Cockatoo vs Avonsleigh

Cockatoo is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 40 in Avonsleigh. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. On these figures, Cockatoo tends to suit families with children.

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

Cockatoo

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more parks and reserves (5 vs 1)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (2 vs 0)
  • But Avonsleigh carries lower crime risk (11/100 vs 46/100)

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

First-home buyers

Too close to call

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

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

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

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Cockatoo is more walkable (27/100 vs 7/100)
  • Avonsleigh sits closer to the CBD (58.6 km vs 61.2 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Cockatoo is more walkable (27/100 vs 7/100)
  • Avonsleigh carries lower crime risk (11/100 vs 46/100)

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

Investors

Too close to call

Nothing among the 1 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
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.

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Walkability 27 / 7
Cockatoo — Walkability: 27/100 Avonsleigh — Walkability: 7/100
Safety 54 / 89
Cockatoo — Safety: 54/100 Avonsleigh — Safety: 89/100
Low fire risk 1 / 0
Cockatoo — Low fire risk: 1/100 Avonsleigh — Low fire risk: 0/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Cockatoo — Low flood risk: 100/100 Avonsleigh — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cockatoo has more residents (4,408 vs 844); Avonsleigh skews older (40 vs 36).

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Population 4,408
+81% vs other
 844
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% -0.9%
Median age 36 40
Median household income $103,532/yr $106,860/yr
+3% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk
+4% vs other
 $356/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
0-4 7.7% / 4.7%
Cockatoo — 0-4: 7.7% Avonsleigh — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 15.0% / 14.0%
Cockatoo — 5-14: 15.0% Avonsleigh — 5-14: 14.0%
15-19 6.4% / 7.7%
Cockatoo — 15-19: 6.4% Avonsleigh — 15-19: 7.7%
20-24 4.7% / 4.0%
Cockatoo — 20-24: 4.7% Avonsleigh — 20-24: 4.0%
25-34 13.5% / 9.6%
Cockatoo — 25-34: 13.5% Avonsleigh — 25-34: 9.6%
35-44 14.6% / 15.3%
Cockatoo — 35-44: 14.6% Avonsleigh — 35-44: 15.3%
45-54 14.2% / 13.5%
Cockatoo — 45-54: 14.2% Avonsleigh — 45-54: 13.5%
55-64 13.1% / 15.8%
Cockatoo — 55-64: 13.1% Avonsleigh — 55-64: 15.8%
65-74 7.6% / 9.6%
Cockatoo — 65-74: 7.6% Avonsleigh — 65-74: 9.6%
75-84 2.3% / 3.7%
Cockatoo — 75-84: 2.3% Avonsleigh — 75-84: 3.7%
85+ 0.7% / 0.8%
Cockatoo — 85+: 0.7% Avonsleigh — 85+: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cockatoo 56.2% couple families
Cockatoo — Couple Families: 56.2% Cockatoo — Lone Person: 24.2% Cockatoo — One Parent Families: 16.2% Cockatoo — Group Household: 3.0% Cockatoo — Other Families: 0.4%
Avonsleigh 60.7% couple families
Avonsleigh — Couple Families: 60.7% Avonsleigh — Lone Person: 20.9% Avonsleigh — One Parent Families: 18.4% Avonsleigh — Group Household: 0.0% Avonsleigh — Other Families: 0.0%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cockatoo 7.8% renting
Cockatoo — Owned Outright: 24.8% Cockatoo — Mortgage: 67.4% Cockatoo — Renting: 7.8%
Avonsleigh 8.1% renting
Avonsleigh — Owned Outright: 32.7% Avonsleigh — Mortgage: 59.2% Avonsleigh — Renting: 8.1%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Certificate III & IV 19.8% / 20.5%
Cockatoo — Certificate III & IV: 19.8% Avonsleigh — Certificate III & IV: 20.5%
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 11.6%
Cockatoo — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Avonsleigh — Bachelor Degree: 11.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.6%
Cockatoo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Avonsleigh — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 2.5%
Cockatoo — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Avonsleigh — Postgraduate Degree: 2.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 2.3%
Cockatoo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Avonsleigh — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.5%).

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.

