Pakenham
VIC 3810 · Cardinia
54,118 (2021) → 56,493 est. (2025) · High Growth
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
Pakenham is a high growth suburb in Cardinia, VIC 3810, about 54km from Melbourne CBD. Its median house price of $645K is around the same as the VIC average. The suburb has 13 schools, a transport score of 98/100, and is about 16km inland. Pakenham has an overall score of 78/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 77/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: India (5.99%), England (3.21%), Sri Lanka (2%), New Zealand (1.95%), Philippines (1.23%)
Top languages: Punjabi (4.6%), Sinhal (1.67%), Mandarin (1.21%), Hindi (1.02%), Arabic (0.95%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: Valuer-General Victoria (DTF) · Updated 2024
Residential Safety
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (suburb-level) · Updated 2025
Schools
Reasonable school mix
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of schools, though the strongest options may require some travel.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1016 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Beaconhills CollegeCombined · IndependentICSEA 1097
- Lakeside CollegeCombined · IndependentICSEA 1033
- John Henry Primary SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1019
- Pakenham Primary SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1006
- Pakenham Lakeside Primary SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 1006
- Edenbrook Secondary CollegeSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 1000
- Pakenham Springs Primary SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 996
- St Patrick's SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 993
- Pakenham Hills Primary SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 974
- Pakenham Secondary CollegeSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 966
- Pakenham Consolidated SchoolPrimary · GovernmentICSEA 954
- Community College Gippsland Ltd | ECG Secondary College - ECG College PakenhamSecondary · Independent
- Oakwood School-Pakenham CampusSecondary · Government
Nearby (within 10km)
- St Francis Xavier College - Officer CampusSecondary · Catholic · 4.7km
- St Clare's Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · 4.7kmICSEA 1044
- Bridgewood Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 5.2kmICSEA 1047
- Chairo Christian School - Pakenham CampusCombined · Independent · 6km
- OneSchool Global Vic - Berwick CentreCombined · Independent · 6.3km
- Heritage College - Officer CampusCombined · Independent · 6.4km
- Officer Secondary CollegeSecondary · Government · 6.5kmICSEA 1009
- Officer Specialist SchoolCombined · Government · 6.6kmICSEA 996
- St Margaret’s Berwick Grammar - Berwick Grammar SchoolCombined · Independent · 6.8km
- Officer Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 6.8kmICSEA 1000
- Minaret College - Officer CampusCombined · Independent · 6.9km
- Kurrun Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 7.2kmICSEA 1049
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Few fitness options
Very few fitness facilities in and around this suburb.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Mostly urban
Very little parkland or outdoor recreation in and around this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Few cultural venues
Very few cultural venues in and around this suburb.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Not much nightlife
Very few licensed venues nearby — you'll be heading to a neighbouring suburb for a night out.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: VGCCC (Victorian liquor register)
Childcare
Some choices available
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of childcare options, though popular services may have waiting lists.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
High GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Cardinia
Compare Pakenham with another suburb
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Frequently asked questions about Pakenham
Is Pakenham safe?
Pakenham has a residential safety score of 77/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 6,081 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in Pakenham?
In Pakenham, the .
How far is Pakenham from Melbourne CBD?
Pakenham is about 54.1 km from Melbourne CBD, an estimated 116 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in Pakenham?
Pakenham has 13 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1004 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in Pakenham?
Pakenham has a transport score of 98/100, including 2 train stations and 166 bus stops.