Pakenham vs Nar Nar Goon North

Pakenham is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 44 in Nar Nar Goon North. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Pakenham, about half of households are couple families. In Nar Nar Goon North, most households are couple families. On these figures, Pakenham tends to suit families with children, while Nar Nar Goon North 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

ahead on 3 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 Nar Nar Goon North has more separate houses rather than flats (100% vs 86%)

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

First-home buyers

Nar Nar Goon North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($374,000 vs $525,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Pakenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 10%)

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

Commuting to the city

Pakenham

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (62.4 km vs 74 km)
  • has a shorter drive in (53 min vs 61 min)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Pakenham

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (94/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (14% vs 0%)
  • has more GPs (13 vs 0)
  • But Nar Nar Goon North has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 12%)

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

Investors

Pakenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.3%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon North 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 Nar Nar Goon North
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 Nar Nar Goon North
Walkability 94 / 0
Pakenham — Walkability: 94/100 Nar Nar Goon North — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 26 / 28
Pakenham — Safety: 26/100 Nar Nar Goon North — Safety: 28/100
Low fire risk 44 / 2
Pakenham — Low fire risk: 44/100 Nar Nar Goon North — Low fire risk: 2/100
Low flood risk 22 / 51
Pakenham — Low flood risk: 22/100 Nar Nar Goon North — Low flood risk: 51/100

Demographics

Pakenham has more residents (54,118 vs 819); Nar Nar Goon North skews older (44 vs 33).

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Population 54,118
+98% vs other
 819
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +16.6% +12.7%
Median age 33 44
Median household income $86,528/yr $110,032/yr
+27% vs other
Median weekly rent $351/wk $361/wk
+3% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
0-4 8.3% / 3.3%
Pakenham — 0-4: 8.3% Nar Nar Goon North — 0-4: 3.3%
5-14 15.7% / 12.9%
Pakenham — 5-14: 15.7% Nar Nar Goon North — 5-14: 12.9%
15-19 5.7% / 7.8%
Pakenham — 15-19: 5.7% Nar Nar Goon North — 15-19: 7.8%
20-24 6.1% / 6.0%
Pakenham — 20-24: 6.1% Nar Nar Goon North — 20-24: 6.0%
25-34 17.6% / 9.0%
Pakenham — 25-34: 17.6% Nar Nar Goon North — 25-34: 9.0%
35-44 15.7% / 12.2%
Pakenham — 35-44: 15.7% Nar Nar Goon North — 35-44: 12.2%
45-54 11.0% / 16.0%
Pakenham — 45-54: 11.0% Nar Nar Goon North — 45-54: 16.0%
55-64 8.0% / 15.5%
Pakenham — 55-64: 8.0% Nar Nar Goon North — 55-64: 15.5%
65-74 6.3% / 11.8%
Pakenham — 65-74: 6.3% Nar Nar Goon North — 65-74: 11.8%
75-84 4.1% / 3.7%
Pakenham — 75-84: 4.1% Nar Nar Goon North — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 1.5% / 2.1%
Pakenham — 85+: 1.5% Nar Nar Goon North — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Pakenham 47.9% couple families
Pakenham — Couple Families: 47.9% Pakenham — Lone Person: 27.6% Pakenham — One Parent Families: 19.5% Pakenham — Other Families: 1.5% Pakenham — Group Household: 3.6%
Nar Nar Goon North 64.4% couple families
Nar Nar Goon North — Couple Families: 64.4% Nar Nar Goon North — Lone Person: 22.7% Nar Nar Goon North — One Parent Families: 10.4% Nar Nar Goon North — Other Families: 2.5% Nar Nar Goon North — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Other Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Pakenham 32.2% renting
Pakenham — Owned Outright: 19.5% Pakenham — Mortgage: 48.3% Pakenham — Renting: 32.2%
Nar Nar Goon North 9.5% renting
Nar Nar Goon North — Owned Outright: 40.0% Nar Nar Goon North — Mortgage: 50.5% Nar Nar Goon North — Renting: 9.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Certificate III & IV 15.7% / 16.6%
Pakenham — Certificate III & IV: 15.7% Nar Nar Goon North — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 9.0% / 8.2%
Pakenham — Bachelor Degree: 9.0% Nar Nar Goon North — Bachelor Degree: 8.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.3% / 6.6%
Pakenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.3% Nar Nar Goon North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Postgraduate Degree 3.2% / 2.4%
Pakenham — Postgraduate Degree: 3.2% Nar Nar Goon North — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.4% / 2.0%
Pakenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.4% Nar Nar Goon North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
England 3.2% / 3.2%
Pakenham — England: 3.2% Nar Nar Goon North — England: 3.2%
India 6.0% / —
Pakenham — India: 6.0% Nar Nar Goon North — India: not among its largest
New Zealand 1.9% / 1.1%
Pakenham — New Zealand: 1.9% Nar Nar Goon North — New Zealand: 1.1%
Sri Lanka 2.0% / —
Pakenham — Sri Lanka: 2.0% Nar Nar Goon North — Sri Lanka: not among its largest
Philippines 1.2% / 0.5%
Pakenham — Philippines: 1.2% Nar Nar Goon North — Philippines: 0.5%
Germany — / 0.7%
Pakenham — Germany: not among its largest Nar Nar Goon North — Germany: 0.7%
South Africa — / 0.6%
Pakenham — South Africa: not among its largest Nar Nar Goon North — South Africa: 0.6%
Netherlands — / 0.6%
Pakenham — Netherlands: not among its largest Nar Nar Goon North — Netherlands: 0.6%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Pakenham 86.4% houses
Pakenham — Houses: 86.4% Pakenham — Townhouses: 12.7% Pakenham — Flats / Apartments: 0.9%
Nar Nar Goon North 99.6% houses
Nar Nar Goon North — Houses: 99.6% Nar Nar Goon North — Townhouses: 0.0% Nar Nar Goon North — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Median house price $700,000 $710,500
Median unit price $515,000 —
Median land price $525,000 $374,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 28 days
from 638 sales
 108 days
from 11 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 Nar Nar Goon North
3 bed $662K / $620K
Pakenham — 3 bed: $662K (767 sales) Nar Nar Goon North — 3 bed: $620K (7 sales)

