Sunshine West vs Ardeer

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. Sunshine West is closer to the city centre: 14.6 km, against 23.3 km. On these figures, Ardeer tends to suit people living alone.

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 West

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (27 vs 3)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (10 vs 2)
  • has more childcare (14 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Ardeer

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($527,500 vs $585,000)

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

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

Sunshine West

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • sits closer to the CBD (14.6 km vs 23.3 km)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 58/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Sunshine West

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (3 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (81/100 vs 58/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (66/100 vs 81/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Sunshine West returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 4.3%)
  • Ardeer returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Sunshine West and Ardeer 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 West Ardeer
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 West Ardeer
Walkability 81 / 58
Sunshine West — Walkability: 81/100 Ardeer — Walkability: 58/100
Safety 34 / 19
Sunshine West — Safety: 34/100 Ardeer — Safety: 19/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sunshine West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Ardeer — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 58 / 45
Sunshine West — Low flood risk: 58/100 Ardeer — Low flood risk: 45/100

Demographics

Sunshine West has more residents (18,552 vs 3,170).

Sunshine West Ardeer
Population 18,552
+83% vs other
 3,170
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.2% +2.2%
Median age 38 37
Median household income $73,632/yr $75,504/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $346/wk
+2% vs other
 $340/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sunshine West Ardeer
0-4 5.6% / 7.0%
Sunshine West — 0-4: 5.6% Ardeer — 0-4: 7.0%
5-14 11.1% / 10.2%
Sunshine West — 5-14: 11.1% Ardeer — 5-14: 10.2%
15-19 5.3% / 3.9%
Sunshine West — 15-19: 5.3% Ardeer — 15-19: 3.9%
20-24 6.5% / 4.9%
Sunshine West — 20-24: 6.5% Ardeer — 20-24: 4.9%
25-34 16.5% / 19.1%
Sunshine West — 25-34: 16.5% Ardeer — 25-34: 19.1%
35-44 14.0% / 17.2%
Sunshine West — 35-44: 14.0% Ardeer — 35-44: 17.2%
45-54 12.2% / 12.6%
Sunshine West — 45-54: 12.2% Ardeer — 45-54: 12.6%
55-64 10.6% / 8.7%
Sunshine West — 55-64: 10.6% Ardeer — 55-64: 8.7%
65-74 9.3% / 8.1%
Sunshine West — 65-74: 9.3% Ardeer — 65-74: 8.1%
75-84 6.7% / 4.7%
Sunshine West — 75-84: 6.7% Ardeer — 75-84: 4.7%
85+ 2.2% / 3.4%
Sunshine West — 85+: 2.2% Ardeer — 85+: 3.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sunshine West 42.6% couple families
Sunshine West — Couple Families: 42.6% Sunshine West — Lone Person: 27.0% Sunshine West — One Parent Families: 22.3% Sunshine West — Group Household: 5.6% Sunshine West — Other Families: 2.5%
Ardeer 33.2% couple families
Ardeer — Couple Families: 33.2% Ardeer — Lone Person: 39.5% Ardeer — One Parent Families: 18.1% Ardeer — Group Household: 6.2% Ardeer — Other Families: 3.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sunshine West 28.9% renting
Sunshine West — Owned Outright: 40.5% Sunshine West — Mortgage: 30.6% Sunshine West — Renting: 28.9%
Ardeer 35.5% renting
Ardeer — Owned Outright: 30.9% Ardeer — Mortgage: 33.6% Ardeer — Renting: 35.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sunshine West Ardeer
Bachelor Degree 11.1% / 11.9%
Sunshine West — Bachelor Degree: 11.1% Ardeer — Bachelor Degree: 11.9%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 10.5%
Sunshine West — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Ardeer — Certificate III & IV: 10.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 6.8%
Sunshine West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Ardeer — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 4.7%
Sunshine West — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Ardeer — Postgraduate Degree: 4.7%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.6%
Sunshine West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Ardeer — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.9%).

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 West Ardeer
Vietnam 13.8% / 9.2%
Sunshine West — Vietnam: 13.8% Ardeer — Vietnam: 9.2%
India 2.9% / 3.8%
Sunshine West — India: 2.9% Ardeer — India: 3.8%
Philippines 2.4% / 1.8%
Sunshine West — Philippines: 2.4% Ardeer — Philippines: 1.8%
New Zealand 1.4% / 2.3%
Sunshine West — New Zealand: 1.4% Ardeer — New Zealand: 2.3%
China 1.4% / 1.2%
Sunshine West — China: 1.4% Ardeer — China: 1.2%
Greece 2.4% / —
Sunshine West — Greece: 2.4% Ardeer — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sunshine West 82.6% houses
Sunshine West — Houses: 82.6% Sunshine West — Townhouses: 14.2% Sunshine West — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Ardeer 76.6% houses
Ardeer — Houses: 76.6% Ardeer — Townhouses: 20.0% Ardeer — Flats / Apartments: 3.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sunshine West Ardeer
Median house price $755,000 $700,000
Median unit price $585,000 $527,500
Median land price $660,000 $647,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 181 sales
 22 days
from 38 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Sunshine West Ardeer
2 bed $505K / $480K
Sunshine West — 2 bed: $505K (13 sales) Ardeer — 2 bed: $480K (12 sales)

