Altona North vs Laverton

Laverton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 37 in Altona North. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Altona North, most households own their home. In Laverton, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Altona North: a median of $950,000, against $612,000 in Laverton, and rent is higher there too. Altona North is closer to the city centre: 15.6 km, against 21.3 km. On these figures, Altona North tends to suit families with children, while Laverton suits renters, young adults, and share households.

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

Altona North

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (10 vs 6)
  • has more parks and reserves (20 vs 13)
  • is already more of a family suburb (59% vs 49%)

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

First-home buyers

Laverton

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($650,000 vs $1,032,500)
  • has cheaper houses ($611,750 vs $950,000)
  • has cheaper units ($506,300 vs $692,500)

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

Renters

Laverton

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (50% vs 32%)
  • has cheaper rent ($330/wk vs $400/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Laverton

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • gets more of its commuters onto trains and trams (14% vs 3%)
  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 39/100)
  • But Altona North sits closer to the CBD (15.6 km vs 21.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Altona North

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 9%)
  • has more GPs (6 vs 4)
  • But Laverton is more walkable (78/100 vs 39/100)

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

Investors

They split

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

  • Altona North is growing faster (6.7% vs -3.2%)
  • Laverton returns a higher gross yield on units (4.5% vs 3.7%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Altona North and Laverton 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 North Laverton
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 North Laverton
Walkability 39 / 78
Altona North — Walkability: 39/100 Laverton — Walkability: 78/100
Safety 16 / 10
Altona North — Safety: 16/100 Laverton — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 75 / 100
Altona North — Low fire risk: 75/100 Laverton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 49 / 65
Altona North — Low flood risk: 49/100 Laverton — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Altona North has more residents (12,962 vs 4,760); Altona North rents higher ($400/wk vs $330/wk).

Altona North Laverton
Population 12,962
+63% vs other
 4,760
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.7% -3.2%
Median age 37 32
Median household income $88,140/yr
+11% vs other
 $78,624/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+18% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Altona North Laverton
0-4 7.9% / 6.5%
Altona North — 0-4: 7.9% Laverton — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 12.3% / 9.3%
Altona North — 5-14: 12.3% Laverton — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 4.3% / 4.0%
Altona North — 15-19: 4.3% Laverton — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 4.6% / 9.2%
Altona North — 20-24: 4.6% Laverton — 20-24: 9.2%
25-34 15.8% / 26.1%
Altona North — 25-34: 15.8% Laverton — 25-34: 26.1%
35-44 16.0% / 15.7%
Altona North — 35-44: 16.0% Laverton — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 11.6% / 10.2%
Altona North — 45-54: 11.6% Laverton — 45-54: 10.2%
55-64 8.0% / 9.8%
Altona North — 55-64: 8.0% Laverton — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 7.4% / 5.8%
Altona North — 65-74: 7.4% Laverton — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 7.7% / 2.5%
Altona North — 75-84: 7.7% Laverton — 75-84: 2.5%
85+ 4.3% / 1.1%
Altona North — 85+: 4.3% Laverton — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (26.1%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Altona North 42.3% couple families
Altona North — Couple Families: 42.3% Altona North — Lone Person: 34.8% Altona North — One Parent Families: 17.1% Altona North — Group Household: 3.6% Altona North — Other Families: 2.1%
Laverton 31.6% couple families
Laverton — Couple Families: 31.6% Laverton — Lone Person: 35.9% Laverton — One Parent Families: 17.8% Laverton — Group Household: 11.4% Laverton — Other Families: 3.2%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Altona North 31.7% renting
Altona North — Owned Outright: 36.8% Altona North — Mortgage: 31.4% Altona North — Renting: 31.7%
Laverton 50.2% renting
Laverton — Owned Outright: 23.0% Laverton — Mortgage: 26.8% Laverton — Renting: 50.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Altona North Laverton
Bachelor Degree 13.5% / 12.8%
Altona North — Bachelor Degree: 13.5% Laverton — Bachelor Degree: 12.8%
Certificate III & IV 9.7% / 11.5%
Altona North — Certificate III & IV: 9.7% Laverton — Certificate III & IV: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.6% / 8.4%
Altona North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6% Laverton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 4.1% / 7.9%
Altona North — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1% Laverton — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.1% / 1.2%
Altona North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1% Laverton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (13.5%).

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 North Laverton
India 1.6% / 15.3%
Altona North — India: 1.6% Laverton — India: 15.3%
Philippines 0.9% / 4.6%
Altona North — Philippines: 0.9% Laverton — Philippines: 4.6%
Vietnam 3.4% / 1.8%
Altona North — Vietnam: 3.4% Laverton — Vietnam: 1.8%
Lebanon 3.8% / —
Altona North — Lebanon: 3.8% Laverton — Lebanon: not among its largest
Italy 3.6% / —
Altona North — Italy: 3.6% Laverton — Italy: not among its largest
England 1.8% / 1.6%
Altona North — England: 1.8% Laverton — England: 1.6%
Nepal — / 3.0%
Altona North — Nepal: not among its largest Laverton — Nepal: 3.0%
Myanmar — / 3.0%
Altona North — Myanmar: not among its largest Laverton — Myanmar: 3.0%
Thailand — / 3.0%
Altona North — Thailand: not among its largest Laverton — Thailand: 3.0%
Greece 2.9% / —
Altona North — Greece: 2.9% Laverton — Greece: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Altona North 68.8% houses
Altona North — Houses: 68.8% Altona North — Townhouses: 27.3% Altona North — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Laverton 78.3% houses
Laverton — Houses: 78.3% Laverton — Townhouses: 18.6% Laverton — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Altona North Laverton
Median house price $950,000 $611,750
Median unit price $692,500 $506,300
Median land price $1,032,500 $650,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 34 days
from 168 sales
 44 days
from 88 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

