Officer South vs Pakenham

In both, most households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Officer South: a median of $862,000, against $700,000 in Pakenham, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Officer South tends to suit young adults and people living alone, 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

Pakenham

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (39 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (26 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (15 vs 0)
  • But Officer South carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 74/100)

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 $1,034,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($700,000 vs $861,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Pakenham

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 7%)
  • has cheaper rent ($351/wk vs $393/wk)

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

  • Officer South sits closer to the CBD (58.5 km vs 62.4 km)
  • Pakenham is more walkable (94/100 vs 0/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Pakenham

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (13 vs 0)
  • But Officer South carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 74/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Officer South is growing faster (1445.3% vs 16.6%)
  • Pakenham returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Officer South 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.

Officer South 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.

Officer South Pakenham
Walkability 0 / 94
Officer South — Walkability: 0/100 Pakenham — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 44 / 26
Officer South — Safety: 44/100 Pakenham — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 68 / 44
Officer South — Low fire risk: 68/100 Pakenham — Low fire risk: 44/100
Low flood risk 13 / 22
Officer South — Low flood risk: 13/100 Pakenham — Low flood risk: 22/100

Demographics

Pakenham has more residents (54,118 vs 1,159); Officer South has higher household incomes ($108,420 vs $86,528).

Officer South Pakenham
Population 1,159 54,118
+4569% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1445.3% +16.6%
Median age 31 33
Median household income $108,420/yr
+20% vs other
 $86,528/yr
Median weekly rent $393/wk
+11% vs other
 $351/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Officer South Pakenham
0-4 9.6% / 8.3%
Officer South — 0-4: 9.6% Pakenham — 0-4: 8.3%
5-14 13.0% / 15.7%
Officer South — 5-14: 13.0% Pakenham — 5-14: 15.7%
15-19 2.2% / 5.7%
Officer South — 15-19: 2.2% Pakenham — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 5.1% / 6.1%
Officer South — 20-24: 5.1% Pakenham — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 27.6% / 17.6%
Officer South — 25-34: 27.6% Pakenham — 25-34: 17.6%
35-44 14.4% / 15.7%
Officer South — 35-44: 14.4% Pakenham — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 4.8% / 11.0%
Officer South — 45-54: 4.8% Pakenham — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 7.0% / 8.0%
Officer South — 55-64: 7.0% Pakenham — 55-64: 8.0%
65-74 12.0% / 6.3%
Officer South — 65-74: 12.0% Pakenham — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 4.2% / 4.1%
Officer South — 75-84: 4.2% Pakenham — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 0.3% / 1.5%
Officer South — 85+: 0.3% Pakenham — 85+: 1.5%

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 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.

Officer South 7.1% renting
Officer South — Owned Outright: 29.6% Officer South — Mortgage: 63.4% Officer South — Renting: 7.1%
Pakenham 32.2% renting
Pakenham — Owned Outright: 19.5% Pakenham — Mortgage: 48.3% Pakenham — Renting: 32.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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
India 5.3% / 6.0%
Officer South — India: 5.3% Pakenham — India: 6.0%
England 6.0% / 3.2%
Officer South — England: 6.0% Pakenham — England: 3.2%
Sri Lanka 5.2% / 2.0%
Officer South — Sri Lanka: 5.2% Pakenham — Sri Lanka: 2.0%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.9%
Officer South — New Zealand: 1.6% Pakenham — New Zealand: 1.9%
Philippines 1.7% / 1.2%
Officer South — Philippines: 1.7% Pakenham — Philippines: 1.2%

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

Qualifications

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

Officer South Pakenham
Certificate III & IV 14.7% / 15.7%
Officer South — Certificate III & IV: 14.7% Pakenham — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 9.0%
Officer South — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Pakenham — Bachelor Degree: 9.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.7% / 8.3%
Officer South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.7% Pakenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 5.3% / 3.2%
Officer South — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3% Pakenham — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 1.4%
Officer South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Pakenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.7%).

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 86.4% houses
Pakenham — Houses: 86.4% Pakenham — Townhouses: 12.7% Pakenham — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Officer South Pakenham
Median house price $861,500 $700,000
Median unit price — $515,000
Median land price $1,034,000 $525,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 37 days
from 51 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.

Officer South Pakenham
3 bed $674K / $662K
Officer South — 3 bed: $674K (14 sales) Pakenham — 3 bed: $662K (767 sales)

14 vs 767 sales

4 bed $878K / $750K
Officer South — 4 bed: $878K (44 sales) Pakenham — 4 bed: $750K (598 sales)

44 vs 598 sales

5 bed $948K / $855K
Officer South — 5 bed: $948K (13 sales) Pakenham — 5 bed: $855K (39 sales)

13 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

Pakenham has more rural and farming land (45% vs 35%).

Officer South Pakenham
Residential 55% 29%
Rural and farming 35% 45%
Infrastructure and transport 0% 8%
Other and special use 7% 6%
Industrial 0% 5%
Environmental 3%
same for both
Parks and recreation 0% 3%
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
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
Houses 3.7%
$625/wk on $885K
 4.2%
$580/wk on $718K
Units — 4.9%
$510/wk on $545K

Ranking within VIC

Officer South Pakenham
House price Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 34% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 18% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 69% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 94% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 44% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 54% of VIC

Liveability

Pakenham is more walkable (94 vs 0); Officer South scores higher overall (41 vs 36).

Officer South Pakenham
Grade C
same for both
Score 41/100 36/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Pakenham carries more bushfire risk (56 vs 32); Pakenham carries more crime risk (74 vs 56).

Officer South Pakenham
Bushfire Low
32/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime Moderate
56/100
 High
74/100
Flood High
87/100
 High
78/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Officer South Pakenham
Inside the suburb 0 15
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 7
Rated below peers 0 4
Universities within 10 km 1
Federation University Berwick, 9.4 km
 None

Schools in Officer South

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

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

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

Mobility

Pakenham sits further from the CBD (62.4 km vs 58.5 km).

Officer South Pakenham
Walkability score 0/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 58.5 km 62.4 km
+7% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 56 min 53 min
Public transport score 35/100
Bus
 83/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 229.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
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
Car (driver) 67.4% / 71.5%
Officer South — Car (driver): 67.4% Pakenham — Car (driver): 71.5%
Worked from Home 28.9% / 18.4%
Officer South — Worked from Home: 28.9% Pakenham — Worked from Home: 18.4%
Car (passenger) 2.4% / 4.9%
Officer South — Car (passenger): 2.4% Pakenham — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Train 1.4% / 3.5%
Officer South — Train: 1.4% Pakenham — Train: 3.5%
Walked Only — / 1.0%
Officer South — Walked Only: not among its largest Pakenham — Walked Only: 1.0%

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

Setting

Officer South Pakenham
Elevation 18 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 12.9 km 16.4 km

NBN connectivity

Officer South Pakenham
Connectivity score 87/100 77/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 82%
211 premises
 59%
21,915 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Officer South 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Officer South Pakenham
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

Family Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Officer South

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

Other comparisons with Pakenham

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