Sydenham vs Keilor Downs

Sydenham is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 43 in Keilor Downs. In both, most households own their home, most homes are detached houses, and about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Keilor Downs: a median of $868,000, against $738,000 in Sydenham. On these figures, Sydenham tends to suit buyers on a tighter budget, while Keilor Downs suits older residents.

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

Keilor Downs

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (21 vs 12)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 65%)
  • But Sydenham has more childcare (10 vs 7)

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

First-home buyers

Sydenham

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($545,500 vs $780,000)
  • has cheaper units ($491,000 vs $622,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($737,500 vs $868,500)

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

Renters

Sydenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (32% vs 19%)

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

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

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

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

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Sydenham has more units and townhouses to downsize into (35% vs 15%)
  • Keilor Downs has more residents already 65 and over (22% vs 14%)

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

Investors

Sydenham

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Sydenham Keilor Downs
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.

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Walkability 89 / 84
Sydenham — Walkability: 89/100 Keilor Downs — Walkability: 84/100
Safety 50 / 42
Sydenham — Safety: 50/100 Keilor Downs — Safety: 42/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Sydenham — Low fire risk: 100/100 Keilor Downs — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 76 / 65
Sydenham — Low flood risk: 76/100 Keilor Downs — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Sydenham has higher household incomes ($94,276 vs $81,016); Keilor Downs skews older (43 vs 37).

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Population 10,578
+7% vs other
 9,857
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -2.4% -1.4%
Median age 37 43
Median household income $94,276/yr
+14% vs other
 $81,016/yr
Median weekly rent $369/wk
+2% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Sydenham Keilor Downs
0-4 5.5% / 4.9%
Sydenham — 0-4: 5.5% Keilor Downs — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 11.0% / 10.4%
Sydenham — 5-14: 11.0% Keilor Downs — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 6.2% / 5.5%
Sydenham — 15-19: 6.2% Keilor Downs — 15-19: 5.5%
20-24 7.8% / 6.2%
Sydenham — 20-24: 7.8% Keilor Downs — 20-24: 6.2%
25-34 16.3% / 12.7%
Sydenham — 25-34: 16.3% Keilor Downs — 25-34: 12.7%
35-44 13.1% / 11.7%
Sydenham — 35-44: 13.1% Keilor Downs — 35-44: 11.7%
45-54 13.7% / 11.6%
Sydenham — 45-54: 13.7% Keilor Downs — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 12.4% / 14.8%
Sydenham — 55-64: 12.4% Keilor Downs — 55-64: 14.8%
65-74 7.2% / 13.6%
Sydenham — 65-74: 7.2% Keilor Downs — 65-74: 13.6%
75-84 4.2% / 6.4%
Sydenham — 75-84: 4.2% Keilor Downs — 75-84: 6.4%
85+ 2.7% / 2.1%
Sydenham — 85+: 2.7% Keilor Downs — 85+: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.3%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Sydenham 49.9% couple families
Sydenham — Couple Families: 49.9% Sydenham — Lone Person: 24.8% Sydenham — One Parent Families: 20.1% Sydenham — Group Household: 3.4% Sydenham — Other Families: 1.8%
Keilor Downs 49.9% couple families
Keilor Downs — Couple Families: 49.9% Keilor Downs — Lone Person: 25.1% Keilor Downs — One Parent Families: 21.3% Keilor Downs — Group Household: 2.3% Keilor Downs — Other Families: 1.4%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Sydenham 31.9% renting
Sydenham — Owned Outright: 29.1% Sydenham — Mortgage: 39.0% Sydenham — Renting: 31.9%
Keilor Downs 18.6% renting
Keilor Downs — Owned Outright: 49.7% Keilor Downs — Mortgage: 31.6% Keilor Downs — Renting: 18.6%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Bachelor Degree 13.4% / 11.2%
Sydenham — Bachelor Degree: 13.4% Keilor Downs — Bachelor Degree: 11.2%
Certificate III & IV 11.9% / 12.7%
Sydenham — Certificate III & IV: 11.9% Keilor Downs — Certificate III & IV: 12.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.5% / 7.0%
Sydenham — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.5% Keilor Downs — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.0%
Postgraduate Degree 4.3% / 3.0%
Sydenham — Postgraduate Degree: 4.3% Keilor Downs — Postgraduate Degree: 3.0%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.5% / 1.5%
Sydenham — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5% Keilor Downs — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.4%).

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.

Sydenham Keilor Downs
India 9.9% / 2.6%
Sydenham — India: 9.9% Keilor Downs — India: 2.6%
Vietnam 2.1% / 5.3%
Sydenham — Vietnam: 2.1% Keilor Downs — Vietnam: 5.3%
Philippines 3.4% / 1.4%
Sydenham — Philippines: 3.4% Keilor Downs — Philippines: 1.4%
Italy 1.6% / 2.2%
Sydenham — Italy: 1.6% Keilor Downs — Italy: 2.2%
Greece — / 2.5%
Sydenham — Greece: not among its largest Keilor Downs — Greece: 2.5%
Sri Lanka 1.6% / —
Sydenham — Sri Lanka: 1.6% Keilor Downs — Sri Lanka: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Sydenham 64.8% houses
Sydenham — Houses: 64.8% Sydenham — Townhouses: 33.4% Sydenham — Flats / Apartments: 1.7%
Keilor Downs 85.3% houses
Keilor Downs — Houses: 85.3% Keilor Downs — Townhouses: 14.1% Keilor Downs — Flats / Apartments: 0.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Median house price $737,500 $868,500
Median unit price $491,000 $622,000
Median land price $545,500 $780,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 23 days
from 68 sales
 25 days
from 90 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.

