Beaconsfield Upper vs Pakenham

Pakenham is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 42 in Beaconsfield Upper. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Beaconsfield Upper, the large majority of households are couple families. In Pakenham, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Beaconsfield Upper: a median of $1.32 million, against $700,000 in Pakenham. On these figures, Beaconsfield Upper tends to suit couples, while Pakenham suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Beaconsfield Upper carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 74/100)
  • Pakenham has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 1)

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

First-home buyers

Pakenham

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($525,000 vs $1,155,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($700,000 vs $1,322,500)
  • But Beaconsfield Upper leaves households under less mortgage stress (19% vs 24%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Beaconsfield Upper leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 21%)
  • Pakenham has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 4%)

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

  • Beaconsfield Upper sits closer to the CBD (55.4 km vs 62.4 km)
  • Pakenham is more walkable (94/100 vs 32/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Pakenham

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (14% vs 0%)
  • has more GPs (13 vs 1)
  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 32/100)
  • But Beaconsfield Upper carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

Pakenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.6% vs 4.8%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
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.

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Walkability 32 / 94
Beaconsfield Upper — Walkability: 32/100 Pakenham — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 76 / 26
Beaconsfield Upper — Safety: 76/100 Pakenham — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 32 / 44
Beaconsfield Upper — Low fire risk: 32/100 Pakenham — Low fire risk: 44/100
Low flood risk 78 / 22
Beaconsfield Upper — Low flood risk: 78/100 Pakenham — Low flood risk: 22/100

Demographics

Pakenham has more residents (54,118 vs 2,997); Beaconsfield Upper has higher household incomes ($143,260 vs $86,528).

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Population 2,997 54,118
+1706% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +4.8% +16.6%
Median age 42 33
Median household income $143,260/yr
+40% vs other
 $86,528/yr
Median weekly rent $368/wk
+5% vs other
 $351/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
0-4 5.0% / 8.3%
Beaconsfield Upper — 0-4: 5.0% Pakenham — 0-4: 8.3%
5-14 15.5% / 15.7%
Beaconsfield Upper — 5-14: 15.5% Pakenham — 5-14: 15.7%
15-19 8.1% / 5.7%
Beaconsfield Upper — 15-19: 8.1% Pakenham — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 5.4% / 6.1%
Beaconsfield Upper — 20-24: 5.4% Pakenham — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 6.7% / 17.6%
Beaconsfield Upper — 25-34: 6.7% Pakenham — 25-34: 17.6%
35-44 12.9% / 15.7%
Beaconsfield Upper — 35-44: 12.9% Pakenham — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 15.3% / 11.0%
Beaconsfield Upper — 45-54: 15.3% Pakenham — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 15.0% / 8.0%
Beaconsfield Upper — 55-64: 15.0% Pakenham — 55-64: 8.0%
65-74 10.0% / 6.3%
Beaconsfield Upper — 65-74: 10.0% Pakenham — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 4.5% / 4.1%
Beaconsfield Upper — 75-84: 4.5% Pakenham — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.3% / 1.5%
Beaconsfield Upper — 85+: 1.3% Pakenham — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Beaconsfield Upper 75.5% couple families
Beaconsfield Upper — Couple Families: 75.5% Beaconsfield Upper — Lone Person: 14.8% Beaconsfield Upper — One Parent Families: 7.7% Beaconsfield Upper — Group Household: 1.1% Beaconsfield Upper — Other Families: 0.8%
Pakenham 47.9% couple families
Pakenham — Couple Families: 47.9% Pakenham — Lone Person: 27.6% Pakenham — One Parent Families: 19.5% Pakenham — Group Household: 3.6% Pakenham — Other Families: 1.5%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Beaconsfield Upper 4.0% renting
Beaconsfield Upper — Owned Outright: 39.8% Beaconsfield Upper — Mortgage: 56.3% Beaconsfield Upper — Renting: 4.0%
Pakenham 32.2% renting
Pakenham — Owned Outright: 19.5% Pakenham — Mortgage: 48.3% Pakenham — Renting: 32.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Certificate III & IV 16.5% / 15.7%
Beaconsfield Upper — Certificate III & IV: 16.5% Pakenham — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 12.4% / 9.0%
Beaconsfield Upper — Bachelor Degree: 12.4% Pakenham — Bachelor Degree: 9.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.0% / 8.3%
Beaconsfield Upper — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0% Pakenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 3.2%
Beaconsfield Upper — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Pakenham — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.4%
Beaconsfield Upper — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Pakenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

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

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.

