Altona vs Laverton

Laverton is the younger of the two, with a median age of 32 against 42 in Altona. In both, most homes are detached houses. In Altona, most households own their home. In Laverton, about half of households rent. Houses cost more in Altona: a median of $1.15 million, against $612,000 in Laverton, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Laverton tends to suit 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

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 6)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 13)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Laverton has more separate houses rather than flats (78% vs 61%)

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 $1,701,875)
  • has cheaper houses ($611,750 vs $1,150,000)
  • has cheaper units ($506,300 vs $657,500)

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 $385/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 5%)
  • is more walkable (78/100 vs 68/100)
  • But Altona sits closer to the CBD (19.3 km vs 21.3 km)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Altona

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (19% vs 9%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 22%)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 90/100)
  • But Laverton is more walkable (78/100 vs 68/100)

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 is growing faster (6.8% vs -3.2%)
  • Laverton 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 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 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 Laverton
Walkability 68 / 78
Altona — Walkability: 68/100 Laverton — Walkability: 78/100
Safety 27 / 10
Altona — Safety: 27/100 Laverton — Safety: 10/100
Low fire risk 80 / 100
Altona — Low fire risk: 80/100 Laverton — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 23 / 65
Altona — Low flood risk: 23/100 Laverton — Low flood risk: 65/100

Demographics

Altona has more residents (11,490 vs 4,760); Altona skews older (42 vs 32).

Altona Laverton
Population 11,490
+59% vs other
 4,760
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% -3.2%
Median age 42 32
Median household income $94,952/yr
+17% vs other
 $78,624/yr
Median weekly rent $385/wk
+14% vs other
 $330/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Altona Laverton
0-4 5.9% / 6.5%
Altona — 0-4: 5.9% Laverton — 0-4: 6.5%
5-14 11.6% / 9.3%
Altona — 5-14: 11.6% Laverton — 5-14: 9.3%
15-19 4.1% / 4.0%
Altona — 15-19: 4.1% Laverton — 15-19: 4.0%
20-24 3.9% / 9.2%
Altona — 20-24: 3.9% Laverton — 20-24: 9.2%
25-34 12.0% / 26.1%
Altona — 25-34: 12.0% Laverton — 25-34: 26.1%
35-44 16.7% / 15.7%
Altona — 35-44: 16.7% Laverton — 35-44: 15.7%
45-54 14.6% / 10.2%
Altona — 45-54: 14.6% Laverton — 45-54: 10.2%
55-64 11.8% / 9.8%
Altona — 55-64: 11.8% Laverton — 55-64: 9.8%
65-74 9.9% / 5.8%
Altona — 65-74: 9.9% Laverton — 65-74: 5.8%
75-84 6.5% / 2.5%
Altona — 75-84: 6.5% Laverton — 75-84: 2.5%
85+ 3.0% / 1.1%
Altona — 85+: 3.0% Laverton — 85+: 1.1%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Altona 43.7% lone person
Altona — Lone Person: 43.7% Altona — Couple Families: 38.1% Altona — One Parent Families: 13.6% Altona — Group Household: 3.1% Altona — Other Families: 1.4%
Laverton 35.9% lone person
Laverton — Lone Person: 35.9% Laverton — Couple Families: 31.6% Laverton — One Parent Families: 17.8% Laverton — Group Household: 11.4% Laverton — Other Families: 3.2%
Lone Person Couple Families 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%
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 Laverton
Bachelor Degree 17.0% / 12.8%
Altona — Bachelor Degree: 17.0% Laverton — Bachelor Degree: 12.8%
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 11.5%
Altona — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% Laverton — Certificate III & IV: 11.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.4%
Altona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Laverton — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 7.9%
Altona — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Laverton — Postgraduate Degree: 7.9%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 1.2%
Altona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Laverton — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.2%

