Alfredton vs Lake Gardens

Alfredton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 51 in Lake Gardens. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Alfredton, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Alfredton tends to suit families with children, while Lake Gardens suits people living alone and older residents.

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

Alfredton

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (22 vs 5)
  • has more childcare (7 vs 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (68% vs 54%)

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

First-home buyers

Alfredton

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper units ($340,000 vs $600,000)
  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (20% vs 26%)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Lake Gardens

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (75/100 vs 56/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (89 min vs 94 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (122.4 km vs 125.2 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

  • Alfredton has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • Lake Gardens has more residents already 65 and over (29% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Alfredton

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (28.2% vs 6.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.5% vs 3.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Alfredton Lake Gardens
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.

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Walkability 56 / 75
Alfredton — Walkability: 56/100 Lake Gardens — Walkability: 75/100
Safety 33 / 15
Alfredton — Safety: 33/100 Lake Gardens — Safety: 15/100
Low fire risk 86 / 100
Alfredton — Low fire risk: 86/100 Lake Gardens — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Alfredton — Low flood risk: 100/100 Lake Gardens — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Alfredton has more residents (11,822 vs 1,801); Lake Gardens skews older (51 vs 35).

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Population 11,822
+85% vs other
 1,801
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +28.2% +6.3%
Median age 35 51
Median household income $97,916/yr
+19% vs other
 $79,768/yr
Median weekly rent $365/wk
+1% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Alfredton Lake Gardens
0-4 6.5% / 3.8%
Alfredton — 0-4: 6.5% Lake Gardens — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 16.5% / 9.6%
Alfredton — 5-14: 16.5% Lake Gardens — 5-14: 9.6%
15-19 7.9% / 8.6%
Alfredton — 15-19: 7.9% Lake Gardens — 15-19: 8.6%
20-24 6.4% / 4.1%
Alfredton — 20-24: 6.4% Lake Gardens — 20-24: 4.1%
25-34 11.8% / 7.7%
Alfredton — 25-34: 11.8% Lake Gardens — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 14.0% / 8.2%
Alfredton — 35-44: 14.0% Lake Gardens — 35-44: 8.2%
45-54 12.8% / 14.7%
Alfredton — 45-54: 12.8% Lake Gardens — 45-54: 14.7%
55-64 10.0% / 14.8%
Alfredton — 55-64: 10.0% Lake Gardens — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 8.4% / 13.9%
Alfredton — 65-74: 8.4% Lake Gardens — 65-74: 13.9%
75-84 4.5% / 12.1%
Alfredton — 75-84: 4.5% Lake Gardens — 75-84: 12.1%
85+ 1.2% / 3.1%
Alfredton — 85+: 1.2% Lake Gardens — 85+: 3.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Alfredton 48.7% couple families
Alfredton — Couple Families: 48.7% Alfredton — Lone Person: 26.7% Alfredton — One Parent Families: 19.2% Alfredton — Group Household: 4.4% Alfredton — Other Families: 1.0%
Lake Gardens 39.0% couple families
Lake Gardens — Couple Families: 39.0% Lake Gardens — Lone Person: 42.8% Lake Gardens — One Parent Families: 14.5% Lake Gardens — Group Household: 2.6% Lake Gardens — Other Families: 1.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Alfredton 30.3% renting
Alfredton — Owned Outright: 31.6% Alfredton — Mortgage: 38.1% Alfredton — Renting: 30.3%
Lake Gardens 29.0% renting
Lake Gardens — Owned Outright: 49.8% Lake Gardens — Mortgage: 21.2% Lake Gardens — Renting: 29.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Bachelor Degree 13.8% / 16.2%
Alfredton — Bachelor Degree: 13.8% Lake Gardens — Bachelor Degree: 16.2%
Certificate III & IV 13.3% / 9.9%
Alfredton — Certificate III & IV: 13.3% Lake Gardens — Certificate III & IV: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.5% / 9.7%
Alfredton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5% Lake Gardens — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.9% / 7.2%
Alfredton — Postgraduate Degree: 4.9% Lake Gardens — Postgraduate Degree: 7.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 4.1%
Alfredton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Lake Gardens — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.2%).

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.

