Altona vs Altona North

Altona North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 42 in Altona. 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 $950,000 in Altona North. Altona North is closer to the city centre: 15.6 km, against 19.3 km. On these figures, Altona tends to suit people living alone, while Altona North 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

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 84/100)

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

First-home buyers

Altona North

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($1,032,500 vs $1,701,875)
  • has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,150,000)

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

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

They split

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

  • Altona is more walkable (68/100 vs 39/100)
  • Altona North sits closer to the CBD (15.6 km vs 19.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Altona

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 39/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 84/100)

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 returns a higher gross yield on units (4.3% vs 3.7%)
  • Altona North returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Altona and Altona North 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 North
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 North
Walkability 68 / 39
Altona — Walkability: 68/100 Altona North — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 27 / 16
Altona — Safety: 27/100 Altona North — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 80 / 75
Altona — Low fire risk: 80/100 Altona North — Low fire risk: 75/100
Low flood risk 23 / 49
Altona — Low flood risk: 23/100 Altona North — Low flood risk: 49/100

Demographics

Altona skews older (42 vs 37).

Altona Altona North
Population 11,490 12,962
+13% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% +6.7%
Median age 42 37
Median household income $94,952/yr
+7% vs other
 $88,140/yr
Median weekly rent $385/wk $400/wk
+4% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Altona Altona North
0-4 5.9% / 7.9%
Altona — 0-4: 5.9% Altona North — 0-4: 7.9%
5-14 11.6% / 12.3%
Altona — 5-14: 11.6% Altona North — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 4.1% / 4.3%
Altona — 15-19: 4.1% Altona North — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 3.9% / 4.6%
Altona — 20-24: 3.9% Altona North — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 12.0% / 15.8%
Altona — 25-34: 12.0% Altona North — 25-34: 15.8%
35-44 16.7% / 16.0%
Altona — 35-44: 16.7% Altona North — 35-44: 16.0%
45-54 14.6% / 11.6%
Altona — 45-54: 14.6% Altona North — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 11.8% / 8.0%
Altona — 55-64: 11.8% Altona North — 55-64: 8.0%
65-74 9.9% / 7.4%
Altona — 65-74: 9.9% Altona North — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 6.5% / 7.7%
Altona — 75-84: 6.5% Altona North — 75-84: 7.7%
85+ 3.0% / 4.3%
Altona — 85+: 3.0% Altona North — 85+: 4.3%

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 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%
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 North 31.7% renting
Altona North — Owned Outright: 36.8% Altona North — Mortgage: 31.4% Altona North — Renting: 31.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Altona Altona North
Bachelor Degree 17.0% / 13.5%
Altona — Bachelor Degree: 17.0% Altona North — Bachelor Degree: 13.5%
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 9.7%
Altona — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% Altona North — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 6.6%
Altona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Altona North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 4.1%
Altona — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Altona North — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 2.1%
Altona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Altona North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

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 North
England 4.8% / 1.8%
Altona — England: 4.8% Altona North — England: 1.8%
Italy 1.1% / 3.6%
Altona — Italy: 1.1% Altona North — Italy: 3.6%
Vietnam 1.1% / 3.4%
Altona — Vietnam: 1.1% Altona North — Vietnam: 3.4%
New Zealand 2.5% / 1.6%
Altona — New Zealand: 2.5% Altona North — New Zealand: 1.6%
Lebanon — / 3.8%
Altona — Lebanon: not among its largest Altona North — Lebanon: 3.8%
India 1.4% / 1.6%
Altona — India: 1.4% Altona North — India: 1.6%
Greece — / 2.9%
Altona — Greece: not among its largest Altona North — Greece: 2.9%
China 1.2% / —
Altona — China: 1.2% Altona North — China: not among its largest

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 North 68.8% houses
Altona North — Houses: 68.8% Altona North — Townhouses: 27.3% Altona North — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Altona Altona North
Median house price $1,150,000 $950,000
Median unit price $657,500 $692,500
Median land price $1,701,875 $1,032,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 77 sales
 34 days
from 168 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 North
2 bed $610K / $578K
Altona — 2 bed: $610K (81 sales) Altona North — 2 bed: $578K (28 sales)

81 vs 28 sales

3 bed $870K / $780K
Altona — 3 bed: $870K (29 sales) Altona North — 3 bed: $780K (22 sales)

29 vs 22 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 North
2 bed $812K / $748K
Altona — 2 bed: $812K (16 sales) Altona North — 2 bed: $748K (10 sales)

16 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.05M / $918K
Altona — 3 bed: $1.05M (77 sales) Altona North — 3 bed: $918K (172 sales)

77 vs 172 sales

4 bed $1.41M / $1.11M
Altona — 4 bed: $1.41M (46 sales) Altona North — 4 bed: $1.11M (60 sales)

46 vs 60 sales

5 bed $1.65M / $1.18M
Altona — 5 bed: $1.65M (8 sales) Altona North — 5 bed: $1.18M (7 sales)

8 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Altona Altona North
Other and special use 39% 37%
Infrastructure and transport 27% 12%
Residential 20% 24%
Industrial 4% 13%
Parks and recreation 10% 12%
Commercial 0% 2%
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 North
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 North
Houses 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.21M
 4.2%
$750/wk on $920K
Units 4.3%
$590/wk on $715K
 3.7%
$470/wk on $665K

Ranking within VIC

Altona Altona North
House price Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Schools Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 54% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC

Liveability

Altona is more walkable (68 vs 39); Altona scores higher overall (55 vs 48).

Altona Altona North
Grade B C
Score 55/100 48/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Altona carries more flood risk (77 vs 51); Altona North carries more crime risk (84 vs 73).

Altona Altona North
Bushfire Low
20/100
 Low
25/100
Crime High
73/100
 High
84/100
Flood High
77/100
 Moderate
51/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
59/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 35
within 5 km
 44
within 5 km

Schools

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

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 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

Amenities in the suburb

Altona Altona North
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 22 10
Parks & reserves 18 20
Childcare 9 10
GPs 5 6
Pharmacies 2 6
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 5
Fuel stations 1 8
EV chargers 1 2
Waterways 13 8

Mobility

Altona sits further from the CBD (19.3 km vs 15.6 km).

Altona Altona North
Walkability score 68/100 39/100
Distance to Melbourne 19.3 km
+19% vs other
 15.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 26 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 259.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 429.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 3018
 2.4%
postcode 3025
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3018
 31
postcode 3025

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 North
Car (driver) 47.8% / 55.4%
Altona — Car (driver): 47.8% Altona North — Car (driver): 55.4%
Worked from Home 41.4% / 35.0%
Altona — Worked from Home: 41.4% Altona North — Worked from Home: 35.0%
Train 4.7% / 2.7%
Altona — Train: 4.7% Altona North — Train: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 3.4%
Altona — Car (passenger): 2.8% Altona North — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.1%
Altona — Walked Only: 1.8% Altona North — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bus 0.6% / 1.7%
Altona — Bus: 0.6% Altona North — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.4%).

Setting

Altona Altona North
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Altona Altona North
Connectivity score 88/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
6,488 premises
 54%
7,357 premises

Climate

Altona Altona North
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 North
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 — 23.2 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.81 pphm —

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Altona Altona North
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 North

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Altona

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

Other comparisons with Altona North

Altona North vs Yarraville Altona North vs Williamstown Altona North vs Newport Altona North vs Laverton Altona North vs Spotswood Altona North vs South Kingsville
Full data on Altona Full data on Altona North
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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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