Williamstown North vs Altona

In both, most households own their home. In Altona, most homes are detached houses. Houses cost more in Williamstown North: a median of $1.34 million, against $1.15 million in Altona.

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

Altona

ahead on 5 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more childcare (9 vs 0)
  • has more schools inside the suburb (4 vs 0)
  • has more parks and reserves (18 vs 4)

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

First-home buyers

Williamstown North

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($960,000 vs $1,701,875)
  • has cheaper units ($522,000 vs $657,500)
  • But Altona has cheaper houses ($1,150,000 vs $1,345,000)

Weighs house prices, unit 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

Altona

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 56/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Altona

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more GPs (5 vs 0)
  • carries lower crime risk (73/100 vs 89/100)
  • is more walkable (68/100 vs 56/100)
  • But Williamstown North has more units and townhouses to downsize into (61% vs 39%)

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

  • Williamstown North returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.8% vs 3.1%)
  • Altona is growing faster (6.8% vs 1.8%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Williamstown North Altona
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.

Williamstown North Altona
Walkability 56 / 68
Williamstown North — Walkability: 56/100 Altona — Walkability: 68/100
Safety 11 / 27
Williamstown North — Safety: 11/100 Altona — Safety: 27/100
Low fire risk 100 / 80
Williamstown North — Low fire risk: 100/100 Altona — Low fire risk: 80/100
Low flood risk 63 / 23
Williamstown North — Low flood risk: 63/100 Altona — Low flood risk: 23/100

Demographics

Altona has more residents (11,490 vs 1,622); Williamstown North has higher household incomes ($112,632 vs $94,952).

Williamstown North Altona
Population 1,622 11,490
+608% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +1.8% +6.8%
Median age 42
same for both
Median household income $112,632/yr
+16% vs other
 $94,952/yr
Median weekly rent $400/wk
+4% vs other
 $385/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Williamstown North Altona
0-4 5.1% / 5.9%
Williamstown North — 0-4: 5.1% Altona — 0-4: 5.9%
5-14 8.5% / 11.6%
Williamstown North — 5-14: 8.5% Altona — 5-14: 11.6%
15-19 7.3% / 4.1%
Williamstown North — 15-19: 7.3% Altona — 15-19: 4.1%
20-24 5.2% / 3.9%
Williamstown North — 20-24: 5.2% Altona — 20-24: 3.9%
25-34 13.3% / 12.0%
Williamstown North — 25-34: 13.3% Altona — 25-34: 12.0%
35-44 13.2% / 16.7%
Williamstown North — 35-44: 13.2% Altona — 35-44: 16.7%
45-54 15.6% / 14.6%
Williamstown North — 45-54: 15.6% Altona — 45-54: 14.6%
55-64 12.9% / 11.8%
Williamstown North — 55-64: 12.9% Altona — 55-64: 11.8%
65-74 11.1% / 9.9%
Williamstown North — 65-74: 11.1% Altona — 65-74: 9.9%
75-84 5.9% / 6.5%
Williamstown North — 75-84: 5.9% Altona — 75-84: 6.5%
85+ 1.7% / 3.0%
Williamstown North — 85+: 1.7% Altona — 85+: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.7%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Williamstown North 43.6% lone person
Williamstown North — Lone Person: 43.6% Williamstown North — Couple Families: 38.8% Williamstown North — One Parent Families: 12.4% Williamstown North — Group Household: 3.8% Williamstown North — Other Families: 1.4%
Altona 43.7% lone person
Altona — Lone Person: 43.7% Altona — Couple Families: 38.1% Altona — One Parent Families: 13.6% Altona — Group Household: 3.1% Altona — Other Families: 1.4%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Williamstown North 37.6% renting
Williamstown North — Owned Outright: 24.9% Williamstown North — Mortgage: 37.5% Williamstown North — Renting: 37.6%
Altona 31.8% renting
Altona — Owned Outright: 37.2% Altona — Mortgage: 30.9% Altona — Renting: 31.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Williamstown North Altona
Bachelor Degree 17.7% / 17.0%
Williamstown North — Bachelor Degree: 17.7% Altona — Bachelor Degree: 17.0%
Certificate III & IV 11.3% / 11.8%
Williamstown North — Certificate III & IV: 11.3% Altona — Certificate III & IV: 11.8%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 9.6% / 8.2%
Williamstown North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.6% Altona — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2%
Postgraduate Degree 7.5% / 6.3%
Williamstown North — Postgraduate Degree: 7.5% Altona — Postgraduate Degree: 6.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.8% / 3.0%
Williamstown North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.8% Altona — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.0%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.7%).

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.

Williamstown North Altona
England 5.1% / 4.8%
Williamstown North — England: 5.1% Altona — England: 4.8%
New Zealand 2.6% / 2.5%
Williamstown North — New Zealand: 2.6% Altona — New Zealand: 2.5%
India 2.2% / 1.4%
Williamstown North — India: 2.2% Altona — India: 1.4%
Vietnam 0.7% / 1.1%
Williamstown North — Vietnam: 0.7% Altona — Vietnam: 1.1%
Scotland 0.8% / 0.9%
Williamstown North — Scotland: 0.8% Altona — Scotland: 0.9%
China — / 1.2%
Williamstown North — China: not among its largest Altona — China: 1.2%
Philippines 0.9% / —
Williamstown North — Philippines: 0.9% Altona — Philippines: not among its largest

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Williamstown North 38.6% houses
Williamstown North — Houses: 38.6% Williamstown North — Townhouses: 41.9% Williamstown North — Flats / Apartments: 19.5%
Altona 61.1% houses
Altona — Houses: 61.1% Altona — Townhouses: 30.1% Altona — Flats / Apartments: 8.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Williamstown North Altona
Median house price $1,345,000 $1,150,000
Median unit price $522,000 $657,500
Median land price $960,000 $1,701,875
Typical days to sell (houses) 24 days
from 8 sales
 29 days
from 77 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.

