Williamstown vs Altona North

Altona North is the younger of the two, with a median age of 37 against 45 in Williamstown. In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Williamstown, about half of households are couple families. Houses cost more in Williamstown: a median of $1.52 million, against $950,000 in Altona North, and rent is higher there too. Williamstown is closer to the city centre: 13.9 km, against 15.6 km. On these figures, Altona North tends to suit 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

Williamstown

ahead on 3 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more schools inside the suburb (7 vs 4)
  • carries lower crime risk (72/100 vs 84/100)
  • has more parks and reserves (23 vs 20)
  • But Altona North has more schools rated above their peers (1 vs 0)

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

First-home buyers

They split

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

  • Williamstown has cheaper units ($600,000 vs $692,500)
  • Altona North has cheaper houses ($950,000 vs $1,517,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Altona North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($400/wk vs $450/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Williamstown

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 39/100)

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

Downsizers and retirees

Williamstown

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (90/100 vs 39/100)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (44% vs 31%)
  • carries lower crime risk (72/100 vs 84/100)
  • But Altona North has more GPs (6 vs 3)

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

Investors

Altona North

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.2% vs 3.1%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Williamstown and Altona North 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 Altona North
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 Altona North
Walkability 90 / 39
Williamstown — Walkability: 90/100 Altona North — Walkability: 39/100
Safety 28 / 16
Williamstown — Safety: 28/100 Altona North — Safety: 16/100
Low fire risk 100 / 75
Williamstown — Low fire risk: 100/100 Altona North — Low fire risk: 75/100
Low flood risk 57 / 49
Williamstown — Low flood risk: 57/100 Altona North — Low flood risk: 49/100

Demographics

Williamstown has higher household incomes ($125,372 vs $88,140); Williamstown skews older (45 vs 37).

Williamstown Altona North
Population 14,407
+10% vs other
 12,962
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +3.1% +6.7%
Median age 45 37
Median household income $125,372/yr
+30% vs other
 $88,140/yr
Median weekly rent $450/wk
+11% vs other
 $400/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Williamstown Altona North
0-4 3.9% / 7.9%
Williamstown — 0-4: 3.9% Altona North — 0-4: 7.9%
5-14 14.1% / 12.3%
Williamstown — 5-14: 14.1% Altona North — 5-14: 12.3%
15-19 6.5% / 4.3%
Williamstown — 15-19: 6.5% Altona North — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 5.3% / 4.6%
Williamstown — 20-24: 5.3% Altona North — 20-24: 4.6%
25-34 7.5% / 15.8%
Williamstown — 25-34: 7.5% Altona North — 25-34: 15.8%
35-44 11.9% / 16.0%
Williamstown — 35-44: 11.9% Altona North — 35-44: 16.0%
45-54 16.7% / 11.6%
Williamstown — 45-54: 16.7% Altona North — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 16.0% / 8.0%
Williamstown — 55-64: 16.0% Altona North — 55-64: 8.0%
65-74 11.3% / 7.4%
Williamstown — 65-74: 11.3% Altona North — 65-74: 7.4%
75-84 5.0% / 7.7%
Williamstown — 75-84: 5.0% Altona North — 75-84: 7.7%
85+ 1.9% / 4.3%
Williamstown — 85+: 1.9% Altona North — 85+: 4.3%

