Cranbourne
VICCranbourne is a growing suburb in VIC with 21,281 residents.
- SAL code
- 20662
- SA2
- 212031300
- Population
- 21,281
Cranbourne, VIC had 21,281 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 4.8% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 25-34 years, and the median age sits at 35. Households are most often couples with children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,627 a month. Around 63.5% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being owned with a mortgage at 40.4%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 80.1% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 48 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Suburb analysis
Cranbourne, VIC at a glance
Cranbourne is an established outer south-east suburb ~45 km from Melbourne CBD and the terminus of the Cranbourne line. It's the original town centre of the City of Casey growth corridor, with a Major Activity Centre, a working racecourse since 1867, and a long-running mix of older established stock plus newer infill. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market and council context.
For homebuyers
Cranbourne reads more like a regional town centre than a typical Melbourne suburb. You'll find a working High Street, the Cranbourne Park Shopping Centre at the core, and a mix of older 1970s-90s homes around the centre with newer estates pushing the edges. Cranbourne Station sits at the end of the Metro line, making the CBD a one-seat (if long) commute. The Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne site is ~6 km south in Cranbourne South and runs a free shuttle from the station; Casey Race (operating since 1867) hosts the Cranbourne Cup. Local primary schools include Cranbourne Primary and Rangebank Primary, with Cranbourne Secondary College the main public high school option. Casey Fields and the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens give you genuine open space without driving far. In short: an established south-east town centre with rail access and real amenity, sitting at the cheaper end of metropolitan Melbourne.
For investors
Cranbourne is a moderate-yield, steady-growth play at the affordable end of Melbourne. Median house sale around $710,000 against ~$505/week rent gives a gross yield near 3.3% (Your Investment Property + htag, May 2026). Houses grew ~+6.8% over 12 months (~416 sales). Units are tighter and faster: median ~$519,000, +7.55% YoY, ~$490/week rent for ~4.85% yield, ~15 days on market across ~113 sales (htag May 2026).
Strengths
- Affordable entry into metropolitan Melbourne with rail access — house median ~$710K vs metro ~$900K+ (htag May 2026).
- Unit market is the standout: ~+7.55% YoY growth, ~4.85% gross yield, only ~15 days on market (htag May 2026).
- Established Major Activity Centre status — shopping, services, racing, and Botanic Gardens anchor demand beyond pure commuter stock.
- Deep transaction volume (~416 house + ~113 unit sales in 12 months) means liquidity if you ever need to exit.
Trade-offs
- House yield is thin (~3.3%) — not a cashflow market for detached stock (Your Investment Property May 2026).
- Cranbourne East shows elevated rental vacancy (~3.8%) — broader 3977 area carries more tenant supply than tight inner suburbs.
- Casey LGA continues to release greenfield stock through the Cranbourne East / North development plans, which could cap rent growth.
- Cranbourne line travel times to the CBD are long compared with middle-ring suburbs — commute drag is a real factor for tenant pricing.
What's coming
City of Casey's 2025/26 budget commits $125.8M to capital works across a $640.94M program (Draft Budget 2025/26). The Cranbourne Major Activity Centre Structure Plan 2020 continues to guide redevelopment of the High Street core, while separate Cranbourne, Cranbourne East and Cranbourne North development plans govern greenfield rollout on the edges. Watch Casey's monthly planning approvals for pacing.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: an affordable, established south-east town centre with rail and real amenity. For investors: thin house yields offset by a faster, higher-yielding unit market and steady growth — not a high-cashflow detached play.
Population
?21,281
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+4.8%
3yr: +5.2% · 10yr: +10.4%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,477/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
35
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?2/10
SA2 · more disadvantaged
Unemployment
?8.9%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
11
8 primary, 4 secondary
Hospitals
?1
Within suburb
Childcare services
?33
19 long day, 10 OSHC
Parks & green space
?48
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?66
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
No data for this suburb
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
Source: Valuer-General Victoria (suburb-level quarterly medians).
→ Calculate stamp duty on this suburb's median price→ Estimate mortgage repayments→ Calculate rental yield (price + median rent)
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from VIC police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Cranbourne (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Cranbourne suburb alone is ~21,281 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 13,392 to 22,708 over 24 years, averaging 2.2% per year.
Schools
7 in suburbSector
6 public · 1 private
Type
6 primary · 1 secondary
Total enrolment
3,707
Avg per school
530
Government school catchment
Catchment data is not yet available for VIC.
Source when available: Victorian Department of Education / Vicmap School Zones.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 3.2%Almost entirely detached houses (80.1%), mixed tenure (63.5% own or mortgage), built for families (52% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
VIC 29%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
Source: VIC DTP Designated Bushfire Prone Area
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Flood risk
Source: VIC DTP Vicmap Planning Overlay (flood codes)
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Planning zones
15 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRZ1 | General Residential Zone Schedule 1Residential | 30.6% | 5.05 km² |
| PCRZ | Public Conservation and Resource ZoneEnvironmental | 22.1% | 3.64 km² |
| SUZ6 | Special Use Zone Schedule 6Special use | 12.0% | 1.98 km² |
| GRZ2 | General Residential Zone Schedule 2Residential | 9.1% | 1.51 km² |
| ACZ1 | Activity Centre Zone Schedule 1Business | 7.2% | 1.19 km² |
| PPRZ | Public Park and Recreation ZoneRecreation | 4.9% | 0.80 km² |
| TRZ2 | TRZ2Special use | 3.6% | 0.60 km² |
| RGZ2 | Residential Growth Zone Schedule 2Residential | 2.7% | 0.45 km² |
| FZ2 | Farming Zone Schedule 2Rural | 2.1% | 0.35 km² |
| LDRZ1 | Low Density Residential Zone Schedule 1Residential | 1.7% | 0.29 km² |
| C2Z | Commercial 2 ZoneBusiness | 1.0% | 0.17 km² |
| TRZ1 | TRZ1Special use | 1.0% | 0.16 km² |
| PUZ2 | Public Use Zone Schedule 2Special use | 1.0% | 0.16 km² |
| PUZ1 | Public Use Zone Schedule 1Special use | 0.8% | 0.12 km² |
| C1Z | Commercial 1 ZoneBusiness | 0.2% | 0.04 km² |
Source: VIC DTP Vicmap Planning Zones (ZONE_VIC/2026-04-29/08783d2926383881) · As of Apr 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.