Albion vs Sunshine North

In Albion, about half of households rent and about half of households are people living alone. In Sunshine North, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Sunshine North is closer to the city centre: 15.5 km, against 24.4 km. On these figures, Albion tends to suit renters and people living alone.

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

Sunshine North

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (65% vs 40%)

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

First-home buyers

Albion

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($295,000 vs $498,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Albion

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (46% vs 31%)
  • has cheaper rent ($301/wk vs $341/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Albion gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (12% vs 5%)
  • Sunshine North sits closer to the CBD (15.5 km vs 24.4 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Albion

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (45% vs 18%)

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

Investors

Sunshine North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (3.0% vs -8.4%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Albion Sunshine North
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.

Albion Sunshine North
Walkability 62 / 62
Albion — Walkability: 62/100 Sunshine North — Walkability: 62/100
Safety 16 / 18
Albion — Safety: 16/100 Sunshine North — Safety: 18/100
Low fire risk 100 / 71
Albion — Low fire risk: 100/100 Sunshine North — Low fire risk: 71/100
Low flood risk 61 / 47
Albion — Low flood risk: 61/100 Sunshine North — Low flood risk: 47/100

Demographics

Sunshine North has more residents (12,047 vs 4,334); Sunshine North rents higher ($341/wk vs $301/wk).

Albion Sunshine North
Population 4,334 12,047
+178% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -8.4% +3.0%
Median age 35 37
Median household income $68,120/yr $72,748/yr
+7% vs other
Median weekly rent $301/wk $341/wk
+13% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Albion Sunshine North
0-4 5.6% / 5.8%
Albion — 0-4: 5.6% Sunshine North — 0-4: 5.8%
5-14 8.6% / 10.9%
Albion — 5-14: 8.6% Sunshine North — 5-14: 10.9%
15-19 3.6% / 5.5%
Albion — 15-19: 3.6% Sunshine North — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 7.4% / 7.2%
Albion — 20-24: 7.4% Sunshine North — 20-24: 7.2%
25-34 23.1% / 17.0%
Albion — 25-34: 23.1% Sunshine North — 25-34: 17.0%
35-44 16.7% / 12.8%
Albion — 35-44: 16.7% Sunshine North — 35-44: 12.8%
45-54 10.3% / 12.5%
Albion — 45-54: 10.3% Sunshine North — 45-54: 12.5%
55-64 9.7% / 12.0%
Albion — 55-64: 9.7% Sunshine North — 55-64: 12.0%
65-74 8.5% / 8.5%
Albion — 65-74: 8.5% Sunshine North — 65-74: 8.5%
75-84 4.8% / 5.1%
Albion — 75-84: 4.8% Sunshine North — 75-84: 5.1%
85+ 1.8% / 2.8%
Albion — 85+: 1.8% Sunshine North — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (23.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Albion 47.4% lone person
Albion — Lone Person: 47.4% Albion — Couple Families: 25.9% Albion — One Parent Families: 14.4% Albion — Group Household: 9.3% Albion — Other Families: 3.0%
Sunshine North 26.4% lone person
Sunshine North — Lone Person: 26.4% Sunshine North — Couple Families: 42.7% Sunshine North — One Parent Families: 21.9% Sunshine North — Group Household: 6.4% Sunshine North — Other Families: 2.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Albion 46.5% renting
Albion — Owned Outright: 26.2% Albion — Mortgage: 27.3% Albion — Renting: 46.5%
Sunshine North 30.8% renting
Sunshine North — Owned Outright: 39.3% Sunshine North — Mortgage: 29.9% Sunshine North — Renting: 30.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Albion Sunshine North
Bachelor Degree 14.7% / 11.7%
Albion — Bachelor Degree: 14.7% Sunshine North — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Certificate III & IV 9.4% / 8.2%
Albion — Certificate III & IV: 9.4% Sunshine North — Certificate III & IV: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 5.9%
Albion — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Sunshine North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9%
Postgraduate Degree 6.8% / 3.5%
Albion — Postgraduate Degree: 6.8% Sunshine North — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.3% / 1.0%
Albion — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3% Sunshine North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.7%).

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.

Albion Sunshine North
Vietnam 6.4% / 27.7%
Albion — Vietnam: 6.4% Sunshine North — Vietnam: 27.7%
India 7.1% / 2.7%
Albion — India: 7.1% Sunshine North — India: 2.7%
Philippines 3.7% / 1.9%
Albion — Philippines: 3.7% Sunshine North — Philippines: 1.9%
Nepal 3.2% / —
Albion — Nepal: 3.2% Sunshine North — Nepal: not among its largest
China 2.0% / 1.0%
Albion — China: 2.0% Sunshine North — China: 1.0%
Myanmar — / 1.8%
Albion — Myanmar: not among its largest Sunshine North — Myanmar: 1.8%
Italy — / 1.6%
Albion — Italy: not among its largest Sunshine North — Italy: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Albion 54.8% houses
Albion — Houses: 54.8% Albion — Townhouses: 18.9% Albion — Flats / Apartments: 26.3%
Sunshine North 82.2% houses
Sunshine North — Houses: 82.2% Sunshine North — Townhouses: 12.9% Sunshine North — Flats / Apartments: 4.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Albion Sunshine North
Median house price $791,000 $785,000
Median unit price $295,000 $498,500
Median land price — $500,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 15 sales
 29 days
from 133 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Albion Sunshine North
2 bed $340K / $455K
Albion — 2 bed: $340K (34 sales) Sunshine North — 2 bed: $455K (23 sales)

