Pakenham Upper vs Pakenham

Pakenham is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 44 in Pakenham Upper. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Pakenham Upper, most households are couple families. In Pakenham, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Pakenham Upper: a median of $1.63 million, against $700,000 in Pakenham, though rent is higher in Pakenham. On these figures, Pakenham Upper tends to suit couples, while Pakenham suits families with children 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Pakenham Upper carries lower crime risk (35/100 vs 74/100)
  • Pakenham has more childcare (39 vs 0)

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 $1,375,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($700,000 vs $1,632,500)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Pakenham Upper

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (10% vs 21%)
  • has cheaper rent ($255/wk vs $351/wk)
  • But Pakenham has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 4%)

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

Commuting to the city

Pakenham

ahead on 3 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 10/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (53 min vs 62 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (62.4 km vs 67 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

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

  • Pakenham Upper carries lower crime risk (35/100 vs 74/100)
  • Pakenham has more GPs (13 vs 0)

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

Investors

Pakenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (16.6% vs 2.0%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Pakenham Upper 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.

Pakenham Upper 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.

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Walkability 10 / 94
Pakenham Upper — Walkability: 10/100 Pakenham — Walkability: 94/100
Safety 65 / 26
Pakenham Upper — Safety: 65/100 Pakenham — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 1 / 44
Pakenham Upper — Low fire risk: 1/100 Pakenham — Low fire risk: 44/100
Low flood risk 61 / 22
Pakenham Upper — Low flood risk: 61/100 Pakenham — Low flood risk: 22/100

Demographics

Pakenham has more residents (54,118 vs 1,196); Pakenham Upper has higher household incomes ($134,836 vs $86,528).

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Population 1,196 54,118
+4425% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.0% +16.6%
Median age 44 33
Median household income $134,836/yr
+36% vs other
 $86,528/yr
Median weekly rent $255/wk $351/wk
+38% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
0-4 4.9% / 8.3%
Pakenham Upper — 0-4: 4.9% Pakenham — 0-4: 8.3%
5-14 12.8% / 15.7%
Pakenham Upper — 5-14: 12.8% Pakenham — 5-14: 15.7%
15-19 7.2% / 5.7%
Pakenham Upper — 15-19: 7.2% Pakenham — 15-19: 5.7%
20-24 6.1% / 6.1%
Pakenham Upper — 20-24: 6.1% Pakenham — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 7.2% / 17.6%
Pakenham Upper — 25-34: 7.2% Pakenham — 25-34: 17.6%
35-44 12.2% / 15.7%
Pakenham Upper — 35-44: 12.2% Pakenham — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 15.2% / 11.0%
Pakenham Upper — 45-54: 15.2% Pakenham — 45-54: 11.0%
55-64 17.9% / 8.0%
Pakenham Upper — 55-64: 17.9% Pakenham — 55-64: 8.0%
65-74 10.8% / 6.3%
Pakenham Upper — 65-74: 10.8% Pakenham — 65-74: 6.3%
75-84 5.0% / 4.1%
Pakenham Upper — 75-84: 5.0% Pakenham — 75-84: 4.1%
85+ 1.2% / 1.5%
Pakenham Upper — 85+: 1.2% Pakenham — 85+: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pakenham Upper 68.8% couple families
Pakenham Upper — Couple Families: 68.8% Pakenham Upper — Lone Person: 19.5% Pakenham Upper — One Parent Families: 7.5% Pakenham Upper — Group Household: 3.0% Pakenham Upper — Other Families: 1.1%
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.

Pakenham Upper 3.5% renting
Pakenham Upper — Owned Outright: 44.1% Pakenham Upper — Mortgage: 52.4% Pakenham Upper — Renting: 3.5%
Pakenham 32.2% renting
Pakenham — Owned Outright: 19.5% Pakenham — Mortgage: 48.3% Pakenham — Renting: 32.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Certificate III & IV 18.2% / 15.7%
Pakenham Upper — Certificate III & IV: 18.2% Pakenham — Certificate III & IV: 15.7%
Bachelor Degree 12.3% / 9.0%
Pakenham Upper — Bachelor Degree: 12.3% Pakenham — Bachelor Degree: 9.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.9% / 8.3%
Pakenham Upper — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.9% Pakenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3%
Postgraduate Degree 2.8% / 3.2%
Pakenham Upper — Postgraduate Degree: 2.8% Pakenham — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.4%
Pakenham Upper — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Pakenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.2%).

