Ardeer vs Cairnlea

In both, most 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 $700,000 in Ardeer, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Ardeer tends to suit people living alone and 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 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (13 vs 3)
  • is already more of a family suburb (83% vs 51%)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 81/100)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Ardeer has cheaper houses ($700,000 vs $959,000)
  • Cairnlea has cheaper units ($407,500 vs $527,500)

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

Renters

Ardeer

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (36% vs 15%)
  • has cheaper rent ($340/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Cairnlea

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 58/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Cairnlea

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 81/100)
  • is more walkable (82/100 vs 58/100)
  • But Ardeer has more units and townhouses to downsize into (23% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Ardeer

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.5%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Ardeer 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.

Ardeer 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.

Ardeer Cairnlea
Walkability 58 / 82
Ardeer — Walkability: 58/100 Cairnlea — Walkability: 82/100
Safety 19 / 50
Ardeer — Safety: 19/100 Cairnlea — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 100 / 68
Ardeer — Low fire risk: 100/100 Cairnlea — Low fire risk: 68/100
Low flood risk 45 / 55
Ardeer — Low flood risk: 45/100 Cairnlea — Low flood risk: 55/100

Demographics

Cairnlea has more residents (10,038 vs 3,170); Cairnlea has higher household incomes ($107,224 vs $75,504).

Ardeer Cairnlea
Population 3,170 10,038
+217% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.2% +3.9%
Median age 37 36
Median household income $75,504/yr $107,224/yr
+42% vs other
Median weekly rent $340/wk $400/wk
+18% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Ardeer Cairnlea
0-4 7.0% / 5.1%
Ardeer — 0-4: 7.0% Cairnlea — 0-4: 5.1%
5-14 10.2% / 14.2%
Ardeer — 5-14: 10.2% Cairnlea — 5-14: 14.2%
15-19 3.9% / 7.8%
Ardeer — 15-19: 3.9% Cairnlea — 15-19: 7.8%
20-24 4.9% / 7.6%
Ardeer — 20-24: 4.9% Cairnlea — 20-24: 7.6%
25-34 19.1% / 13.1%
Ardeer — 25-34: 19.1% Cairnlea — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 17.2% / 14.3%
Ardeer — 35-44: 17.2% Cairnlea — 35-44: 14.3%
45-54 12.6% / 15.5%
Ardeer — 45-54: 12.6% Cairnlea — 45-54: 15.5%
55-64 8.7% / 12.2%
Ardeer — 55-64: 8.7% Cairnlea — 55-64: 12.2%
65-74 8.1% / 7.2%
Ardeer — 65-74: 8.1% Cairnlea — 65-74: 7.2%
75-84 4.7% / 2.2%
Ardeer — 75-84: 4.7% Cairnlea — 75-84: 2.2%
85+ 3.4% / 0.9%
Ardeer — 85+: 3.4% Cairnlea — 85+: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Ardeer 33.2% couple families
Ardeer — Couple Families: 33.2% Ardeer — Lone Person: 39.5% Ardeer — One Parent Families: 18.1% Ardeer — Group Household: 6.2% Ardeer — Other Families: 3.0%
Cairnlea 63.7% couple families
Cairnlea — Couple Families: 63.7% Cairnlea — Lone Person: 12.4% Cairnlea — One Parent Families: 19.6% Cairnlea — Group Household: 2.5% Cairnlea — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Ardeer 35.5% renting
Ardeer — Owned Outright: 30.9% Ardeer — Mortgage: 33.6% Ardeer — Renting: 35.5%
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.

Ardeer Cairnlea
Bachelor Degree 11.9% / 14.6%
Ardeer — Bachelor Degree: 11.9% Cairnlea — Bachelor Degree: 14.6%
Certificate III & IV 10.5% / 8.3%
Ardeer — Certificate III & IV: 10.5% Cairnlea — Certificate III & IV: 8.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 6.7%
Ardeer — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Cairnlea — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 4.7% / 2.8%
Ardeer — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7% Cairnlea — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.1%
Ardeer — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% 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.

