Officer South vs Pakenham South

Officer South is the younger of the two, with a median age of 31 against 46 in Pakenham South. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Officer South, about half of households are couple families. In Pakenham South, most households are couple families. On these figures, Officer South tends to suit young adults, people living alone, and families with children, while Pakenham South suits couples.

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

Pakenham South

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • is already more of a family suburb (78% vs 59%)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 78%)

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

First-home buyers

Officer South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (24% vs 30%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Pakenham South

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (26% vs 7%)
  • has cheaper rent ($231/wk vs $393/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 19%)

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

Commuting to the city

Officer South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (58.5 km vs 70.1 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Pakenham South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 16%)

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

Investors

Officer South

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (1445.3% vs 6.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Officer South Pakenham South
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.

Officer South Pakenham South
Walkability 0 / 0
Officer South — Walkability: 0/100 Pakenham South — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 44 / 49
Officer South — Safety: 44/100 Pakenham South — Safety: 49/100
Low fire risk 68 / 100
Officer South — Low fire risk: 68/100 Pakenham South — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 13 / 1
Officer South — Low flood risk: 13/100 Pakenham South — Low flood risk: 1/100

Demographics

Officer South has more residents (1,159 vs 229); Officer South rents higher ($393/wk vs $231/wk).

Officer South Pakenham South
Population 1,159
+80% vs other
 229
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1445.3% +6.0%
Median age 31 46
Median household income $108,420/yr
+17% vs other
 $89,856/yr
Median weekly rent $393/wk
+41% vs other
 $231/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Officer South Pakenham South
0-4 9.6% / 3.1%
Officer South — 0-4: 9.6% Pakenham South — 0-4: 3.1%
5-14 13.0% / 10.5%
Officer South — 5-14: 13.0% Pakenham South — 5-14: 10.5%
15-19 2.2% / 6.1%
Officer South — 15-19: 2.2% Pakenham South — 15-19: 6.1%
20-24 5.1% / 8.3%
Officer South — 20-24: 5.1% Pakenham South — 20-24: 8.3%
25-34 27.6% / 10.5%
Officer South — 25-34: 27.6% Pakenham South — 25-34: 10.5%
35-44 14.4% / 8.3%
Officer South — 35-44: 14.4% Pakenham South — 35-44: 8.3%
45-54 4.8% / 14.0%
Officer South — 45-54: 4.8% Pakenham South — 45-54: 14.0%
55-64 7.0% / 13.5%
Officer South — 55-64: 7.0% Pakenham South — 55-64: 13.5%
65-74 12.0% / 15.3%
Officer South — 65-74: 12.0% Pakenham South — 65-74: 15.3%
75-84 4.2% / 7.4%
Officer South — 75-84: 4.2% Pakenham South — 75-84: 7.4%
85+ 0.3% / 1.7%
Officer South — 85+: 0.3% Pakenham South — 85+: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Officer South 53.9% couple families
Officer South — Couple Families: 53.9% Officer South — Lone Person: 36.2% Officer South — One Parent Families: 5.5% Officer South — Group Household: 3.1% Officer South — Other Families: 1.4%
Pakenham South 67.4% couple families
Pakenham South — Couple Families: 67.4% Pakenham South — Lone Person: 21.7% Pakenham South — One Parent Families: 10.9% Pakenham South — Group Household: 0.0% Pakenham South — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Officer South 7.1% renting
Officer South — Owned Outright: 29.6% Officer South — Mortgage: 63.4% Officer South — Renting: 7.1%
Pakenham South 25.7% renting
Pakenham South — Owned Outright: 45.7% Pakenham South — Mortgage: 28.6% Pakenham South — Renting: 25.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Officer South Pakenham South
Certificate III & IV 14.7% / 15.3%
Officer South — Certificate III & IV: 14.7% Pakenham South — Certificate III & IV: 15.3%
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 7.0%
Officer South — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Pakenham South — Bachelor Degree: 7.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 6.1%
Officer South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Pakenham South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 1.3%
Officer South — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Pakenham South — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / —
Officer South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Pakenham South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.6%).

