Cockatoo vs Macclesfield

Cockatoo is the younger of the two, with a median age of 36 against 49 in Macclesfield. 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 Macclesfield: a median of $1.69 million, against $850,000 in Cockatoo, though rent is higher in Cockatoo. On these figures, Cockatoo tends to suit families with children 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

Macclesfield

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 46/100)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Cockatoo has more parks and reserves (5 vs 0)

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 houses ($850,000 vs $1,687,500)

Weighs house prices and mortgage stress.

Renters

Macclesfield

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • leaves renters under less rental stress (13% vs 19%)
  • has cheaper rent ($289/wk vs $370/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Cockatoo

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (27/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Macclesfield

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • carries lower crime risk (12/100 vs 46/100)
  • has more residents already 65 and over (20% vs 11%)
  • But Cockatoo is more walkable (27/100 vs 0/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, 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 Macclesfield 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 Macclesfield
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 Macclesfield
Walkability 27 / 0
Cockatoo — Walkability: 27/100 Macclesfield — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 54 / 88
Cockatoo — Safety: 54/100 Macclesfield — Safety: 88/100
Low fire risk 1 / 1
Cockatoo — Low fire risk: 1/100 Macclesfield — Low fire risk: 1/100
Low flood risk 100 / 100
Cockatoo — Low flood risk: 100/100 Macclesfield — Low flood risk: 100/100

Demographics

Cockatoo has more residents (4,408 vs 878); Macclesfield skews older (49 vs 36).

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Population 4,408
+80% vs other
 878
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.6% +3.2%
Median age 36 49
Median household income $103,532/yr $117,884/yr
+14% vs other
Median weekly rent $370/wk
+22% vs other
 $289/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cockatoo Macclesfield
0-4 7.7% / 3.8%
Cockatoo — 0-4: 7.7% Macclesfield — 0-4: 3.8%
5-14 15.0% / 11.0%
Cockatoo — 5-14: 15.0% Macclesfield — 5-14: 11.0%
15-19 6.4% / 6.9%
Cockatoo — 15-19: 6.4% Macclesfield — 15-19: 6.9%
20-24 4.7% / 6.3%
Cockatoo — 20-24: 4.7% Macclesfield — 20-24: 6.3%
25-34 13.5% / 6.7%
Cockatoo — 25-34: 13.5% Macclesfield — 25-34: 6.7%
35-44 14.6% / 8.4%
Cockatoo — 35-44: 14.6% Macclesfield — 35-44: 8.4%
45-54 14.2% / 18.9%
Cockatoo — 45-54: 14.2% Macclesfield — 45-54: 18.9%
55-64 13.1% / 18.6%
Cockatoo — 55-64: 13.1% Macclesfield — 55-64: 18.6%
65-74 7.6% / 13.4%
Cockatoo — 65-74: 7.6% Macclesfield — 65-74: 13.4%
75-84 2.3% / 5.2%
Cockatoo — 75-84: 2.3% Macclesfield — 75-84: 5.2%
85+ 0.7% / 1.3%
Cockatoo — 85+: 0.7% Macclesfield — 85+: 1.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

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%
Macclesfield 59.0% couple families
Macclesfield — Couple Families: 59.0% Macclesfield — Lone Person: 27.3% Macclesfield — One Parent Families: 8.8% Macclesfield — Group Household: 4.9% Macclesfield — 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%
Macclesfield 5.4% renting
Macclesfield — Owned Outright: 47.8% Macclesfield — Mortgage: 46.8% Macclesfield — Renting: 5.4%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Certificate III & IV 19.8% / 19.9%
Cockatoo — Certificate III & IV: 19.8% Macclesfield — Certificate III & IV: 19.9%
Bachelor Degree 8.1% / 11.3%
Cockatoo — Bachelor Degree: 8.1% Macclesfield — Bachelor Degree: 11.3%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.4% / 8.8%
Cockatoo — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.4% Macclesfield — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8%
Postgraduate Degree 2.0% / 4.1%
Cockatoo — Postgraduate Degree: 2.0% Macclesfield — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.8% / 3.8%
Cockatoo — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.8% Macclesfield — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.9%).

