Carrum vs Chelsea.
Comparing two suburbs with median house prices of $1,100,500 and $1,137,500. Chelsea edges out on more headline metrics in this comparison.
Carrum (median $1,100,500) is roughly 3% cheaper to buy into than Chelsea ($1,137,500).
Chelsea scores higher on walkability (2/100 vs 70/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Chelsea (1075) sits above Carrum (1046).
For buyers
Carrum is the lower entry point at $1,100,500 median, 3% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Carrum offers the higher gross rental yield (3.21% vs 3.11%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Chelsea edges out on average school ICSEA (1075 vs 1046).
Common questions
Is Carrum or Chelsea cheaper to buy in?
Carrum has the lower median house price at $1,100,500, roughly 3% below Chelsea ($1,137,500). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.
Does Carrum or Chelsea have better schools?
On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Chelsea scores 1075 vs 1046 in Carrum. 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 or Chelsea?
Chelsea scores 70/100 on walkability vs 2/100. 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 or Chelsea?
Gross rental yield on houses is 3.21% in Carrum vs 3.11% in Chelsea. 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).
Compare Carrum against another suburb