Wonthaggi vs Inverloch

In both, most households own their home and the large majority of homes are detached houses. In Wonthaggi, most households are people living alone. In Inverloch, about half of households are people living alone. Houses cost more in Inverloch: a median of $845,000, against $515,000 in Wonthaggi, and rent is higher there too. On these figures, Wonthaggi tends to suit people living alone 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

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Wonthaggi has more schools inside the suburb (8 vs 1)
  • Inverloch carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 91/100)

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

First-home buyers

Wonthaggi

ahead on 2 of the 4 things we measure here

  • has cheaper land ($265,000 vs $600,000)
  • has cheaper houses ($515,000 vs $845,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Wonthaggi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • has a bigger rental market to choose from (30% vs 18%)
  • has cheaper rent ($270/wk vs $346/wk)

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

Commuting to the city

Wonthaggi

ahead on 2 of the 3 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 0/100)
  • sits closer to the CBD (137.2 km vs 145.5 km)

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Wonthaggi

ahead on 2 of the 5 things we measure here

  • is more walkable (64/100 vs 0/100)
  • has more GPs (4 vs 2)
  • But Inverloch carries lower crime risk (50/100 vs 91/100)

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

  • Wonthaggi returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.9% vs 3.1%)
  • Inverloch is growing faster (20.0% vs 5.0%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

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

Wonthaggi Inverloch
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.

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Walkability 64 / 0
Wonthaggi — Walkability: 64/100 Inverloch — Walkability: 0/100
Safety 9 / 50
Wonthaggi — Safety: 9/100 Inverloch — Safety: 50/100
Low fire risk 76 / 100
Wonthaggi — Low fire risk: 76/100 Inverloch — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 74 / 53
Wonthaggi — Low flood risk: 74/100 Inverloch — Low flood risk: 53/100

Demographics

Inverloch has higher household incomes ($66,872 vs $44,304); Inverloch rents higher ($346/wk vs $270/wk).

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Population 5,215 6,526
+25% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +5.0% +20.0%
Median age 55 54
Median household income $44,304/yr $66,872/yr
+51% vs other
Median weekly rent $270/wk $346/wk
+28% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Wonthaggi Inverloch
0-4 3.6% / 4.7%
Wonthaggi — 0-4: 3.6% Inverloch — 0-4: 4.7%
5-14 9.2% / 10.8%
Wonthaggi — 5-14: 9.2% Inverloch — 5-14: 10.8%
15-19 4.4% / 4.4%
Wonthaggi — 15-19: 4.4% Inverloch — 15-19: 4.4%
20-24 3.7% / 3.0%
Wonthaggi — 20-24: 3.7% Inverloch — 20-24: 3.0%
25-34 9.0% / 6.9%
Wonthaggi — 25-34: 9.0% Inverloch — 25-34: 6.9%
35-44 9.2% / 10.1%
Wonthaggi — 35-44: 9.2% Inverloch — 35-44: 10.1%
45-54 10.8% / 10.4%
Wonthaggi — 45-54: 10.8% Inverloch — 45-54: 10.4%
55-64 14.9% / 15.2%
Wonthaggi — 55-64: 14.9% Inverloch — 55-64: 15.2%
65-74 17.9% / 19.6%
Wonthaggi — 65-74: 17.9% Inverloch — 65-74: 19.6%
75-84 11.6% / 11.2%
Wonthaggi — 75-84: 11.6% Inverloch — 75-84: 11.2%
85+ 5.6% / 3.8%
Wonthaggi — 85+: 5.6% Inverloch — 85+: 3.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (19.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Wonthaggi 57.3% lone person
Wonthaggi — Lone Person: 57.3% Wonthaggi — Couple Families: 20.9% Wonthaggi — One Parent Families: 17.1% Wonthaggi — Group Household: 3.7% Wonthaggi — Other Families: 1.0%
Inverloch 49.2% lone person
Inverloch — Lone Person: 49.2% Inverloch — Couple Families: 36.3% Inverloch — One Parent Families: 10.5% Inverloch — Group Household: 2.6% Inverloch — 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.

