Frankston South vs Baxter

Baxter is the younger of the two, with a median age of 40 against 44 in Frankston South. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Frankston South, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Frankston South: a median of $1.2 million, against $754,000 in Baxter, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Frankston South tends to suit families with children and couples, while Baxter suits people living alone and 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

Frankston South

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (5 vs 1)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 3)
  • has more parks and reserves (26 vs 6)
  • But Baxter has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Baxter

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($753,750 vs $1,200,000)
  • has cheaper units ($650,000 vs $762,500)

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

Renters

Baxter

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($360/wk vs $420/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Frankston South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (57.4 km vs 61.1 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Frankston South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (41/100 vs 89/100)

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

Investors

Baxter

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.5% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Frankston South Baxter
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.

Frankston South Baxter
Walkability 52 / 58
Frankston South — Walkability: 52/100 Baxter — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 59 / 11
Frankston South — Safety: 59/100 Baxter — Safety: 11/100
Low fire risk 68 / 100
Frankston South — Low fire risk: 68/100 Baxter — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Frankston South — Low flood risk: 100/100 Baxter — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Frankston South has more residents (18,801 vs 2,166); Frankston South has higher household incomes ($105,976 vs $77,636).

Frankston South Baxter
Population 18,801
+88% vs other
 2,166
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.3% +0.2%
Median age 44 40
Median household income $105,976/yr
+27% vs other
 $77,636/yr
Median weekly rent $420/wk
+14% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Frankston South Baxter
0-4 5.1% / 5.7%
Frankston South — 0-4: 5.1% Baxter — 0-4: 5.7%
5-14 14.0% / 9.0%
Frankston South — 5-14: 14.0% Baxter — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 6.3% / 5.2%
Frankston South — 15-19: 6.3% Baxter — 15-19: 5.2%
20-24 4.6% / 5.7%
Frankston South — 20-24: 4.6% Baxter — 20-24: 5.7%
25-34 8.3% / 16.8%
Frankston South — 25-34: 8.3% Baxter — 25-34: 16.8%
35-44 12.6% / 11.6%
Frankston South — 35-44: 12.6% Baxter — 35-44: 11.6%
45-54 14.4% / 11.4%
Frankston South — 45-54: 14.4% Baxter — 45-54: 11.4%
55-64 12.6% / 15.1%
Frankston South — 55-64: 12.6% Baxter — 55-64: 15.1%
65-74 10.6% / 11.2%
Frankston South — 65-74: 10.6% Baxter — 65-74: 11.2%
75-84 7.3% / 6.5%
Frankston South — 75-84: 7.3% Baxter — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 4.0% / 1.5%
Frankston South — 85+: 4.0% Baxter — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Frankston South 51.0% couple families
Frankston South — Couple Families: 51.0% Frankston South — Lone Person: 31.4% Frankston South — One Parent Families: 14.6% Frankston South — Group Household: 2.2% Frankston South — Other Families: 0.7%
Baxter 37.0% couple families
Baxter — Couple Families: 37.0% Baxter — Lone Person: 42.3% Baxter — One Parent Families: 17.7% Baxter — Group Household: 2.1% Baxter — Other Families: 0.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Frankston South 16.9% renting
Frankston South — Owned Outright: 38.6% Frankston South — Mortgage: 44.5% Frankston South — Renting: 16.9%
Baxter 17.1% renting
Baxter — Owned Outright: 34.5% Baxter — Mortgage: 48.4% Baxter — Renting: 17.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Frankston South Baxter
Certificate III & IV 13.1% / 21.9%
Frankston South — Certificate III & IV: 13.1% Baxter — Certificate III & IV: 21.9%
Bachelor Degree 14.9% / 8.0%
Frankston South — Bachelor Degree: 14.9% Baxter — Bachelor Degree: 8.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.9% / 7.8%
Frankston South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.9% Baxter — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 4.0% / 1.7%
Frankston South — Postgraduate Degree: 4.0% Baxter — Postgraduate Degree: 1.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.9% / 1.3%
Frankston South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9% Baxter — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.9%).

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.

Frankston South Baxter
England 7.3% / 5.3%
Frankston South — England: 7.3% Baxter — England: 5.3%
New Zealand 1.4% / 1.4%
Frankston South — New Zealand: 1.4% Baxter — New Zealand: 1.4%
Scotland 1.1% / 0.8%
Frankston South — Scotland: 1.1% Baxter — Scotland: 0.8%
Germany 0.7% / 0.9%
Frankston South — Germany: 0.7% Baxter — Germany: 0.9%
China 1.0% / —
Frankston South — China: 1.0% Baxter — China: not among its largest
India 0.9% / —
Frankston South — India: 0.9% Baxter — India: not among its largest
Netherlands — / 0.6%
Frankston South — Netherlands: not among its largest Baxter — Netherlands: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (7.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Frankston South 85.9% houses
Frankston South — Houses: 85.9% Frankston South — Townhouses: 11.8% Frankston South — Flats / Apartments: 2.3%
Baxter 87.3% houses
Baxter — Houses: 87.3% Baxter — Townhouses: 12.8% Baxter — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Frankston South Baxter
Median house price $1,200,000 $753,750
Median unit price $762,500 $650,000
Median land price $880,000 $945,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 196 sales
 19 days
from 7 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.

