Sunshine West vs Deer Park

Deer Park is the younger of the two, with a median age of 35 against 38 in Sunshine West. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Deer Park, about half of households are couple families. Sunshine West is closer to the city centre: 14.6 km, against 24.7 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 West

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (3 vs 1)
  • has more parks and reserves (27 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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 the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (14.6 km vs 24.7 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Too close to call

Nothing among the 5 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Investors

Sunshine West

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on units (5.5% vs 4.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Sunshine West and Deer Park 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 Deer Park
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 Deer Park
Walkability 81 / 74
Sunshine West — Walkability: 81/100 Deer Park — Walkability: 74/100
Safety 34 / 26
Sunshine West — Safety: 34/100 Deer Park — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 10
Sunshine West — Low fire risk: 100/100 Deer Park — Low fire risk: 10/100
Low flood risk 58 / 55
Sunshine West — Low flood risk: 58/100 Deer Park — Low flood risk: 55/100

Demographics

Sunshine West skews older (38 vs 35).

Sunshine West Deer Park
Population 18,552
+2% vs other
 18,145
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -0.2% +0.1%
Median age 38 35
Median household income $73,632/yr $75,712/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $346/wk $350/wk
+1% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sunshine West Deer Park
0-4 5.6% / 6.6%
Sunshine West — 0-4: 5.6% Deer Park — 0-4: 6.6%
5-14 11.1% / 13.7%
Sunshine West — 5-14: 11.1% Deer Park — 5-14: 13.7%
15-19 5.3% / 5.3%
Sunshine West — 15-19: 5.3% Deer Park — 15-19: 5.3%
20-24 6.5% / 6.1%
Sunshine West — 20-24: 6.5% Deer Park — 20-24: 6.1%
25-34 16.5% / 17.0%
Sunshine West — 25-34: 16.5% Deer Park — 25-34: 17.0%
35-44 14.0% / 15.6%
Sunshine West — 35-44: 14.0% Deer Park — 35-44: 15.6%
45-54 12.2% / 11.6%
Sunshine West — 45-54: 12.2% Deer Park — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 10.6% / 9.7%
Sunshine West — 55-64: 10.6% Deer Park — 55-64: 9.7%
65-74 9.3% / 9.1%
Sunshine West — 65-74: 9.3% Deer Park — 65-74: 9.1%
75-84 6.7% / 4.4%
Sunshine West — 75-84: 6.7% Deer Park — 75-84: 4.4%
85+ 2.2% / 0.9%
Sunshine West — 85+: 2.2% Deer Park — 85+: 0.9%

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

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%
Deer Park 46.9% couple families
Deer Park — Couple Families: 46.9% Deer Park — Lone Person: 25.5% Deer Park — One Parent Families: 20.6% Deer Park — Group Household: 4.4% Deer Park — Other Families: 2.6%
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%
Deer Park 30.5% renting
Deer Park — Owned Outright: 32.0% Deer Park — Mortgage: 37.5% Deer Park — Renting: 30.5%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sunshine West Deer Park
Bachelor Degree 11.1% / 11.0%
Sunshine West — Bachelor Degree: 11.1% Deer Park — Bachelor Degree: 11.0%
Certificate III & IV 9.1% / 9.9%
Sunshine West — Certificate III & IV: 9.1% Deer Park — Certificate III & IV: 9.9%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.1% / 6.7%
Sunshine West — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.1% Deer Park — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.7%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 3.1%
Sunshine West — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Deer Park — Postgraduate Degree: 3.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.1% / 1.0%
Sunshine West — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.1% Deer Park — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (11.1%).

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 Deer Park
Vietnam 13.8% / 10.0%
Sunshine West — Vietnam: 13.8% Deer Park — Vietnam: 10.0%
India 2.9% / 4.5%
Sunshine West — India: 2.9% Deer Park — India: 4.5%
Philippines 2.4% / 4.1%
Sunshine West — Philippines: 2.4% Deer Park — Philippines: 4.1%
Myanmar 1.4% / 2.1%
Sunshine West — Myanmar: 1.4% Deer Park — Myanmar: 2.1%
New Zealand 1.4% / 2.0%
Sunshine West — New Zealand: 1.4% Deer Park — New Zealand: 2.0%
China 1.4% / 1.6%
Sunshine West — China: 1.4% Deer Park — China: 1.6%
Greece 2.4% / —
Sunshine West — Greece: 2.4% Deer Park — 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%
Deer Park 87.1% houses
Deer Park — Houses: 87.1% Deer Park — Townhouses: 12.1% Deer Park — Flats / Apartments: 0.7%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sunshine West Deer Park
Median house price $755,000 $700,000
Median unit price $585,000 $540,500
Median land price $660,000 $640,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 27 days
from 181 sales
 25 days
from 188 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 Deer Park
2 bed $505K / $510K
Sunshine West — 2 bed: $505K (13 sales) Deer Park — 2 bed: $510K (15 sales)