Alfredton Lake Gardens
India 4.0% / 1.7%
Alfredton — India: 4.0% Lake Gardens — India: 1.7%
China 1.3% / 4.0%
Alfredton — China: 1.3% Lake Gardens — China: 4.0%
England 1.8% / 3.2%
Alfredton — England: 1.8% Lake Gardens — England: 3.2%
New Zealand 0.9% / 0.6%
Alfredton — New Zealand: 0.9% Lake Gardens — New Zealand: 0.6%
South Africa 0.5% / 0.7%
Alfredton — South Africa: 0.5% Lake Gardens — South Africa: 0.7%
Philippines 0.6% / —
Alfredton — Philippines: 0.6% Lake Gardens — Philippines: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Alfredton 90.4% houses
Alfredton — Houses: 90.4% Alfredton — Townhouses: 3.9% Alfredton — Flats / Apartments: 5.6%
Lake Gardens 92.0% houses
Lake Gardens — Houses: 92.0% Lake Gardens — Townhouses: 7.2% Lake Gardens — Flats / Apartments: 0.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Median house price $652,500 $700,000
Median unit price $340,000 $600,000
Median land price $602,500 $618,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 33 days
from 181 sales
 25 days
from 20 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.

Alfredton Lake Gardens
3 bed $590K / $615K
Alfredton — 3 bed: $590K (136 sales) Lake Gardens — 3 bed: $615K (36 sales)

136 vs 36 sales

4 bed $682K / $780K
Alfredton — 4 bed: $682K (262 sales) Lake Gardens — 4 bed: $780K (39 sales)

262 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

Alfredton has more industrially zoned land (18% vs 4%).

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Residential 67% 59%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 20%
Industrial 18% 4%
Parks and recreation 2% 16%
Other and special use 8% 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

Alfredton Lake Gardens
New dwellings approved 1,451
across Ballarat
same for both
Approvals change year on year +42%
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.

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Houses 3.5%
$500/wk on $740K
 3.0%
$460/wk on $800K
Units 4.9%
$385/wk on $410K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Alfredton Lake Gardens
House price Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 37% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 55% of VIC —

Liveability

Lake Gardens is more walkable (75 vs 56); Lake Gardens scores higher overall (69 vs 61).

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Grade B A
Score 61/100 69/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Alfredton carries more bushfire risk (14 vs 0); Lake Gardens carries more crime risk (85 vs 67).

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Bushfire Low
14/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
67/100
 High
85/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 17
within 5 km
 20
within 5 km

Schools

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 1
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Ballarat, 4.4 km
 1
Federation University Ballarat, 3.5 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.6% 2.8%

Schools in Alfredton

  • Alfredton Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Thomas More School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Lake Gardens

  • Ballarat High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Ballarat Specialist School Government · Combined · Special school below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 2 0
Parks & reserves 22 5
Childcare 7 3
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Fuel stations 2 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Alfredton sits further from the CBD (125.2 km vs 122.4 km).

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Walkability score 56/100 75/100
Distance to Melbourne 125.2 km
+2% vs other
 122.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 94 min 89 min
Public transport score 75/100 36/100
Peak arrivals per hour 57.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3350
 0.5%
postcode 3355
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3350
 27
postcode 3355

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.

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Car (driver) 73.7% / 65.2%
Alfredton — Car (driver): 73.7% Lake Gardens — Car (driver): 65.2%
Worked from Home 17.1% / 24.4%
Alfredton — Worked from Home: 17.1% Lake Gardens — Worked from Home: 24.4%
Car (passenger) 6.6% / 6.5%
Alfredton — Car (passenger): 6.6% Lake Gardens — Car (passenger): 6.5%
Walked Only 1.0% / 2.0%
Alfredton — Walked Only: 1.0% Lake Gardens — Walked Only: 2.0%
Bicycle 0.6% / 1.0%
Alfredton — Bicycle: 0.6% Lake Gardens — Bicycle: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (73.7%).

Setting

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Elevation 455 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 464 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre

NBN connectivity

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Connectivity score 86/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 74%
5,628 premises
 58%
909 premises

Climate

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Annual rainfall 605 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 3.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Average residential rate $2,086/yr
same for both
Council Ballarat
same for both

Federal electorate

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Division Ballarat
same for both
Member Catherine King
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Alfredton Lake Gardens
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Alfredton

Family Large Blocks Parks Quiet Regional Centre

Lake Gardens

Large Blocks Parks Professionals Quiet Retirees River

More comparisons

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Alfredton vs Wendouree Alfredton vs Delacombe Alfredton vs Winter Valley Alfredton vs Lucas Alfredton vs Lake Wendouree Alfredton vs Newington

Other comparisons with Lake Gardens

Lake Gardens vs Wendouree Lake Gardens vs Lake Wendouree Lake Gardens vs Newington
Full data on Alfredton Full data on Lake Gardens
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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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