Cockatoo
With 93.2% of residents driving to work and just 7.8% renting, Cockatoo reads as one of the most car-dependent, owner-occupier suburbs in the Dandenong Ranges. Household income sits at the 74.6th percentile nationally, above average but not exceptional, yet the suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD and decile 10 on IER, placing it among Victoria's least-disadvantaged and most-resourced small communities. The population of 4,408 lives across 28.22 square kilometres at a low density of 156 people per km2, and 100% of dwellings are separate houses, making it one of very few suburbs with no apartments or semi-detached homes at all.
Population
4,408
Median Age
36.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,991/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
8
Median House
$672K
Apr-Jun 2024
The median house price of $672,500 as of Apr-Jun 2024 is below the peak of $813,000 reached in Jan-Mar 2024, a 17.3% correction from peak. Buyers entering now are getting the same property roughly $140,000 cheaper than at the top. Since 2013 when prices sat at $355,000, values have climbed 89.4% over 14 years, a compound annual growth rate of 4.7%. Every dwelling in the suburb is a separate house, so there are no apartments or units to track as an alternative price point. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,742, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The 3-bedroom home is the dominant type at 51.7%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 37.5%, so most buyers are looking at family-sized properties.
For Buyers
The median house price of $672,500 as of Apr-Jun 2024 is below the peak of $813,000 reached in Jan-Mar 2024, a 17.3% correction from peak. Buyers entering now are getting the same property roughly $140,000 cheaper than at the top. Since 2013 when prices sat at $355,000, values have climbed 89.4% over 14 years, a compound annual growth rate of 4.7%. Every dwelling in the suburb is a separate house, so there are no apartments or units to track as an alternative price point. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,742, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The 3-bedroom home is the dominant type at 51.7%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 37.5%, so most buyers are looking at family-sized properties.
For Investors
At 7.8% renter share, Cockatoo is overwhelmingly owner-occupied and offers a thin tenant pool compared to most suburban markets. Weekly rent of $370 against a $672,500 median implies a gross yield near 2.9%, modest relative to the capital committed. The vacancy rate is 5.5%, above the 3% equilibrium benchmark, indicating more rental supply than demand. Development activity is low at 8 applications in the past 12 months, mostly extensions and outbuildings on existing lots rather than new dwellings. The 84.7% residential stability rate (the share who did not move in the past year) signals low churn, which keeps turnover thin and can limit the frequency of buying opportunities. For investors, the appeal is long-term capital growth, with an 89.4% price gain since 2013, rather than yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
9
Last 12 Months
8
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cockatoo iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Cockatoo Primary School
Prep-6 · 306 students
Demographics
The median age of 36 is 4.0 years below the national figure, which is notable for a low-density rural-fringe suburb where older owner-occupier profiles are common. Overseas-born residents are just 13.3%, which is 8.3 percentage points below the national average, and the ancestry mix is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (1,773 residents), Irish (475) and Scottish (426) are the top three groups. University qualifications at 20.2% run 9.9 percentage points below national, consistent with a trade and service workforce rather than a knowledge-economy one. Average household size is 2.8, slightly above the national average of 2.5. About 49.0% of families are couples with children, the dominant household type. The volunteering rate is 16.2%, suggesting a degree of community participation typical of semi-rural areas.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every dwelling in Cockatoo is a separate house, giving it a 100% detached rate versus the national mix that includes a significant apartment and semi-detached share. Ownership is heavily skewed toward mortgaged households at 67.4%, with 24.8% owning outright and only 7.8% renting, a tenure split more like regional Victoria than greater Melbourne. The 3-bedroom home is most common at 51.7% of stock, with 4-plus bedroom homes at 37.5%, meaning almost all homes are family-sized. Rent-to-income sits at 18.6% and mortgage-to-income at 20.2%, both below stress thresholds, so housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes. The median price of $672,500 sits 17.3% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $813,000, indicating the correction that followed the pandemic boom is still present in the numbers.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,742
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$853
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.5%
Unoccupied
84
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
21.5%
Couples, no children
3,609
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare and Social Assistance is the largest employing industry at 17.8% (256 workers), followed closely by Construction at 16.8% (241) and Education at 13.2% (189). Together these three sectors account for nearly half of local employment. By occupation, Professionals lead at 345 workers, followed by Community and Personal Services (276), Clerical and Administrative (268), Managers (258) and Labourers (249), a relatively even spread compared to inner-urban areas dominated by one or two sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.5%, below the national average, and the full-time employment rate of 64.4% is solid. SEIFA scores show an interesting split: decile 9 on IRSD and decile 7 on IRSAD suggest low deprivation but moderate overall advantage, consistent with above-average incomes without high concentrations of professional wealth.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
64.4%
Part-time
32.1%
Participation
61.6%
Employed
2,024
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.2%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
1,427
Transport to Work
Car dependence at 93.2% is one of the most defining livability features, substantially above the national average, because the suburb's 28.22 km2 area and low density of 156 people per km2 make driving a practical necessity. Only 1.5% walk or cycle, which is low by any comparison. The crime rate of 52.4 offences per 1,000 residents is a moderate figure, with property and deception offences (110 cases) the largest category, followed by crimes against the person (52 cases). The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD, placing it among the least-disadvantaged 10% nationally, which correlates with lower rates of social hardship. No schools are recorded in the brief for Cockatoo, so families are likely served by schools in neighbouring areas. Housing stress is absent: both rent-to-income at 18.6% and mortgage-to-income at 20.2% are below the 30% threshold.
Drive
93.2%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
231
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
52.4
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 Cockatoo compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cockatoo a good suburb to live in?
Cockatoo scores decile 9 on IRSD, placing it among the least-disadvantaged 10% nationally. Household income is at the 74.6th percentile and housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 20.2%. The trade-off is heavy car dependence at 93.2%, limited public transport, and no recorded schools within the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Cockatoo?
The median house price is $672,500 as of Apr-Jun 2024. This is 17.3% below the Jan-Mar 2024 peak of $813,000. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,742 and all dwellings are separate houses, so there are no apartment or unit alternatives in the local market.
What schools are in Cockatoo?
No schools are recorded within the Cockatoo suburb boundary in this dataset. Families are likely served by schools in neighbouring Dandenong Ranges communities. Locally, 20.2% of residents hold university qualifications, which is 9.9 percentage points below the national average.
Is Cockatoo safe?
The crime rate is 52.4 offences per 1,000 residents, with 231 total recorded offences. The largest category is property and deception offences at 110 cases, followed by crimes against the person at 52. The suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD, among the least-disadvantaged in the country, which is broadly associated with lower social risk.
Is Cockatoo good for property investment?
The suburb has delivered 89.4% price growth since 2013 at a 4.7% compound annual rate. However, the renter share is just 7.8% and weekly rent of $370 against a $672,500 median produces a gross yield near 2.9%. The 5.5% vacancy rate is above the 3% equilibrium level, suggesting more rental supply than demand currently.
How is Cockatoo's population changing?
Detailed population forecasts are not available, but the suburb shows high stability: 84.7% of residents did not move in the past year and residential turnover runs at just 15.3%. The population is 4,408 with a median age of 36, which is 4.0 years below the national figure, suggesting a relatively young owner-occupier base.
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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