Wonthaggi 30.2% renting
Wonthaggi — Owned Outright: 47.7% Wonthaggi — Mortgage: 22.1% Wonthaggi — Renting: 30.2%
Inverloch 18.3% renting
Inverloch — Owned Outright: 56.5% Inverloch — Mortgage: 25.2% Inverloch — Renting: 18.3%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

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

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Certificate III & IV 16.6% / 14.9%
Wonthaggi — Certificate III & IV: 16.6% Inverloch — Certificate III & IV: 14.9%
Bachelor Degree 7.0% / 14.2%
Wonthaggi — Bachelor Degree: 7.0% Inverloch — Bachelor Degree: 14.2%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 6.8% / 9.0%
Wonthaggi — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 6.8% Inverloch — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.0%
Postgraduate Degree 1.5% / 4.1%
Wonthaggi — Postgraduate Degree: 1.5% Inverloch — Postgraduate Degree: 4.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 1.6% / 3.6%
Wonthaggi — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 1.6% Inverloch — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (16.6%).

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.

Wonthaggi Inverloch
England 5.1% / 4.7%
Wonthaggi — England: 5.1% Inverloch — England: 4.7%
New Zealand 1.3% / 1.1%
Wonthaggi — New Zealand: 1.3% Inverloch — New Zealand: 1.1%
Italy 1.2% / 0.6%
Wonthaggi — Italy: 1.2% Inverloch — Italy: 0.6%
Netherlands 0.6% / 1.1%
Wonthaggi — Netherlands: 0.6% Inverloch — Netherlands: 1.1%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.6%
Wonthaggi — Scotland: 0.7% Inverloch — Scotland: 0.6%
India 0.8% / 0.3%
Wonthaggi — India: 0.8% Inverloch — India: 0.3%

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

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Wonthaggi 85.8% houses
Wonthaggi — Houses: 85.8% Wonthaggi — Townhouses: 8.8% Wonthaggi — Flats / Apartments: 5.4%
Inverloch 91.1% houses
Inverloch — Houses: 91.1% Inverloch — Townhouses: 8.5% Inverloch — Flats / Apartments: 0.4%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Median house price $515,000 $845,000
Median unit price $419,500 $395,000
Median land price $265,000 $600,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 56 days
from 87 sales
 77 days
from 65 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.

Wonthaggi Inverloch
2 bed $462K / $699K
Wonthaggi — 2 bed: $462K (26 sales) Inverloch — 2 bed: $699K (17 sales)

26 vs 17 sales

3 bed $520K / $795K
Wonthaggi — 3 bed: $520K (86 sales) Inverloch — 3 bed: $795K (79 sales)

86 vs 79 sales

4 bed $615K / $884K
Wonthaggi — 4 bed: $615K (57 sales) Inverloch — 4 bed: $884K (68 sales)

57 vs 68 sales

5 bed $740K / $1.15M
Wonthaggi — 5 bed: $740K (9 sales) Inverloch — 5 bed: $1.15M (11 sales)

9 vs 11 sales

Zoning mix

Inverloch has more rural and farming land (83% vs 58%).

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Rural and farming 58% 83%
Parks and recreation 25% 2%
Residential 11% 5%
Infrastructure and transport 3%
same for both
Industrial 2% 0%
Planning zones cover 100% of Wonthaggi and 93% of Inverloch. 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

Wonthaggi Inverloch
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.

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Houses 4.9%
$578/wk on $619K
 3.1%
$535/wk on $885K
Units 4.9%
$425/wk on $449K
 —

Ranking within VIC

Wonthaggi Inverloch
House price Higher than 20% of VIC Higher than 63% of VIC
Income Higher than 5% of VIC Higher than 28% of VIC
Schools Higher than 57% of VIC —
Walkability Higher than 88% of VIC Higher than 7% of VIC
Affordability Higher than 21% of VIC Higher than 17% of VIC
EV adoption Higher than 74% of VIC Higher than 79% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of VIC
same for both
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 96% of VIC Higher than 19% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 57% of VIC —

Liveability

Wonthaggi is more walkable (64 vs 0); Inverloch scores higher overall (50 vs 38).

