Cowes vs Rhyll

Cowes is the younger of the two, with a median age of 55 against 60 in Rhyll. In both, most 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 Rhyll: a median of $810,000, against $700,000 in Cowes.

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

Cowes

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (6 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (9 vs 2)
  • has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)
  • But Rhyll carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 69/100)

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

First-home buyers

Cowes

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($446,000 vs $570,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($700,000 vs $810,000)
  • But Rhyll leaves households under less mortgage stress (30% vs 35%)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

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

  • Cowes has a bigger rental market to choose from (28% vs 12%)
  • Rhyll leaves renters under less rental stress (26% vs 32%)

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

Commuting to the city

Rhyll

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a shorter drive in (108 min vs 113 min)
  • sits closer to the CBD (135.1 km vs 138.3 km)
  • But Cowes is more walkable (16/100 vs 4/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Cowes

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (17% vs 2%)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 0)
  • is more walkable (16/100 vs 4/100)
  • But Rhyll carries lower crime risk (23/100 vs 69/100)

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

  • Cowes returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.6% vs 3.0%)
  • Rhyll is growing faster (47.2% vs 36.2%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Cowes Rhyll
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.

Cowes Rhyll
Walkability 16 / 4
Cowes — Walkability: 16/100 Rhyll — Walkability: 4/100
Safety 31 / 77
Cowes — Safety: 31/100 Rhyll — Safety: 77/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Cowes — Low fire risk: 100/100 Rhyll — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 77 / 36
Cowes — Low flood risk: 77/100 Rhyll — Low flood risk: 36/100

Demographics

Cowes has more residents (6,593 vs 836); Rhyll has higher household incomes ($65,208 vs $53,352).

Cowes Rhyll
Population 6,593
+87% vs other
 836
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +36.2% +47.2%
Median age 55 60
Median household income $53,352/yr $65,208/yr
+22% vs other
Median weekly rent $331/wk
+3% vs other
 $320/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Cowes Rhyll
0-4 4.2% / 2.3%
Cowes — 0-4: 4.2% Rhyll — 0-4: 2.3%
5-14 10.0% / 7.1%
Cowes — 5-14: 10.0% Rhyll — 5-14: 7.1%
15-19 3.6% / 5.0%
Cowes — 15-19: 3.6% Rhyll — 15-19: 5.0%
20-24 2.8% / 2.2%
Cowes — 20-24: 2.8% Rhyll — 20-24: 2.2%
25-34 8.0% / 4.5%
Cowes — 25-34: 8.0% Rhyll — 25-34: 4.5%
35-44 9.6% / 7.9%
Cowes — 35-44: 9.6% Rhyll — 35-44: 7.9%
45-54 11.1% / 10.5%
Cowes — 45-54: 11.1% Rhyll — 45-54: 10.5%
55-64 15.7% / 22.8%
Cowes — 55-64: 15.7% Rhyll — 55-64: 22.8%
65-74 19.8% / 27.8%
Cowes — 65-74: 19.8% Rhyll — 65-74: 27.8%
75-84 10.8% / 9.4%
Cowes — 75-84: 10.8% Rhyll — 75-84: 9.4%
85+ 4.3% / 1.9%
Cowes — 85+: 4.3% Rhyll — 85+: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (27.8%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Cowes 53.0% lone person
Cowes — Lone Person: 53.0% Cowes — Couple Families: 27.1% Cowes — One Parent Families: 15.5% Cowes — Group Household: 3.6% Cowes — Other Families: 0.8%
Rhyll 54.9% lone person
Rhyll — Lone Person: 54.9% Rhyll — Couple Families: 32.9% Rhyll — One Parent Families: 10.4% Rhyll — Group Household: 1.7% Rhyll — Other Families: 0.0%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Cowes 27.9% renting
Cowes — Owned Outright: 48.8% Cowes — Mortgage: 23.3% Cowes — Renting: 27.9%
Rhyll 12.3% renting
Rhyll — Owned Outright: 61.0% Rhyll — Mortgage: 26.7% Rhyll — Renting: 12.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Cowes Rhyll
Certificate III & IV 16.2% / 17.5%
Cowes — Certificate III & IV: 16.2% Rhyll — Certificate III & IV: 17.5%
Bachelor Degree 9.1% / 11.4%
Cowes — Bachelor Degree: 9.1% Rhyll — Bachelor Degree: 11.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.8% / 10.2%
Cowes — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.8% Rhyll — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.2%
Postgraduate Degree 2.2% / 4.5%
Cowes — Postgraduate Degree: 2.2% Rhyll — Postgraduate Degree: 4.5%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 4.2%
Cowes — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Rhyll — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.5%).

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.