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 Macclesfield
England 4.1% / 6.8%
Cockatoo — England: 4.1% Macclesfield — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.0%
Cockatoo — New Zealand: 1.3% Macclesfield — New Zealand: 1.0%
Netherlands 0.5% / 1.4%
Cockatoo — Netherlands: 0.5% Macclesfield — Netherlands: 1.4%
Scotland 0.5% / 1.3%
Cockatoo — Scotland: 0.5% Macclesfield — Scotland: 1.3%
Sri Lanka — / 0.5%
Cockatoo — Sri Lanka: not among its largest Macclesfield — Sri Lanka: 0.5%
Italy 0.3% / —
Cockatoo — Italy: 0.3% Macclesfield — Italy: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cockatoo 99.7% houses
Cockatoo — Houses: 99.7% Cockatoo — Flats / Apartments: 0.3%
Macclesfield 99.0% houses
Macclesfield — Houses: 99.0% Macclesfield — Flats / Apartments: 1.0%
Houses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Median house price $850,000 $1,687,500
Median unit price —
same for both
Median land price $342,500 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 14 days
from 44 sales
 —

Zoning mix

Macclesfield has more rural and farming land (89% vs 42%); Cockatoo has more land zoned for conservation (34% vs 4%).

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Rural and farming 42% 89%
Environmental 34% 4%
Residential 15% 0%
Parks and recreation 7% 6%
Infrastructure and transport 2% 1%
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 Macclesfield
New dwellings approved 1,323
across Cardinia
 416
across Yarra Ranges
Approvals change year on year +13% -57%

Ranking within VIC

Cockatoo Macclesfield
House price Higher than 49% of VIC —
Income Higher than 76% of VIC Higher than 90% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 82% of VIC Higher than 46% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 76% of VIC —
EV adoption Higher than 55% of VIC Higher than 80% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 78% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC

Liveability

Cockatoo is more walkable (27 vs 0); Macclesfield scores higher overall (55 vs 43).

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Grade C B
Score 43/100 55/100
Socio-economic band mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Cockatoo carries more crime risk (46 vs 12).

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Bushfire High
99/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
46/100
 Low
12/100
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 Macclesfield
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 0 1
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 Macclesfield

  • Macclesfield Primary School Government · Primary above peers

Amenities in the suburb

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

Mobility

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Walkability score 27/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 61.2 km 62.2 km
+2% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 66 min
same for both
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 Macclesfield
Car (driver) 72.0% / 65.2%
Cockatoo — Car (driver): 72.0% Macclesfield — Car (driver): 65.2%
Worked from Home 22.3% / 31.6%
Cockatoo — Worked from Home: 22.3% Macclesfield — Worked from Home: 31.6%
Car (passenger) 4.1% / 2.0%
Cockatoo — Car (passenger): 4.1% Macclesfield — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.2% / 1.3%
Cockatoo — Walked Only: 1.2% Macclesfield — Walked Only: 1.3%
Train 0.4% / —
Cockatoo — Train: 0.4% Macclesfield — Train: not among its largest

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

Setting

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Elevation 223 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 163 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 32.9 km 37.9 km

NBN connectivity

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Connectivity score 68/100 30/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fixed wireless
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 43%
1,679 premises
 0%
334 premises

Climate

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

Air quality (annual mean)

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

Council rates

Cockatoo Macclesfield
Average residential rate $1,880/yr $2,161/yr
Council Cardinia Yarra Ranges

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

Cockatoo Macclesfield
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

Macclesfield

Acreage Outer Premium

More comparisons

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Other comparisons with Macclesfield

Macclesfield vs Emerald Macclesfield vs Monbulk Macclesfield vs Silvan Macclesfield vs Avonsleigh Macclesfield vs Yellingbo Macclesfield vs Nangana
Full data on Cockatoo Full data on Macclesfield
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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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