Williamstown North Altona
2 bed $1.32M / $812K
Williamstown North — 2 bed: $1.32M (10 sales) Altona — 2 bed: $812K (16 sales)

10 vs 16 sales

3 bed $1.25M / $1.05M
Williamstown North — 3 bed: $1.25M (17 sales) Altona — 3 bed: $1.05M (77 sales)

17 vs 77 sales

4 bed $1.35M / $1.41M
Williamstown North — 4 bed: $1.35M (14 sales) Altona — 4 bed: $1.41M (46 sales)

14 vs 46 sales

Zoning mix

Williamstown North has more industrially zoned land (46% vs 4%).

Williamstown North Altona
Industrial 46% 4%
Other and special use 11% 39%
Infrastructure and transport 17% 27%
Residential 22% 20%
Parks and recreation 4% 10%
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

Williamstown North Altona
New dwellings approved 1,028
across Hobsons Bay
same for both
Approvals change year on year +206%
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.

Williamstown North Altona
Houses 4.8%
$940/wk on $1.02M
 3.1%
$730/wk on $1.21M
Units — 4.3%
$590/wk on $715K

Ranking within VIC

Williamstown North Altona
House price Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 72% of VIC
Income Higher than 85% of VIC Higher than 66% of VIC
Schools — Higher than 59% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 87% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 42% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 92% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 81% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC
Rental yield (units) — Higher than 21% of VIC

Liveability

Altona is more walkable (68 vs 56); Williamstown North scores higher overall (63 vs 55).

Williamstown North Altona
Grade B
same for both
Score 63/100 55/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 9/10
same for both

Risk profile

Altona carries more bushfire risk (20 vs 0); Altona carries more flood risk (77 vs 37).

Williamstown North Altona
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
20/100
Crime High
89/100
 High
73/100
Flood Low
37/100
 High
77/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
 Moderate
59/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 29
within 5 km
 35
within 5 km

Schools

Williamstown North Altona
Inside the suburb 0 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 0 2
Rated below peers 0 1
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 6.5 km
 None

Schools in Williamstown North

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

Schools in Altona

  • Altona Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Mount St Joseph Girls' College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Altona College Government · Combined below peers

Amenities in the suburb

Williamstown North Altona
Supermarkets 0 2
Cafes & restaurants 0 22
Parks & reserves 4 18
Childcare 0 9
GPs 0 5
Pharmacies 0 2
Banks & Bank@Post 0 3
Fuel stations 2 1
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 13

Mobility

Williamstown North Altona
Walkability score 56/100 68/100
Distance to Melbourne 17.4 km 19.3 km
+11% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 25 min 27 min
Public transport score 42/100
Bus
 94/100
Rail · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 11.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
 259.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
 0 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 3016
 1.8%
postcode 3018
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 3016
 30
postcode 3018

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.

Williamstown North Altona
Car (driver) 46.0% / 47.8%
Williamstown North — Car (driver): 46.0% Altona — Car (driver): 47.8%
Worked from Home 42.1% / 41.4%
Williamstown North — Worked from Home: 42.1% Altona — Worked from Home: 41.4%
Train 4.6% / 4.7%
Williamstown North — Train: 4.6% Altona — Train: 4.7%
Car (passenger) 3.1% / 2.8%
Williamstown North — Car (passenger): 3.1% Altona — Car (passenger): 2.8%
Walked Only 1.9% / 1.8%
Williamstown North — Walked Only: 1.9% Altona — Walked Only: 1.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.8%).

Setting

Williamstown North Altona
Elevation 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 7 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 649 m
2.0 km to a named beach
 1.5 km
1.8 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Williamstown North Altona
Connectivity score 72/100 88/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the curb
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 48%
1,579 premises
 47%
6,488 premises

Climate

Williamstown North Altona
Annual rainfall 482 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 25.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.2°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Williamstown North Altona
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ 0.81 pphm
same for both

Council rates

Williamstown North Altona
Average residential rate $2,677/yr
same for both
Council Hobsons Bay
same for both

Federal electorate

Williamstown North Altona
Division Gellibrand
same for both
Member Tim Watts
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Williamstown North Altona
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Williamstown North

Coastal Middle-Ring Parks Premium Quiet Townhouses

Altona

Coastal Middle-Ring Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Williamstown North

Williamstown North vs Williamstown Williamstown North vs Newport Williamstown North vs Altona North

Other comparisons with Altona

Altona vs Altona Meadows Altona vs Williamstown Altona vs Altona North Altona vs Laverton Altona vs Seaholme Altona vs Laverton North
Full data on Williamstown North Full data on Altona
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.

Save this page for later

We'll email you a link to this page so you can finish reading it on any device. We use your address once to send it and don't keep it.

or