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Grade C B
Score 38/100 50/100
Socio-economic band high-need area
decile 1/10
 advantaged area
decile 7/10

Risk profile

Wonthaggi carries more bushfire risk (24 vs 0); Wonthaggi carries more crime risk (91 vs 50).

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Bushfire Low
24/100
 None
0/100
Crime High
91/100
 Moderate
50/100
Flood Low
26/100
 Moderate
47/100
Coastal erosion Moderate
46/100
 High
95/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 1
within 5 km
 0
within 5 km

Schools

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Inside the suburb 8 1
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 2 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both

Schools in Wonthaggi

  • St Joseph's School Catholic · Primary above peers
  • Wonthaggi Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Bass Coast College Government · Secondary at peers
  • Wonthaggi North Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Bass Coast College-Community VCAL Program Campus Government · Secondary
  • Bass Coast College-Dudley Campus Government · Secondary

Schools in Inverloch

  • Inverloch Primary School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Supermarkets 4 1
Cafes & restaurants 10 7
Parks & reserves 27 11
Childcare 5 3
GPs 4 2
Pharmacies 3 1
Hospitals 1 0
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 6 2
Fuel stations 4 1
Beaches 2 3
Waterways 0 7

Mobility

Inverloch sits further from the CBD (145.5 km vs 137.2 km).

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Walkability score 64/100 0/100
Distance to Melbourne 137.2 km 145.5 km
+6% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 111 min 114 min
Public transport score 59/100 34/100
Peak arrivals per hour 20.5
7-9am + 5-7pm
 6.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 2 min
scheduled, not actual
 1 min
scheduled, not actual
Electric vehicle share 0.9%
postcode 3995
 1.1%
postcode 3996
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 47
postcode 3995
 39
postcode 3996

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.

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Car (driver) 74.3% / 69.0%
Wonthaggi — Car (driver): 74.3% Inverloch — Car (driver): 69.0%
Worked from Home 11.8% / 23.1%
Wonthaggi — Worked from Home: 11.8% Inverloch — Worked from Home: 23.1%
Walked Only 7.0% / 3.1%
Wonthaggi — Walked Only: 7.0% Inverloch — Walked Only: 3.1%
Car (passenger) 5.4% / 4.1%
Wonthaggi — Car (passenger): 5.4% Inverloch — Car (passenger): 4.1%
Bicycle 1.6% / 0.4%
Wonthaggi — Bicycle: 1.6% Inverloch — Bicycle: 0.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (74.3%).

Setting

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Elevation 50 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 21 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 4.0 km
3.9 km to a named beach
 2.3 km

NBN connectivity

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Connectivity score 70/100
same for both
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 47%
3,750 premises
 48%
5,292 premises

Climate

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Annual rainfall 906 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 24.6°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.9°C
same for both

Council rates

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Average residential rate $1,727/yr
same for both
Council Bass Coast
same for both

Federal electorate

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Division Monash
same for both
Member Mary Aldred
same for both
Party Liberal
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Wonthaggi Inverloch
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Wonthaggi

Acreage Affordable Parks Retirees

Inverloch

Acreage Coastal Retirees

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Wonthaggi

Wonthaggi vs North Wonthaggi Wonthaggi vs Cape Paterson Wonthaggi vs Dalyston Wonthaggi vs South Dudley Wonthaggi vs Harmers Haven

Other comparisons with Inverloch

Inverloch vs Cape Paterson Inverloch vs Leongatha South Inverloch vs Outtrim Inverloch vs Wattle Bank Inverloch vs Pound Creek
Full data on Wonthaggi Full data on Inverloch
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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