Cape Paterson vs Harmers Haven

Cape Paterson is the younger of the two, with a median age of 55 against 59 in Harmers Haven. In both, the large majority of households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Cape Paterson, about half of households are people living alone. In Harmers Haven, most households are couple families. On these figures, Harmers Haven tends to suit 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

  • Cape Paterson has more parks and reserves (4 vs 0)
  • Harmers Haven is already more of a family suburb (56% vs 47%)

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

First-home buyers

Cape Paterson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 38%)

Weighs mortgage stress.

Renters

Harmers Haven

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • has cheaper rent ($200/wk vs $300/wk)
  • leaves renters under less rental stress (17% vs 23%)

Weighs rent and rental stress.

Commuting to the city

Cape Paterson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cape Paterson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)

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

Investors

Harmers Haven

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (67.6% vs 24.7%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Cape Paterson and Harmers Haven drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
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.

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Walkability 10 / 0
Cape Paterson — Walkability: 10/100 Harmers Haven — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 52 / 55
Cape Paterson — Safety: 52/100 Harmers Haven — Safety: 55/100
Low fire risk 79 / 100
Cape Paterson — Low fire risk: 79/100 Harmers Haven — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 72 / 52
Cape Paterson — Low flood risk: 72/100 Harmers Haven — Low flood risk: 52/100

Demographics

Cape Paterson has more residents (1,111 vs 62); Cape Paterson rents higher ($300/wk vs $200/wk).

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Population 1,111
+94% vs other
 62
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +24.7% +67.6%
Median age 55 59
Median household income $66,820/yr
+8% vs other
 $61,724/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+33% vs other
 $200/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
0-4 3.6% / —
Cape Paterson — 0-4: 3.6% Harmers Haven — 0-4: not among its largest
5-14 8.6% / —
Cape Paterson — 5-14: 8.6% Harmers Haven — 5-14: not among its largest
15-19 4.5% / 12.9%
Cape Paterson — 15-19: 4.5% Harmers Haven — 15-19: 12.9%
20-24 3.1% / —
Cape Paterson — 20-24: 3.1% Harmers Haven — 20-24: not among its largest
25-34 7.1% / 4.8%
Cape Paterson — 25-34: 7.1% Harmers Haven — 25-34: 4.8%
35-44 10.3% / 8.1%
Cape Paterson — 35-44: 10.3% Harmers Haven — 35-44: 8.1%
45-54 12.9% / 21.0%
Cape Paterson — 45-54: 12.9% Harmers Haven — 45-54: 21.0%
55-64 19.1% / 27.4%
Cape Paterson — 55-64: 19.1% Harmers Haven — 55-64: 27.4%
65-74 20.0% / 24.2%
Cape Paterson — 65-74: 20.0% Harmers Haven — 65-74: 24.2%
75-84 8.6% / 4.8%
Cape Paterson — 75-84: 8.6% Harmers Haven — 75-84: 4.8%
85+ 2.1% / —
Cape Paterson — 85+: 2.1% Harmers Haven — 85+: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cape Paterson 37.8% couple families
Cape Paterson — Couple Families: 37.8% Cape Paterson — Lone Person: 48.6% Cape Paterson — One Parent Families: 9.5% Cape Paterson — Group Household: 4.1%
Harmers Haven 55.6% couple families
Harmers Haven — Couple Families: 55.6% Harmers Haven — Lone Person: 44.4% Harmers Haven — One Parent Families: 0.0% Harmers Haven — Group Household: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cape Paterson 17.4% renting
Cape Paterson — Owned Outright: 57.3% Cape Paterson — Mortgage: 25.3% Cape Paterson — Renting: 17.4%
Harmers Haven 0.0% renting
Harmers Haven — Owned Outright: 84.2% Harmers Haven — Mortgage: 15.8% Harmers Haven — Renting: 0.0%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

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.

