Pakenham South vs Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup is the younger of the two, with a median age of 34 against 46 in Pakenham South. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Pakenham South, most households are couple families. In Koo Wee Rup, about half of households are couple families. On these figures, Pakenham South tends to suit couples and older residents, while Koo Wee Rup suits families with children.

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

Koo Wee Rup

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (7 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (3 vs 0)
  • But Pakenham South carries lower crime risk (51/100 vs 72/100)

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

First-home buyers

Koo Wee Rup

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 the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($231/wk vs $320/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Koo Wee Rup

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (45/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Pakenham South has more residents already 65 and over (24% vs 16%)
  • Koo Wee Rup is more walkable (45/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Koo Wee Rup

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (13.1% vs 6.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
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.

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Walkability 0 / 45
Pakenham South — Walkability: 0/100 Koo Wee Rup — Walkability: 45/100
Safety 49 / 28
Pakenham South — Safety: 49/100 Koo Wee Rup — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 100 / 85
Pakenham South — Low fire risk: 100/100 Koo Wee Rup — Low fire risk: 85/100
Low flood risk 1 / 1
Pakenham South — Low flood risk: 1/100 Koo Wee Rup — Low flood risk: 1/100

Demographics

Koo Wee Rup has more residents (4,047 vs 229); Koo Wee Rup rents higher ($320/wk vs $231/wk).

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Population 229 4,047
+1667% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.0% +13.1%
Median age 46 34
Median household income $89,856/yr $92,664/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $231/wk $320/wk
+39% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
0-4 3.1% / 7.6%
Pakenham South — 0-4: 3.1% Koo Wee Rup — 0-4: 7.6%
5-14 10.5% / 15.2%
Pakenham South — 5-14: 10.5% Koo Wee Rup — 5-14: 15.2%
15-19 6.1% / 6.4%
Pakenham South — 15-19: 6.1% Koo Wee Rup — 15-19: 6.4%
20-24 8.3% / 5.5%
Pakenham South — 20-24: 8.3% Koo Wee Rup — 20-24: 5.5%
25-34 10.5% / 15.5%
Pakenham South — 25-34: 10.5% Koo Wee Rup — 25-34: 15.5%
35-44 8.3% / 12.5%
Pakenham South — 35-44: 8.3% Koo Wee Rup — 35-44: 12.5%
45-54 14.0% / 11.6%
Pakenham South — 45-54: 14.0% Koo Wee Rup — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 13.5% / 10.2%
Pakenham South — 55-64: 13.5% Koo Wee Rup — 55-64: 10.2%
65-74 15.3% / 7.9%
Pakenham South — 65-74: 15.3% Koo Wee Rup — 65-74: 7.9%
75-84 7.4% / 4.8%
Pakenham South — 75-84: 7.4% Koo Wee Rup — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 1.7% / 2.8%
Pakenham South — 85+: 1.7% Koo Wee Rup — 85+: 2.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.5%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

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%
Koo Wee Rup 49.0% couple families
Koo Wee Rup — Couple Families: 49.0% Koo Wee Rup — Lone Person: 29.5% Koo Wee Rup — One Parent Families: 17.0% Koo Wee Rup — Group Household: 2.5% Koo Wee Rup — Other Families: 1.9%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Pakenham South 25.7% renting
Pakenham South — Owned Outright: 45.7% Pakenham South — Mortgage: 28.6% Pakenham South — Renting: 25.7%
Koo Wee Rup 18.6% renting
Koo Wee Rup — Owned Outright: 27.2% Koo Wee Rup — Mortgage: 54.2% Koo Wee Rup — Renting: 18.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Certificate III & IV 15.3% / 20.2%
Pakenham South — Certificate III & IV: 15.3% Koo Wee Rup — Certificate III & IV: 20.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 6.4%
Pakenham South — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Koo Wee Rup — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.4%
Bachelor Degree 7.0% / 4.7%
Pakenham South — Bachelor Degree: 7.0% Koo Wee Rup — Bachelor Degree: 4.7%
Postgraduate Degree 1.3% / 0.7%
Pakenham South — Postgraduate Degree: 1.3% Koo Wee Rup — Postgraduate Degree: 0.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate — / 1.1%
Pakenham South — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.2%).

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.

