Franchise opportunities in Carrum Downs, VIC
Geography: this report covers the Carrum Downs area (ABS SA2). Demographics from the ABS Census 2021.
How this opportunity score works
The score is a weighted 0–100 research signal, not a site-selection decision. It combines, per category:
- Demand (category fit for the population) — 30%
- Competition gap (trade-area model, more room scores higher) — 25%
- Demographic fit (income vs the category) — 20%
- 5-year population growth (percentile) — 15%
- Franchise availability (systems recruiting here) — 10%
Inputs: ABS Census 2021 (population, income, growth) and a trade-area competition model using OpenStreetMap / ABS business data where available. It doesn’t model rent, site specifics or local trading conditions, treat it as a starting point for research, then confirm on the ground and with the franchisor. See our methodology.
Create your free buyer profile
Save Carrum Downs to your profile and get alerted the moment a franchise opens a territory here. Free, private, no account needed to browse.
For sale & open territories in Carrum Downs
258 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Carrum Downs:
Amcal Pharmacy
Australian Skin Clinics
ABS Auto
Bob Jane T-Marts
Barry Plant
Belle Property
Carrum Downs on the map
Where Carrum Downs sits and the real local businesses around its centre, the operators a new franchise would compete with. Tap a pin for the business name and type.
Loading nearby operators in Carrum Downs…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
What it costs to start in Carrum Downs
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Carrum Downs best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Carrum Downs fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health & Medical | $180K–$650K | $48,000 | 6.0% | 70 |
| Automotive | $120K–$500K | $45,000 | 7.5% | 69 |
| Real Estate | $80K–$300K | $35,000 | 8.0% | 69 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 68 |
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 67 |
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 65 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsCarrum Downs’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Carrum Downs snapshot
| Metric | Carrum Downs | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,264 | 18,304 | +22% |
| Median household income | $86,200 | $94,695 | -9% |
| 5-year population growth | 3.3% | 30.4% | -27.1 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Carrum Downs, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Carrum Downs | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.5 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,658/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,993/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $817/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $370/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,733/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.8 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Carrum Downs (214011370). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Carrum Downs lives, works and is housed, and what each signal means for siting a franchise here. All figures are real ABS Census 2021 counts for this area.
| Measure | Carrum Downs | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 27.3% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 47.6% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 22.2% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 79% | Suburban, car-based, drive-to trade area |
| Flats & apartments | 0.4% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 70.1% | Family-led demand, education, food and household services |
| Lone-person households | 26.7% | Fewer single-person homes |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Carrum Downs, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Health & Medical viability: High
The health & medical opportunity in Carrum Downs scores 70 out of 100. With a population of 22,264, there is a solid customer base, enough to sustain about 1 health & medical outlet. At about 1 existing health & medical operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($86,200) sits below the state average ($94,695), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health & Medical | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Automotive | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Real Estate | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 2 | Low | Gap |
| Education & Tutoring | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Coffee & Café | 3 | Low | Gap |
Operator counts are a trade-area model derived from ABS population, not a live business census. Richer POI data (OpenStreetMap / Google Places) is ingested per methodology.
How Carrum Downs compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrum Downs | 22,264 | $86,200 | 3.3% | Health & Medical | 70 |
| Malvern East | 22,202 | $124,100 | -1.7% | Automotive | 74 |
| Blackburn | 22,356 | $106,600 | 0.3% | Automotive | 72 |
| Greenvale - Bulla | 22,406 | $117,000 | 30.9% | Health & Medical | 85 |
| Warrnambool - North | 22,470 | $75,500 | 4.8% | Automotive | 68 |
| Springvale | 22,515 | $72,900 | -1.1% | Automotive | 61 |
| Craigieburn - South | 22,007 | $95,400 | 29.5% | Health & Medical | 79 |
Keep exploring Carrum Downs & Victoria
By category in Carrum Downs
Nearby Victoria areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Carrum Downs?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Health & Medical scores highest for Carrum Downs at 70/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Automotive and Real Estate.
How much does a franchise cost in Carrum Downs?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Health & Medical franchises run $180,000–$650,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=47). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Carrum Downs good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 65/100 in Carrum Downs, with about 3 existing operators in the trade area (Strong suitability).
Demographics: ABS Census 2021 & Regional Population. Category scores combine ABS demographics with a trade-area competition model and live franchise availability, see methodology. Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index.
Ready to move on Carrum Downs?
Create a free buyer account to save opportunities, get alerts and see the full Carrum Downs data. Franchisors can list a territory and reach ready buyers.