Altona North
At 37, Altona North is younger than the national age benchmark by 3 years, while its 37.1% overseas-born share sits 15.5 percentage points above national. The suburb combines a $956,000 median house price with 87.5% price growth since 2013, so it is no longer a fringe-value play. Compared with nearby Newport's waterfront focus and Brooklyn's industrial edge, Altona North reads as a mixed family and renewal market because 69.1% of homes are separate houses yet 60 recent development applications point to subdivision pressure.
Population
12,962
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,695/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
75
Median House
$956K
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers are paying a median $956,000 for houses in Apr-Jun 2024, the current peak after 87.5% growth from the 2013 price of $510,000. The stock is still family-oriented, with 69.1% separate houses and 64.1% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms, which is higher than the 3.4% apartment share. Mortgage repayments of $2,167 a month equate to 29.5% of income, below the stress flag, so the area can suit households wanting space without moving much farther west.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are paying a median $956,000 for houses in Apr-Jun 2024, the current peak after 87.5% growth from the 2013 price of $510,000. The stock is still family-oriented, with 69.1% separate houses and 64.1% of dwellings having 3 bedrooms, which is higher than the 3.4% apartment share. Mortgage repayments of $2,167 a month equate to 29.5% of income, below the stress flag, so the area can suit households wanting space without moving much farther west.
For Investors
Investors get a mixed signal: 31.7% of households rent and the median rent is $400 a week, but the 7.5% vacancy rate is higher than a tight rental market. Demand is supported by overseas migration averaging 176 net arrivals a year and internal migration adding 105, while 60 development applications in 12 months show active renewal. The reason to be selective is that extra supply from 2-lot subdivisions can cap short-term rent pressure even as long-term land values improve.
Development Activity
Total DAs
109
Last 12 Months
75
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+294.7%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$838K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Altona North iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Leo the Great Primary School
Prep-6 · 342 students
Emmanuel College
7-12 · 2533 students
Altona North Primary School
Prep-6 · 217 students
Demographics
Altona North's median age of 37 is 3 years below national, and university attainment of 39.7% is 9.6 percentage points above national. The overseas-born share is 37.1%, 15.5 points above national, reflected in Arabic with 717 speakers, Greek with 290 and Italian with 245. English ancestry leads at 2,614 people, followed by Italian at 1,284 and Lebanese at 1,277, because postwar and newer migrant layers overlap with younger professional households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.1%
Houses
27.3%
Townhouse
3.4%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing remains house-led rather than apartment-led: 69.1% separate houses, 27.3% semi-detached homes and only 3.4% apartments. Ownership is split, with 36.8% owned outright, 31.4% mortgaged and 31.7% rented, giving more tenure variety compared with a pure owner-occupier enclave. The median house price rose from $510,000 in 2013 to $956,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 4.6% CAGR across 14 years, because larger blocks and renewal potential have kept demand above the older industrial image.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wk
$400
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$753
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.5%
Unoccupied
380
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
29.5%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.2%
Couples, no children
10,158
Total families
Economy & Employment
The worker base is broad compared with a single-industry suburb: healthcare employs 498 people at 13.4%, construction 462 at 12.4%, education 414 at 11.1%, professional and tech 409 at 11.0%, and public admin 286 at 7.7%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 1,345, ahead of 825 managers. SEIFA is uneven: IEO decile 6 and IRSAD decile 5 sit above IRSD decile 3 and IER decile 3, because education and job status are stronger than household resources for some residents.
Unemployment
2.4%
Labour Force
8,416
Unemployed
203
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.0%
Part-time
24.7%
Participation
52.4%
Employed
5,077
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.7%
Postgraduate
9.3%
Born Overseas
37.1%
Dwellings
4,681
Transport to Work
Livability is strongest for car-based families. Three local schools span ICSEA 994 to 1116, led by St Leo the Great Primary at 1116 and Emmanuel College at 1079, with Catholic and Government options rather than a large school cluster. Transport is the trade-off: 87.7% drive to work, compared with only 4.1% using public transport and 2.8% walking or cycling. Safety is mixed, with 1,113 offences and 85.9 per 1,000 people, while IRSAD decile 5 points to a middle-ranking socio-economic setting.
Drive
87.7%
Public Transport
4.1%
Walk / Cycle
2.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.94%/yr
(+155 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than explosive, with the forecast trend at 0.94% a year, or about 155 people annually, and the medium scenario rising from 16,163 in 2026 to 16,936 in 2031. Migration is the main engine, led by overseas migration at 176 net people a year compared with 105 from internal migration. The gentrification score is 30, stage Early signs, while the shift trajectory is Rejuvenating, because rent growth of 44.4% and a 2.2 point lift in young share are reshaping demand.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+176
Net Internal / yr
+105
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +22% since 2011, Net internal migration +105/yr, COVID recovered (-2% dip → full recovery)
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,113
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
85.9
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Altona North compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Altona North a good suburb to live in?
Yes for buyers who want a car-based inner-west family setting: median age is 37, household income sits at the 59.5 percentile, and 3 local schools operate in the suburb. The trade-off is transport, with 87.7% driving to work and 4.1% using public transport.
What is the median house price in Altona North?
The median house price in Altona North is $956,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is the latest peak, up from $510,000 in 2013 and equal to 87.5% growth across the price series.
What schools are in Altona North?
Altona North has 3 local schools: St Leo the Great Primary School, Emmanuel College and Altona North Primary School. ICSEA scores range from 994 to 1116, and enrolments range from 217 to 2,533 students.
Is Altona North safe?
Altona North recorded 1,113 offences, equal to 85.9 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 750, followed by crimes against the person at 142.
Is Altona North good for property investment?
It can suit land and renewal-focused investors: 31.7% of households rent, median rent is $400 a week, and 60 development applications were lodged in 12 months. The 7.5% vacancy rate means rental selection matters.
How is Altona North's population changing?
Altona North is forecast to grow at 0.94% a year, adding about 155 people annually. The medium scenario reaches 16,936 residents by 2031, supported by net overseas migration of 176 people a year.
What languages are spoken in Altona North?
English is common, but 37.1% of residents were born overseas. Arabic is the largest listed non-English language with 717 speakers, followed by Greek at 290 and Italian at 245.
Is there much development in Altona North?
Yes. Altona North recorded 60 development applications in the past 12 months, including several 2-lot subdivision proposals. That activity matches the 27.3% semi-detached share and ongoing infill pressure.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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