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 Laverton
India 1.4% / 15.3%
Altona — India: 1.4% Laverton — India: 15.3%
England 4.8% / 1.6%
Altona — England: 4.8% Laverton — England: 1.6%
New Zealand 2.5% / 2.4%
Altona — New Zealand: 2.5% Laverton — New Zealand: 2.4%
Philippines — / 4.6%
Altona — Philippines: not among its largest Laverton — Philippines: 4.6%
Nepal — / 3.0%
Altona — Nepal: not among its largest Laverton — Nepal: 3.0%
Myanmar — / 3.0%
Altona — Myanmar: not among its largest Laverton — Myanmar: 3.0%
Thailand — / 3.0%
Altona — Thailand: not among its largest Laverton — Thailand: 3.0%
Vietnam 1.1% / 1.8%
Altona — Vietnam: 1.1% Laverton — Vietnam: 1.8%
China 1.2% / —
Altona — China: 1.2% Laverton — China: 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 61.1% houses
Altona — Houses: 61.1% Altona — Townhouses: 30.1% Altona — Flats / Apartments: 8.9%
Laverton 78.3% houses
Laverton — Houses: 78.3% Laverton — Townhouses: 18.6% Laverton — Flats / Apartments: 3.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Altona Laverton
Median house price $1,150,000 $611,750
Median unit price $657,500 $506,300
Median land price $1,701,875 $650,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 77 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 Laverton
2 bed $610K / $470K
Altona — 2 bed: $610K (81 sales) Laverton — 2 bed: $470K (11 sales)

81 vs 11 sales

3 bed $870K / $545K
Altona — 3 bed: $870K (29 sales) Laverton — 3 bed: $545K (15 sales)

29 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 Laverton
2 bed $812K / $560K
Altona — 2 bed: $812K (16 sales) Laverton — 2 bed: $560K (16 sales)

16 vs 16 sales

3 bed $1.05M / $615K
Altona — 3 bed: $1.05M (77 sales) Laverton — 3 bed: $615K (119 sales)

77 vs 119 sales

4 bed $1.41M / $668K
Altona — 4 bed: $1.41M (46 sales) Laverton — 4 bed: $668K (18 sales)

46 vs 18 sales

Zoning mix

Altona Laverton
Other and special use 39%
same for both
Residential 20% 39%
Infrastructure and transport 27% 14%
Parks and recreation 10% 4%
Industrial 4% 2%
Commercial 0% 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 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 Laverton
Houses 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.21M
 4.2%
$522/wk on $642K
Units 4.3%
$590/wk on $715K
 4.5%
$450/wk on $515K

Ranking within VIC

Altona Laverton
House price Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 27% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Schools Higher than 59% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 97% 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 34% of VIC

Liveability

Laverton is more walkable (78 vs 68).

Altona Laverton
Grade B
same for both
Score 55/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
 below-average income
decile 2/10

Risk profile

Altona carries more bushfire risk (20 vs 0); Altona carries more flood risk (77 vs 35).

Altona Laverton
Bushfire Low
20/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
73/100
 High
90/100
Flood High
77/100
 Low
35/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
59/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 35
within 5 km
 22
within 5 km

Schools

Altona Laverton
Inside the suburb 4
same for both
Rated above peers 1
same for both
Rated at peers 2 0
Rated below peers 1 2

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 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 Laverton
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 22 12
Parks & reserves 18 13
Childcare 9 6
GPs 5 4
Pharmacies 2
same for both
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 3 2
Fuel stations 1 0
EV chargers 1 0
Waterways 13 7

Mobility

Laverton sits further from the CBD (21.3 km vs 19.3 km).

Altona Laverton
Walkability score 68/100 78/100
Distance to Melbourne 19.3 km 21.3 km
+10% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min
same for both
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 95/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 259.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 157.2
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 Laverton
Car (driver) 47.8% / 57.2%
Altona — Car (driver): 47.8% Laverton — Car (driver): 57.2%
Worked from Home 41.4% / 19.7%
Altona — Worked from Home: 41.4% Laverton — Worked from Home: 19.7%
Train 4.7% / 13.7%
Altona — Train: 4.7% Laverton — Train: 13.7%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 5.9%
Altona — Car (passenger): 2.8% Laverton — Car (passenger): 5.9%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.7%
Altona — Walked Only: 1.8% Laverton — Walked Only: 1.7%

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

Setting

Altona Laverton
Elevation 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 16 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
1.8 km to a named beach
 4.6 km

NBN connectivity

Altona Laverton
Connectivity score 88/100 91/100
Most common technology Fibre to the curb Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
6,488 premises
 57%
2,770 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Altona Laverton
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

Laverton

Easy Commute Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Transport Hub

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Altona

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

Other comparisons with Laverton

Laverton vs Point Cook Laverton vs Altona Meadows Laverton vs Altona North Laverton vs Williams Landing Laverton vs Laverton North
Full data on Altona Full data on Laverton
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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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