Franklin vs Palmerston

Franklin (median $985,000) is roughly 5% cheaper to buy into than Palmerston ($1,038,000).

Buying in Franklin or Palmerston?

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Franklin and Palmerston side by side

MeasureFranklinPalmerston
Price and market
Median house$985,000$1,038,000
Median unit$498,250$637,750
Renting
House rent$460/wk$460/wk
Unit rent$460/wk$450/wk
Owner occupied52.0%70.0%
Renter occupied46.0%28.0%
Schools
Schools nearby2020
Average ICSEA10831079
Lifestyle and people
Walk score222
Transit score70100
Bike score100100
Population7,4845,579
Median age3036
Climate
Annual rainfall612 mm646 mm
Mean max, January29.2°C29.3°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

Franklin scores higher on walkability (22/100 vs 2/100 ), useful if you're optimising for a car-light household. On school quality, the average ICSEA across schools serving Franklin (1083) sits above Palmerston (1079). Palmerston skews owner-occupied (70%), Franklin runs more rental-dense (52% owner).

For buyers
Franklin is the lower entry point at $985,000 median, 5% below the other suburb. For first home buyers, that translates to a smaller deposit and lower stamp duty bill.
For investors
Franklin offers the higher gross rental yield (2.43% vs 2.30%), favouring cash-flow investors.
For families
Franklin edges out on average school ICSEA (1083 vs 1079).

Franklin vs Palmerston: common questions

Is Franklin or Palmerston cheaper to buy in?

Franklin has the lower median house price at $985,000, roughly 5% below Palmerston ($1,038,000). The gap on units is usually similar but worth checking on the full suburb profiles.

Does Franklin or Palmerston have better schools?

On average school ICSEA (the ACARA index that benchmarks educational advantage), Franklin scores 1083 vs 1079 in Palmerston. 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, Franklin or Palmerston?

Franklin scores 22/100 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, Franklin or Palmerston?

Gross rental yield on houses is 2.43% in Franklin vs 2.30% in Palmerston. 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.