Albanvale — 65-74: 11.6% Cairnlea — 65-74: 7.2%
75-84 4.4% / 2.2%
Albanvale — 75-84: 4.4% Cairnlea — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ 0.9% / 0.9%
Albanvale — 85+: 0.9% Cairnlea — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Albanvale 44.9% couple families
Albanvale — Couple Families: 44.9% Albanvale — One Parent Families: 26.6% Albanvale — Lone Person: 22.3% Albanvale — Group Household: 3.9% Albanvale — Other Families: 2.3%
Cairnlea 63.7% couple families
Cairnlea — Couple Families: 63.7% Cairnlea — One Parent Families: 19.6% Cairnlea — Lone Person: 12.4% Cairnlea — Group Household: 2.5% Cairnlea — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families One Parent Families Lone Person Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Albanvale 24.2% renting
Albanvale — Owned Outright: 38.4% Albanvale — Mortgage: 37.4% Albanvale — Renting: 24.2%
Cairnlea 15.4% renting
Cairnlea — Owned Outright: 33.8% Cairnlea — Mortgage: 50.8% Cairnlea — Renting: 15.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Albanvale Cairnlea
Bachelor Degree 7.8% / 14.6%
Albanvale — Bachelor Degree: 7.8% Cairnlea — Bachelor Degree: 14.6%
Certificate III & IV 10.6% / 8.3%
Albanvale — Certificate III & IV: 10.6% Cairnlea — Certificate III & IV: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 6.7%
Albanvale — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Cairnlea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.9% / 2.8%
Albanvale — Postgraduate Degree: 1.9% Cairnlea — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.8% / 1.1%
Albanvale — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.8% Cairnlea — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.6%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Albanvale Cairnlea
Vietnam 17.1% / 21.0%
Albanvale — Vietnam: 17.1% Cairnlea — Vietnam: 21.0%
Philippines 3.8% / 4.5%
Albanvale — Philippines: 3.8% Cairnlea — Philippines: 4.5%
India 3.4% / 2.6%
Albanvale — India: 3.4% Cairnlea — India: 2.6%
Myanmar 3.7% / —
Albanvale — Myanmar: 3.7% Cairnlea — Myanmar: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.2% / 1.1%
Albanvale — New Zealand: 1.2% Cairnlea — New Zealand: 1.1%
Pakistan 0.9% / 1.3%
Albanvale — Pakistan: 0.9% Cairnlea — Pakistan: 1.3%
China 0.8% / 1.3%
Albanvale — China: 0.8% Cairnlea — China: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Albanvale 96.1% houses
Albanvale — Houses: 96.1% Albanvale — Townhouses: 2.2% Albanvale — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Cairnlea 88.3% houses
Cairnlea — Houses: 88.3% Cairnlea — Townhouses: 7.5% Cairnlea — Flats / Apartments: 4.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Albanvale Cairnlea
Median house price $680,000 $959,000
Median unit price $540,000 $407,500
Median land price — $801,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 25 days
from 43 sales
 27 days
from 83 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Albanvale Cairnlea
3 bed $660K / $811K
Albanvale — 3 bed: $660K (60 sales) Cairnlea — 3 bed: $811K (42 sales)

60 vs 42 sales

4 bed $740K / $1M
Albanvale — 4 bed: $740K (15 sales) Cairnlea — 4 bed: $1M (62 sales)

15 vs 62 sales

Zoning mix

Albanvale Cairnlea
Residential 87% 66%
Parks and recreation 11% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 4%
Industrial 0% 2%
Commercial 0% 1%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Albanvale Cairnlea
New dwellings approved 670
across Brimbank
same for both
Approvals change year on year +40%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Albanvale Cairnlea
Houses 3.8%
$500/wk on $682K
 3.5%
$710/wk on $1.05M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Albanvale Cairnlea
House price Higher than 34% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Income Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 71% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC

Liveability

Cairnlea scores higher overall (59 vs 31).

Albanvale Cairnlea
Grade D B
Score 31/100 59/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Albanvale carries more bushfire risk (96 vs 32); Cairnlea carries more flood risk (45 vs 33).

Albanvale Cairnlea
Bushfire High
96/100
 Low
32/100
Crime Moderate
51/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood Low
33/100
 Moderate
45/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Albanvale Cairnlea
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Albanvale

  • Albanvale Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Schools in Cairnlea

  • Cairnlea Park Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Cairnlea Park Primary School-Western Special Assistance Unit - Language Government · Primary
  • Victoria University Secondary College-Cairnlea Campus Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Albanvale Cairnlea
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 9
Parks & reserves 1 13
Childcare 4 6
GPs 0 3
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 0
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Albanvale sits further from the CBD (28 km vs 24.5 km).

Albanvale Cairnlea
Walkability score 79/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 28 km
+12% vs other
 24.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 32 min 28 min
Public transport score 76/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 43.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 73.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3021
 1.0%
postcode 3023
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 3021
 43
postcode 3023

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Albanvale Cairnlea
Car (driver) 72.2% / 66.8%
Albanvale — Car (driver): 72.2% Cairnlea — Car (driver): 66.8%
Worked from Home 14.8% / 22.0%
Albanvale — Worked from Home: 14.8% Cairnlea — Worked from Home: 22.0%
Car (passenger) 7.4% / 5.9%
Albanvale — Car (passenger): 7.4% Cairnlea — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Train 4.3% / 4.0%
Albanvale — Train: 4.3% Cairnlea — Train: 4.0%
Bus 1.0% / 0.6%
Albanvale — Bus: 1.0% Cairnlea — Bus: 0.6%
Walked Only 0.2% / 0.7%
Albanvale — Walked Only: 0.2% Cairnlea — Walked Only: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.2%).

Setting

Albanvale Cairnlea
Elevation 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 14.8 km 12.9 km

NBN connectivity

Albanvale Cairnlea
Connectivity score 76/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 2%
2,010 premises
 52%
2,878 premises

Climate

Albanvale Cairnlea
Annual rainfall 518 mm 534 mm
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C 6.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Albanvale Cairnlea
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 23.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Albanvale Cairnlea
Average residential rate $1,847/yr
same for both
Council Brimbank
same for both

Federal electorate

Albanvale Cairnlea
Division Gorton Fraser
Member Alice Jordan-Baird Daniel Mulino
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Albanvale Cairnlea
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Albanvale

Middle-Ring Multicultural Urban

Cairnlea

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Albanvale

Albanvale vs St Albans Albanvale vs Deer Park Albanvale vs Kings Park Albanvale vs Burnside

Other comparisons with Cairnlea

Cairnlea vs St Albans Cairnlea vs Deer Park Cairnlea vs Albion Cairnlea vs Ardeer
Full data on Albanvale Full data on Cairnlea
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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