Gowanbrae vs Jacana

Jacana is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 40 in Gowanbrae. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Gowanbrae, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gowanbrae: a median of $1.02 million, against $628,000 in Jacana, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Gowanbrae tends to suit families with children and couples, while Jacana suits young adults 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

Gowanbrae

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 70/100)
  • is already more of a family suburb (70% vs 58%)
  • But Jacana has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 69%)

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

First-home buyers

Jacana

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper houses ($627,500 vs $1,020,000)
  • has cheaper units ($596,000 vs $745,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Jacana

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (38% vs 13%)
  • has cheaper rent ($335/wk vs $445/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Jacana

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (8% vs 2%)
  • is more walkable (80/100 vs 65/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Gowanbrae

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (24/100 vs 70/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (31% vs 18%)
  • But Jacana is more walkable (80/100 vs 65/100)

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

Investors

Jacana

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.6% vs 3.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Gowanbrae Jacana
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.

Gowanbrae Jacana
Walkability 65 / 80
Gowanbrae — Walkability: 65/100 Jacana — Walkability: 80/100
Safety 76 / 30
Gowanbrae — Safety: 76/100 Jacana — Safety: 30/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Gowanbrae — Low fire risk: 100/100 Jacana — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 67 / 68
Gowanbrae — Low flood risk: 67/100 Jacana — Low flood risk: 68/100

Demographics

Gowanbrae has higher household incomes ($114,816 vs $72,124); Gowanbrae has more residents (2,971 vs 2,187).

Gowanbrae Jacana
Population 2,971
+26% vs other
 2,187
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +7.1% +2.8%
Median age 40 35
Median household income $114,816/yr
+37% vs other
 $72,124/yr
Median weekly rent $445/wk
+25% vs other
 $335/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Gowanbrae Jacana
0-4 5.5% / 6.1%
Gowanbrae — 0-4: 5.5% Jacana — 0-4: 6.1%
5-14 14.3% / 9.0%
Gowanbrae — 5-14: 14.3% Jacana — 5-14: 9.0%
15-19 6.9% / 4.1%
Gowanbrae — 15-19: 6.9% Jacana — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 5.4% / 7.5%
Gowanbrae — 20-24: 5.4% Jacana — 20-24: 7.5%
25-34 11.1% / 22.3%
Gowanbrae — 25-34: 11.1% Jacana — 25-34: 22.3%
35-44 14.0% / 14.5%
Gowanbrae — 35-44: 14.0% Jacana — 35-44: 14.5%
45-54 16.3% / 9.1%
Gowanbrae — 45-54: 16.3% Jacana — 45-54: 9.1%
55-64 10.1% / 11.7%
Gowanbrae — 55-64: 10.1% Jacana — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 7.3% / 8.2%
Gowanbrae — 65-74: 7.3% Jacana — 65-74: 8.2%
75-84 6.7% / 5.6%
Gowanbrae — 75-84: 6.7% Jacana — 75-84: 5.6%
85+ 2.4% / 2.1%
Gowanbrae — 85+: 2.4% Jacana — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Gowanbrae 54.4% couple families
Gowanbrae — Couple Families: 54.4% Gowanbrae — Lone Person: 27.6% Gowanbrae — One Parent Families: 15.6% Gowanbrae — Group Household: 1.7% Gowanbrae — Other Families: 0.7%
Jacana 38.0% couple families
Jacana — Couple Families: 38.0% Jacana — Lone Person: 31.1% Jacana — One Parent Families: 19.5% Jacana — Group Household: 7.5% Jacana — Other Families: 3.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Gowanbrae 12.8% renting
Gowanbrae — Owned Outright: 33.7% Gowanbrae — Mortgage: 53.5% Gowanbrae — Renting: 12.8%
Jacana 38.4% renting
Jacana — Owned Outright: 30.4% Jacana — Mortgage: 31.2% Jacana — Renting: 38.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Gowanbrae Jacana
Bachelor Degree 14.6% / 11.7%
Gowanbrae — Bachelor Degree: 14.6% Jacana — Bachelor Degree: 11.7%
Certificate III & IV 11.5% / 10.6%
Gowanbrae — Certificate III & IV: 11.5% Jacana — Certificate III & IV: 10.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.2% / 7.2%
Gowanbrae — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.2% Jacana — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.2%
Postgraduate Degree 4.5% / 6.4%
Gowanbrae — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5% Jacana — Postgraduate Degree: 6.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 1.3%
Gowanbrae — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Jacana — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.3%

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.