Ardeer Cairnlea
Vietnam 9.2% / 21.0%
Ardeer — Vietnam: 9.2% Cairnlea — Vietnam: 21.0%
India 3.8% / 2.6%
Ardeer — India: 3.8% Cairnlea — India: 2.6%
Philippines 1.8% / 4.5%
Ardeer — Philippines: 1.8% Cairnlea — Philippines: 4.5%
New Zealand 2.3% / 1.1%
Ardeer — New Zealand: 2.3% Cairnlea — New Zealand: 1.1%
China 1.2% / 1.3%
Ardeer — China: 1.2% Cairnlea — China: 1.3%
Pakistan — / 1.3%
Ardeer — Pakistan: not among its largest Cairnlea — Pakistan: 1.3%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Ardeer 76.6% houses
Ardeer — Houses: 76.6% Ardeer — Townhouses: 20.0% Ardeer — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Cairnlea 88.3% houses
Cairnlea — Houses: 88.3% Cairnlea — Townhouses: 7.5% Cairnlea — Flats / Apartments: 4.1%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Ardeer Cairnlea
Median house price $700,000 $959,000
Median unit price $527,500 $407,500
Median land price $647,500 $801,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 38 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.

Ardeer Cairnlea
3 bed $712K / $811K
Ardeer — 3 bed: $712K (53 sales) Cairnlea — 3 bed: $811K (42 sales)

53 vs 42 sales

4 bed $850K / $1M
Ardeer — 4 bed: $850K (9 sales) Cairnlea — 4 bed: $1M (62 sales)

9 vs 62 sales

Zoning mix

Ardeer has more industrially zoned land (18% vs 2%).

Ardeer Cairnlea
Residential 46% 66%
Parks and recreation 17% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 18% 4%
Industrial 18% 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

Ardeer 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.

Ardeer Cairnlea
Houses 4.2%
$550/wk on $675K
 3.5%
$710/wk on $1.05M
Units 4.3%
$520/wk on $624K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Ardeer Cairnlea
House price Higher than 37% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Income Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 71% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 23% of VIC —

Liveability

Cairnlea is more walkable (82 vs 58); Cairnlea scores higher overall (59 vs 42).

Ardeer Cairnlea
Grade C B
Score 42/100 59/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Cairnlea carries more bushfire risk (32 vs 0); Ardeer carries more crime risk (81 vs 50).

Ardeer Cairnlea
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
32/100
Crime High
81/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood Moderate
55/100
 Moderate
45/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 21
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Ardeer Cairnlea
Inside the suburb 2 3
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 8.8 km
 None

Schools in Ardeer

  • Mother of God School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Ardeer Primary School Government · Primary below 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

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

Mobility

Ardeer Cairnlea
Walkability score 58/100 82/100
Distance to Melbourne 23.3 km 24.5 km
+5% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 28 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 76.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 73.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.5%
postcode 3022
 1.0%
postcode 3023
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 24
postcode 3022
 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.

Ardeer Cairnlea
Car (driver) 62.8% / 66.8%
Ardeer — Car (driver): 62.8% Cairnlea — Car (driver): 66.8%
Worked from Home 25.3% / 22.0%
Ardeer — Worked from Home: 25.3% Cairnlea — Worked from Home: 22.0%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 5.9%
Ardeer — Car (passenger): 3.9% Cairnlea — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Train 4.8% / 4.0%
Ardeer — Train: 4.8% Cairnlea — Train: 4.0%
Walked Only 1.4% / 0.7%
Ardeer — Walked Only: 1.4% Cairnlea — Walked Only: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.8%).

Setting

Ardeer Cairnlea
Elevation 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 60 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.7 km 12.9 km

NBN connectivity

Ardeer Cairnlea
Connectivity score 76/100 74/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 4%
1,429 premises
 52%
2,878 premises

Climate

Ardeer Cairnlea
Annual rainfall 482 mm 534 mm
Summer max (Jan) 25.9°C 26.7°C
Winter min (Jul) 6.2°C 6.5°C

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Ardeer Cairnlea
Division Fraser
same for both
Member Daniel Mulino
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Ardeer

Middle-Ring Multicultural River Townhouses

Cairnlea

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Ardeer

Ardeer vs St Albans Ardeer vs Sunshine West Ardeer vs Deer Park Ardeer vs Sunshine Ardeer vs Albion

Other comparisons with Cairnlea

Cairnlea vs St Albans Cairnlea vs Deer Park Cairnlea vs Albanvale Cairnlea vs Albion
Full data on Ardeer 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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