Altona North
With 12,962 residents, a median age of 37, and 37.1% born overseas, Altona North combines a younger-than-national age profile with established family housing. Separate houses make up 69.1% of dwellings and average household size is 2.6, while university participation at 39.7% is 9.6 percentage points above the national figure. Compared with nearby Altona and Newport, it reads as a more house-led western-suburban market, with 31.3% renting and household income at the 59.5th percentile.
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
90
Median House
$998K
October to December 2025
Mortgage repayments of $2,167 a month equal 29.5% of household income, below the stated stress threshold, although borrowing remains significant. With 69.1% separate houses and 64.1% three-bedroom homes, the stock suits families more than apartment-led buyers.
For Buyers
Mortgage repayments of $2,167 a month equal 29.5% of household income, below the stated stress threshold, although borrowing remains significant. With 69.1% separate houses and 64.1% three-bedroom homes, the stock suits families more than apartment-led buyers.
For Investors
Rental demand has a mixed signal. Altona North has 31.3% renting, a weekly median rent of $400 and a 7.5% vacancy rate, with vacancy higher than a tightly supplied market would normally indicate. Rent takes 23.6% of household income, below the 29.5% mortgage share, which may support tenant capacity but does not remove price risk. The suburb recorded 91 development applications in 12 months, so future competition could be higher than in a static established area. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, adding a demand factor compared with markets relying only on internal moves.
Development Activity
Total DAs
133
Last 12 Months
90
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+246.2%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$750K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Altona North
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Altona North Primary School
St Leo the Great Primary School
Emmanuel College
Demographics
At 37, the median age is 3 years below the national comparison, while 39.7% of residents have university qualifications, 9.6 percentage points above the national figure. Overseas-born residents account for 37.1%, 15.5 points higher than nationally, helping explain the presence of Arabic speakers numbering 717, Greek speakers at 290 and Italian speakers at 245. English, Italian and Lebanese are leading ancestries at 2,614, 1,284 and 1,277 people. Couples with children represent 45.1% of families, above couples without children at 34.6%, so household formation is more family-oriented than the age alone suggests.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
69.1%
Houses
27.3%
Townhouse
3.4%
Apartment
Tenure
The 19-year compound annual growth rate is 3.6%, indicating long-run appreciation, although recent prices have been broadly flat compared with the peak. Tenure is split between 36.3% outright owners, 31.0% mortgage holders and 31.3% renters. With 69.1% separate houses, 27.3% semi-detached dwellings and 64.1% three-bedroom homes, the stock is more family-oriented than apartment-oriented.
Mortgage / mo
$2,167
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$400
Census 2021
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
45.1%
Couples with children
34.6%
Couples, no children
18.2%
Single parent
3,385
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare at 13.4% of employment, construction at 12.4% and education at 11.1% lead local industries, followed by professional and technical work at 11.0% and public administration at 7.7%. The occupation mix includes 1,345 professionals, 825 managers and 703 trades workers, so the labour profile is broader than a single-industry suburb. Unemployment is 5.8%, participation is 56.3% and full-time work accounts for 63.9%. SEIFA education and occupation sit at decile 6, higher than the economic resources and disadvantage deciles of 3, while overall advantage is decile 5. Household income at the 59.5th percentile reflects a mixed position.
Unemployment
5.8%
Labour Force
5,816
Unemployed
340
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.9%
Part-time
28.8%
Participation
56.3%
Employed
5,476
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
39.7%
Postgraduate
9.3%
Born Overseas
37.1%
Dwellings
4,681
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-led: 56.4% drive to work, compared with 2.6% using public transport, while 35.6% work from home. Three local schools cover primary and secondary education, with 2 Catholic schools and 1 government school; families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross suburb lines. Recorded crime is 85.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, including 750 property and deception offences out of 1,113 total, so property security deserves more attention than assuming a low-risk setting. At 923.3 people per square kilometre across 14.04 square kilometres, the suburb is more urbanised than a low-density fringe area. IRSAD is decile 5, compared with an IRSD decile of 3.
Drive
56.4%
Public Transport
2.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
35.6%
Population Forecast
+0.94%/yr
(+155 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth across the wider area is forecast at 0.94% annually, higher than a flat trajectory, with overseas migration the primary driver. The population change measure reaches 14.8% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is labelled Rejuvenating, supported by a 2.2 percentage-point increase in the young share and a 3.6-point rise in the working share. Gentrification signals are still at the Early signs stage with a score of 30, although the separate shift assessment records an Active stage and score of 56. This points to gradual renewal rather than a fully mature upswing, with affordability measured at 68.1 in 2011 and 49.8 in 2021.
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?
Altona North suits households seeking established housing, with 69.1% separate houses and a median age of 37, which is 3 years below the national comparison. Compared with apartment-led areas, its 64.1% share of three-bedroom homes is more family-oriented, while 35.6% working from home supports a flexible daily routine.
What schools are in Altona North?
Altona North has 3 local schools covering primary and secondary education. The mix is 2 Catholic schools and 1 government school, which is broader than a single-sector catchment. Families should compare enrolment zones with the exact address, since school boundaries can differ from suburb boundaries.
Is Altona North safe?
Safety is mixed rather than uniformly low risk. Recorded crime was 85.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, with 1,113 offences in total and 750 involving property and deception. Compared with lower-crime locations, buyers and renters should give more attention to lighting, locks, parking security and property-specific conditions.
Is Altona North good for property investment?
It may suit investors seeking established rental demand, with 31.3% of households renting and median rent of $400 a week. The 7.5% vacancy rate is higher than a tightly supplied market, while 91 development applications in 12 months could create more competition than in a static suburb. Overseas migration remains the primary demand driver.
How is Altona North's population changing?
The wider area is forecast to grow at 0.94% annually, higher than a flat trajectory, with overseas migration the primary driver. Population change is measured at 14.8% over 10 years and the shift trajectory is Rejuvenating, compared with an unchanged established-area profile. The gentrification stage remains Early signs, with a score of 30.
What languages are spoken in Altona North?
Arabic is the leading listed language at 717 speakers, followed by Greek at 290 and Italian at 245. Cantonese is recorded at 112 and Macedonian at 86. With 37.1% of residents born overseas, the overseas-born share is 15.5 percentage points higher than the national comparison.
What development is occurring in Altona North?
There were 91 development applications in the past 12 months, including subdivision activity and a plan covering 30 lots. That level is higher than a static established suburb would suggest, although the available examples do not specify dwelling totals. Buyers should check permit status, road access and the likely effect on neighbouring lots.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), 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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