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.

Officer South Pakenham South
England 6.0% / 3.9%
Officer South — England: 6.0% Pakenham South — England: 3.9%
India 5.3% / 2.2%
Officer South — India: 5.3% Pakenham South — India: 2.2%
Sri Lanka 5.2% / 1.3%
Officer South — Sri Lanka: 5.2% Pakenham South — Sri Lanka: 1.3%
New Zealand 1.6% / 2.6%
Officer South — New Zealand: 1.6% Pakenham South — New Zealand: 2.6%
Philippines 1.7% / —
Officer South — Philippines: 1.7% Pakenham South — Philippines: not among its largest
Vietnam — / 1.7%
Officer South — Vietnam: not among its largest Pakenham South — Vietnam: 1.7%
Germany — / 1.7%
Officer South — Germany: not among its largest Pakenham South — Germany: 1.7%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Officer South 77.8% houses
Officer South — Houses: 77.8% Officer South — Townhouses: 21.8% Officer South — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Pakenham South 100.0% houses
Pakenham South — Houses: 100.0% Pakenham South — Townhouses: 0.0% Pakenham South — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Officer South Pakenham South
Median house price $861,500 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $1,034,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 37 days
from 51 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Pakenham South has more rural and farming land (83% vs 35%).

Officer South Pakenham South
Rural and farming 35% 83%
Residential 55% 0%
Other and special use 7% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 4%
Environmental 3% 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

Officer South Pakenham South
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.

Officer South Pakenham South
Houses 3.7%
$625/wk on $885K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Officer South Pakenham South
House price Higher than 59% of VIC —
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 59% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 16% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 70% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of VIC —

Liveability

Officer South Pakenham South
Grade C —
Score 41/100 —
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Officer South carries more bushfire risk (32 vs 0); Pakenham South carries more flood risk (99 vs 87).

Officer South Pakenham South
Bushfire Low
32/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
56/100
 Moderate
51/100
Flood High
87/100
 High
99/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Officer South Pakenham South
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Berwick, 9.4 km
 None

Amenities in the suburb

Officer South Pakenham South
Parks & reserves 1 0
Waterways 3 1

Mobility

Pakenham South sits further from the CBD (70.1 km vs 58.5 km).

Officer South Pakenham South
Walkability score 0/100
same for both
Distance to Melbourne 58.5 km 70.1 km
+20% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 58 min
Electric vehicle share 1.5%
postcode 3809
 0.8%
postcode 3810
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 62
postcode 3809
 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.

Officer South Pakenham South
Car (driver) 67.4% / 65.0%
Officer South — Car (driver): 67.4% Pakenham South — Car (driver): 65.0%
Worked from Home 28.9% / 20.0%
Officer South — Worked from Home: 28.9% Pakenham South — Worked from Home: 20.0%
Car (passenger) 2.4% / 9.0%
Officer South — Car (passenger): 2.4% Pakenham South — Car (passenger): 9.0%
Walked Only — / 6.0%
Officer South — Walked Only: not among its largest Pakenham South — Walked Only: 6.0%
Train 1.4% / —
Officer South — Train: 1.4% Pakenham South — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (67.4%).

Setting

Officer South Pakenham South
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.9 km 10.1 km

NBN connectivity

Officer South Pakenham South
Connectivity score 87/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 82%
211 premises
 0%
84 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

Officer South Pakenham South
Average residential rate $1,880/yr
same for both
Council Cardinia
same for both

Federal electorate

Officer South Pakenham South
Division La Trobe
same for both
Member Jason Wood
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Officer South

Family River Rural Townhouses Young Families

Pakenham South

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Officer South

Officer South vs Pakenham Officer South vs Clyde North Officer South vs Officer Officer South vs Cardinia

Other comparisons with Pakenham South

Pakenham South vs Pakenham Pakenham South vs Koo Wee Rup Pakenham South vs Nar Nar Goon Pakenham South vs Cardinia
Full data on Officer South Full data on Pakenham South
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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