Altona vs Seaholme

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Seaholme, about half of households are couple families. Seaholme is closer to the city centre: 16.6 km, against 19.3 km. On these figures, Altona tends to suit people living alone, while Seaholme suits 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Altona has more childcare (9 vs 2)
  • Seaholme has more separate houses rather than flats (82% vs 61%)

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

First-home buyers

Seaholme

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper units ($560,000 vs $657,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Altona

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($385/wk vs $451/wk)

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 57/100)
  • Seaholme sits closer to the CBD (16.6 km vs 19.3 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 GPs (5 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (39% vs 18%)
  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 57/100)
  • But Seaholme carries lower crime risk (59/100 vs 73/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 2 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Altona and Seaholme 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 Seaholme
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 Seaholme
Walkability 68 / 57
Altona — Walkability: 68/100 Seaholme — Walkability: 57/100
Safety 27 / 41
Altona — Safety: 27/100 Seaholme — Safety: 41/100
Low fire risk 80 / 100
Altona — Low fire risk: 80/100 Seaholme — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 23 / 63
Altona — Low flood risk: 23/100 Seaholme — Low flood risk: 63/100

Demographics

Altona has more residents (11,490 vs 2,067); Seaholme has higher household incomes ($111,540 vs $94,952).

Altona Seaholme
Population 11,490
+82% vs other
 2,067
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +6.8% +7.2%
Median age 42 43
Median household income $94,952/yr $111,540/yr
+17% vs other
Median weekly rent $385/wk $451/wk
+17% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Altona Seaholme
0-4 5.9% / 5.3%
Altona — 0-4: 5.9% Seaholme — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 11.6% / 13.2%
Altona — 5-14: 11.6% Seaholme — 5-14: 13.2%
15-19 4.1% / 4.8%
Altona — 15-19: 4.1% Seaholme — 15-19: 4.8%
20-24 3.9% / 4.4%
Altona — 20-24: 3.9% Seaholme — 20-24: 4.4%
25-34 12.0% / 9.4%
Altona — 25-34: 12.0% Seaholme — 25-34: 9.4%
35-44 16.7% / 15.1%
Altona — 35-44: 16.7% Seaholme — 35-44: 15.1%
45-54 14.6% / 16.0%
Altona — 45-54: 14.6% Seaholme — 45-54: 16.0%
55-64 11.8% / 11.7%
Altona — 55-64: 11.8% Seaholme — 55-64: 11.7%
65-74 9.9% / 11.4%
Altona — 65-74: 9.9% Seaholme — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 6.5% / 6.5%
Altona — 75-84: 6.5% Seaholme — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 3.0% / 2.6%
Altona — 85+: 3.0% Seaholme — 85+: 2.6%

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%
Seaholme 48.6% couple families
Seaholme — Couple Families: 48.6% Seaholme — Lone Person: 30.3% Seaholme — One Parent Families: 16.5% Seaholme — Group Household: 3.5% Seaholme — 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 31.8% renting
Altona — Owned Outright: 37.2% Altona — Mortgage: 30.9% Altona — Renting: 31.8%
Seaholme 22.9% renting
Seaholme — Owned Outright: 44.7% Seaholme — Mortgage: 32.3% Seaholme — Renting: 22.9%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Altona Seaholme
Bachelor Degree 17.0% / 16.6%
Altona — Bachelor Degree: 17.0% Seaholme — Bachelor Degree: 16.6%
Certificate III & IV 11.8% / 12.3%
Altona — Certificate III & IV: 11.8% Seaholme — Certificate III & IV: 12.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 8.1%
Altona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Seaholme — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.1%
Postgraduate Degree 6.3% / 6.3%
Altona — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3% Seaholme — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.0% / 3.0%
Altona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0% Seaholme — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

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 Seaholme
England 4.8% / 4.7%
Altona — England: 4.8% Seaholme — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 2.5% / 1.9%
Altona — New Zealand: 2.5% Seaholme — New Zealand: 1.9%
Vietnam 1.1% / 1.6%
Altona — Vietnam: 1.1% Seaholme — Vietnam: 1.6%
Italy 1.1% / 1.4%
Altona — Italy: 1.1% Seaholme — Italy: 1.4%
Scotland 0.9% / 1.5%
Altona — Scotland: 0.9% Seaholme — Scotland: 1.5%
China 1.2% / 0.8%
Altona — China: 1.2% Seaholme — China: 0.8%
India 1.4% / —
Altona — India: 1.4% Seaholme — India: 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%
Seaholme 81.5% houses
Seaholme — Houses: 81.5% Seaholme — Townhouses: 17.2% Seaholme — Flats / Apartments: 1.3%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Altona Seaholme
Median house price $1,150,000 $1,185,000
Median unit price $657,500 $560,000
Median land price $1,701,875 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 29 days
from 77 sales
 32 days
from 12 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 Seaholme
3 bed $1.05M / $1.11M
Altona — 3 bed: $1.05M (77 sales) Seaholme — 3 bed: $1.11M (21 sales)

77 vs 21 sales

4 bed $1.41M / $1.21M
Altona — 4 bed: $1.41M (46 sales) Seaholme — 4 bed: $1.21M (16 sales)

46 vs 16 sales

Zoning mix

Altona Seaholme
Residential 20% 64%
Other and special use 39% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 27% 13%
Parks and recreation 10% 23%
Industrial 4% 0%
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 Seaholme
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 Seaholme
Houses 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.21M
 3.4%
$750/wk on $1.15M
Units 4.3%
$590/wk on $715K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Altona Seaholme
House price Higher than 72% of VIC Higher than 78% of VIC
Income Higher than 66% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Schools Higher than 59% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 89% of VIC Higher than 87% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 28% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 92% of VIC Higher than 93% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 95% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 19% of VIC Higher than 31% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 21% of VIC —

Liveability

Seaholme scores higher overall (74 vs 55); Altona is more walkable (68 vs 57).

Altona Seaholme
Grade B A
Score 55/100 74/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Altona carries more bushfire risk (20 vs 0); Altona carries more flood risk (77 vs 37).

Altona Seaholme
Bushfire Low
20/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
73/100
 Moderate
59/100
Flood High
77/100
 Low
37/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
59/100
 High
71/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 35
within 5 km
 14
within 5 km

Schools

Altona Seaholme
Inside the suburb 4 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 1 0
Universities within 10 km None 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 8.7 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 Seaholme

  • Seaholme Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Altona sits further from the CBD (19.3 km vs 16.6 km).

Altona Seaholme
Walkability score 68/100 57/100
Distance to Melbourne 19.3 km
+14% vs other
 16.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 27 min 25 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 91/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 259.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 32.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.8%
postcode 3018
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 30
postcode 3018
same for both

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 Seaholme
Car (driver) 47.8% / 53.8%
Altona — Car (driver): 47.8% Seaholme — Car (driver): 53.8%
Worked from Home 41.4% / 37.9%
Altona — Worked from Home: 41.4% Seaholme — Worked from Home: 37.9%
Train 4.7% / 3.3%
Altona — Train: 4.7% Seaholme — Train: 3.3%
Car (passenger) 2.8% / 2.2%
Altona — Car (passenger): 2.8% Seaholme — Car (passenger): 2.2%
Walked Only 1.8% / 1.4%
Altona — Walked Only: 1.8% Seaholme — Walked Only: 1.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (53.8%).

Setting

Altona Seaholme
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
 389 m
621 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Altona Seaholme
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%
905 premises

Climate

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

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Altona Seaholme
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

Seaholme

Beach Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Quiet River Trains Transport Hub
Full data on Altona Full data on Seaholme
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.

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