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

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Williamstown 49.4% couple families
Williamstown — Couple Families: 49.4% Williamstown — Lone Person: 35.0% Williamstown — One Parent Families: 12.3% Williamstown — Group Household: 2.0% Williamstown — Other Families: 1.3%
Altona North 42.3% couple families
Altona North — Couple Families: 42.3% Altona North — Lone Person: 34.8% Altona North — One Parent Families: 17.1% Altona North — Group Household: 3.6% Altona North — Other Families: 2.1%
Couple Families Lone Person One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Williamstown 25.0% renting
Williamstown — Owned Outright: 41.1% Williamstown — Mortgage: 34.0% Williamstown — Renting: 25.0%
Altona North 31.7% renting
Altona North — Owned Outright: 36.8% Altona North — Mortgage: 31.4% Altona North — Renting: 31.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Williamstown Altona North
Bachelor Degree 21.6% / 13.5%
Williamstown — Bachelor Degree: 21.6% Altona North — Bachelor Degree: 13.5%
Certificate III & IV 8.0% / 9.7%
Williamstown — Certificate III & IV: 8.0% Altona North — Certificate III & IV: 9.7%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.2% / 6.6%
Williamstown — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.2% Altona North — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.6%
Postgraduate Degree 9.2% / 4.1%
Williamstown — Postgraduate Degree: 9.2% Altona North — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 4.2% / 2.1%
Williamstown — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 4.2% Altona North — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (21.6%).

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 Altona North
England 5.3% / 1.8%
Williamstown — England: 5.3% Altona North — England: 1.8%
Italy 0.9% / 3.6%
Williamstown — Italy: 0.9% Altona North — Italy: 3.6%
Vietnam 0.7% / 3.4%
Williamstown — Vietnam: 0.7% Altona North — Vietnam: 3.4%
Lebanon — / 3.8%
Williamstown — Lebanon: not among its largest Altona North — Lebanon: 3.8%
Greece 0.8% / 2.9%
Williamstown — Greece: 0.8% Altona North — Greece: 2.9%
New Zealand 1.7% / 1.6%
Williamstown — New Zealand: 1.7% Altona North — New Zealand: 1.6%
Scotland 0.8% / —
Williamstown — Scotland: 0.8% Altona North — Scotland: not among its largest

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (5.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Williamstown 56.2% houses
Williamstown — Houses: 56.2% Williamstown — Townhouses: 30.2% Williamstown — Flats / Apartments: 13.5%
Altona North 68.8% houses
Altona North — Houses: 68.8% Altona North — Townhouses: 27.3% Altona North — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Williamstown Altona North
Median house price $1,517,500 $950,000
Median unit price $600,000 $692,500
Median land price — $1,032,500
Typical days to sell (houses) 30 days
from 151 sales
 34 days
from 168 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Williamstown Altona North
2 bed $608K / $578K
Williamstown — 2 bed: $608K (52 sales) Altona North — 2 bed: $578K (28 sales)

52 vs 28 sales

3 bed $915K / $780K
Williamstown — 3 bed: $915K (7 sales) Altona North — 3 bed: $780K (22 sales)

7 vs 22 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 Altona North
2 bed $1.1M / $748K
Williamstown — 2 bed: $1.1M (39 sales) Altona North — 2 bed: $748K (10 sales)

39 vs 10 sales

3 bed $1.45M / $918K
Williamstown — 3 bed: $1.45M (144 sales) Altona North — 3 bed: $918K (172 sales)

144 vs 172 sales

4 bed $1.9M / $1.11M
Williamstown — 4 bed: $1.9M (72 sales) Altona North — 4 bed: $1.11M (60 sales)

72 vs 60 sales

5 bed $2.25M / $1.18M
Williamstown — 5 bed: $2.25M (9 sales) Altona North — 5 bed: $1.18M (7 sales)

9 vs 7 sales

Zoning mix

Williamstown Altona North
Residential 55% 24%
Other and special use 7% 37%
Parks and recreation 22% 12%
Industrial 4% 13%
Infrastructure and transport 7% 12%
Commercial 4% 2%
Planning zones cover 99% of Williamstown and 100% of Altona North. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
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 Altona North
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 Altona North
Houses 3.1%
$898/wk on $1.52M
 4.2%
$750/wk on $920K
Units 4.1%
$535/wk on $675K
 3.7%
$470/wk on $665K

Ranking within VIC

Williamstown Altona North
House price Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 67% of VIC
Income Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 58% of VIC
Schools Higher than 30% of VIC Higher than 54% of VIC
Walkability Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 84% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 33% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 93% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 77% of VIC Higher than 96% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 16% of VIC Higher than 82% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 14% of VIC Higher than 4% of VIC

Liveability

Williamstown is more walkable (90 vs 39); Williamstown scores higher overall (65 vs 48).

