Cockatoo vs Gembrook

Cockatoo is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 41 in Gembrook. In both, the large majority of households own their home, the large majority of homes are detached houses, and most households are couple families. Houses cost more in Gembrook: a median of $930,000, against $850,000 in Cockatoo.

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

  • Cockatoo carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 87/100)
  • Gembrook has more parks and reserves (18 vs 5)

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

First-home buyers

Cockatoo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($342,500 vs $1,160,000)

Weighs house prices, land 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

Cockatoo

ahead on 3 of the 4 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (27/100 vs 0/100)
  • has a shorter drive in (66 min vs 91 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (61.2 km vs 77.9 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cockatoo

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (27/100 vs 0/100)
  • carries lower crime risk (46/100 vs 87/100)
  • But Gembrook has more residents already 65 and over (16% vs 11%)

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

Investors

Gembrook

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is growing faster (8.9% vs 3.6%)

Weighs population growth.

Where they sit

Cockatoo and Gembrook 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 Gembrook
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 Gembrook
Walkability 27 / 0
Cockatoo — Walkability: 27/100 Gembrook — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 54 / 13
Cockatoo — Safety: 54/100 Gembrook — Safety: 13/100
Low fire risk 1 / 5
Cockatoo — Low fire risk: 1/100 Gembrook — Low fire risk: 5/100
Low flood risk 100 / 64
Cockatoo — Low flood risk: 100/100 Gembrook — Low flood risk: 64/100

Demographics

Cockatoo has more residents (4,408 vs 2,559); Gembrook skews older (41 vs 36).

Cockatoo Gembrook
Population 4,408
+42% vs other
 2,559
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% +8.9%
Median age 36 41
Median household income $103,532/yr $104,104/yr
Median weekly rent $370/wk
+3% vs other
 $360/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cockatoo Gembrook
0-4 7.7% / 5.3%
Cockatoo — 0-4: 7.7% Gembrook — 0-4: 5.3%
5-14 15.0% / 15.1%
Cockatoo — 5-14: 15.0% Gembrook — 5-14: 15.1%
15-19 6.4% / 6.3%
Cockatoo — 15-19: 6.4% Gembrook — 15-19: 6.3%
20-24 4.7% / 5.8%
Cockatoo — 20-24: 4.7% Gembrook — 20-24: 5.8%
25-34 13.5% / 10.4%
Cockatoo — 25-34: 13.5% Gembrook — 25-34: 10.4%
35-44 14.6% / 11.5%
Cockatoo — 35-44: 14.6% Gembrook — 35-44: 11.5%
45-54 14.2% / 15.0%
Cockatoo — 45-54: 14.2% Gembrook — 45-54: 15.0%
55-64 13.1% / 15.0%
Cockatoo — 55-64: 13.1% Gembrook — 55-64: 15.0%
65-74 7.6% / 9.8%
Cockatoo — 65-74: 7.6% Gembrook — 65-74: 9.8%
75-84 2.3% / 4.9%
Cockatoo — 75-84: 2.3% Gembrook — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 0.7% / 1.1%
Cockatoo — 85+: 0.7% Gembrook — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (15.1%).

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%
Gembrook 58.2% couple families
Gembrook — Couple Families: 58.2% Gembrook — Lone Person: 25.6% Gembrook — One Parent Families: 12.6% Gembrook — Group Household: 2.4% Gembrook — Other Families: 1.2%
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%
Gembrook 12.4% renting
Gembrook — Owned Outright: 33.6% Gembrook — Mortgage: 54.1% Gembrook — Renting: 12.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cockatoo Gembrook
Certificate III & IV 19.8% / 17.0%
Cockatoo — Certificate III & IV: 19.8% Gembrook — Certificate III & IV: 17.0%
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 10.3%
Cockatoo — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Gembrook — Bachelor Degree: 10.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.6%
Cockatoo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Gembrook — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.6%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 2.6%
Cockatoo — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Gembrook — Postgraduate Degree: 2.6%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 1.6%
Cockatoo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Gembrook — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.8%).

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.