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 Upper Pakenham
England 4.7% / 3.2%
Pakenham Upper — England: 4.7% Pakenham — England: 3.2%
India — / 6.0%
Pakenham Upper — India: not among its largest Pakenham — India: 6.0%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.9%
Pakenham Upper — New Zealand: 1.3% Pakenham — New Zealand: 1.9%
Sri Lanka 0.4% / 2.0%
Pakenham Upper — Sri Lanka: 0.4% Pakenham — Sri Lanka: 2.0%
Netherlands 1.2% / —
Pakenham Upper — Netherlands: 1.2% Pakenham — Netherlands: not among its largest
Philippines — / 1.2%
Pakenham Upper — Philippines: not among its largest Pakenham — Philippines: 1.2%
South Africa 0.6% / —
Pakenham Upper — South Africa: 0.6% Pakenham — South Africa: not among its largest
Germany 0.6% / —
Pakenham Upper — Germany: 0.6% Pakenham — Germany: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pakenham Upper 100.0% houses
Pakenham Upper — Houses: 100.0% Pakenham Upper — Townhouses: 0.0% Pakenham Upper — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Pakenham 86.4% houses
Pakenham — Houses: 86.4% Pakenham — Townhouses: 12.7% Pakenham — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Median house price $1,632,500 $700,000
Median unit price — $515,000
Median land price $1,375,000 $525,000
Typical days to sell (houses) — 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.

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
3 bed $1.6M / $662K
Pakenham Upper — 3 bed: $1.6M (5 sales) Pakenham — 3 bed: $662K (767 sales)

5 vs 767 sales

4 bed $1.45M / $750K
Pakenham Upper — 4 bed: $1.45M (6 sales) Pakenham — 4 bed: $750K (598 sales)

6 vs 598 sales

Zoning mix

Pakenham Upper has more land zoned for conservation (58% vs 3%); Pakenham has more rural and farming land (45% vs 35%).

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Environmental 58% 3%
Rural and farming 35% 45%
Residential 0% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 8%
Other and special use 0% 6%
Parks and recreation 6% 3%
Industrial 0% 5%
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 Upper 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.

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Houses — 4.2%
$580/wk on $718K
Units — 4.9%
$510/wk on $545K

Ranking within VIC

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
House price — Higher than 41% of VIC
Income Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 34% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 98% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 67% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 69% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 80% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 54% of VIC

Liveability

Pakenham is more walkable (94 vs 10); Pakenham Upper scores higher overall (46 vs 36).

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Grade C
same for both
Score 46/100 36/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Pakenham carries more crime risk (74 vs 35); Pakenham carries more flood risk (78 vs 39).

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Bushfire High
99/100
 Moderate
56/100
Crime Low
35/100
 High
74/100
Flood Low
39/100
 High
78/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 9
within 5 km

Schools

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Inside the suburb 0 15
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 7
Rated below peers 0 4

Schools in Pakenham Upper

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

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Supermarkets 0 9
Cafes & restaurants 0 18
Parks & reserves 6 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 9 43

Mobility

Pakenham Upper sits further from the CBD (67 km vs 62.4 km).

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Walkability score 10/100 94/100
Distance to Melbourne 67 km
+7% vs other
 62.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 62 min 53 min
Public transport score 29/100
Bus
 83/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 4.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 229.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3810
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 43
postcode 3810
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.

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Car (driver) 65.7% / 71.5%
Pakenham Upper — Car (driver): 65.7% Pakenham — Car (driver): 71.5%
Worked from Home 29.3% / 18.4%
Pakenham Upper — Worked from Home: 29.3% Pakenham — Worked from Home: 18.4%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.9%
Pakenham Upper — Car (passenger): 4.1% Pakenham — Car (passenger): 4.9%
Train — / 3.5%
Pakenham Upper — Train: not among its largest Pakenham — Train: 3.5%
Walked Only 1.0% / 1.0%
Pakenham Upper — Walked Only: 1.0% Pakenham — Walked Only: 1.0%

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

Setting

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Elevation 189 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 24.0 km 16.4 km

NBN connectivity

Pakenham Upper Pakenham
Connectivity score 29/100 77/100
Most common technology Fixed wireless Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 0%
399 premises
 59%
21,915 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

Pakenham Upper 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

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Pakenham Upper

Acreage Premium

Pakenham

Family Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pakenham Upper

Pakenham Upper vs Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham Upper vs Gembrook Pakenham Upper vs Nar Nar Goon North Pakenham Upper vs Mount Burnett Pakenham Upper vs Dewhurst

Other comparisons with Pakenham

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