13 vs 15 sales

3 bed $618K / $599K
Sunshine West — 3 bed: $618K (16 sales) Deer Park — 3 bed: $599K (20 sales)

16 vs 20 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 Deer Park
2 bed $610K / $526K
Sunshine West — 2 bed: $610K (14 sales) Deer Park — 2 bed: $526K (13 sales)

14 vs 13 sales

3 bed $735K / $680K
Sunshine West — 3 bed: $735K (212 sales) Deer Park — 3 bed: $680K (213 sales)

212 vs 213 sales

4 bed $825K / $775K
Sunshine West — 4 bed: $825K (82 sales) Deer Park — 4 bed: $775K (87 sales)

82 vs 87 sales

5 bed $865K / $693K
Sunshine West — 5 bed: $865K (13 sales) Deer Park — 5 bed: $693K (9 sales)

13 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Sunshine West Deer Park
Residential 57% 56%
Industrial 26% 18%
Commercial 1% 10%
Infrastructure and transport 9%
same for both
Parks and recreation 6%
same for both
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 Deer Park
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 Deer Park
Houses 3.7%
$550/wk on $772K
 3.8%
$530/wk on $730K
Units 5.5%
$500/wk on $471K
 4.6%
$460/wk on $520K

Ranking within VIC

Sunshine West Deer Park
House price Higher than 45% of VIC Higher than 37% of VIC
Income — Higher than 42% of VIC
Schools Higher than 63% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 91% of VIC
Affordability — Higher than 55% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 47% of VIC Higher than 52% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 38% of VIC

Liveability

Sunshine West scores higher overall (57 vs 35).

Sunshine West Deer Park
Grade B C
Score 57/100 35/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 2/10
same for both

Risk profile

Deer Park carries more bushfire risk (90 vs 0).

Sunshine West Deer Park
Bushfire None
0/100
 High
90/100
Crime Moderate
66/100
 High
74/100
Flood Moderate
42/100
 Moderate
45/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 48
within 5 km
 18
within 5 km

Schools

Sunshine West Deer Park
Inside the suburb 10 5
Rated above peers 3 1
Rated at peers 3 2
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 7.6 km
 None

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 Deer Park

  • Deer Park West Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Deer Park North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Peter Chanel School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • SEDA College (Victoria) - Building and Construction - Deer Park Independent · Secondary
  • Victoria University Secondary College-Deer Park Campus Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Sunshine West Deer Park
Supermarkets 4
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 4 20
Parks & reserves 27 9
Childcare 14 12
GPs 3 4
Pharmacies 3
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1 5
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 1 3

Mobility

Deer Park sits further from the CBD (24.7 km vs 14.6 km).

Sunshine West Deer Park
Walkability score 81/100 74/100
Distance to Melbourne 14.6 km 24.7 km
+69% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 27 min
Public transport score 89/100
Rail · Bus
 92/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 275.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 306.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3020
 1.0%
postcode 3023
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 3020
 43
postcode 3023

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 Deer Park
Car (driver) 65.9% / 69.2%
Sunshine West — Car (driver): 65.9% Deer Park — Car (driver): 69.2%
Worked from Home 20.7% / 17.9%
Sunshine West — Worked from Home: 20.7% Deer Park — Worked from Home: 17.9%
Car (passenger) 5.8% / 6.1%
Sunshine West — Car (passenger): 5.8% Deer Park — Car (passenger): 6.1%
Train 4.8% / 4.7%
Sunshine West — Train: 4.8% Deer Park — Train: 4.7%
Bus 1.4% / 1.2%
Sunshine West — Bus: 1.4% Deer Park — Bus: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.2%).

Setting

Sunshine West Deer Park
Elevation 39 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 58 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 8.2 km 12.2 km

NBN connectivity

Sunshine West Deer Park
Connectivity score 75/100
same for both
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 15%
7,989 premises
 15%
7,218 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Sunshine West Deer Park
Division Fraser Gorton
Member Daniel Mulino Alice Jordan-Baird
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sunshine West Deer Park
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

Deer Park

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sunshine West

Sunshine West vs Sunshine Sunshine West vs Derrimut Sunshine West vs Albion Sunshine West vs Ardeer Sunshine West vs Brooklyn Sunshine West vs Laverton North

Other comparisons with Deer Park

Deer Park vs Cairnlea Deer Park vs Derrimut Deer Park vs Burnside Deer Park vs Albanvale Deer Park vs Ardeer Deer Park vs Ravenhall
Full data on Sunshine West Full data on Deer Park
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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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