Altona Meadows vs Point Cook

Point Cook is the younger of the two, with a median age of 33 against 41 in Altona Meadows. In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Point Cook, most households are couple families. Altona Meadows is closer to the city centre: 24.4 km, against 28.4 km. On these figures, Altona Meadows tends to suit people living alone, while Point Cook suits families with children and couples.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Point Cook

ahead on 4 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (13 vs 3)
  • has more childcare (44 vs 12)
  • has more parks and reserves (71 vs 30)
  • But Altona Meadows has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Altona Meadows has cheaper land ($595,000 vs $875,000)
  • Point Cook has cheaper units ($495,000 vs $570,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Altona Meadows has cheaper rent ($341/wk vs $400/wk)
  • Point Cook leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 22%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Altona Meadows

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (24.4 km vs 28.4 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Altona Meadows has more residents already 65 and over (18% vs 6%)
  • Point Cook has more GPs (12 vs 4)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Point Cook

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (33.8% vs -3.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Altona Meadows and Point Cook drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Walkability 70 / 65
Altona Meadows — Walkability: 70/100 Point Cook — Walkability: 65/100
Safety 44 / 52
Altona Meadows — Safety: 44/100 Point Cook — Safety: 52/100
Low fire risk 100 / 84
Altona Meadows — Low fire risk: 100/100 Point Cook — Low fire risk: 84/100
Low flood risk 33 / 66
Altona Meadows — Low flood risk: 33/100 Point Cook — Low flood risk: 66/100

Demographics

Point Cook has more residents (66,781 vs 18,479); Point Cook has higher household incomes ($124,384 vs $81,796).

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Population 18,479 66,781
+261% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) -3.6% +33.8%
Median age 41 33
Median household income $81,796/yr $124,384/yr
+52% vs other
Median weekly rent $341/wk $400/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Altona Meadows Point Cook
0-4 6.0% / 8.5%
Altona Meadows — 0-4: 6.0% Point Cook — 0-4: 8.5%
5-14 10.4% / 18.9%
Altona Meadows — 5-14: 10.4% Point Cook — 5-14: 18.9%
15-19 4.7% / 5.9%
Altona Meadows — 15-19: 4.7% Point Cook — 15-19: 5.9%
20-24 5.3% / 5.1%
Altona Meadows — 20-24: 5.3% Point Cook — 20-24: 5.1%
25-34 14.0% / 14.1%
Altona Meadows — 25-34: 14.0% Point Cook — 25-34: 14.1%
35-44 14.4% / 22.4%
Altona Meadows — 35-44: 14.4% Point Cook — 35-44: 22.4%
45-54 13.3% / 12.8%
Altona Meadows — 45-54: 13.3% Point Cook — 45-54: 12.8%
55-64 13.9% / 6.5%
Altona Meadows — 55-64: 13.9% Point Cook — 55-64: 6.5%
65-74 10.8% / 4.1%
Altona Meadows — 65-74: 10.8% Point Cook — 65-74: 4.1%
75-84 5.0% / 1.5%
Altona Meadows — 75-84: 5.0% Point Cook — 75-84: 1.5%
85+ 2.2% / 0.3%
Altona Meadows — 85+: 2.2% Point Cook — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (22.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Altona Meadows 41.6% couple families
Altona Meadows — Couple Families: 41.6% Altona Meadows — Lone Person: 35.4% Altona Meadows — One Parent Families: 18.2% Altona Meadows — Group Household: 3.3% Altona Meadows — Other Families: 1.6%
Point Cook 68.9% couple families
Point Cook — Couple Families: 68.9% Point Cook — Lone Person: 13.5% Point Cook — One Parent Families: 13.3% Point Cook — Group Household: 3.2% Point Cook — Other Families: 1.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Altona Meadows 27.3% renting
Altona Meadows — Owned Outright: 38.4% Altona Meadows — Mortgage: 34.3% Altona Meadows — Renting: 27.3%
Point Cook 32.7% renting
Point Cook — Owned Outright: 15.3% Point Cook — Mortgage: 51.9% Point Cook — Renting: 32.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Bachelor Degree 12.0% / 17.8%
Altona Meadows — Bachelor Degree: 12.0% Point Cook — Bachelor Degree: 17.8%
Certificate III & IV 13.2% / 7.4%
Altona Meadows — Certificate III & IV: 13.2% Point Cook — Certificate III & IV: 7.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 7.8% / 7.5%
Altona Meadows — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8% Point Cook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.5%
Postgraduate Degree 3.6% / 10.1%
Altona Meadows — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6% Point Cook — Postgraduate Degree: 10.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 1.9%
Altona Meadows — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Point Cook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Altona Meadows Point Cook
India 2.7% / 14.9%
Altona Meadows — India: 2.7% Point Cook — India: 14.9%
China 1.2% / 6.4%
Altona Meadows — China: 1.2% Point Cook — China: 6.4%
New Zealand 2.0% / 3.7%
Altona Meadows — New Zealand: 2.0% Point Cook — New Zealand: 3.7%
England 2.7% / 2.2%
Altona Meadows — England: 2.7% Point Cook — England: 2.2%
Philippines 2.1% / 2.1%
Altona Meadows — Philippines: 2.1% Point Cook — Philippines: 2.1%
Vietnam 2.3% / —
Altona Meadows — Vietnam: 2.3% Point Cook — Vietnam: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Altona Meadows 85.0% houses
Altona Meadows — Houses: 85.0% Altona Meadows — Townhouses: 9.7% Altona Meadows — Flats / Apartments: 5.3%
Point Cook 88.0% houses
Point Cook — Houses: 88.0% Point Cook — Townhouses: 9.4% Point Cook — Flats / Apartments: 2.6%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Median house price $775,000 $824,000
Median unit price $570,000 $495,000
Median land price $595,000 $875,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 178 sales
 33 days
from 819 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Altona Meadows Point Cook
2 bed $612K / $545K
Altona Meadows — 2 bed: $612K (34 sales) Point Cook — 2 bed: $545K (22 sales)