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
England 4.6% / 9.7%
Cape Paterson — England: 4.6% Harmers Haven — England: 9.7%
Germany 0.8% / 8.1%
Cape Paterson — Germany: 0.8% Harmers Haven — Germany: 8.1%
New Zealand 2.5% / —
Cape Paterson — New Zealand: 2.5% Harmers Haven — New Zealand: not among its largest
Scotland 1.1% / —
Cape Paterson — Scotland: 1.1% Harmers Haven — Scotland: not among its largest
Italy 0.5% / —
Cape Paterson — Italy: 0.5% Harmers Haven — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (9.7%).

Qualifications

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

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 30.6%
Cape Paterson — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Harmers Haven — Certificate III & IV: 30.6%
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 14.5%
Cape Paterson — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Harmers Haven — Bachelor Degree: 14.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.5% / 12.9%
Cape Paterson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.5% Harmers Haven — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 12.9%
Postgraduate Degree 5.8% / 14.5%
Cape Paterson — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8% Harmers Haven — Postgraduate Degree: 14.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / —
Cape Paterson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Harmers Haven — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (30.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cape Paterson 96.0% houses
Cape Paterson — Houses: 96.0% Cape Paterson — Flats / Apartments: 2.1% Cape Paterson — Townhouses: 1.9%
Harmers Haven 100.0% houses
Harmers Haven — Houses: 100.0% Harmers Haven — Flats / Apartments: 0.0% Harmers Haven — Townhouses: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments Townhouses

Property market

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Median house price $752,500 —
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $475,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 76 days
from 41 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Cape Paterson has more rural and farming land (81% vs 4%).

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Rural and farming 81% 4%
Parks and recreation 9% 76%
Residential 6% 18%
Other and special use 3% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Cape Paterson and 98% of Harmers Haven. 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

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
New dwellings approved 393
across Bass Coast
same for both
Approvals change year on year +0%
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.

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Houses 2.9%
$530/wk on $940K
 —
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
House price Higher than 39% of VIC —
Income Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 23% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 61% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 40% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 74% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 11% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of VIC —

Liveability

Cape Paterson is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Grade B —
Score 53/100 —
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Cape Paterson carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0); Harmers Haven carries more flood risk (48 vs 28).

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Bushfire Low
21/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
45/100
Flood Low
28/100
 Moderate
48/100
Coastal erosion Low
28/100
 Low
27/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Inside the suburb 0
same for both
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Amenities in the suburb

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Parks & reserves 4 0
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 2 0

Mobility

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Walkability score 10/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 142.6 km
+1% vs other
 141.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3995
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3995
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.

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Car (driver) 66.3% / 60.0%
Cape Paterson — Car (driver): 66.3% Harmers Haven — Car (driver): 60.0%
Worked from Home 27.2% / 40.0%
Cape Paterson — Worked from Home: 27.2% Harmers Haven — Worked from Home: 40.0%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / —
Cape Paterson — Car (passenger): 4.3% Harmers Haven — Car (passenger): not among its largest
Walked Only 1.2% / —
Cape Paterson — Walked Only: 1.2% Harmers Haven — Walked Only: not among its largest
Bicycle 1.0% / —
Cape Paterson — Bicycle: 1.0% Harmers Haven — Bicycle: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (66.3%).

Setting

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 23 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
1.6 km to a named beach
 419 m
575 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Connectivity score 82/100 15/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Satellite (Sky Muster)
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 68%
1,377 premises
 0%
17 premises

Climate

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Annual rainfall 906 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Council rates

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Average residential rate $1,727/yr
same for both
Council Bass Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cape Paterson Harmers Haven
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cape Paterson

Acreage Coastal Retirees

Harmers Haven

Beach Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

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Cape Paterson vs Inverloch Cape Paterson vs Wonthaggi

Other comparisons with Harmers Haven

Harmers Haven vs Wonthaggi
Full data on Cape Paterson Full data on Harmers Haven
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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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