Sydenham Keilor Downs
2 bed $466K / $556K
Sydenham — 2 bed: $466K (27 sales) Keilor Downs — 2 bed: $556K (6 sales)

27 vs 6 sales

3 bed $535K / $635K
Sydenham — 3 bed: $535K (27 sales) Keilor Downs — 3 bed: $635K (15 sales)

27 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.

Sydenham Keilor Downs
3 bed $675K / $793K
Sydenham — 3 bed: $675K (87 sales) Keilor Downs — 3 bed: $793K (78 sales)

87 vs 78 sales

4 bed $820K / $922K
Sydenham — 4 bed: $820K (46 sales) Keilor Downs — 4 bed: $922K (63 sales)

46 vs 63 sales

5 bed $850K / $903K
Sydenham — 5 bed: $850K (5 sales) Keilor Downs — 5 bed: $903K (8 sales)

5 vs 8 sales

Zoning mix

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Residential 87% 70%
Parks and recreation 2% 19%
Infrastructure and transport 8%
same for both
Other and special use 3% 0%
Commercial 1% 3%
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

Sydenham Keilor Downs
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.

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Houses 4.2%
$530/wk on $650K
 3.7%
$570/wk on $802K
Units 4.4%
$465/wk on $545K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Sydenham Keilor Downs
House price Higher than 43% of VIC Higher than 53% of VIC
Income Higher than 65% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC
Schools Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 56% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 94% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 43% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 69% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 45% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 28% of VIC —

Liveability

Keilor Downs scores higher overall (62 vs 56).

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Grade B
same for both
Score 56/100 62/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Keilor Downs carries more flood risk (35 vs 24).

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
50/100
 Moderate
58/100
Flood Low
24/100
 Low
35/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise Moderate
50/100
 None
0/100
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 3
within 5 km

Schools

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 2

Schools in Sydenham

  • Emmaus Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Catholic Regional College Sydenham Catholic · Secondary
  • Copperfield College-Sydenham Junior Campus Government · Secondary
  • Sydenham - Hillside Primary School Government · Primary

Schools in Keilor Downs

  • Keilor Downs Secondary College Government · Secondary above peers
  • Keilor Views Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Monmia Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • St Mary MacKillop Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Supermarkets 1 2
Cafes & restaurants 6 0
Parks & reserves 12 21
Childcare 10 7
GPs 4
same for both
Pharmacies 1 2
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Walkability score 89/100 84/100
Distance to Melbourne 26.1 km
+7% vs other
 24.4 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 31 min 28 min
Public transport score 79/100
Rail · Bus
 77/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 128.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 98.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3037
 0.8%
postcode 3038
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 39
postcode 3037
 36
postcode 3038

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.

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Car (driver) 63.0% / 66.7%
Sydenham — Car (driver): 63.0% Keilor Downs — Car (driver): 66.7%
Worked from Home 23.7% / 23.8%
Sydenham — Worked from Home: 23.7% Keilor Downs — Worked from Home: 23.8%
Train 6.8% / 3.3%
Sydenham — Train: 6.8% Keilor Downs — Train: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 4.7% / 4.8%
Sydenham — Car (passenger): 4.7% Keilor Downs — Car (passenger): 4.8%
Walked Only 1.1% / 0.6%
Sydenham — Walked Only: 1.1% Keilor Downs — Walked Only: 0.6%
Bus 0.6% / 0.6%
Sydenham — Bus: 0.6% Keilor Downs — Bus: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.7%).

Setting

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Elevation 115 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 88 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 19.7 km 16.1 km

NBN connectivity

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Connectivity score 82/100 76/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Hybrid fibre-coaxial
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 51%
4,163 premises
 3%
3,906 premises

Climate

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Annual rainfall 518 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.0°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Sydenham Keilor Downs
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 18.9 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Average residential rate $1,847/yr
same for both
Council Brimbank
same for both

Federal electorate

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Division Gorton
same for both
Member Alice Jordan-Baird
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Sydenham Keilor Downs
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Sydenham

Multicultural Outer Parks Townhouses

Keilor Downs

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Sydenham

Sydenham vs Hillside Sydenham vs Taylors Hill Sydenham vs Taylors Lakes Sydenham vs Delahey

Other comparisons with Keilor Downs

Keilor Downs vs St Albans Keilor Downs vs Taylors Lakes Keilor Downs vs Delahey Keilor Downs vs Keilor Keilor Downs vs Kealba
Full data on Sydenham Full data on Keilor Downs
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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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