Kalimna West vs Lakes Entrance

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Lakes Entrance, most households are people living alone. On these figures, Kalimna West tends to suit share households, while Lakes Entrance suits people living alone.

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

Lakes Entrance

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)
  • has more childcare (5 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Kalimna West has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 81%)

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

Kalimna West

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (20% vs 29%)
  • has cheaper rent ($225/wk vs $252/wk)
  • But Lakes Entrance has a bigger rental market to choose from (29% vs 5%)

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

Commuting to the city

Kalimna West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (316.4 km vs 321.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Kalimna West carries lower crime risk (77/100 vs 94/100)
  • Lakes Entrance has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Investors

Kalimna West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (14.2% vs 7.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
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.

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Walkability 0 / 0
Kalimna West — Walkability: 0/100 Lakes Entrance — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 23 / 6
Kalimna West — Safety: 23/100 Lakes Entrance — Safety: 6/100
Low fire risk 39 / 44
Kalimna West — Low fire risk: 39/100 Lakes Entrance — Low fire risk: 44/100
Low flood risk 85 / 43
Kalimna West — Low flood risk: 85/100 Lakes Entrance — Low flood risk: 43/100

Demographics

Lakes Entrance has more residents (5,145 vs 161); Kalimna West has higher household incomes ($59,748 vs $45,032).

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Population 161 5,145
+3096% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +14.2% +7.0%
Median age 57 55
Median household income $59,748/yr
+25% vs other
 $45,032/yr
Median weekly rent $225/wk $252/wk
+12% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
0-4 1.9% / 4.6%
Kalimna West — 0-4: 1.9% Lakes Entrance — 0-4: 4.6%
5-14 5.6% / 10.1%
Kalimna West — 5-14: 5.6% Lakes Entrance — 5-14: 10.1%
15-19 7.5% / 4.3%
Kalimna West — 15-19: 7.5% Lakes Entrance — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 4.3% / 3.1%
Kalimna West — 20-24: 4.3% Lakes Entrance — 20-24: 3.1%
25-34 5.0% / 7.7%
Kalimna West — 25-34: 5.0% Lakes Entrance — 25-34: 7.7%
35-44 9.3% / 9.5%
Kalimna West — 35-44: 9.3% Lakes Entrance — 35-44: 9.5%
45-54 17.4% / 9.6%
Kalimna West — 45-54: 17.4% Lakes Entrance — 45-54: 9.6%
55-64 21.7% / 15.0%
Kalimna West — 55-64: 21.7% Lakes Entrance — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 21.7% / 20.4%
Kalimna West — 65-74: 21.7% Lakes Entrance — 65-74: 20.4%
75-84 9.3% / 11.6%
Kalimna West — 75-84: 9.3% Lakes Entrance — 75-84: 11.6%
85+ 5.0% / 3.8%
Kalimna West — 85+: 5.0% Lakes Entrance — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Kalimna West 40.0% lone person
Kalimna West — Lone Person: 40.0% Kalimna West — Couple Families: 28.9% Kalimna West — One Parent Families: 11.1% Kalimna West — Group Household: 13.3% Kalimna West — Other Families: 6.7%
Lakes Entrance 55.7% lone person
Lakes Entrance — Lone Person: 55.7% Lakes Entrance — Couple Families: 23.3% Lakes Entrance — One Parent Families: 15.9% Lakes Entrance — Group Household: 4.2% Lakes Entrance — Other Families: 0.9%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Kalimna West 5.3% renting
Kalimna West — Owned Outright: 59.6% Kalimna West — Mortgage: 35.1% Kalimna West — Renting: 5.3%
Lakes Entrance 28.9% renting
Lakes Entrance — Owned Outright: 51.2% Lakes Entrance — Mortgage: 19.9% Lakes Entrance — Renting: 28.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Certificate III & IV 18.6% / 17.1%
Kalimna West — Certificate III & IV: 18.6% Lakes Entrance — Certificate III & IV: 17.1%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.7% / 6.3%
Kalimna West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.7% Lakes Entrance — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.3%
Bachelor Degree 6.8% / 6.2%
Kalimna West — Bachelor Degree: 6.8% Lakes Entrance — Bachelor Degree: 6.2%
Postgraduate Degree — / 1.5%
Kalimna West — Postgraduate Degree: not among its largest Lakes Entrance — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.4%
Kalimna West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Lakes Entrance — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.6%).

