Carrum
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Carrum, VIC 3197.
About Carrum
Welcome to Carrum
Carrum sits on Port Phillip Bay roughly 35 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD, tucked between the Patterson River and the Frankston railway line. It's a beach suburb in the truest sense — sand, surf lifesaving flags and a low-rise village feel that has resisted the high-density push seen elsewhere along the bay.
With a population of just 4,239 and a median age of 40, Carrum tends to attract families and downsizers who want genuine beach living without sacrificing a train line into the city. It sits alongside Bonbeach, Chelsea, Chelsea Heights, Seaford and the canal-side enclave of Patterson Lakes, all of which share that unhurried, seaside-suburb character.
Lifestyle & dining
Life in Carrum revolves around the beach and the river mouth, where locals swim, paddleboard and fish depending on the season. The small shopping strip near the station has a cluster of cafes and takeaway spots that do a brisk trade on weekend mornings, and the atmosphere is more relaxed local hangout than destination dining precinct. For a bigger night out or a wider retail fix, Chelsea and Seaford are both a short drive or train ride away and fill in the gaps with supermarkets, bottle shops and additional restaurants.
Getting around
Carrum station, on the Frankston line, is the suburb's biggest practical asset, offering a direct run into Flinders Street and reasonably frequent services throughout the day. The Nepean Highway runs nearby for those driving, linking Carrum north towards Mordialloc and the city, and south towards Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. Because the suburb is compact, most residents can walk or cycle to the station, the beach and local shops rather than relying on a car for everyday trips.
Schools & families
Carrum Primary School anchors the suburb for younger families, and its position close to the beach and local parks makes the school run part of a genuinely pleasant daily routine. Families with older children typically look to secondary options in neighbouring Chelsea, Seaford or further afield, with Carrum's own housing stock and beach lifestyle proving the bigger drawcard for those choosing to settle here long-term.
Parks & recreation
Beyond the obvious pull of the beach, Carrum benefits from the Patterson River foreshore, with its walking and cycling paths, boat ramps and river frontage shared with neighbouring Patterson Lakes. The Bay Trail links Carrum to Bonbeach and Chelsea for longer coastal walks or rides, while the sheltered river mouth is popular with kayakers and anglers alike. It's a suburb built for an outdoors, low-key lifestyle rather than one reliant on manufactured recreation facilities.
The property market
Carrum's housing stock leans strongly towards standalone houses, which make up 59% of current listings, with townhouses accounting for a further 26% and apartments or units just 11%, plus a small 4% of land listings — a mix that reflects the suburb's low-rise, beachside character. The median house price sits at $1.03 million, having recorded modest recent growth of 2.2%, while units and apartments carry a median of $726,000, offering a comparatively more accessible entry point to the area. Median rent across the suburb is $720 a week, underlining Carrum's status as a premium, tightly held bayside pocket rather than a high-turnover rental market.
Housing & architecture
Streetscapes in Carrum mix older beach shacks and post-war weatherboards with newer builds and townhouse developments that have gradually filled gaps close to the station and shopping strip. Buyers are typically drawn either to renovation or knockdown-rebuild opportunities on the original blocks, or to newer, low-maintenance townhouses aimed at downsizers wanting to stay near the water without the upkeep of a larger block.
Market snapshot
Carrum property market
Median sale price
$1.03m
House · 3 bed
Median rent
$720
per week
Gross rental yield
3.6%
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$806k
Median
$1.03m
Premium
$1.63m
Days on market
29
Auction clearance
80%
Sold this year
54
Median sold price trend · House 3 bed
Compound growth +2.9% / yr over 4 yrs
Median price by bedrooms · House
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Carrum by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Carrum, VIC 3197.
Population
4,239
residents (2021)
Median age
40
years
Household income
$1,732
median, per week
Median rent
$406
per week
Median mortgage
$2,069
per month
Mortgage / income
28%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Carrum
Government school catchment
Recent results
Recently sold in Carrum
$1.35m
71 Whatley Street
Sold ~July 2026
$500k
8/32 Church Road
Sold ~July 2026
$1.13m
9 Kipling Street
Sold ~July 2026
$1m
2/21 Dahmen Street
Sold ~July 2026
$740k
1/13 Graham Road
Sold ~July 2026
$3.10m
690 Nepean Highway
Sold ~July 2026
$1.44m
12 Lewellin Grove
Sold ~June 2026
$879k
9 Wright Street
Sold ~June 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Carrum
Compare the area
Price map around Carrum
Every listing for sale near Carrum, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Nearby suburbs
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Common questions
Carrum suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Carrum?
The median house price in Carrum, VIC is $1.03m for a 3-bedroom home. Over the past year, median sold prices have risen about 2.2%.
How much is rent in Carrum?
The median weekly rent in Carrum is around $720 per week.
Is Carrum a good place to live?
Carrum is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 33 km (21 mi) south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Kingston local government area. Carrum is an established residential suburb in VIC, with a population of around 4,239 and 1 school in the area.
What is the population of Carrum?
Carrum has a population of 4,239 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 40.
What schools are in Carrum?
There is 1 school in or near Carrum, including Carrum Primary School.
How long do homes take to sell in Carrum?
Properties in Carrum take around 29 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 80%.
How much do you need to buy in Carrum?
Entry-level properties in Carrum start around $806k, while premium homes reach $1.63m.
What suburbs are near Carrum?
Suburbs near Carrum include Patterson Lakes, Bonbeach, Chelsea, Chelsea Heights and Seaford.
Fresh to market
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