Cowes Rhyll
England 6.4% / 6.9%
Cowes — England: 6.4% Rhyll — England: 6.9%
New Zealand 1.6% / 1.8%
Cowes — New Zealand: 1.6% Rhyll — New Zealand: 1.8%
Italy 0.9% / 1.1%
Cowes — Italy: 0.9% Rhyll — Italy: 1.1%
South Africa 0.6% / 0.7%
Cowes — South Africa: 0.6% Rhyll — South Africa: 0.7%
India 1.2% / —
Cowes — India: 1.2% Rhyll — India: not among its largest
Scotland 0.7% / —
Cowes — Scotland: 0.7% Rhyll — Scotland: not among its largest
Ireland — / 0.6%
Cowes — Ireland: not among its largest Rhyll — Ireland: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.9%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Cowes 83.4% houses
Cowes — Houses: 83.4% Cowes — Townhouses: 11.8% Cowes — Flats / Apartments: 4.8%
Rhyll 97.9% houses
Rhyll — Houses: 97.9% Rhyll — Townhouses: 0.9% Rhyll — Flats / Apartments: 1.2%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Cowes Rhyll
Median house price $700,000 $810,000
Median unit price $459,000 —
Median land price $446,000 $570,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 57 days
from 132 sales
 125 days
from 12 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.

Cowes Rhyll
3 bed $650K / $702K
Cowes — 3 bed: $650K (125 sales) Rhyll — 3 bed: $702K (15 sales)

125 vs 15 sales

4 bed $775K / $1M
Cowes — 4 bed: $775K (83 sales) Rhyll — 4 bed: $1M (14 sales)

83 vs 14 sales

5 bed $858K / $1.2M
Cowes — 5 bed: $858K (12 sales) Rhyll — 5 bed: $1.2M (5 sales)

12 vs 5 sales

Zoning mix

Rhyll has more rural and farming land (67% vs 57%).

Cowes Rhyll
Rural and farming 57% 67%
Residential 33% 4%
Parks and recreation 4% 22%
Infrastructure and transport 4% 3%
Environmental 0% 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

Cowes Rhyll
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.

Cowes Rhyll
Houses 3.6%
$520/wk on $760K
 3.0%
$540/wk on $935K
Units 4.5%
$420/wk on $489K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Cowes Rhyll
House price Higher than 46% of VIC
same for both
Income Higher than 12% of VIC Higher than 26% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 64% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 15% of VIC Higher than 30% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 70% of VIC Higher than 85% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of VIC Higher than 88% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 39% of VIC Higher than 13% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 30% of VIC —

Liveability

Cowes is more walkable (16 vs 4); Rhyll scores higher overall (55 vs 45).

Cowes Rhyll
Grade C B
Score 45/100 55/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Cowes carries more crime risk (69 vs 23); Rhyll carries more flood risk (64 vs 23).

Cowes Rhyll
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime Moderate
69/100
 Low
23/100
Flood Low
23/100
 Moderate
64/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
57/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Cowes Rhyll
Inside the suburb 2 1
Rated above peers 1 0
Rated at peers 0
same for both
Rated below peers 1
same for both

Schools in Cowes

  • Cowes Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers

Schools in Rhyll

  • Newhaven College Independent · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Cowes Rhyll
Supermarkets 4 0
Cafes & restaurants 44 3
Parks & reserves 9 2
Childcare 6 0
GPs 4 0
Pharmacies 2 0
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1 0
Banks & Bank@Post 4 1
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 1 0
Beaches 1 0
Waterways 1 0

Mobility

Cowes sits further from the CBD (138.3 km vs 135.1 km).

Cowes Rhyll
Walkability score 16/100 4/100
Distance to Melbourne 138.3 km
+2% vs other
 135.1 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 113 min 108 min
Public transport score 35/100 25/100
Peak arrivals per hour 7.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 2.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 3 min
scheduled, not actual
 31 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.8%
postcode 3922
 1.3%
postcode 3923
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 29
postcode 3922
 43
postcode 3923

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.

Cowes Rhyll
Car (driver) 65.2% / 65.5%
Cowes — Car (driver): 65.2% Rhyll — Car (driver): 65.5%
Worked from Home 21.8% / 24.8%
Cowes — Worked from Home: 21.8% Rhyll — Worked from Home: 24.8%
Walked Only 5.8% / 4.7%
Cowes — Walked Only: 5.8% Rhyll — Walked Only: 4.7%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 1.8%
Cowes — Car (passenger): 5.4% Rhyll — Car (passenger): 1.8%
Bicycle 1.6% / 1.1%
Cowes — Bicycle: 1.6% Rhyll — Bicycle: 1.1%
Train — / 2.2%
Cowes — Train: not among its largest Rhyll — Train: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (65.5%).

Setting

Cowes Rhyll
Elevation 31 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.4 km
2.6 km to a named beach
 985 m
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Cowes Rhyll
Connectivity score 75/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the premises
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 54%
6,893 premises
 62%
644 premises

Climate

Cowes Rhyll
Annual rainfall 704 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.1°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 8.6°C
same for both

Council rates

Cowes Rhyll
Average residential rate $1,727/yr
same for both
Council Bass Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Cowes Rhyll
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Cowes Rhyll
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Cowes

Coastal Retirees

Rhyll

Acreage Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Cowes

Cowes vs Ventnor Cowes vs Sunset Strip Cowes vs Wimbledon Heights Cowes vs Silverleaves Cowes vs Smiths Beach

Other comparisons with Rhyll

Rhyll vs Surf Beach Rhyll vs Sunset Strip Rhyll vs Silverleaves Rhyll vs Sunderland Bay
Full data on Cowes Full data on Rhyll
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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