Altona vs Altona Meadows

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Altona: a median of $1.15 million, against $775,000 in Altona Meadows, and rent is higher there too. Altona is closer to the city centre: 19.3 km, against 24.4 km. On these figures, Altona tends to suit people living alone, while Altona Meadows suits buyers on a tighter budget.

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 Meadows

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (30 vs 18)
  • has more separate houses rather than flats (85% vs 61%)
  • has more childcare (12 vs 9)

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

First-home buyers

Altona Meadows

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($595,000 vs $1,701,875)
  • has cheaper houses ($775,000 vs $1,150,000)
  • has cheaper units ($570,000 vs $657,500)

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

Renters

Altona Meadows

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($341/wk vs $385/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Altona

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • sits closer to the CBD (19.3 km vs 24.4 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 has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 15%)
  • Altona Meadows carries lower crime risk (56/100 vs 73/100)

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

Investors

Altona

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (6.8% vs -3.6%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Altona and Altona Meadows 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 Altona Meadows
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 Altona Meadows
Walkability 68 / 70
Altona — Walkability: 68/100 Altona Meadows — Walkability: 70/100
Safety 27 / 44
Altona — Safety: 27/100 Altona Meadows — Safety: 44/100
Low fire risk 80 / 100
Altona — Low fire risk: 80/100 Altona Meadows — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 23 / 33
Altona — Low flood risk: 23/100 Altona Meadows — Low flood risk: 33/100

Demographics

Altona Meadows has more residents (18,479 vs 11,490); Altona has higher household incomes ($94,952 vs $81,796).

Altona Altona Meadows
Population 11,490 18,479
+61% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% -3.6%
Median age 42 41
Median household income $94,952/yr
+14% vs other
 $81,796/yr
Median weekly rent $385/wk
+11% vs other
 $341/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Altona Altona Meadows
0-4 5.9% / 6.0%
Altona — 0-4: 5.9% Altona Meadows — 0-4: 6.0%
5-14 11.6% / 10.4%
Altona — 5-14: 11.6% Altona Meadows — 5-14: 10.4%
15-19 4.1% / 4.7%
Altona — 15-19: 4.1% Altona Meadows — 15-19: 4.7%
20-24 3.9% / 5.3%
Altona — 20-24: 3.9% Altona Meadows — 20-24: 5.3%
25-34 12.0% / 14.0%
Altona — 25-34: 12.0% Altona Meadows — 25-34: 14.0%
35-44 16.7% / 14.4%
Altona — 35-44: 16.7% Altona Meadows — 35-44: 14.4%
45-54 14.6% / 13.3%
Altona — 45-54: 14.6% Altona Meadows — 45-54: 13.3%
55-64 11.8% / 13.9%
Altona — 55-64: 11.8% Altona Meadows — 55-64: 13.9%
65-74 9.9% / 10.8%
Altona — 65-74: 9.9% Altona Meadows — 65-74: 10.8%
75-84 6.5% / 5.0%
Altona — 75-84: 6.5% Altona Meadows — 75-84: 5.0%
85+ 3.0% / 2.2%
Altona — 85+: 3.0% Altona Meadows — 85+: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Altona 38.1% couple families
Altona — Couple Families: 38.1% Altona — Lone Person: 43.7% Altona — One Parent Families: 13.6% Altona — Group Household: 3.1% Altona — Other Families: 1.4%
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%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Altona 31.8% renting
Altona — Owned Outright: 37.2% Altona — Mortgage: 30.9% Altona — Renting: 31.8%
Altona Meadows 27.3% renting
Altona Meadows — Owned Outright: 38.4% Altona Meadows — Mortgage: 34.3% Altona Meadows — Renting: 27.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Altona Altona Meadows
Bachelor Degree 17.0% / 12.0%
Altona — Bachelor Degree: 17.0% Altona Meadows — Bachelor Degree: 12.0%
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 13.2%
Altona — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% Altona Meadows — Certificate III & IV: 13.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 7.8%
Altona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Altona Meadows — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 7.8%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 3.6%
Altona — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Altona Meadows — Postgraduate Degree: 3.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.0%
Altona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Altona Meadows — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.0%).

