Sunshine North vs Kealba

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Kealba, about half of households are couple families. Sunshine North is closer to the city centre: 15.5 km, against 21.7 km.

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

Sunshine North

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (6 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (8 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (9 vs 4)
  • But Kealba has more separate houses rather than flats (93% vs 82%)

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

First-home buyers

Sunshine North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($500,000 vs $650,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Sunshine North

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (31% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($341/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Sunshine North

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (15.5 km vs 21.7 km)
  • is more walkable (62/100 vs 54/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sunshine North

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (18% vs 7%)
  • is more walkable (62/100 vs 54/100)

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

Investors

Kealba

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 4.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sunshine North Kealba
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.

Sunshine North Kealba
Walkability 62 / 54
Sunshine North — Walkability: 62/100 Kealba — Walkability: 54/100
Safety 18 / 24
Sunshine North — Safety: 18/100 Kealba — Safety: 24/100
Low fire risk 71 / 80
Sunshine North — Low fire risk: 71/100 Kealba — Low fire risk: 80/100
Low flood risk 47 / 48
Sunshine North — Low flood risk: 47/100 Kealba — Low flood risk: 48/100

Demographics

Sunshine North has more residents (12,047 vs 3,226); Kealba has higher household incomes ($80,184 vs $72,748).

Sunshine North Kealba
Population 12,047
+73% vs other
 3,226
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.0% +1.0%
Median age 37 39
Median household income $72,748/yr $80,184/yr
+10% vs other
Median weekly rent $341/wk $370/wk
+9% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sunshine North Kealba
0-4 5.8% / 5.6%
Sunshine North — 0-4: 5.8% Kealba — 0-4: 5.6%
5-14 10.9% / 11.6%
Sunshine North — 5-14: 10.9% Kealba — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 5.5% / 5.3%
Sunshine North — 15-19: 5.5% Kealba — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 7.2% / 6.1%
Sunshine North — 20-24: 7.2% Kealba — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 17.0% / 15.8%
Sunshine North — 25-34: 17.0% Kealba — 25-34: 15.8%
35-44 12.8% / 13.4%
Sunshine North — 35-44: 12.8% Kealba — 35-44: 13.4%
45-54 12.5% / 12.9%
Sunshine North — 45-54: 12.5% Kealba — 45-54: 12.9%
55-64 12.0% / 12.3%
Sunshine North — 55-64: 12.0% Kealba — 55-64: 12.3%
65-74 8.5% / 11.9%
Sunshine North — 65-74: 8.5% Kealba — 65-74: 11.9%
75-84 5.1% / 4.2%
Sunshine North — 75-84: 5.1% Kealba — 75-84: 4.2%
85+ 2.8% / 1.2%
Sunshine North — 85+: 2.8% Kealba — 85+: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sunshine North 42.7% couple families
Sunshine North — Couple Families: 42.7% Sunshine North — Lone Person: 26.4% Sunshine North — One Parent Families: 21.9% Sunshine North — Group Household: 6.4% Sunshine North — Other Families: 2.5%
Kealba 45.4% couple families
Kealba — Couple Families: 45.4% Kealba — Lone Person: 27.0% Kealba — One Parent Families: 23.7% Kealba — Group Household: 2.5% Kealba — 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.

Sunshine North 30.8% renting
Sunshine North — Owned Outright: 39.3% Sunshine North — Mortgage: 29.9% Sunshine North — Renting: 30.8%
Kealba 18.8% renting
Kealba — Owned Outright: 41.1% Kealba — Mortgage: 40.1% Kealba — Renting: 18.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sunshine North Kealba
Bachelor Degree 11.7% / 12.3%
Sunshine North — Bachelor Degree: 11.7% Kealba — Bachelor Degree: 12.3%
Certificate III & IV 8.2% / 12.7%
Sunshine North — Certificate III & IV: 8.2% Kealba — Certificate III & IV: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 5.9% / 7.9%
Sunshine North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 5.9% Kealba — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.9%
Postgraduate Degree 3.5% / 2.4%
Sunshine North — Postgraduate Degree: 3.5% Kealba — Postgraduate Degree: 2.4%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.0% / 1.8%
Sunshine North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0% Kealba — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (12.7%).

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.

Sunshine North Kealba
Vietnam 27.7% / 9.5%
Sunshine North — Vietnam: 27.7% Kealba — Vietnam: 9.5%
India 2.7% / 1.4%
Sunshine North — India: 2.7% Kealba — India: 1.4%
Italy 1.6% / 2.0%
Sunshine North — Italy: 1.6% Kealba — Italy: 2.0%
Philippines 1.9% / 1.1%
Sunshine North — Philippines: 1.9% Kealba — Philippines: 1.1%
New Zealand 0.8% / 1.4%
Sunshine North — New Zealand: 0.8% Kealba — New Zealand: 1.4%
Myanmar 1.8% / —
Sunshine North — Myanmar: 1.8% Kealba — Myanmar: not among its largest
Iraq — / 1.4%
Sunshine North — Iraq: not among its largest Kealba — Iraq: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sunshine North 82.2% houses
Sunshine North — Houses: 82.2% Sunshine North — Townhouses: 12.9% Sunshine North — Flats / Apartments: 4.9%
Kealba 92.9% houses
Kealba — Houses: 92.9% Kealba — Townhouses: 5.1% Kealba — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sunshine North Kealba
Median house price $785,000 $771,500
Median unit price $498,500 $494,500
Median land price $500,000 $650,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 133 sales
 26 days
from 23 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.

