Carrum vs Chelsea

Carrum (median $1,100,500) is roughly 3% cheaper to buy into than Chelsea ($1,137,500).

Buying in Carrum or Chelsea?

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Selling in Carrum? The free selling guide

Carrum and Chelsea side by side

MeasureCarrumChelsea
Price and market
Median house$1,100,500$1,137,500
Median unit$762,500$709,000
Renting
House rent$680/wk$680/wk
Unit rent$545/wk$545/wk
Owner occupied67.0%65.0%
Renter occupied31.0%32.0%
Schools
Schools nearby2020
Average ICSEA10461075
Lifestyle and people
Walk score270
Transit score600
Bike score100100
Population4,2398,347
Median age4041
Climate
Annual rainfall651 mm651 mm
Mean max, January25.7°C25.7°C

Green dot: better on that measure (lower price, higher growth, higher walkability, lower risk). Each suburb’s profile gives the source and period of its figures.

Which suits whom

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).

Carrum vs Chelsea: 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.