Cranbourne South
The suburb has 3,241 residents, a median age of 35 that is 5 years below the national comparison, and household income at the 87.5th percentile. Compared with nearby Cranbourne, its housing profile is more uniformly low-density, while 21.7% work from home and 73.3% drive to work. The 2.9-person average household is 0.4 above the national figure, helping explain demand for four-bedroom homes, which account for 66.2% of stock.
Population
3,241
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,278/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
11
Median House
$932K
October to December 2025
Mortgage repayments equal 22.0% of household income, while household income sits at the 87.5th percentile, making the payment profile more manageable than in lower-income markets. Mortgage holders make up 62.1% of households, while 25.9% own outright and only 10.7% rent, pointing to a settled ownership base. Space is the main product: 66.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, 29.8% have 3, and 99.7% are separate houses. Compared with nearby Cranbourne, detached family stock is the clearer proposition here.
For Buyers
Mortgage repayments equal 22.0% of household income, while household income sits at the 87.5th percentile, making the payment profile more manageable than in lower-income markets. Mortgage holders make up 62.1% of households, while 25.9% own outright and only 10.7% rent, pointing to a settled ownership base. Space is the main product: 66.2% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms, 29.8% have 3, and 99.7% are separate houses. Compared with nearby Cranbourne, detached family stock is the clearer proposition here.
For Investors
Rental property fundamentals are mixed but investable: weekly rent is $470, vacancy is 3.2%, and just 10.7% of households rent, below the combined ownership categories of 25.9% outright and 62.1% mortgage. That low rental proportion can limit tenant depth, while vacancy above 3% suggests more choice than a tightly constrained market. Nine development applications in 12 months indicate an active supply pipeline, which may moderate competition for established homes as new stock arrives. Investors should also weigh the 4.67% annual growth trend and internal migration against the suburb's car-dependent form.
Development Activity
Total DAs
16
Last 12 Months
11
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+266.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cranbourne South
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Cranbourne South Primary School
Demographics
With a median age of 35, Cranbourne South is 5 years below the national comparison, and its 2.9-person average household is 0.4 above it. Families are central: couples with children represent 50.5% of families, compared with 37.9% couples without children, while one-parent families account for 9.8%. English ancestry is the largest reported group at 1,143 people, followed by Scottish at 284 and Irish at 215. No religion is recorded for 1,423 people versus 1,295 identifying with Christianity. Overseas-born residents account for 24.3%, which is 2.7 percentage points above the national comparison, while the university-educated share is 29.1%, 1 point below national. Compared with nearby Cranbourne, the suburb reads as more family-household oriented.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
99.7%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.3%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is unusually consistent: 99.7% of dwellings are separate houses and 66.2% contain 4 or more bedrooms, compared with just 0.3% apartments and 3.1% two-bedroom homes. Tenure is mortgage-heavy, with 62.1% paying a mortgage, 25.9% owning outright and 10.7% renting. Mortgage repayments equal 22.0% of household income and rent equals 20.6%; both stress flags are false. Compared with nearby Cranbourne, the housing offer is more concentrated in large detached dwellings, which supports family demand but leaves less variety for apartment or compact-home buyers.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$470
Census 2021
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$979
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
3.2%
Unoccupied
35
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
50.5%
Couples with children
37.9%
Couples, no children
9.8%
Single parent
941
Total families
Economy & Employment
Household income is a notable strength: the weekly household figure is $2,278, placing Cranbourne South at the 87.5th percentile, higher than the midpoint, while the personal median is $979. Employment is also solid, with a 71.0% participation rate, 2.8% unemployment and 1,127 full-time workers compared with 532 part-time workers. Healthcare leads the industry mix at 19.6% and 235 workers, followed by construction at 17.5% and 210, education at 11.0% and 132, manufacturing at 9.4% and 113, and retail at 6.5% and 78. Occupations reinforce this spread: professionals number 341, trades 303, clerical and admin 235, and managers 219. This combination helps explain why mortgage repayments sit at 22.0% of household income rather than indicating broad financial stress.
Unemployment
2.8%
Labour Force
1,838
Unemployed
52
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.1%
Part-time
29.8%
Participation
71.0%
Employed
1,786
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
29.1%
Postgraduate
5.8%
Born Overseas
24.3%
Dwellings
1,049
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 73.3% drive to work, compared with 0.9% using public transport and 0.5% walking or cycling, although 21.7% work from home. Cranbourne South Primary School is the named local school, giving the suburb 1 identified government primary option; families should check enrolment zones and nearby secondary choices against the exact address. The crime rate is 57.1 offences per 1,000 people, with 185 total offences, including 129 property and deception offences and 28 crimes against the person, so property security deserves attention. Socioeconomic measures are comparatively strong: the IRSAD is in decile 7 and the IRSD in decile 8, above the midpoint, while the IER is in decile 10. The mixed profile matters because the IEO is in decile 5, around the middle, despite higher income and disadvantage rankings. Compared with a more transit-oriented suburb, local routines depend more on driving.
Drive
73.3%
Public Transport
0.9%
Walk / Cycle
0.5%
Work from Home
21.7%
Population Forecast
+4.67%/yr
(+1,277 people/yr)
High GrowthGrowth is classified as high growth, with an annual trend of 4.67% and internal migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 159.1% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is labelled Rejuvenating, supported by a 5.2 percentage-point increase in the young share and a 4.7-point fall in the senior share. Rent growth reached 40.7%, and real income growth was 27.6%, helping explain why new households can keep arriving even as affordability moved from 47.8% in 2011 to 42.8% in 2021. Gentrification is not the main mechanism: the score is 0 and the stage is New development, while the separate shift label is Not gentrifying. Compared with slower established markets, this points to expansion led by incoming households and new housing.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+110
Net Internal / yr
+1,920
Gentrification Signal
New development
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
185
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
57.1
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Cranbourne South compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cranbourne South a good suburb to live in?
Yes, for households seeking detached space and a family setting. About 99.7% of dwellings are separate houses, 66.2% have 4 or more bedrooms and the median age is 35, which is 5 years below the national comparison. Car dependence is high at 73.3%, so transport needs should shape the decision.
What schools are in Cranbourne South?
Cranbourne South Primary School is the identified local school, and it is a government primary school. Families should check the exact enrolment zone and compare nearby secondary options before buying, because school access can differ across the 20.0 square kilometre suburb and surrounding growth areas.
Is Cranbourne South safe?
Recorded crime was 185 offences, equal to 57.1 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences made up 129 cases, compared with 28 crimes against the person. That mix makes home security and exact-street checks sensible, especially for buyers comparing nearby areas.
How is Cranbourne South's population changing?
Population change across the wider area is forecast at 159.1% over 10 years, with an annual trend of 4.67% driven by internal migration. The shift trajectory is Rejuvenating, with the young share up 5.2 points and the senior share down 4.7 points. Cranbourne South currently has 3,241 residents.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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