Cape Paterson vs Wonthaggi

In both, most 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 Wonthaggi, most households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Cape Paterson: a median of $752,000, against $515,000 in Wonthaggi, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wonthaggi tends to suit people living alone and 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

They split

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

  • Cape Paterson carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 91/100)
  • Wonthaggi has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

Wonthaggi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($265,000 vs $475,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($515,000 vs $752,500)
  • But Cape Paterson leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 32%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wonthaggi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 17%)
  • has cheaper rent ($270/wk vs $300/wk)
  • But Cape Paterson leaves renters under less rental stress (23% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Wonthaggi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 10/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (137.2 km vs 142.6 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wonthaggi

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 10/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (14% vs 4%)
  • But Cape Paterson carries lower crime risk (48/100 vs 91/100)

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

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 2 things we measure here

  • Cape Paterson is growing faster (24.7% vs 5.0%)
  • Wonthaggi returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 2.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Cape Paterson and Wonthaggi 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 Wonthaggi
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 Wonthaggi
Walkability 10 / 64
Cape Paterson — Walkability: 10/100 Wonthaggi — Walkability: 64/100
Safety 52 / 9
Cape Paterson — Safety: 52/100 Wonthaggi — Safety: 9/100
Low fire risk 79 / 76
Cape Paterson — Low fire risk: 79/100 Wonthaggi — Low fire risk: 76/100
Low flood risk 72 / 74
Cape Paterson — Low flood risk: 72/100 Wonthaggi — Low flood risk: 74/100

Demographics

Wonthaggi has more residents (5,215 vs 1,111); Cape Paterson has higher household incomes ($66,820 vs $44,304).

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Population 1,111 5,215
+369% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +24.7% +5.0%
Median age 55
same for both
Median household income $66,820/yr
+34% vs other
 $44,304/yr
Median weekly rent $300/wk
+10% vs other
 $270/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
0-4 3.6% / 3.6%
Cape Paterson — 0-4: 3.6% Wonthaggi — 0-4: 3.6%
5-14 8.6% / 9.2%
Cape Paterson — 5-14: 8.6% Wonthaggi — 5-14: 9.2%
15-19 4.5% / 4.4%
Cape Paterson — 15-19: 4.5% Wonthaggi — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 3.1% / 3.7%
Cape Paterson — 20-24: 3.1% Wonthaggi — 20-24: 3.7%
25-34 7.1% / 9.0%
Cape Paterson — 25-34: 7.1% Wonthaggi — 25-34: 9.0%
35-44 10.3% / 9.2%
Cape Paterson — 35-44: 10.3% Wonthaggi — 35-44: 9.2%
45-54 12.9% / 10.8%
Cape Paterson — 45-54: 12.9% Wonthaggi — 45-54: 10.8%
55-64 19.1% / 14.9%
Cape Paterson — 55-64: 19.1% Wonthaggi — 55-64: 14.9%
65-74 20.0% / 17.9%
Cape Paterson — 65-74: 20.0% Wonthaggi — 65-74: 17.9%
75-84 8.6% / 11.6%
Cape Paterson — 75-84: 8.6% Wonthaggi — 75-84: 11.6%
85+ 2.1% / 5.6%
Cape Paterson — 85+: 2.1% Wonthaggi — 85+: 5.6%

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%
Wonthaggi 57.3% lone person
Wonthaggi — Lone Person: 57.3% Wonthaggi — Couple Families: 20.9% Wonthaggi — One Parent Families: 17.1% Wonthaggi — Group Household: 3.7% Wonthaggi — Other Families: 1.0%
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%
Wonthaggi 30.2% renting
Wonthaggi — Owned Outright: 47.7% Wonthaggi — Mortgage: 22.1% Wonthaggi — Renting: 30.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Certificate III & IV 16.8% / 16.6%
Cape Paterson — Certificate III & IV: 16.8% Wonthaggi — Certificate III & IV: 16.6%
Bachelor Degree 15.6% / 7.0%
Cape Paterson — Bachelor Degree: 15.6% Wonthaggi — Bachelor Degree: 7.0%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 11.5% / 6.8%
Cape Paterson — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 11.5% Wonthaggi — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8%
Postgraduate Degree 5.8% / 1.5%
Cape Paterson — Postgraduate Degree: 5.8% Wonthaggi — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.8% / 1.6%
Cape Paterson — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8% Wonthaggi — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

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 Wonthaggi
England 4.6% / 5.1%
Cape Paterson — England: 4.6% Wonthaggi — England: 5.1%
New Zealand 2.5% / 1.3%
Cape Paterson — New Zealand: 2.5% Wonthaggi — New Zealand: 1.3%
Scotland 1.1% / 0.7%
Cape Paterson — Scotland: 1.1% Wonthaggi — Scotland: 0.7%
Italy 0.5% / 1.2%
Cape Paterson — Italy: 0.5% Wonthaggi — Italy: 1.2%
Germany 0.8% / 0.6%
Cape Paterson — Germany: 0.8% Wonthaggi — Germany: 0.6%
India — / 0.8%
Cape Paterson — India: not among its largest Wonthaggi — India: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.1%).

