Cape Paterson vs Inverloch

In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Inverloch: a median of $845,000, against $752,000 in Cape Paterson, and rent is higher there too.

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

Inverloch

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (3 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (11 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Cape Paterson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($475,000 vs $600,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($752,500 vs $845,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Cape Paterson

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($300/wk vs $346/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Cape Paterson

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (142.6 km vs 145.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 5 things we measure here

  • Cape Paterson is more walkable (10/100 vs 0/100)
  • Inverloch has more GPs (2 vs 0)

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

Cape Paterson and Inverloch 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 Inverloch
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 Inverloch
Walkability 10 / 0
Cape Paterson — Walkability: 10/100 Inverloch — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 52 / 50
Cape Paterson — Safety: 52/100 Inverloch — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 79 / 100
Cape Paterson — Low fire risk: 79/100 Inverloch — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 72 / 53
Cape Paterson — Low flood risk: 72/100 Inverloch — Low flood risk: 53/100

Demographics

Inverloch has more residents (6,526 vs 1,111); Inverloch rents higher ($346/wk vs $300/wk).

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Population 1,111 6,526
+487% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +24.7% +20.0%
Median age 55 54
Median household income $66,820/yr $66,872/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk $346/wk
+15% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cape Paterson Inverloch
0-4 3.6% / 4.7%
Cape Paterson — 0-4: 3.6% Inverloch — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 8.6% / 10.8%
Cape Paterson — 5-14: 8.6% Inverloch — 5-14: 10.8%
15-19 4.5% / 4.4%
Cape Paterson — 15-19: 4.5% Inverloch — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 3.1% / 3.0%
Cape Paterson — 20-24: 3.1% Inverloch — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 7.1% / 6.9%
Cape Paterson — 25-34: 7.1% Inverloch — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 10.3% / 10.1%
Cape Paterson — 35-44: 10.3% Inverloch — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 12.9% / 10.4%
Cape Paterson — 45-54: 12.9% Inverloch — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 19.1% / 15.2%
Cape Paterson — 55-64: 19.1% Inverloch — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 20.0% / 19.6%
Cape Paterson — 65-74: 20.0% Inverloch — 65-74: 19.6%
75-84 8.6% / 11.2%
Cape Paterson — 75-84: 8.6% Inverloch — 75-84: 11.2%
85+ 2.1% / 3.8%
Cape Paterson — 85+: 2.1% Inverloch — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.0%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cape Paterson 48.6% lone person
Cape Paterson — Lone Person: 48.6% Cape Paterson — Couple Families: 37.8% Cape Paterson — One Parent Families: 9.5% Cape Paterson — Group Household: 4.1% Cape Paterson — Other Families: 0.0%
Inverloch 49.2% lone person
Inverloch — Lone Person: 49.2% Inverloch — Couple Families: 36.3% Inverloch — One Parent Families: 10.5% Inverloch — Group Household: 2.6% Inverloch — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

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%
Inverloch 18.3% renting
Inverloch — Owned Outright: 56.5% Inverloch — Mortgage: 25.2% Inverloch — Renting: 18.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 14.9%
Cape Paterson — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Inverloch — Certificate III & IV: 14.9%
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 14.2%
Cape Paterson — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Inverloch — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.5% / 9.0%
Cape Paterson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.5% Inverloch — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 5.8% / 4.1%
Cape Paterson — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8% Inverloch — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 3.6%
Cape Paterson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Inverloch — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.8%).