Frankston South Baxter
3 bed $1.04M / $748K
Frankston South — 3 bed: $1.04M (164 sales) Baxter — 3 bed: $748K (57 sales)

164 vs 57 sales

4 bed $1.26M / $852K
Frankston South — 4 bed: $1.26M (171 sales) Baxter — 4 bed: $852K (17 sales)

171 vs 17 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.

Frankston South Baxter
2 bed $721K / $600K
Frankston South — 2 bed: $721K (27 sales) Baxter — 2 bed: $600K (5 sales)

27 vs 5 sales

3 bed $796K / $666K
Frankston South — 3 bed: $796K (24 sales) Baxter — 3 bed: $666K (8 sales)

24 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Baxter has more rural and farming land (83% vs 0%).

Frankston South Baxter
Rural and farming 0% 83%
Residential 72% 7%
Parks and recreation 16% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 8%
Environmental 5% 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

Frankston South Baxter
New dwellings approved 725
across Frankston
 791
across Mornington Peninsula
Approvals change year on year -47% +9%

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.

Frankston South Baxter
Houses 3.1%
$775/wk on $1.3M
 4.5%
$650/wk on $755K
Units 4.3%
$578/wk on $698K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Frankston South Baxter
House price Higher than 75% of VIC Higher than 54% of VIC
Income Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Schools Higher than 14% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 86% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 71% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 17% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 22% of VIC —

Liveability

Frankston South Baxter
Grade B
same for both
Score 59/100 56/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Frankston South carries more bushfire risk (32 vs 0); Baxter carries more crime risk (89 vs 41).

Frankston South Baxter
Bushfire Low
32/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
41/100
 High
89/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion Low
39/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Frankston South Baxter
Inside the suburb 5 1
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Frankston South

  • Derinya Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Mount Erin Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • St Augustine's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Mount Erin Secondary College-Mount Erin Deaf Facility Government · Secondary
  • Woodleigh School - Minimbah Campus Independent · Combined

Schools in Baxter

  • Baxter Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Frankston South Baxter
Supermarkets 1
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 4 2
Parks & reserves 26 6
Childcare 14 3
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 3 5
Waterways 17 3

Mobility

Baxter sits further from the CBD (61.1 km vs 57.4 km).

Frankston South Baxter
Walkability score 52/100 58/100
Distance to Melbourne 57.4 km 61.1 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 51 min
same for both
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 41/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 124.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 8.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 3 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.0%
postcode 3199
 0.9%
postcode 3911
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3199
 45
postcode 3911

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.

Frankston South Baxter
Car (driver) 60.5% / 77.6%
Frankston South — Car (driver): 60.5% Baxter — Car (driver): 77.6%
Worked from Home 32.4% / 15.1%
Frankston South — Worked from Home: 32.4% Baxter — Worked from Home: 15.1%
Car (passenger) 4.2% / 2.8%
Frankston South — Car (passenger): 4.2% Baxter — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 1.2% / 2.7%
Frankston South — Walked Only: 1.2% Baxter — Walked Only: 2.7%
Train 1.0% / 1.4%
Frankston South — Train: 1.0% Baxter — Train: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (77.6%).

Setting

Frankston South Baxter
Elevation 83 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 51 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.0 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 6.7 km

NBN connectivity

Frankston South Baxter
Connectivity score 92/100 84/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 64%
7,521 premises
 46%
1,083 premises

Climate

Frankston South Baxter
Annual rainfall —
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.3°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Frankston South Baxter
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

Frankston South Baxter
Average residential rate $1,795/yr $1,659/yr
Council Frankston Mornington Peninsula

Federal electorate

Frankston South Baxter
Division Dunkley Flinders
Member Jodie Belyea Zoe Mckenzie
Party Australian Labor Party Liberal

First Home Owner Grant

Frankston South Baxter
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Frankston South

Large Blocks Outer Parks River

Baxter

Acreage Outer Quiet Trains

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Frankston South

Frankston South vs Frankston Frankston South vs Langwarrin Frankston South vs Mount Eliza Frankston South vs Langwarrin South

Other comparisons with Baxter

Baxter vs Mount Eliza Baxter vs Somerville Baxter vs Pearcedale Baxter vs Langwarrin South Baxter vs Moorooduc
Full data on Frankston South Full data on Baxter
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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