Bayles vs Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 42 in Bayles. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Bayles, most households are couple families. In Koo Wee Rup, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Bayles tends to suit couples, while Koo Wee Rup suits families with children.

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

Koo Wee Rup

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 1)
  • But Bayles is already more of a family suburb (80% vs 66%)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Koo Wee Rup

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($320/wk vs $425/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Koo Wee Rup

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (45/100 vs 13/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (60 min vs 65 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (71.9 km vs 77 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Koo Wee Rup

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (45/100 vs 13/100)

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

Investors

Koo Wee Rup

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs -3.5%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
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.

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Walkability 13 / 45
Bayles — Walkability: 13/100 Koo Wee Rup — Walkability: 45/100
Safety 35 / 28
Bayles — Safety: 35/100 Koo Wee Rup — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 88 / 85
Bayles — Low fire risk: 88/100 Koo Wee Rup — Low fire risk: 85/100
Low flood risk 1 / 1
Bayles — Low flood risk: 1/100 Koo Wee Rup — Low flood risk: 1/100

Demographics

Koo Wee Rup has more residents (4,047 vs 445); Bayles rents higher ($425/wk vs $320/wk).

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Population 445 4,047
+809% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.5% +13.1%
Median age 42 34
Median household income $98,644/yr
+6% vs other
 $92,664/yr
Median weekly rent $425/wk
+25% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
0-4 3.8% / 7.6%
Bayles — 0-4: 3.8% Koo Wee Rup — 0-4: 7.6%
5-14 14.8% / 15.2%
Bayles — 5-14: 14.8% Koo Wee Rup — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 6.3% / 6.4%
Bayles — 15-19: 6.3% Koo Wee Rup — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 5.4% / 5.5%
Bayles — 20-24: 5.4% Koo Wee Rup — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 10.3% / 15.5%
Bayles — 25-34: 10.3% Koo Wee Rup — 25-34: 15.5%
35-44 12.8% / 12.5%
Bayles — 35-44: 12.8% Koo Wee Rup — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 13.9% / 11.6%
Bayles — 45-54: 13.9% Koo Wee Rup — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 13.7% / 10.2%
Bayles — 55-64: 13.7% Koo Wee Rup — 55-64: 10.2%
65-74 11.2% / 7.9%
Bayles — 65-74: 11.2% Koo Wee Rup — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 7.2% / 4.8%
Bayles — 75-84: 7.2% Koo Wee Rup — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ — / 2.8%
Bayles — 85+: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — 85+: 2.8%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Bayles 64.3% couple families
Bayles — Couple Families: 64.3% Bayles — Lone Person: 20.4% Bayles — One Parent Families: 15.3% Bayles — Group Household: 0.0% Bayles — Other Families: 0.0%
Koo Wee Rup 49.0% couple families
Koo Wee Rup — Couple Families: 49.0% Koo Wee Rup — Lone Person: 29.5% Koo Wee Rup — One Parent Families: 17.0% Koo Wee Rup — Group Household: 2.5% Koo Wee Rup — 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.