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.

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
England 6.8% / 4.0%
Kalimna West — England: 6.8% Lakes Entrance — England: 4.0%
Netherlands 1.9% / 0.7%
Kalimna West — Netherlands: 1.9% Lakes Entrance — Netherlands: 0.7%
China 1.9% / —
Kalimna West — China: 1.9% Lakes Entrance — China: not among its largest
Indonesia 1.9% / —
Kalimna West — Indonesia: 1.9% Lakes Entrance — Indonesia: not among its largest
New Zealand — / 1.1%
Kalimna West — New Zealand: not among its largest Lakes Entrance — New Zealand: 1.1%
Italy — / 0.8%
Kalimna West — Italy: not among its largest Lakes Entrance — Italy: 0.8%
Scotland — / 0.6%
Kalimna West — Scotland: not among its largest Lakes Entrance — Scotland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Kalimna West 100.0% houses
Kalimna West — Houses: 100.0% Kalimna West — Townhouses: 0.0% Kalimna West — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Lakes Entrance 81.4% houses
Lakes Entrance — Houses: 81.4% Lakes Entrance — Townhouses: 12.8% Lakes Entrance — Flats / Apartments: 5.8%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Median house price — $535,000
Median unit price — $445,000
Median land price — $196,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 74 days
from 54 sales

Zoning mix

Lakes Entrance has more rural and farming land (54% vs 21%).

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Parks and recreation 78% 20%
Rural and farming 21% 54%
Residential 0% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 3%
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

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
New dwellings approved 386
across East Gippsland
same for both
Approvals change year on year +50%
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.

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Houses — 3.9%
$500/wk on $668K
Units — 4.1%
$345/wk on $438K

Ranking within VIC

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
House price — Higher than 18% of VIC
Income Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 93% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 26% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 30% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 61% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 13% of VIC

Liveability

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Grade — D
Score — 28/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Lakes Entrance carries more flood risk (57 vs 15); Lakes Entrance carries more crime risk (94 vs 77).

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Bushfire Moderate
61/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime High
77/100
 High
94/100
Flood Low
15/100
 Moderate
57/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 High
90/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Kalimna West

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

Schools in Lakes Entrance

  • Lakes Entrance Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Brendan's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Lakes Entrance Secondary College Government · Secondary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Supermarkets 0 3
Cafes & restaurants 0 14
Parks & reserves 0 5
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 0 2
EV chargers 0 3
Waterways 6 8

Mobility

Lakes Entrance sits further from the CBD (321.5 km vs 316.4 km).

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 316.4 km 321.5 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 244 min 242 min
Electric vehicle share 0.3%
postcode 3909
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 41
postcode 3909
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.

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Car (driver) 70.2% / 75.8%
Kalimna West — Car (driver): 70.2% Lakes Entrance — Car (driver): 75.8%
Worked from Home 29.8% / 11.2%
Kalimna West — Worked from Home: 29.8% Lakes Entrance — Worked from Home: 11.2%
Car (passenger) — / 6.9%
Kalimna West — Car (passenger): not among its largest Lakes Entrance — Car (passenger): 6.9%
Walked Only — / 4.7%
Kalimna West — Walked Only: not among its largest Lakes Entrance — Walked Only: 4.7%
Bicycle — / 0.8%
Kalimna West — Bicycle: not among its largest Lakes Entrance — Bicycle: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (75.8%).

Setting

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Elevation 92 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 73 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 7.5 km 2.9 km
2.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Connectivity score 30/100 71/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
86 premises
 50%
3,598 premises

Climate

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Annual rainfall 620 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.5°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 4.5°C
same for both

Council rates

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Average residential rate $1,807/yr
same for both
Council East Gippsland
same for both

Federal electorate

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Division Gippsland
same for both
Member Darren Chester
same for both
Party The Nationals
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Kalimna West Lakes Entrance
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Kalimna West

Retirees Rural

Lakes Entrance

Affordable Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Kalimna West

Kalimna West vs Kalimna Kalimna West vs Swan Reach Kalimna West vs Toorloo Arm Kalimna West vs Nungurner Kalimna West vs Tambo Upper

Other comparisons with Lakes Entrance

Lakes Entrance vs Kalimna Lakes Entrance vs Lake Tyers Beach Lakes Entrance vs Toorloo Arm Lakes Entrance vs Lake Bunga
Full data on Kalimna West Full data on Lakes Entrance
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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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