Cranbourne
Rapid growth defines Cranbourne: the forecast trend adds 929 people a year, or 5.96%, while the suburb still reads as a mortgage-belt family market with 80.1% separate houses. The median house price is $673,000 and the median age is 35, which is 5 years below the national figure. Compared with nearby Cranbourne East and Cranbourne West, the established Cranbourne core combines rail-era housing, retail access and a more visible safety challenge, with crime at 156.9 offences per 1,000 residents.
Population
21,281
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,477/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
24
Median House
$673K
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers get a mostly detached market at a lower entry point than many inner Melbourne alternatives, with a $673,000 median house price and 80.1% separate houses compared with just 3.7% apartments. The stock suits families because 51.7% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 32.3% have 4 or more. Monthly mortgage payments of $1,627 absorb 25.4% of income, so affordability looks workable for dual-income buyers, although household income sits at only the 45.8 percentile.
For Buyers
Homebuyers get a mostly detached market at a lower entry point than many inner Melbourne alternatives, with a $673,000 median house price and 80.1% separate houses compared with just 3.7% apartments. The stock suits families because 51.7% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 32.3% have 4 or more. Monthly mortgage payments of $1,627 absorb 25.4% of income, so affordability looks workable for dual-income buyers, although household income sits at only the 45.8 percentile.
For Investors
Investor appeal is mixed rather than automatic. Renting covers 34.7% of households, below the 41.5% with mortgages, and weekly rent is $342. Demand is helped by high growth and migration, with internal migration averaging 430 people a year versus 136 from overseas, but the 5.0% vacancy rate is a caution because it points to more available stock. The 22 development applications in 12 months also signal extra supply, especially subdivisions, which can cap rent pressure.
Development Activity
Total DAs
46
Last 12 Months
24
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+200.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cranbourne iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne
Prep-12 · 1034 students
St Agatha's School
Prep-6 · 512 students
St Peter's College
7-12 · 2089 students
St Therese's School
Prep-6 · 239 students
Cranbourne Primary School
Prep-6 · 235 students
Demographics
Cranbourne is younger and more migrant-influenced than the national profile. The median age is 35, or 5 years below national, while 36.2% of residents were born overseas, 14.6 percentage points above national. University attainment is 22.8%, which is 7.3 points below national, matching a workforce tilted to trades, care and logistics. English ancestry leads at 5,904 people, with Indian ancestry at 1,394, and Punjabi is the largest listed non-English language at 492 speakers.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.1%
Houses
16.1%
Townhouse
3.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is dominated by family dwellings and leveraged ownership. The median house price rose from $315,000 in 2013 to $673,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 113.7% gain and 5.6% compound annual growth over 14 years. Prices are only 1.0% below the $680,000 peak from Jul-Sep 2023, so the market has held up. Tenure shows 23.7% owned outright, 41.5% mortgaged and 34.7% renting, with mortgage commitments of $1,627 monthly against $1,477 weekly household income.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,627
Rent / wk
$342
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$707
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.0%
Unoccupied
380
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.4%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
20.3%
Couples, no children
16,675
Total families
Economy & Employment
Cranbourne's economy is practical and service-led. Healthcare employs 1,154 workers, or 20.8%, followed by manufacturing at 650, construction at 611, retail at 459 and education at 404. The occupation mix is more blue-collar than professional, led by 1,395 labourers and 1,228 machinery or driver roles, with 1,039 professionals. SEIFA ranks are low: IEO decile 2, IER decile 3, IRSD decile 2 and IRSAD decile 2, reflecting 7.1% unemployment and a 56.2% participation rate.
Unemployment
8.9%
Labour Force
12,473
Unemployed
1,109
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.6%
Part-time
28.3%
Participation
56.2%
Employed
8,865
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.8%
Postgraduate
6.0%
Born Overseas
36.2%
Dwellings
7,191
Transport to Work
Daily life is car-oriented: 88.0% of commuters drive, far higher than the 3.3% using public transport and 1.5% walking or cycling. School choice is a strength, with 10 local schools across Government, Catholic and Independent sectors and an ICSEA range of 941 to 1093. Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne, St Agatha's School and St Peter's College sit at the top by ICSEA. Safety is the trade-off, with 3,339 recorded offences and a crime rate of 156.9 per 1,000, while IRSAD sits in decile 2.
Drive
88.0%
Public Transport
3.3%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+5.96%/yr
(+929 people/yr)
High GrowthCranbourne sits in the high-growth category, with a trend of 5.96% a year, equal to 929 extra people annually. Migration is led by internal moves, averaging 430 net residents a year, compared with 136 from overseas, so growth is driven more by Melbourne household relocation than international arrivals. The medium projection series rises from 16,348 in 2026 to 20,992 in 2031. The shift label is Rejuvenating, while the gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+136
Net Internal / yr
+430
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
3,339
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
156.9
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 compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cranbourne a good suburb to live in?
Cranbourne can suit buyers wanting detached homes, schools and family space at a $673,000 median house price. The trade-offs are car dependence, with 88.0% driving to work, and a high crime rate of 156.9 offences per 1,000 residents.
What is the median house price in Cranbourne?
The median house price in Cranbourne is $673,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 1.0% below the recent $680,000 peak from Jul-Sep 2023, but still 113.7% above the $315,000 level recorded in 2013.
What schools are in Cranbourne?
Cranbourne has 10 listed schools across Government, Catholic and Independent sectors. The highest ICSEA entries are Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne at 1093, St Agatha's School at 1047 and St Peter's College at 1045.
Is Cranbourne safe?
Safety is a key issue to check street by street. Cranbourne recorded 3,339 offences, equal to 156.9 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences the largest category at 1,754 incidents.
Is Cranbourne good for property investment?
Cranbourne has rental depth, with 34.7% of households renting and rent at $342 a week. Investors should balance that against a 5.0% vacancy rate and 22 development applications in 12 months, which can add competing supply.
How is Cranbourne's population changing?
Cranbourne is growing quickly, with the forecast trend at 5.96% a year, or 929 extra people annually. Internal migration is the main driver, averaging 430 net residents a year compared with 136 from overseas.
What languages are spoken in Cranbourne?
Cranbourne is linguistically mixed, with 36.2% of residents born overseas. The largest listed non-English languages are Punjabi with 492 speakers, Hindi with 171, Khmer with 124, Samoan with 117 and Sinhal with 110.
Is there much development in Cranbourne?
Yes. Cranbourne recorded 22 development applications in 12 months, including subdivision proposals such as 4 lot and 6 lot applications. That level of activity fits a high-growth suburb but can also increase local housing supply.
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), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), 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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