Carrum Downs vs Frankston North.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $775,000 and $670,000. Carrum Downs edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Frankston North (median $670,000) is roughly 16% cheaper to buy into than Carrum Downs ($775,000).
Carrum Downs scores higher on walkability (42/100 vs 4/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Carrum Downs (1002) sits above Frankston North (987). Carrum Downs skews owner-occupied (70%), Frankston North runs more rental-dense (52% owner).
For buyers
Frankston North is the lower entry point at $670,000 median, 16% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Carrum Downs offers the higher gross rental yield (3.76% vs 2.44%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Carrum Downs edges out on average school ICSEA (1002 vs 987). Carrum Downs also has a higher family-household share (70% vs 60%), so the catchment community skews family-heavy.
Common questions
Is Carrum Downs or Frankston North cheaper to buy in?
Frankston North has the lower median house price at $670,000, roughly 16% below Carrum Downs ($775,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Carrum Downs or Frankston North have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Carrum Downs scores 1002 vs 987 in Frankston North. ICSEA is a school-community indicator, not a quality rating, so always check NAPLAN results and catchment boundaries for the specific address you're considering.
Which is more walkable, Carrum Downs or Frankston North?
Carrum Downs scores 42/100 on walkability vs 4/100. Above 70 is considered very walkable (most errands on foot), 50-69 is walkable for some errands, below 50 typically requires a car for daily life.
Which suburb has higher rental yield, Carrum Downs or Frankston North?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.76% in Carrum Downs vs 2.44% in Frankston North. Gross yield equals annual rent divided by purchase price. Net yield (after strata, rates, insurance, agent fees and maintenance) typically runs 1.5-2 percentage points lower.
The numbers behind the take
Price & Market
Rental
Lifestyle & Demographics
Risk & Hazard
Schools
Climate
Green dot = better on that metric (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk).
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