Cockatoo Gembrook
England 4.1% / 4.6%
Cockatoo — England: 4.1% Gembrook — England: 4.6%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.1%
Cockatoo — New Zealand: 1.3% Gembrook — New Zealand: 1.1%
Germany 0.3% / 0.7%
Cockatoo — Germany: 0.3% Gembrook — Germany: 0.7%
Netherlands 0.5% / 0.4%
Cockatoo — Netherlands: 0.5% Gembrook — Netherlands: 0.4%
Italy 0.3% / 0.5%
Cockatoo — Italy: 0.3% Gembrook — Italy: 0.5%
Scotland 0.5% / —
Cockatoo — Scotland: 0.5% Gembrook — Scotland: not among its largest
South Africa — / 0.5%
Cockatoo — South Africa: not among its largest Gembrook — South Africa: 0.5%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (4.6%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cockatoo 99.7% houses
Cockatoo — Houses: 99.7% Cockatoo — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Gembrook 97.5% houses
Gembrook — Houses: 97.5% Gembrook — Flats / Apartments: 2.5%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cockatoo Gembrook
Median house price $850,000 $930,000
Median unit price — $570,000
Median land price $342,500 $1,160,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 14 days
from 44 sales
 30 days
from 28 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 Gembrook
2 bed $612K / $695K
Cockatoo — 2 bed: $612K (7 sales) Gembrook — 2 bed: $695K (7 sales)

7 vs 7 sales

3 bed $789K / $880K
Cockatoo — 3 bed: $789K (57 sales) Gembrook — 3 bed: $880K (29 sales)

57 vs 29 sales

4 bed $968K / $1.02M
Cockatoo — 4 bed: $968K (36 sales) Gembrook — 4 bed: $1.02M (27 sales)

36 vs 27 sales

5 bed $1.14M / $1.2M
Cockatoo — 5 bed: $1.14M (7 sales) Gembrook — 5 bed: $1.2M (6 sales)

7 vs 6 sales

Zoning mix

Cockatoo has more rural and farming land (42% vs 13%); Cockatoo has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 18%).

Cockatoo Gembrook
Parks and recreation 7% 68%
Rural and farming 42% 13%
Environmental 34% 18%
Residential 15% 1%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 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

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

Cockatoo Gembrook
Houses — 3.3%
$650/wk on $1.04M
Units —
same for both

Ranking within VIC

Cockatoo Gembrook
House price Higher than 49% of VIC Higher than 70% of VIC
Income Higher than 76% of VIC
same for both
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 14% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 44% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 41% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) — Higher than 26% of VIC

Liveability

Cockatoo is more walkable (27 vs 0); Cockatoo scores higher overall (43 vs 28).

Cockatoo Gembrook
Grade C D
Score 43/100 28/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Gembrook carries more flood risk (36 vs 0); Gembrook carries more crime risk (87 vs 46).

Cockatoo Gembrook
Bushfire High
99/100
 High
95/100
Crime Moderate
46/100
 High
87/100
Flood None
0/100
 Low
36/100
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 Gembrook
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 2 0

Schools in Cockatoo

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

Schools in Gembrook

  • Gembrook Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cockatoo Gembrook
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 1 4
Parks & reserves 5 18
Childcare 3
same for both
GPs 1 0
Pharmacies 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 4 436

Mobility

Gembrook sits further from the CBD (77.9 km vs 61.2 km).

Cockatoo Gembrook
Walkability score 27/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 61.2 km 77.9 km
+27% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min 91 min
Public transport score 68/100
Bus
 76/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 20.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 29.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.6%
postcode 3781
 0.4%
postcode 3783
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 33
postcode 3781
 48
postcode 3783

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 Gembrook
Car (driver) 72.0% / 70.1%
Cockatoo — Car (driver): 72.0% Gembrook — Car (driver): 70.1%
Worked from Home 22.3% / 24.6%
Cockatoo — Worked from Home: 22.3% Gembrook — Worked from Home: 24.6%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 2.5%
Cockatoo — Car (passenger): 4.1% Gembrook — Car (passenger): 2.5%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.9%
Cockatoo — Walked Only: 1.2% Gembrook — Walked Only: 1.9%
Train 0.4% / 0.7%
Cockatoo — Train: 0.4% Gembrook — Train: 0.7%

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

Setting

Cockatoo Gembrook
Elevation 223 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 154 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.9 km 34.6 km

NBN connectivity

Cockatoo Gembrook
Connectivity score 68/100 58/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
1,679 premises
 35%
896 premises

Climate

Cockatoo Gembrook
Annual rainfall 1,350 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

Cockatoo Gembrook
Division La Trobe
same for both
Member Jason Wood
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cockatoo Gembrook
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

Gembrook

River Rural

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cockatoo

Cockatoo vs Emerald Cockatoo vs Macclesfield Cockatoo vs Avonsleigh Cockatoo vs Mount Burnett Cockatoo vs Nangana

Other comparisons with Gembrook

Gembrook vs Pakenham Upper Gembrook vs Nar Nar Goon North Gembrook vs Yellingbo Gembrook vs Tynong North Gembrook vs Labertouche Gembrook vs Tonimbuk
Full data on Cockatoo Full data on Gembrook
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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