34 vs 23 sales

3 bed $591K / $596K
Albion — 3 bed: $591K (6 sales) Sunshine North — 3 bed: $596K (9 sales)

6 vs 9 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.

Albion Sunshine North
2 bed $705K / $736K
Albion — 2 bed: $705K (10 sales) Sunshine North — 2 bed: $736K (10 sales)

10 vs 10 sales

3 bed $791K / $759K
Albion — 3 bed: $791K (21 sales) Sunshine North — 3 bed: $759K (118 sales)

21 vs 118 sales

4 bed $804K / $850K
Albion — 4 bed: $804K (14 sales) Sunshine North — 4 bed: $850K (47 sales)

14 vs 47 sales

Zoning mix

Sunshine North has more industrially zoned land (31% vs 16%).

Albion Sunshine North
Residential 43% 49%
Industrial 16% 31%
Parks and recreation 29% 4%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 13%
Commercial 2% 3%
Other and special use 1% 0%
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

Albion Sunshine North
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.

Albion Sunshine North
Houses 4.4%
$650/wk on $762K
 4.0%
$580/wk on $760K
Units 4.6%
$422/wk on $475K
 4.7%
$510/wk on $560K

Ranking within VIC

Albion Sunshine North
House price Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
Income Higher than 29% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 84% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 88% of VIC
same for both
Affordability Higher than 31% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 73% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC

Liveability

Albion Sunshine North
Grade C
same for both
Score 48/100 47/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Sunshine North carries more bushfire risk (29 vs 0); Sunshine North carries more flood risk (53 vs 39).

Albion Sunshine North
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
29/100
Crime High
84/100
 High
82/100
Flood Low
39/100
 Moderate
53/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 28
within 5 km
 10
within 5 km

Schools

Albion Sunshine North
Inside the suburb 2 6
Rated above peers 2 3
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 7.5 km
 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 6.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.2% 2.9%

Schools in Albion

  • Albion Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Theresa's School Catholic · Primary above peers

Schools in Sunshine North

  • Albion North Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Bernadette's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sunshine Christian School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Sunshine North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sunshine College-North Sunshine Campus Government · Secondary
  • Furlong Park School For Deaf Children Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Albion Sunshine North
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 10 8
Childcare 3 9
Pharmacies 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 1 3
Waterways 5
same for both

Mobility

Albion sits further from the CBD (24.4 km vs 15.5 km).

Albion Sunshine North
Walkability score 62/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 24.4 km
+36% vs other
 15.5 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 29 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 132.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 161.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3020
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3020
same for both

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.

Albion Sunshine North
Car (driver) 52.4% / 66.7%
Albion — Car (driver): 52.4% Sunshine North — Car (driver): 66.7%
Worked from Home 26.1% / 18.2%
Albion — Worked from Home: 26.1% Sunshine North — Worked from Home: 18.2%
Train 12.5% / 4.8%
Albion — Train: 12.5% Sunshine North — Train: 4.8%
Car (passenger) 4.6% / 6.7%
Albion — Car (passenger): 4.6% Sunshine North — Car (passenger): 6.7%
Bus 2.0% / 1.8%
Albion — Bus: 2.0% Sunshine North — Bus: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.7%).

Setting

Albion Sunshine North
Elevation 45 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.1 km 10.5 km

NBN connectivity

Albion Sunshine North
Connectivity score 76/100 79/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
2,427 premises
 21%
5,983 premises

Climate

Albion Sunshine North
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Albion Sunshine North
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 23.2 µg/m³ 18.9 µg/m³
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Albion Sunshine North
Average residential rate $1,847/yr
same for both
Council Brimbank
same for both

Federal electorate

Albion Sunshine North
Division Fraser
same for both
Member Daniel Mulino
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Albion Sunshine North
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Albion

Affordable Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks

Sunshine North

Middle-Ring Multicultural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Albion

Albion vs St Albans Albion vs Sunshine West Albion vs Cairnlea Albion vs Sunshine Albion vs Ardeer

Other comparisons with Sunshine North

Sunshine North vs St Albans Sunshine North vs Keilor East Sunshine North vs Avondale Heights Sunshine North vs Braybrook Sunshine North vs Sunshine Sunshine North vs Kealba
Full data on Albion Full data on Sunshine North
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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