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

Altona North Laverton
2 bed $578K / $470K
Altona North — 2 bed: $578K (28 sales) Laverton — 2 bed: $470K (11 sales)

28 vs 11 sales

3 bed $780K / $545K
Altona North — 3 bed: $780K (22 sales) Laverton — 3 bed: $545K (15 sales)

22 vs 15 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 North Laverton
2 bed $748K / $560K
Altona North — 2 bed: $748K (10 sales) Laverton — 2 bed: $560K (16 sales)

10 vs 16 sales

3 bed $918K / $615K
Altona North — 3 bed: $918K (172 sales) Laverton — 3 bed: $615K (119 sales)

172 vs 119 sales

4 bed $1.11M / $668K
Altona North — 4 bed: $1.11M (60 sales) Laverton — 4 bed: $668K (18 sales)

60 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Altona North has more industrially zoned land (13% vs 2%).

Altona North Laverton
Other and special use 37% 39%
Residential 24% 39%
Infrastructure and transport 12% 14%
Industrial 13% 2%
Parks and recreation 12% 4%
Commercial 2% 1%
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 North Laverton
New dwellings approved 1,028
across Hobsons Bay
same for both
Approvals change year on year +206%
same for both

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 North Laverton
Houses 4.2%
$750/wk on $920K
 4.2%
$522/wk on $642K
Units 3.7%
$470/wk on $665K
 4.5%
$450/wk on $515K

Ranking within VIC

Altona North Laverton
House price Higher than 67% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC
Income Higher than 58% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Schools Higher than 54% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 84% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 33% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 97% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 82% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (units) Higher than 4% of VIC Higher than 34% of VIC

Liveability

Laverton is more walkable (78 vs 39).

Altona North Laverton
Grade C B
Score 48/100 51/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Altona North carries more bushfire risk (25 vs 0); Altona North carries more flood risk (51 vs 35).

Altona North Laverton
Bushfire Low
25/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
84/100
 High
90/100
Flood Moderate
51/100
 Low
35/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 44
within 5 km
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Altona North Laverton
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 1 0
Rated below peers 1 2
Universities within 10 km 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 7.1 km
 None

Schools in Altona North

  • St Leo the Great Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Emmanuel College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Altona North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Bayside P-12 College-Altona North Campus Government · Combined

Schools in Laverton

  • Laverton P-12 College Government · Combined above peers
  • St Martin de Porres School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • Western Autistic School Government · Combined · Special school below peers
  • Jennings Street School Government · Combined · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Altona North Laverton
Supermarkets 4
same for both
Cafes & restaurants 10 12
Parks & reserves 20 13
Childcare 10 6
GPs 6 4
Pharmacies 6 2
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 5 2
Fuel stations 8 0
EV chargers 2 0
Waterways 8 7

Mobility

Laverton sits further from the CBD (21.3 km vs 15.6 km).

Altona North Laverton
Walkability score 39/100 78/100
Distance to Melbourne 15.6 km 21.3 km
+37% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 26 min 27 min
Public transport score 79/100
Bus
 95/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 429.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 157.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.4%
postcode 3025
 0.7%
postcode 3028
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 31
postcode 3025
 30
postcode 3028

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 North Laverton
Car (driver) 55.4% / 57.2%
Altona North — Car (driver): 55.4% Laverton — Car (driver): 57.2%
Worked from Home 35.0% / 19.7%
Altona North — Worked from Home: 35.0% Laverton — Worked from Home: 19.7%
Train 2.7% / 13.7%
Altona North — Train: 2.7% Laverton — Train: 13.7%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 5.9%
Altona North — Car (passenger): 3.4% Laverton — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Bus 1.7% / 1.3%
Altona North — Bus: 1.7% Laverton — Bus: 1.3%
Walked Only 1.1% / 1.7%
Altona North — Walked Only: 1.1% Laverton — Walked Only: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (57.2%).

Setting

Altona North Laverton
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach
 4.6 km

NBN connectivity

Altona North Laverton
Connectivity score 90/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
7,357 premises
 57%
2,770 premises

Climate

Altona North Laverton
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 North Laverton
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 23.2 µg/m³ —
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Altona North Laverton
Average residential rate $2,677/yr
same for both
Council Hobsons Bay
same for both

Federal electorate

Altona North Laverton
Division Gellibrand
same for both
Member Tim Watts
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Altona North Laverton
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Altona North

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Townhouses

Laverton

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Altona North

Altona North vs Yarraville Altona North vs Williamstown Altona North vs Newport Altona North vs Altona Altona North vs Spotswood Altona North vs South Kingsville

Other comparisons with Laverton

Laverton vs Point Cook Laverton vs Altona Meadows Laverton vs Altona Laverton vs Williams Landing Laverton vs Laverton North
Full data on Altona North Full data on Laverton
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or