Williamstown Altona North
Grade B C
Score 65/100 48/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 6/10

Risk profile

Altona North carries more bushfire risk (25 vs 0); Altona North carries more crime risk (84 vs 72).

Williamstown Altona North
Bushfire None
0/100
 Low
25/100
Crime High
72/100
 High
84/100
Flood Moderate
43/100
 Moderate
51/100
Coastal erosion Low
29/100
 None
0/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 17
within 5 km
 44
within 5 km

Schools

Williamstown Altona North
Inside the suburb 7 4
Rated above peers 0 1
Rated at peers 5 1
Rated below peers 1
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Victoria University Footscray Park, 7.0 km
 1
Victoria University Footscray Park, 7.1 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 3.3% 1.7%

Schools in Williamstown

  • Newmark Primary Independent · Primary at peers
  • St Mary's School Catholic · Primary at peers
  • Williamstown High School Government · Secondary at peers
  • Williamstown North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Williamstown Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Bayside P-12 College Government · Combined below peers

Schools in Altona North

  • St Leo the Great Primary School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Emmanuel College Catholic · Secondary at peers
  • Altona North Primary School Government · Primary below peers
  • Bayside P-12 College-Altona North Campus Government · Combined

Amenities in the suburb

Williamstown Altona North
Supermarkets 2 4
Cafes & restaurants 36 10
Parks & reserves 23 20
Childcare 10
same for both
GPs 3 6
Pharmacies 2 6
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 2 1
Banks & Bank@Post 5
same for both
Fuel stations 1 8
EV chargers 0 2
Waterways 1 8

Mobility

Williamstown Altona North
Walkability score 90/100 39/100
Distance to Melbourne 13.9 km 15.6 km
+12% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 24 min 26 min
Public transport score 94/100
Rail · Bus
 79/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 240.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 429.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.9%
postcode 3016
 2.4%
postcode 3025
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 25
postcode 3016
 31
postcode 3025

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 Altona North
Car (driver) 40.0% / 55.4%
Williamstown — Car (driver): 40.0% Altona North — Car (driver): 55.4%
Worked from Home 48.7% / 35.0%
Williamstown — Worked from Home: 48.7% Altona North — Worked from Home: 35.0%
Train 4.0% / 2.7%
Williamstown — Train: 4.0% Altona North — Train: 2.7%
Car (passenger) 2.7% / 3.4%
Williamstown — Car (passenger): 2.7% Altona North — Car (passenger): 3.4%
Walked Only 3.2% / 1.1%
Williamstown — Walked Only: 3.2% Altona North — Walked Only: 1.1%
Bus 0.3% / 1.7%
Williamstown — Bus: 0.3% Altona North — Bus: 1.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (55.4%).

Setting

Williamstown Altona North
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 8 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 693 m
699 m to a named beach
 3.3 km
3.3 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Williamstown Altona North
Connectivity score 66/100 90/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 39%
7,665 premises
 54%
7,357 premises

Climate

Williamstown Altona North
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 Altona North
PM2.5 —
same for both
PM10 — 23.2 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.81 pphm —

Council rates

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

Federal electorate

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

First Home Owner Grant

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

Tags

Williamstown

Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Premium Professionals Townhouses Transport Hub

Altona North

Middle-Ring Multicultural Parks River Townhouses

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Williamstown

Williamstown vs Newport Williamstown vs Altona Williamstown vs Williamstown North

Other comparisons with Altona North

Altona North vs Yarraville Altona North vs Newport Altona North vs Altona Altona North vs Laverton Altona North vs Spotswood Altona North vs South Kingsville
Full data on Williamstown Full data on Altona North
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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