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
England 4.2% / 3.2%
Beaconsfield Upper — England: 4.2% Pakenham — England: 3.2%
India 0.3% / 6.0%
Beaconsfield Upper — India: 0.3% Pakenham — India: 6.0%
New Zealand 0.9% / 1.9%
Beaconsfield Upper — New Zealand: 0.9% Pakenham — New Zealand: 1.9%
Sri Lanka 0.3% / 2.0%
Beaconsfield Upper — Sri Lanka: 0.3% Pakenham — Sri Lanka: 2.0%
Philippines — / 1.2%
Beaconsfield Upper — Philippines: not among its largest Pakenham — Philippines: 1.2%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Beaconsfield Upper — South Africa: 0.6% Pakenham — South Africa: not among its largest
Netherlands 0.6% / —
Beaconsfield Upper — Netherlands: 0.6% Pakenham — Netherlands: not among its largest
Scotland 0.4% / —
Beaconsfield Upper — Scotland: 0.4% Pakenham — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.0%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Beaconsfield Upper 99.9% houses
Beaconsfield Upper — Houses: 99.9% Beaconsfield Upper — Townhouses: 0.0% Beaconsfield Upper — Flats / Apartments: 0.1%
Pakenham 86.4% houses
Pakenham — Houses: 86.4% Pakenham — Townhouses: 12.7% Pakenham — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Median house price $1,322,500 $700,000
Median unit price — $515,000
Median land price $1,155,500 $525,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 37 days
from 14 sales
 28 days
from 638 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.

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
3 bed $980K / $662K
Beaconsfield Upper — 3 bed: $980K (16 sales) Pakenham — 3 bed: $662K (767 sales)

16 vs 767 sales

4 bed $1.35M / $750K
Beaconsfield Upper — 4 bed: $1.35M (30 sales) Pakenham — 4 bed: $750K (598 sales)

30 vs 598 sales

5 bed $1.54M / $855K
Beaconsfield Upper — 5 bed: $1.54M (6 sales) Pakenham — 5 bed: $855K (39 sales)

6 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

Beaconsfield Upper has more land zoned for conservation (58% vs 3%); Pakenham has more rural and farming land (45% vs 31%).

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Environmental 58% 3%
Rural and farming 31% 45%
Residential 4% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 8%
Other and special use 0% 6%
Industrial 0% 5%
Parks and recreation 3%
same for both
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

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
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.

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Houses — 4.2%
$580/wk on $718K
Units — 4.9%
$510/wk on $545K

Ranking within VIC

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
House price Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 34% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 71% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 54% of VIC

Liveability

Pakenham is more walkable (94 vs 32); Beaconsfield Upper scores higher overall (67 vs 36).

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Grade B C
Score 67/100 36/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Pakenham carries more flood risk (78 vs 22); Pakenham carries more crime risk (74 vs 24).

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Bushfire Moderate
68/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime Low
24/100
 High
74/100
Flood Low
22/100
 High
78/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Inside the suburb 1 15
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1 7
Rated below peers 0 4
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Berwick, 8.1 km
 None

Schools in Beaconsfield Upper

  • Beaconsfield Upper Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Pakenham

  • Beaconhills College Independent · Combined above peers
  • Kuyim Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Lakeside College Independent · Combined at peers
  • Pakenham Consolidated School Government · Primary at peers
  • Pakenham Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Pakenham Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Supermarkets 1 9
Cafes & restaurants 3 18
Parks & reserves 9 26
Childcare 4 39
GPs 1 13
Pharmacies 1 8
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 1 6
Fuel stations 0 10
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 22 43

Mobility

Pakenham sits further from the CBD (62.4 km vs 55.4 km).

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Walkability score 32/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 55.4 km 62.4 km
+13% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 54 min 53 min
Electric vehicle share 1.2%
postcode 3808
 0.8%
postcode 3810
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 56
postcode 3808
 43
postcode 3810

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.

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Car (driver) 64.4% / 71.5%
Beaconsfield Upper — Car (driver): 64.4% Pakenham — Car (driver): 71.5%
Worked from Home 29.9% / 18.4%
Beaconsfield Upper — Worked from Home: 29.9% Pakenham — Worked from Home: 18.4%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.9%
Beaconsfield Upper — Car (passenger): 4.1% Pakenham — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Train 0.6% / 3.5%
Beaconsfield Upper — Train: 0.6% Pakenham — Train: 3.5%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.0%
Beaconsfield Upper — Walked Only: 1.0% Pakenham — Walked Only: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (71.5%).

Setting

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Elevation 206 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.3 km 16.4 km

NBN connectivity

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Connectivity score 70/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 50%
982 premises
 59%
21,915 premises

Climate

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Annual rainfall 781 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 20.8 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ 0.98 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Average residential rate $1,880/yr
same for both
Council Cardinia
same for both

Federal electorate

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Division La Trobe
same for both
Member Jason Wood
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Beaconsfield Upper

Acreage Outer Premium

Pakenham

Family Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Beaconsfield Upper

Beaconsfield Upper vs Officer Beaconsfield Upper vs Beaconsfield Beaconsfield Upper vs Emerald Beaconsfield Upper vs Pakenham Upper Beaconsfield Upper vs Harkaway Beaconsfield Upper vs Narre Warren East

Other comparisons with Pakenham

Pakenham vs Officer Pakenham vs Pakenham Upper Pakenham vs Officer South Pakenham vs Nar Nar Goon Pakenham vs Nar Nar Goon North Pakenham vs Pakenham South
Full data on Beaconsfield Upper Full data on Pakenham
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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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