Bayles 10.9% renting
Bayles — Owned Outright: 40.9% Bayles — Mortgage: 48.2% Bayles — Renting: 10.9%
Koo Wee Rup 18.6% renting
Koo Wee Rup — Owned Outright: 27.2% Koo Wee Rup — Mortgage: 54.2% Koo Wee Rup — Renting: 18.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Certificate III & IV 20.0% / 20.2%
Bayles — Certificate III & IV: 20.0% Koo Wee Rup — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.3% / 6.4%
Bayles — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3% Koo Wee Rup — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Bachelor Degree 7.6% / 4.7%
Bayles — Bachelor Degree: 7.6% Koo Wee Rup — Bachelor Degree: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 0.9% / 1.1%
Bayles — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 0.9% Koo Wee Rup — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%
Postgraduate Degree — / 0.7%
Bayles — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
England 4.3% / 2.9%
Bayles — England: 4.3% Koo Wee Rup — England: 2.9%
New Zealand 1.8% / 1.5%
Bayles — New Zealand: 1.8% Koo Wee Rup — New Zealand: 1.5%
Italy — / 1.0%
Bayles — Italy: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — Italy: 1.0%
Nepal 0.9% / —
Bayles — Nepal: 0.9% Koo Wee Rup — Nepal: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.9% / —
Bayles — Netherlands: 0.9% Koo Wee Rup — Netherlands: not among its largest
China 0.7% / —
Bayles — China: 0.7% Koo Wee Rup — China: not among its largest
Philippines — / 0.4%
Bayles — Philippines: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — Philippines: 0.4%
India — / 0.3%
Bayles — India: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — India: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Bayles 97.3% houses
Bayles — Houses: 97.3% Bayles — Flats / Apartments: 0.7% Bayles — Townhouses: 2.0%
Koo Wee Rup 90.1% houses
Koo Wee Rup — Houses: 90.1% Koo Wee Rup — Flats / Apartments: 9.2% Koo Wee Rup — Townhouses: 0.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Median house price — $725,000
Median unit price — $502,500
Median land price — $447,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 43 days
from 62 sales

Zoning mix

Koo Wee Rup has more land zoned for conservation (10% vs 0%).

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Rural and farming 48% 38%
Other and special use 45% 37%
Environmental 0% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 6% 7%
Parks and recreation 1% 3%
Residential 0% 3%
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

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
New dwellings approved 1,323
across Cardinia
same for both
Approvals change year on year +13%
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.

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Houses — 4.4%
$660/wk on $788K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
House price — Higher than 49% of VIC
Income Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 10% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 64% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 24% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 87% of VIC

Liveability

Koo Wee Rup is more walkable (45 vs 13).

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Grade — D
Score — 25/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Bushfire Low
12/100
 Low
15/100
Crime Moderate
65/100
 High
72/100
Flood High
99/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
68/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Bayles

  • Bayles Regional Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Koo Wee Rup

  • Koo Wee Rup Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Koo Wee Rup Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St John the Baptist's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 4
Childcare 1 7
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 2
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 2 3

Mobility

Bayles sits further from the CBD (77 km vs 71.9 km).

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Walkability score 13/100 45/100
Distance to Melbourne 77 km
+7% vs other
 71.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 65 min 60 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3981
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 51
postcode 3981
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.

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Car (driver) 61.8% / 79.3%
Bayles — Car (driver): 61.8% Koo Wee Rup — Car (driver): 79.3%
Worked from Home 29.1% / 13.8%
Bayles — Worked from Home: 29.1% Koo Wee Rup — Worked from Home: 13.8%
Car (passenger) 6.5% / 4.3%
Bayles — Car (passenger): 6.5% Koo Wee Rup — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Walked Only 2.5% / 1.4%
Bayles — Walked Only: 2.5% Koo Wee Rup — Walked Only: 1.4%
Train — / 0.9%
Bayles — Train: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — Train: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.3%).

Setting

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Elevation 14 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.3 km 4.7 km

NBN connectivity

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Connectivity score 30/100 76/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
178 premises
 60%
1,814 premises

Climate

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Annual rainfall 1,350 mm —
Summer max (Jan) — 24.5°C
Winter min (Jul) — 8.3°C

Council rates

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Average residential rate $1,880/yr
same for both
Council Cardinia
same for both

Federal electorate

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Division La Trobe
same for both
Member Jason Wood
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Bayles Koo Wee Rup
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Bayles

Rural

Koo Wee Rup

Acreage Family

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Bayles

Bayles vs Nar Nar Goon Bayles vs Catani Bayles vs Yannathan Bayles vs Cora Lynn Bayles vs Monomeith

Other comparisons with Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup vs Tooradin Koo Wee Rup vs Cardinia Koo Wee Rup vs Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup vs Caldermeade Koo Wee Rup vs Dalmore Koo Wee Rup vs Monomeith
Full data on Bayles Full data on Koo Wee Rup
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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