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%
Wonthaggi 85.8% houses
Wonthaggi — Houses: 85.8% Wonthaggi — Townhouses: 8.8% Wonthaggi — Flats / Apartments: 5.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Median house price $752,500 $515,000
Median unit price — $419,500
Median land price $475,000 $265,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 76 days
from 41 sales
 56 days
from 87 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 Wonthaggi
3 bed $740K / $520K
Cape Paterson — 3 bed: $740K (39 sales) Wonthaggi — 3 bed: $520K (86 sales)

39 vs 86 sales

4 bed $802K / $615K
Cape Paterson — 4 bed: $802K (14 sales) Wonthaggi — 4 bed: $615K (57 sales)

14 vs 57 sales

5 bed $865K / $740K
Cape Paterson — 5 bed: $865K (5 sales) Wonthaggi — 5 bed: $740K (9 sales)

5 vs 9 sales

Zoning mix

Cape Paterson has more rural and farming land (81% vs 58%).

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Rural and farming 81% 58%
Parks and recreation 9% 25%
Residential 6% 11%
Infrastructure and transport 1% 3%
Other and special use 3% 0%
Industrial 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

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
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 Wonthaggi
Houses 2.9%
$530/wk on $940K
 4.9%
$578/wk on $619K
Units — 4.9%
$425/wk on $449K

Ranking within VIC

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
House price Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
Income Higher than 27% of VIC Higher than 5% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 57% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 69% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 40% of VIC Higher than 21% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 74% of VIC
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 10% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 57% of VIC

Liveability

Wonthaggi is more walkable (64 vs 10); Cape Paterson scores higher overall (53 vs 38).

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Grade B C
Score 53/100 38/100
Socio-economic band advantaged area
decile 7/10
 high-need area
decile 1/10

Risk profile

Wonthaggi carries more crime risk (91 vs 48).

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Bushfire Low
21/100
 Low
24/100
Crime Moderate
48/100
 High
91/100
Flood Low
28/100
 Low
26/100
Coastal erosion Low
28/100
 Moderate
46/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 0
within 5 km
 1
within 5 km

Schools

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Inside the suburb 0 8
Rated above peers 0 2
Rated at peers 0 2
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 Wonthaggi

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Wonthaggi Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Bass Coast College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Wonthaggi North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Bass Coast College-Community VCAL Program Campus Government · Secondary
  • Bass Coast College-Dudley Campus Government · Secondary

Amenities in the suburb

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Supermarkets 0 4
Cafes & restaurants 0 10
Parks & reserves 4 27
Childcare 0 5
GPs 0 4
Pharmacies 0 3
Hospitals 0 1
Police stations 0 1
Banks & Bank@Post 0 6
Fuel stations 0 4
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 2
same for both

Mobility

Cape Paterson sits further from the CBD (142.6 km vs 137.2 km).

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Walkability score 10/100 64/100
Distance to Melbourne 142.6 km
+4% vs other
 137.2 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 115 min 111 min
Public transport score 28/100 59/100
Peak arrivals per hour 3.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 20.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
 2 min
scheduled, not actual
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 Wonthaggi
Car (driver) 66.3% / 74.3%
Cape Paterson — Car (driver): 66.3% Wonthaggi — Car (driver): 74.3%
Worked from Home 27.2% / 11.8%
Cape Paterson — Worked from Home: 27.2% Wonthaggi — Worked from Home: 11.8%
Car (passenger) 4.3% / 5.4%
Cape Paterson — Car (passenger): 4.3% Wonthaggi — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 1.2% / 7.0%
Cape Paterson — Walked Only: 1.2% Wonthaggi — Walked Only: 7.0%
Bicycle 1.0% / 1.6%
Cape Paterson — Bicycle: 1.0% Wonthaggi — Bicycle: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.3%).

Setting

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 1.5 km
1.6 km to a named beach
 4.0 km
3.9 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
Connectivity score 82/100 70/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises Fibre to the node
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 68%
1,377 premises
 47%
3,750 premises

Climate

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Cape Paterson Wonthaggi
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

Wonthaggi

Acreage Affordable Parks Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cape Paterson

Cape Paterson vs Inverloch Cape Paterson vs Harmers Haven

Other comparisons with Wonthaggi

Wonthaggi vs Inverloch Wonthaggi vs North Wonthaggi Wonthaggi vs Dalyston Wonthaggi vs South Dudley Wonthaggi vs Harmers Haven
Full data on Cape Paterson Full data on Wonthaggi
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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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