13 vs 12 sales

3 bed $618K / $600K
Sunshine West — 3 bed: $618K (16 sales) Ardeer — 3 bed: $600K (15 sales)

16 vs 15 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 West Ardeer
2 bed $610K / $670K
Sunshine West — 2 bed: $610K (14 sales) Ardeer — 2 bed: $670K (16 sales)

14 vs 16 sales

3 bed $735K / $712K
Sunshine West — 3 bed: $735K (212 sales) Ardeer — 3 bed: $712K (53 sales)

212 vs 53 sales

4 bed $825K / $850K
Sunshine West — 4 bed: $825K (82 sales) Ardeer — 4 bed: $850K (9 sales)

82 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Sunshine West Ardeer
Residential 57% 46%
Industrial 26% 18%
Infrastructure and transport 9% 18%
Parks and recreation 6% 17%
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 West Ardeer
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 West Ardeer
Houses 3.7%
$550/wk on $772K
 4.2%
$550/wk on $675K
Units 5.5%
$500/wk on $471K
 4.3%
$520/wk on $624K

Ranking within VIC

Sunshine West Ardeer
House price Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Income — Higher than 42% of VIC
Schools Higher than 63% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 55% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC

Liveability

Sunshine West is more walkable (81 vs 58); Sunshine West scores higher overall (57 vs 42).

Sunshine West Ardeer
Grade B C
Score 57/100 42/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Ardeer carries more flood risk (55 vs 42); Ardeer carries more crime risk (81 vs 66).

Sunshine West Ardeer
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
66/100
 High
81/100
Flood Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
55/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 48
within 5 km
 21
within 5 km

Schools

Sunshine West Ardeer
Inside the suburb 10 2
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 3 0
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 7.6 km
 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 8.8 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 2.5% 1.5%

Schools in Sunshine West

  • Ardeer South Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Marian College Catholic · Secondary above peers
  • St Paul's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • St Peter's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Sunshine College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Sunshine Heights Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Schools in Ardeer

  • Mother of God School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Ardeer Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sunshine West Ardeer
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 4 0
Parks & reserves 27 3
Childcare 14 4
GPs 3 0
Pharmacies 3 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Ardeer sits further from the CBD (23.3 km vs 14.6 km).

Sunshine West Ardeer
Walkability score 81/100 58/100
Distance to Melbourne 14.6 km 23.3 km
+60% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min
same for both
Public transport score 89/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 275.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 76.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3020
 0.5%
postcode 3022
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3020
 24
postcode 3022

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 West Ardeer
Car (driver) 65.9% / 62.8%
Sunshine West — Car (driver): 65.9% Ardeer — Car (driver): 62.8%
Worked from Home 20.7% / 25.3%
Sunshine West — Worked from Home: 20.7% Ardeer — Worked from Home: 25.3%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 3.9%
Sunshine West — Car (passenger): 5.8% Ardeer — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Train 4.8% / 4.8%
Sunshine West — Train: 4.8% Ardeer — Train: 4.8%
Bus 1.4% / 1.2%
Sunshine West — Bus: 1.4% Ardeer — Bus: 1.2%
Walked Only 0.8% / 1.4%
Sunshine West — Walked Only: 0.8% Ardeer — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.9%).

Setting

Sunshine West Ardeer
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 44 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.2 km 10.7 km

NBN connectivity

Sunshine West Ardeer
Connectivity score 75/100 76/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
7,989 premises
 4%
1,429 premises

Climate

Sunshine West Ardeer
Annual rainfall 482 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Sunshine West Ardeer
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 23.2 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Sunshine West Ardeer
Average residential rate $1,847/yr
same for both
Council Brimbank
same for both

Federal electorate

Sunshine West Ardeer
Division Fraser
same for both
Member Daniel Mulino
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Sunshine West

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub

Ardeer

Middle-Ring Multicultural River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sunshine West

Sunshine West vs Deer Park Sunshine West vs Sunshine Sunshine West vs Derrimut Sunshine West vs Albion Sunshine West vs Brooklyn Sunshine West vs Laverton North

Other comparisons with Ardeer

Ardeer vs St Albans Ardeer vs Deer Park Ardeer vs Cairnlea Ardeer vs Sunshine Ardeer vs Albion
Full data on Sunshine West Full data on Ardeer
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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