34 vs 22 sales

3 bed $765K / $725K
Altona Meadows — 3 bed: $765K (208 sales) Point Cook — 3 bed: $725K (337 sales)

208 vs 337 sales

4 bed $900K / $850K
Altona Meadows — 4 bed: $900K (54 sales) Point Cook — 4 bed: $850K (801 sales)

54 vs 801 sales

5 bed $1.12M / $1.1M
Altona Meadows — 5 bed: $1.12M (11 sales) Point Cook — 5 bed: $1.1M (111 sales)

11 vs 111 sales

Zoning mix

Point Cook has more rural and farming land (12% vs 0%).

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Residential 50% 52%
Parks and recreation 44% 23%
Rural and farming 0% 12%
Other and special use 0% 9%
Infrastructure and transport 5% 3%
Planning zones cover 99% of Altona Meadows and 100% of Point Cook. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Altona Meadows Point Cook
New dwellings approved 1,028
across Hobsons Bay
 4,045
across Wyndham
Approvals change year on year +206% -0%

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Houses 3.5%
$550/wk on $820K
 3.6%
$600/wk on $873K
Units 4.0%
$470/wk on $610K
 3.8%
$365/wk on $498K

Ranking within VIC

Altona Meadows Point Cook
House price Higher than 48% of VIC Higher than 55% of VIC
Income Higher than 50% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
Schools Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 31% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 51% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 36% of VIC Higher than 40% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC

Liveability

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Grade B
same for both
Score 57/100 60/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Point Cook carries more bushfire risk (16 vs 0); Altona Meadows carries more flood risk (67 vs 34).

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
16/100
Crime Moderate
56/100
 Moderate
48/100
Flood Moderate
67/100
 Low
34/100
Coastal erosion High
97/100
 High
91/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
 High
91/100
Industrial facilities nearby 8
within 5 km
 2
within 5 km

Schools

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Inside the suburb 3 13
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 1 7
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Altona Meadows

  • Altona Green Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Queen of Peace Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Altona Meadows Primary School Government · Primary below peers

Schools in Point Cook

  • Alamanda K-9 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Carranballac P-9 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Featherbrook P-9 College Government · Combined at peers
  • Lumen Christi School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Point Cook Prep - Year 9 College Government · Combined at peers
  • St Mary of the Cross Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Supermarkets 4 10
Cafes & restaurants 7 13
Parks & reserves 30 71
Childcare 12 44
GPs 4 12
Pharmacies 1 6
Banks & Bank@Post 1 4
Fuel stations 3
same for both
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 2 34

Mobility

Point Cook sits further from the CBD (28.4 km vs 24.4 km).

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Walkability score 70/100 65/100
Distance to Melbourne 24.4 km 28.4 km
+16% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 29 min 32 min
Public transport score 78/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 172.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 371.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 3028
 1.8%
postcode 3030
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3028
 45
postcode 3030

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Car (driver) 63.0% / 51.0%
Altona Meadows — Car (driver): 63.0% Point Cook — Car (driver): 51.0%
Worked from Home 27.4% / 38.7%
Altona Meadows — Worked from Home: 27.4% Point Cook — Worked from Home: 38.7%
Car (passenger) 3.9% / 4.5%
Altona Meadows — Car (passenger): 3.9% Point Cook — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Train 3.9% / 4.3%
Altona Meadows — Train: 3.9% Point Cook — Train: 4.3%
Walked Only 0.7% / 0.7%
Altona Meadows — Walked Only: 0.7% Point Cook — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bus 0.8% / 0.5%
Altona Meadows — Bus: 0.8% Point Cook — Bus: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (63.0%).

Setting

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.1 km
4.0 km to a named beach
 3.2 km

NBN connectivity

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Connectivity score 89/100 93/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
8,277 premises
 68%
17,743 premises

Climate

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Annual rainfall 482 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Altona Meadows Point Cook
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Average residential rate $2,677/yr $1,997/yr
Council Hobsons Bay Wyndham

Federal electorate

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Division Gellibrand
same for both
Member Tim Watts
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Altona Meadows Point Cook
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Altona Meadows

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks

Point Cook

Family Large Blocks Multicultural Outer Parks Young Families

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Altona Meadows

Altona Meadows vs Altona Altona Meadows vs Seabrook Altona Meadows vs Laverton

Other comparisons with Point Cook

Point Cook vs Werribee Point Cook vs Hoppers Crossing Point Cook vs Williams Landing Point Cook vs Seabrook Point Cook vs Laverton Point Cook vs Werribee South
Full data on Altona Meadows Full data on Point Cook
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Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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