767 vs 7 sales

4 bed $750K / $720K
Pakenham — 4 bed: $750K (598 sales) Nar Nar Goon North — 4 bed: $720K (39 sales)

598 vs 39 sales

Zoning mix

Nar Nar Goon North has more rural and farming land (76% vs 45%); Nar Nar Goon North has more land zoned for conservation (18% vs 3%).

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Rural and farming 45% 76%
Residential 29% 4%
Environmental 3% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 8% 1%
Other and special use 6% 0%
Industrial 5% 0%
Parks and recreation 3% 2%
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 Nar Nar Goon North
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 Nar Nar Goon North
Houses 4.2%
$580/wk on $718K
 3.3%
$610/wk on $952K
Units 4.9%
$510/wk on $545K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
House price Higher than 41% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Income Higher than 56% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Schools Higher than 34% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 98% of VIC Higher than 39% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 80% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 54% of VIC —

Liveability

Pakenham is more walkable (94 vs 0); Pakenham scores higher overall (36 vs 31).

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Grade C
same for both
Score 36/100 31/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Nar Nar Goon North carries more bushfire risk (98 vs 56); Pakenham carries more flood risk (78 vs 49).

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Bushfire Moderate
56/100
 High
98/100
Crime High
74/100
 High
72/100
Flood High
78/100
 Moderate
49/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 9
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Inside the suburb 15 0
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 7 0
Rated below peers 4 0

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

Schools in Nar Nar Goon North

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

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Nar Nar Goon North sits further from the CBD (74 km vs 62.4 km).

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Walkability score 94/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 62.4 km 74 km
+19% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 53 min 61 min
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3810
 0.4%
postcode 3812
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 43
postcode 3810
 68
postcode 3812

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 Nar Nar Goon North
Car (driver) 71.5% / 67.8%
Pakenham — Car (driver): 71.5% Nar Nar Goon North — Car (driver): 67.8%
Worked from Home 18.4% / 23.6%
Pakenham — Worked from Home: 18.4% Nar Nar Goon North — Worked from Home: 23.6%
Car (passenger) 4.9% / 4.1%
Pakenham — Car (passenger): 4.9% Nar Nar Goon North — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Train 3.5% / 1.2%
Pakenham — Train: 3.5% Nar Nar Goon North — Train: 1.2%
Walked Only 1.0% / 3.2%
Pakenham — Walked Only: 1.0% Nar Nar Goon North — Walked Only: 3.2%

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

Setting

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Elevation 34 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 106 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 16.4 km 22.7 km

NBN connectivity

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

Climate

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Annual rainfall 781 mm 1,350 mm
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Average residential rate $1,880/yr
same for both
Council Cardinia
same for both

Federal electorate

Pakenham Nar Nar Goon North
Division La Trobe
same for both
Member Jason Wood
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Pakenham

Family Large Blocks Parks Regional Centre River Transport Hub

Nar Nar Goon North

Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Pakenham

Pakenham vs Officer Pakenham vs Beaconsfield Upper Pakenham vs Pakenham Upper Pakenham vs Officer South Pakenham vs Nar Nar Goon Pakenham vs Pakenham South

Other comparisons with Nar Nar Goon North

Nar Nar Goon North vs Gembrook Nar Nar Goon North vs Pakenham Upper Nar Nar Goon North vs Nar Nar Goon Nar Nar Goon North vs Maryknoll Nar Nar Goon North vs Tynong North
Full data on Pakenham Full data on Nar Nar Goon North
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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