Gowanbrae Jacana
India 2.0% / 4.8%
Gowanbrae — India: 2.0% Jacana — India: 4.8%
Nepal — / 6.1%
Gowanbrae — Nepal: not among its largest Jacana — Nepal: 6.1%
Pakistan — / 4.7%
Gowanbrae — Pakistan: not among its largest Jacana — Pakistan: 4.7%
Vietnam 0.7% / 2.7%
Gowanbrae — Vietnam: 0.7% Jacana — Vietnam: 2.7%
Sri Lanka 1.6% / 1.2%
Gowanbrae — Sri Lanka: 1.6% Jacana — Sri Lanka: 1.2%
China 1.4% / 1.1%
Gowanbrae — China: 1.4% Jacana — China: 1.1%
Fiji 2.0% / —
Gowanbrae — Fiji: 2.0% Jacana — Fiji: not among its largest
Italy 1.8% / —
Gowanbrae — Italy: 1.8% Jacana — Italy: not among its largest
Lebanon — / 1.6%
Gowanbrae — Lebanon: not among its largest Jacana — Lebanon: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Gowanbrae 69.1% houses
Gowanbrae — Houses: 69.1% Gowanbrae — Townhouses: 28.0% Gowanbrae — Flats / Apartments: 2.9%
Jacana 82.3% houses
Jacana — Houses: 82.3% Jacana — Townhouses: 10.0% Jacana — Flats / Apartments: 7.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Gowanbrae Jacana
Median house price $1,020,000 $627,500
Median unit price $745,000 $596,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 26 days
from 10 sales
 22 days
from 9 sales

Zoning mix

Gowanbrae Jacana
Residential 66% 61%
Parks and recreation 19% 24%
Infrastructure and transport 14% 15%
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

Gowanbrae Jacana
New dwellings approved 1,387
across Merri-bek
 3,063
across Hume
Approvals change year on year +68% +0%

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.

Gowanbrae Jacana
Houses 3.8%
$695/wk on $945K
 4.6%
$520/wk on $585K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Gowanbrae Jacana
House price Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
Income Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC

Liveability

Gowanbrae scores higher overall (82 vs 55); Jacana is more walkable (80 vs 65).

Gowanbrae Jacana
Grade A+ B
Score 82/100 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Jacana carries more crime risk (70 vs 24).

Gowanbrae Jacana
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Low
24/100
 High
70/100
Flood Low
33/100
 Low
32/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 Moderate
50/100
Industrial facilities nearby 6
within 5 km
 13
within 5 km

Schools

Gowanbrae Jacana
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Gowanbrae

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Jacana

  • Jacana School for Autism Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Gowanbrae Jacana
Cafes & restaurants 0 1
Parks & reserves 1 3
Childcare 1
same for both
GPs 1
same for both
Pharmacies 0 1
Hospitals 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Gowanbrae Jacana
Walkability score 65/100 80/100
Distance to Melbourne 17.6 km
+10% vs other
 15.9 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 26 min
Public transport score 69/100
Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 31.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 52.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.3%
postcode 3043
 0.3%
postcode 3047
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 27
postcode 3043
 26
postcode 3047

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.

Gowanbrae Jacana
Car (driver) 59.3% / 64.8%
Gowanbrae — Car (driver): 59.3% Jacana — Car (driver): 64.8%
Worked from Home 34.0% / 17.5%
Gowanbrae — Worked from Home: 34.0% Jacana — Worked from Home: 17.5%
Train 2.0% / 8.4%
Gowanbrae — Train: 2.0% Jacana — Train: 8.4%
Car (passenger) 3.5% / 4.5%
Gowanbrae — Car (passenger): 3.5% Jacana — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Bus — / 2.9%
Gowanbrae — Bus: not among its largest Jacana — Bus: 2.9%
Walked Only 0.7% / 1.5%
Gowanbrae — Walked Only: 0.7% Jacana — Walked Only: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (64.8%).

Setting

Gowanbrae Jacana
Elevation 94 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 115 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 15.3 km 17.0 km

NBN connectivity

Gowanbrae Jacana
Connectivity score 100/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 100%
1,155 premises
 53%
975 premises

Climate

Gowanbrae Jacana
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Gowanbrae Jacana
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 18.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Gowanbrae Jacana
Average residential rate $1,914/yr $1,715/yr
Council Merri-bek Hume

Federal electorate

Gowanbrae Jacana
Division Maribyrnong Calwell
Member Jo Briskey Basem Abdo
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Gowanbrae Jacana
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Gowanbrae

Middle-Ring Parks River Townhouses

Jacana

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Gowanbrae

Gowanbrae vs Glenroy Gowanbrae vs Gladstone Park Gowanbrae vs Tullamarine Gowanbrae vs Strathmore Heights

Other comparisons with Jacana

Jacana vs Glenroy Jacana vs Broadmeadows Jacana vs Gladstone Park Jacana vs Westmeadows
Full data on Gowanbrae Full data on Jacana
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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