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 Altona Meadows
England 4.8% / 2.7%
Altona — England: 4.8% Altona Meadows — England: 2.7%
New Zealand 2.5% / 2.0%
Altona — New Zealand: 2.5% Altona Meadows — New Zealand: 2.0%
India 1.4% / 2.7%
Altona — India: 1.4% Altona Meadows — India: 2.7%
Vietnam 1.1% / 2.3%
Altona — Vietnam: 1.1% Altona Meadows — Vietnam: 2.3%
China 1.2% / 1.2%
Altona — China: 1.2% Altona Meadows — China: 1.2%
Philippines — / 2.1%
Altona — Philippines: not among its largest Altona Meadows — Philippines: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Altona 61.1% houses
Altona — Houses: 61.1% Altona — Townhouses: 30.1% Altona — Flats / Apartments: 8.9%
Altona Meadows 85.0% houses
Altona Meadows — Houses: 85.0% Altona Meadows — Townhouses: 9.7% Altona Meadows — Flats / Apartments: 5.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Altona Altona Meadows
Median house price $1,150,000 $775,000
Median unit price $657,500 $570,000
Median land price $1,701,875 $595,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 77 sales
 30 days
from 178 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 Altona Meadows
2 bed $610K / $555K
Altona — 2 bed: $610K (81 sales) Altona Meadows — 2 bed: $555K (59 sales)

81 vs 59 sales

3 bed $870K / $632K
Altona — 3 bed: $870K (29 sales) Altona Meadows — 3 bed: $632K (18 sales)

29 vs 18 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 Altona Meadows
2 bed $812K / $612K
Altona — 2 bed: $812K (16 sales) Altona Meadows — 2 bed: $612K (34 sales)

16 vs 34 sales

3 bed $1.05M / $765K
Altona — 3 bed: $1.05M (77 sales) Altona Meadows — 3 bed: $765K (208 sales)

77 vs 208 sales

4 bed $1.41M / $900K
Altona — 4 bed: $1.41M (46 sales) Altona Meadows — 4 bed: $900K (54 sales)

46 vs 54 sales

5 bed $1.65M / $1.12M
Altona — 5 bed: $1.65M (8 sales) Altona Meadows — 5 bed: $1.12M (11 sales)

8 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Altona Altona Meadows
Residential 20% 50%
Parks and recreation 10% 44%
Other and special use 39% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 27% 5%
Industrial 4% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Altona and 99% of Altona Meadows. 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 Altona Meadows
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 Altona Meadows
Houses 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.21M
 3.5%
$550/wk on $820K
Units 4.3%
$590/wk on $715K
 4.0%
$470/wk on $610K

Ranking within VIC

Altona Altona Meadows
House price Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 48% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 50% of VIC
Schools Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 51% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 36% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 10% of VIC

Liveability

Altona Altona Meadows
Grade B
same for both
Score 55/100 57/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 4/10

Risk profile

Altona carries more bushfire risk (20 vs 0); Altona carries more crime risk (73 vs 56).

Altona Altona Meadows
Bushfire Low
20/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
73/100
 Moderate
56/100
Flood High
77/100
 Moderate
67/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
59/100
 High
97/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 35
within 5 km
 8
within 5 km

Schools

Altona Altona Meadows
Inside the suburb 4 3
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Altona

  • Altona Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount St Joseph Girls' College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Altona College Government · Combined below peers

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

Amenities in the suburb

Altona Altona Meadows
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 22 7
Parks & reserves 18 30
Childcare 9 12
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 1
Fuel stations 1 3
EV chargers 1
same for both
Waterways 13 2

Mobility

Altona Meadows sits further from the CBD (24.4 km vs 19.3 km).

Altona Altona Meadows
Walkability score 68/100 70/100
Distance to Melbourne 19.3 km 24.4 km
+26% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 29 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 78/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 259.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 172.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 3018
 0.7%
postcode 3028
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3018
 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 Altona Meadows
Car (driver) 47.8% / 63.0%
Altona — Car (driver): 47.8% Altona Meadows — Car (driver): 63.0%
Worked from Home 41.4% / 27.4%
Altona — Worked from Home: 41.4% Altona Meadows — Worked from Home: 27.4%
Train 4.7% / 3.9%
Altona — Train: 4.7% Altona Meadows — Train: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 3.9%
Altona — Car (passenger): 2.8% Altona Meadows — Car (passenger): 3.9%
Walked Only 1.8% / 0.7%
Altona — Walked Only: 1.8% Altona Meadows — Walked Only: 0.7%
Bus 0.6% / 0.8%
Altona — Bus: 0.6% Altona Meadows — Bus: 0.8%

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

Setting

Altona Altona Meadows
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
same for both
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 2.1 km
4.0 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Altona Altona Meadows
Connectivity score 88/100 89/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
6,488 premises
 47%
8,277 premises

Climate

Altona Altona Meadows
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 Altona Meadows
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.81 pphm —

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Altona

Coastal Middle-Ring Townhouses

Altona Meadows

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Altona

Altona vs Williamstown Altona vs Altona North Altona vs Laverton Altona vs Seaholme Altona vs Williamstown North Altona vs Laverton North

Other comparisons with Altona Meadows

Altona Meadows vs Point Cook Altona Meadows vs Seabrook Altona Meadows vs Laverton
Full data on Altona Full data on Altona Meadows
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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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