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
England 3.9% / 2.9%
Pakenham South — England: 3.9% Koo Wee Rup — England: 2.9%
New Zealand 2.6% / 1.5%
Pakenham South — New Zealand: 2.6% Koo Wee Rup — New Zealand: 1.5%
India 2.2% / 0.3%
Pakenham South — India: 2.2% Koo Wee Rup — India: 0.3%
Vietnam 1.7% / —
Pakenham South — Vietnam: 1.7% Koo Wee Rup — Vietnam: not among its largest
Germany 1.7% / —
Pakenham South — Germany: 1.7% Koo Wee Rup — Germany: not among its largest
Italy — / 1.0%
Pakenham South — Italy: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — Italy: 1.0%
Philippines — / 0.4%
Pakenham South — Philippines: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — Philippines: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (3.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pakenham South 100.0% houses
Pakenham South — Houses: 100.0% Pakenham South — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Pakenham South — Townhouses: 0.0%
Koo Wee Rup 90.1% houses
Koo Wee Rup — Houses: 90.1% Koo Wee Rup — Flats / Apartments: 9.2% Koo Wee Rup — Townhouses: 0.7%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Median house price — $725,000
Median unit price — $502,500
Median land price — $447,500
Typical days to sell (houses) — 43 days
from 62 sales

Zoning mix

Pakenham South has more rural and farming land (83% vs 38%); Koo Wee Rup has more land zoned for conservation (10% vs 0%).

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Rural and farming 83% 38%
Other and special use 13% 37%
Environmental 0% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 7%
Parks and recreation 0% 3%
Residential 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

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
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.

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Houses — 4.4%
$660/wk on $788K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
House price — Higher than 49% of VIC
Income Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 62% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 10% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 64% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 25% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 53% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 87% of VIC

Liveability

Koo Wee Rup is more walkable (45 vs 0).

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Grade — D
Score — 25/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 below-average income
decile 3/10

Risk profile

Koo Wee Rup carries more bushfire risk (15 vs 0); Koo Wee Rup carries more crime risk (72 vs 51).

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
15/100
Crime Moderate
51/100
 High
72/100
Flood High
99/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
68/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Inside the suburb 0 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Pakenham South

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

Schools in Koo Wee Rup

  • Koo Wee Rup Secondary College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Koo Wee Rup Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St John the Baptist's School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Supermarkets 0 1
Parks & reserves 0 4
Childcare 0 7
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 3
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Walkability score 0/100 45/100
Distance to Melbourne 70.1 km 71.9 km
+3% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 58 min 60 min
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3810
 0.3%
postcode 3981
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 43
postcode 3810
 51
postcode 3981

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.

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Car (driver) 65.0% / 79.3%
Pakenham South — Car (driver): 65.0% Koo Wee Rup — Car (driver): 79.3%
Worked from Home 20.0% / 13.8%
Pakenham South — Worked from Home: 20.0% Koo Wee Rup — Worked from Home: 13.8%
Car (passenger) 9.0% / 4.3%
Pakenham South — Car (passenger): 9.0% Koo Wee Rup — Car (passenger): 4.3%
Walked Only 6.0% / 1.4%
Pakenham South — Walked Only: 6.0% Koo Wee Rup — Walked Only: 1.4%
Train — / 0.9%
Pakenham South — Train: not among its largest Koo Wee Rup — Train: 0.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (79.3%).

Setting

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Elevation 6 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 10.1 km 4.7 km

NBN connectivity

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Connectivity score 30/100 76/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
84 premises
 60%
1,814 premises

Climate

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Annual rainfall 781 mm —
Summer max (Jan) — 24.5°C
Winter min (Jul) — 8.3°C

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Pakenham South Koo Wee Rup
Division La Trobe
same for both
Member Jason Wood
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Pakenham South

Rural

Koo Wee Rup

Acreage Family

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pakenham South

Pakenham South vs Pakenham Pakenham South vs Officer South Pakenham South vs Nar Nar Goon Pakenham South vs Cardinia

Other comparisons with Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup vs Tooradin Koo Wee Rup vs Bayles Koo Wee Rup vs Cardinia Koo Wee Rup vs Caldermeade Koo Wee Rup vs Dalmore Koo Wee Rup vs Monomeith
Full data on Pakenham South Full data on Koo Wee Rup
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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