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 Inverloch
England 4.6% / 4.7%
Cape Paterson — England: 4.6% Inverloch — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 2.5% / 1.1%
Cape Paterson — New Zealand: 2.5% Inverloch — New Zealand: 1.1%
Scotland 1.1% / 0.6%
Cape Paterson — Scotland: 1.1% Inverloch — Scotland: 0.6%
Germany 0.8% / 0.6%
Cape Paterson — Germany: 0.8% Inverloch — Germany: 0.6%
Italy 0.5% / 0.6%
Cape Paterson — Italy: 0.5% Inverloch — Italy: 0.6%
Netherlands — / 1.1%
Cape Paterson — Netherlands: not among its largest Inverloch — Netherlands: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.7%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cape Paterson 96.0% houses
Cape Paterson — Houses: 96.0% Cape Paterson — Townhouses: 1.9% Cape Paterson — Flats / Apartments: 2.1%
Inverloch 91.1% houses
Inverloch — Houses: 91.1% Inverloch — Townhouses: 8.5% Inverloch — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Median house price $752,500 $845,000
Median unit price — $395,000
Median land price $475,000 $600,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 76 days
from 41 sales
 77 days
from 65 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.

Cape Paterson Inverloch
3 bed $740K / $795K
Cape Paterson — 3 bed: $740K (39 sales) Inverloch — 3 bed: $795K (79 sales)

39 vs 79 sales

4 bed $802K / $884K
Cape Paterson — 4 bed: $802K (14 sales) Inverloch — 4 bed: $884K (68 sales)

14 vs 68 sales

5 bed $865K / $1.15M
Cape Paterson — 5 bed: $865K (5 sales) Inverloch — 5 bed: $1.15M (11 sales)

5 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Rural and farming 81% 83%
Parks and recreation 9% 2%
Residential 6% 5%
Other and special use 3% 0%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
Planning zones cover 100% of Cape Paterson and 93% of Inverloch. 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 Inverloch
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 Inverloch
Houses 2.9%
$530/wk on $940K
 3.1%
$535/wk on $885K
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Cape Paterson Inverloch
House price Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Income Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC

Liveability

Cape Paterson is more walkable (10 vs 0).

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Grade B
same for both
Score 53/100 50/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
same for both

Risk profile

Cape Paterson carries more bushfire risk (21 vs 0); Inverloch carries more flood risk (47 vs 28).

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Bushfire Low
21/100
 None
0/100
Crime Moderate
48/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood Low
28/100
 Moderate
47/100
Coastal erosion Low
28/100
 High
95/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Cape Paterson

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Inverloch

  • Inverloch Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 0 7
Parks & reserves 4 11
Childcare 0 3
GPs 0 2
Pharmacies 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 2
Fuel stations 0 1
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 2 3
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Inverloch sits further from the CBD (145.5 km vs 142.6 km).

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Walkability score 10/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 142.6 km 145.5 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min 114 min
Public transport score 28/100 34/100
Peak arrivals per hour 3.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 6.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3995
 1.1%
postcode 3996
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3995
 39
postcode 3996

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 Inverloch
Car (driver) 66.3% / 69.0%
Cape Paterson — Car (driver): 66.3% Inverloch — Car (driver): 69.0%
Worked from Home 27.2% / 23.1%
Cape Paterson — Worked from Home: 27.2% Inverloch — Worked from Home: 23.1%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 4.1%
Cape Paterson — Car (passenger): 4.3% Inverloch — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Walked Only 1.2% / 3.1%
Cape Paterson — Walked Only: 1.2% Inverloch — Walked Only: 3.1%
Bicycle 1.0% / 0.4%
Cape Paterson — Bicycle: 1.0% Inverloch — Bicycle: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (69.0%).

Setting

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
1.6 km to a named beach
 2.3 km

NBN connectivity

Cape Paterson Inverloch
Connectivity score 82/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 68%
1,377 premises
 48%
5,292 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Cape Paterson Inverloch
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

Inverloch

Acreage Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cape Paterson

Cape Paterson vs Wonthaggi Cape Paterson vs Harmers Haven

Other comparisons with Inverloch

Inverloch vs Wonthaggi Inverloch vs Leongatha South Inverloch vs Outtrim Inverloch vs Wattle Bank Inverloch vs Pound Creek
Full data on Cape Paterson Full data on Inverloch
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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