Cranbourne
Cranbourne’s 35-year median age sits 5 years below the national figure, while 36.2% of residents were born overseas, 14.6 percentage points above the national level. Its 21,281 residents live in a detached-house market, with 80.1% separate houses and 51.7% three-bedroom dwellings. Compared with nearby Cranbourne West and Cranbourne East, Cranbourne has an established town-centre and school network, while its 156.9 crimes per 1,000 residents remains a material liveability issue.
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
35
Median House
$714K
October to December 2025
The typical purchase is more likely to be a separate house than an apartment, with 80.1% of dwellings detached, 16.1% semi-detached and 3.7% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.7%, higher than the 32.3% share of four-bedroom-plus homes. A listed mortgage cost of $1,627 per month represents 25.4% of household income, below the mortgage-stress flag. Compared with a smaller-home market, this profile suits buyers prioritising family space, but car costs and school-zone checks should be included in the budget.
For Buyers
The typical purchase is more likely to be a separate house than an apartment, with 80.1% of dwellings detached, 16.1% semi-detached and 3.7% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 51.7%, higher than the 32.3% share of four-bedroom-plus homes. A listed mortgage cost of $1,627 per month represents 25.4% of household income, below the mortgage-stress flag. Compared with a smaller-home market, this profile suits buyers prioritising family space, but car costs and school-zone checks should be included in the budget.
For Investors
Cranbourne has a substantial tenant base, with 34.4% of households renting, higher than the 23.5% owning outright. Weekly rent is $342 and vacancy is 5.0%, giving investors an established rental market but also a reason to test the exact property, condition and tenant segment. Rent growth is recorded at 20.4%, while the long-run house-price CAGR is 4.4% across 19 years. The 5.96% annual growth trend, driven by internal migration, supports demand, although 28 development applications in 12 months point to ongoing competition from new or altered stock. Investment returns will depend on purchase price, maintenance and local supply rather than growth alone.
Development Activity
Total DAs
62
Last 12 Months
35
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+288.9%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cranbourne
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Lighthouse Christian College Cranbourne
Cranbourne Carlisle Primary School
Cranbourne Park Primary School
Cranbourne Primary School
Cranbourne West Primary School
Demographics
Cranbourne has a 35-year median age, 5 years below the national figure, and an overseas-born share of 36.2%, which is 14.6 percentage points above the national level. University attainment is 22.8%, 7.3 points below national, while the average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national. Families with children make up 45.2% of families, compared with 30.5% couples without children, and one-parent families account for 22.0%. English ancestry is recorded for 5,904 people and Indian ancestry for 1,394. Punjabi is the most common listed language at 492 speakers. Compared with nearby Cranbourne West and Cranbourne East, this mix supports a strongly family-oriented and multicultural local market.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
80.1%
Houses
16.1%
Townhouse
3.7%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between 23.5% owned outright, 41.2% with a mortgage and 34.4% rented. Separate houses account for 80.1%, while 51.7% of dwellings have 3 bedrooms and 32.3% have 4 or more. Compared with nearby Cranbourne West and Cranbourne East, buyers should assess each pocket individually rather than treat the wider corridor as one uniform market.
Mortgage / mo
$1,627
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $342.
$580
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $550 · units $460
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
45.2%
Couples with children
30.5%
Couples, no children
22.0%
Single parent
5,448
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Cranbourne’s largest listed industry at 20.8%, or 1,154 workers, followed by manufacturing at 11.7% and construction at 11.0%. The occupational profile is led by trades at 1,629 people, labourers at 1,395 and machinery or drivers at 1,228, which reflects demand connected with services, building and logistics. Labour-force participation is 60.0%, with unemployment at 6.7%. Household income is $1,477 weekly and sits at the 45.8th percentile, below the median percentile position. SEIFA results are also comparatively low, with IRSAD and IEO both at decile 2, IRSD at decile 2 and IER at decile 3. These lower deciles alongside strong healthcare and construction employment suggest a working household economy with constrained socioeconomic capacity.
Unemployment
6.7%
Labour Force
10,191
Unemployed
680
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.2%
Part-time
33.0%
Participation
60.0%
Employed
9,511
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
22.8%
Postgraduate
6.0%
Born Overseas
36.2%
Dwellings
7,191
Transport to Work
Cranbourne is strongly car-oriented: 75.6% of commuters drive, compared with 2.9% using public transport and 1.3% walking or cycling. Work from home accounts for 14.2%, so daily convenience depends heavily on the exact address and access to services. There are 10 listed local schools, spanning 7 primary and 3 secondary campuses, with 7 government and 3 Catholic schools. Check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can differ across nearby areas. Safety requires attention, with 3,339 recorded offences and a rate of 156.9 per 1,000 residents; property and deception offences account for 1,754. An IRSAD decile of 2 is lower than higher-decile suburbs, so household priorities and street-level conditions should be weighed carefully.
Drive
75.6%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
1.3%
Work from Home
14.2%
Population Forecast
+5.96%/yr
(+929 people/yr)
High GrowthCranbourne carries a high-growth forecast, with an annual trend of 5.96% driven primarily by internal migration. Population change across the wider area is 1386.0% over 10 years, while the shift is labelled Rejuvenating. The young share has increased by 16.3 percentage points and the working share by 25.0, helping explain continued demand from younger and family households. Rent growth is 20.4%, and affordability is labelled Improving, moving from 89.5 in 2011 to 46.9 in 2021. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying, so the pattern is more consistent with expansion through incoming households than premium-led reinvention. Growth is faster than a flat trajectory, increasing pressure on roads, services and school enrolment.
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?
It can suit households seeking detached housing and established services, but the choice depends on budget and tolerance for car travel and crime exposure. The median age is 35, 80.1% of homes are separate houses, and 75.6% of commuters drive, so it fits family-oriented, car-dependent lifestyles better than transit-first living.
What schools are in Cranbourne?
There are 10 listed local schools: 7 primary and 3 secondary, including 7 government and 3 Catholic schools. Examples include Cranbourne Primary School, Cranbourne Secondary College, Cranbourne West Primary School and St Peter's College. Check the exact enrolment zone because nearby boundaries can differ.
Is Cranbourne safe?
The recorded crime rate is 156.9 offences per 1,000 residents, with 3,339 total offences. Property and deception offences account for 1,754, ahead of crimes against the person at 611. Compare the exact street and property conditions before deciding, because suburb-wide rates can vary locally.
Is Cranbourne good for property investment?
It may suit investors targeting established detached rentals, but due diligence matters. Weekly rent is $342, vacancy is 5.0%, renting households are 34.4%, and 28 development applications were recorded over 12 months. The 5.96% annual growth forecast is higher than a flat market, but new supply and tenant demand should be tested.
How is Cranbourne's population changing?
Cranbourne is on a high-growth trajectory. The annual trend is 5.96%, with internal migration the primary driver, and population change across the wider area is 1386.0% over 10 years. The shift is labelled Rejuvenating, with the young share up 16.3 percentage points, so demand is likely to remain focused on working-age and family households.
What languages are spoken in Cranbourne?
The overseas-born share is 36.2%, which is 14.6 percentage points above the national level. Punjabi is the most common listed language at 492 speakers, followed by Hindi at 171, Khmer at 124, Samoan at 117 and Sinhal at 110. This gives the suburb a broader language mix than the national profile.
What development is happening in Cranbourne?
There were 28 development applications in 12 months. Recent examples include a 2-lot subdivision, a second dwelling project involving 2 dwellings and an electronic billboard sign. This is a higher level of planning activity than a quiet, low-change market, so buyers should check permits, construction timing and future traffic around the exact address.
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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