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
England 4.1% / 5.8%
Cockatoo — England: 4.1% Avonsleigh — England: 5.8%
New Zealand 1.3% / 0.7%
Cockatoo — New Zealand: 1.3% Avonsleigh — New Zealand: 0.7%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.8%
Cockatoo — Netherlands: 0.5% Avonsleigh — Netherlands: 0.8%
Scotland 0.5% / 0.5%
Cockatoo — Scotland: 0.5% Avonsleigh — Scotland: 0.5%
Germany 0.3% / 0.5%
Cockatoo — Germany: 0.3% Avonsleigh — Germany: 0.5%
Italy 0.3% / —
Cockatoo — Italy: 0.3% Avonsleigh — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cockatoo 99.7% houses
Cockatoo — Houses: 99.7% Cockatoo — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Avonsleigh 100.0% houses
Avonsleigh — Houses: 100.0% Avonsleigh — Flats / Apartments: 0.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Median house price $850,000 $912,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $342,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 14 days
from 44 sales
 25 days
from 5 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.

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
3 bed $789K / $815K
Cockatoo — 3 bed: $789K (57 sales) Avonsleigh — 3 bed: $815K (19 sales)

57 vs 19 sales

4 bed $968K / $1.15M
Cockatoo — 4 bed: $968K (36 sales) Avonsleigh — 4 bed: $1.15M (5 sales)

36 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Avonsleigh has more land zoned for conservation (47% vs 34%).

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Environmental 34% 47%
Rural and farming 42% 40%
Residential 15% 7%
Parks and recreation 7% 2%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 3%
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

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
New dwellings approved 1,323
across Cardinia
same for both
Approvals change year on year +13%
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
House price Higher than 49% of VIC —
Income Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 68% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 76% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 75% of VIC

Liveability

Cockatoo is more walkable (27 vs 7); Avonsleigh scores higher overall (57 vs 43).

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Grade C B
Score 43/100 57/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 8/10

Risk profile

Cockatoo carries more crime risk (46 vs 11).

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Bushfire High
99/100
 High
100/100
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
11/100
Flood None
0/100
same for both
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Inside the suburb 2 0
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Cockatoo

  • Cockatoo Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Fernbrook School Independent · Combined below peers

Schools in Avonsleigh

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

Amenities in the suburb

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Cafes & restaurants 1 0
Parks & reserves 5 1
Childcare 3 1
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1 0
Waterways 4 2

Mobility

Cockatoo sits further from the CBD (61.2 km vs 58.6 km).

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Walkability score 27/100 7/100
Distance to Melbourne 61.2 km
+4% vs other
 58.6 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 63 min
Public transport score 68/100
Bus
 31/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 20.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 4.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 15 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3781
 1.1%
postcode 3782
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3781
 39
postcode 3782

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.

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Car (driver) 72.0% / 63.9%
Cockatoo — Car (driver): 72.0% Avonsleigh — Car (driver): 63.9%
Worked from Home 22.3% / 29.3%
Cockatoo — Worked from Home: 22.3% Avonsleigh — Worked from Home: 29.3%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 4.5%
Cockatoo — Car (passenger): 4.1% Avonsleigh — Car (passenger): 4.5%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.6%
Cockatoo — Walked Only: 1.2% Avonsleigh — Walked Only: 1.6%
Bus — / 0.8%
Cockatoo — Bus: not among its largest Avonsleigh — Bus: 0.8%
Train 0.4% / —
Cockatoo — Train: 0.4% Avonsleigh — Train: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (72.0%).

Setting

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Elevation 223 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 189 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.9 km 34.1 km

NBN connectivity

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Connectivity score 68/100 61/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
1,679 premises
 38%
338 premises

Climate

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Annual rainfall 1,350 mm 777 mm
Summer max (Jan) — 26.9°C
Winter min (Jul) — 6.3°C

Air quality (annual mean)

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 15.5 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Average residential rate $1,880/yr
same for both
Council Cardinia
same for both

Federal electorate

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Division La Trobe Casey
Member Jason Wood Aaron Violi
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cockatoo Avonsleigh
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cockatoo

Acreage Family Outer

Avonsleigh

Acreage Outer

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cockatoo

Cockatoo vs Emerald Cockatoo vs Gembrook Cockatoo vs Macclesfield Cockatoo vs Mount Burnett Cockatoo vs Nangana

Other comparisons with Avonsleigh

Avonsleigh vs Emerald Avonsleigh vs Macclesfield
Full data on Cockatoo Full data on Avonsleigh
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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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