Sunshine North Kealba
3 bed $759K / $749K
Sunshine North — 3 bed: $759K (118 sales) Kealba — 3 bed: $749K (39 sales)

118 vs 39 sales

4 bed $850K / $788K
Sunshine North — 4 bed: $850K (47 sales) Kealba — 4 bed: $788K (42 sales)

47 vs 42 sales

5 bed $858K / $970K
Sunshine North — 5 bed: $858K (12 sales) Kealba — 5 bed: $970K (7 sales)

12 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Sunshine North has more industrially zoned land (31% vs 7%).

Sunshine North Kealba
Residential 49% 43%
Industrial 31% 7%
Parks and recreation 4% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 13% 9%
Other and special use 0% 11%
Commercial 3% 1%
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

Sunshine North Kealba
New dwellings approved 670
across Brimbank
same for both
Approvals change year on year +40%
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.

Sunshine North Kealba
Houses 4.0%
$580/wk on $760K
 4.9%
$650/wk on $690K
Units 4.7%
$510/wk on $560K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Sunshine North Kealba
House price Higher than 52% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Income Higher than 38% of VIC Higher than 47% of VIC
Schools Higher than 84% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 86% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 42% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 46% of VIC —

Liveability

Sunshine North is more walkable (62 vs 54).

Sunshine North Kealba
Grade C
same for both
Score 47/100 44/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Sunshine North Kealba
Bushfire Low
29/100
 Low
20/100
Crime High
82/100
 High
76/100
Flood Moderate
53/100
 Moderate
52/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 10
within 5 km
 6
within 5 km

Schools

Sunshine North Kealba
Inside the suburb 6 1
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 6.6 km
 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 9.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.9% 2.4%

Schools in Sunshine North

  • Albion North Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • St Bernadette's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Sunshine Christian School Independent · Primary above peers
  • Sunshine North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Sunshine College-North Sunshine Campus Government · Secondary
  • Furlong Park School For Deaf Children Government · Combined · Special school

Schools in Kealba

  • St Paul's Kealba Catholic School Catholic · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sunshine North Kealba
Cafes & restaurants 1
same for both
Parks & reserves 8 3
Childcare 9 4
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 3 2
Waterways 5 2

Mobility

Kealba sits further from the CBD (21.7 km vs 15.5 km).

Sunshine North Kealba
Walkability score 62/100 54/100
Distance to Melbourne 15.5 km 21.7 km
+40% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 26 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 161.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 44.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3020
 0.5%
postcode 3021
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3020
 27
postcode 3021

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.

Sunshine North Kealba
Car (driver) 66.7% / 68.2%
Sunshine North — Car (driver): 66.7% Kealba — Car (driver): 68.2%
Worked from Home 18.2% / 24.1%
Sunshine North — Worked from Home: 18.2% Kealba — Worked from Home: 24.1%
Car (passenger) 6.7% / 3.7%
Sunshine North — Car (passenger): 6.7% Kealba — Car (passenger): 3.7%
Train 4.8% / 2.6%
Sunshine North — Train: 4.8% Kealba — Train: 2.6%
Bus 1.8% / 0.6%
Sunshine North — Bus: 1.8% Kealba — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (68.2%).

Setting

Sunshine North Kealba
Elevation 54 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 65 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 10.5 km 13.5 km

NBN connectivity

Sunshine North Kealba
Connectivity score 79/100 75/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 21%
5,983 premises
 0%
1,309 premises

Climate

Sunshine North Kealba
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Sunshine North Kealba
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 18.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Sunshine North Kealba
Average residential rate $1,847/yr
same for both
Council Brimbank
same for both

Federal electorate

Sunshine North Kealba
Division Fraser
same for both
Member Daniel Mulino
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sunshine North Kealba
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sunshine North

Middle-Ring Multicultural

Kealba

Large Blocks Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sunshine North

Sunshine North vs St Albans Sunshine North vs Keilor East Sunshine North vs Avondale Heights Sunshine North vs Braybrook Sunshine North vs Sunshine Sunshine North vs Albion

Other comparisons with Kealba

Kealba vs St Albans Kealba vs Keilor East Kealba vs Keilor Downs Kealba vs Keilor
Full data on Sunshine North Full data on Kealba
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or