Craigieburn vs Pakenham
The verdict
Pakenham is more affordable, with a median house price of $645K versus $653K in Craigieburn. Craigieburn rates higher for education (58 vs 51). Pakenham is closer to the coast (16.3 km vs 28.0 km). On the separate residential safety score, Craigieburn rates higher (85 vs 77/100 in Pakenham).
Scores
| Craigieburn | Pakenham | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 79 | 78 |
| Transport | 98 | 98 |
| Education | 58 | 51 |
| Liveability | 79 | 81 |
Overall is based on transport, liveability & education — the metrics available at consistent quality nationwide. Residential safety is compared separately below.
Demographics
| Craigieburn | Pakenham | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 65,178 | 54,118 |
| Median age | 32 | 33 |
| Median household income (wk) | $1,798 | $1,664 |
| Bachelor degree or higher | 41.4% | 29.7% |
| Born in Australia | 47.1% | 67.3% |
| Avg household size | 3.3 | 2.8 |
Growth: Craigieburn High Growth · Pakenham High Growth
Property
| Craigieburn | Pakenham | |
|---|---|---|
| Median house price | $653K | $645K |
| Median unit price | $430K | $476K |
| House price YoY | 0.9% | 1.6% |
| Median rent — house (wk) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Rental yield (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Days on market (house) | Data not available | Data not available |
Median price history
Safety
| Craigieburn | Pakenham | |
|---|---|---|
| Residential safety score | 85 | 77 |
| Break & enter dwelling /100k | 155 | 220 |
| Motor vehicle theft /100k | 364 | 351 |
| Domestic assault /100k | 422 | 501 |
| Total incidents /100k (all) | 4,537 | 6,081 |
Total incidents over time
Schools
| Craigieburn | Pakenham | |
|---|---|---|
| Total schools | 15 | 13 |
| Government | 12 | 9 |
| Independent | 0 | 3 |
| Average ICSEA | 993 | 1,004 |
See the full school list on each profile: Craigieburn · Pakenham
Transport
| Craigieburn | Pakenham | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport score | 98 | 98 |
| Train stations | 1 | 2 |
| Bus stops | 201 | 166 |
| Light rail stops | 0 | 0 |
| Ferry wharves | 0 | 0 |
| CBD commute (min) | 59 | 116 |
| Nearest train station (km) | 2.2 km | 780 m |
Liveability
| Craigieburn | Pakenham | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer max temp | 26.0°C | 25.8°C |
| Winter max temp | 13.5°C | 14.2°C |
| Annual rainfall (mm) | 530 | 600 |
| Supermarkets | 7 | 10 |
| Cafes & restaurants | 16 | 20 |
| Parks | 152 | 119 |
| Playgrounds | 57 | 55 |
| Swimming pools | 55 | 33 |
| Medical GPs | 6 | 4 |
| Distance to coast (km) | 28.0 km | 16.3 km |
| Distance to CBD (km) | 25.5 km | 54.1 km |
| Nearest beach (km) | Data not available | Data not available |
| Nearest hospital (km) | 10.7 km | 12.6 km |
Population & growth
| Craigieburn | Pakenham | |
|---|---|---|
| Population (2021) | 65,178 | 54,118 |
| Estimated 2025 | 67,273 | 56,493 |
| Projected 2041 | 105,416 | 89,915 |
| Annual growth rate | 0.79% | 1.08% |
Common questions
Which is safer, Craigieburn or Pakenham?
Craigieburn has the higher residential safety score (Craigieburn 85/100 vs Pakenham 77/100).
Which is more affordable, Craigieburn or Pakenham?
Pakenham is more affordable, with a median house price of $645K versus $653K.
Which has better schools, Craigieburn or Pakenham?
Pakenham has a higher average school ICSEA (Craigieburn 993 vs Pakenham 1004; national average 1000).
Which has better public transport, Craigieburn or Pakenham?
Craigieburn and Pakenham have similar transport scores.
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