Cockatoo
Separate houses account for 100.0% of dwellings, while 66.8% of households are paying off a mortgage and the typical monthly repayment is $1,742. The median age is 36, four years below the national figure, and household income ranks at the 74.6th percentile. Compared with nearby Emerald and Gembrook, buyers should treat Cockatoo as its own market, shaped by spacious family housing, 22.4% working from home and slow growth.
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
3
Median House
$802K
October to December 2025
Homebuyers are choosing a low-density market where 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 51.7% have 3 bedrooms and 37.5% have 4 or more. A $1,742 monthly mortgage represents 20.2% of household income, while outright ownership is 24.6% and mortgage ownership is 66.8%. Compared with apartment-oriented suburbs, Cockatoo suits buyers prioritising land and space over compact entry pricing.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are choosing a low-density market where 100.0% of dwellings are separate houses, 51.7% have 3 bedrooms and 37.5% have 4 or more. A $1,742 monthly mortgage represents 20.2% of household income, while outright ownership is 24.6% and mortgage ownership is 66.8%. Compared with apartment-oriented suburbs, Cockatoo suits buyers prioritising land and space over compact entry pricing.
For Investors
Investor conditions are shaped by a small rental pool: only 7.7% of households rent, the weekly median rent is $370 and vacancy is 5.5%. That vacancy rate gives tenants more choice than a tighter market, while the limited rental share can reduce turnover and make each listing more consequential. Development activity was limited to 4 applications in 12 months, so supply expansion appears modest. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver. Compared with high-density rental markets, Cockatoo relies more on detached-house demand and long-term capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
3
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+50.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Cockatoo
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Cockatoo Primary School
Demographics
Cockatoo has a median age of 36, which is 4.0 years below the national figure, but its trajectory is aging: the senior share has risen 4.9 percentage points and the young share has fallen 1.1 points. University attainment is 20.2%, 9.9 points below the national level, while 13.3% were born overseas, 8.3 points below nationally. Household size is 2.8 people, 0.3 above the national average, consistent with 51.9% of families being couples with children. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 1,773, 475 and 426. No religion is recorded for 2,674 residents versus 1,159 identifying with Christianity. With 84.7% staying at the same address, mobility is lower than in a high-turnover area. Compared with nearby growth corridors, Cockatoo has a more established social profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Price history shows a substantial long-run lift but limited movement below the latest peak. Tenure is mortgage-led: 66.8% are paying off a loan, 24.6% own outright and 7.7% rent. With 100.0% separate houses, 51.7% 3-bedroom and 37.5% 4-plus-bedroom homes, Cockatoo has a stronger family-home bias than compact housing markets.
Mortgage / mo
$1,742
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$370
Census 2021
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
51.9%
Couples with children
33.1%
Couples, no children
14.9%
Single parent
1,180
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is broad but leans toward essential and place-based sectors. Healthcare accounts for 17.8% of industry employment, followed by construction at 16.8%, education at 13.2%, manufacturing at 8.8% and public administration at 6.6%. Trades are the largest occupation group with 484 workers, ahead of professionals at 345 and community and personal services at 276. Participation is 67.2%, unemployment is 3.2% and full-time employment is 58.8%, while 22.4% work from home. Household income ranks at the 74.6th percentile, higher than a middle-income benchmark. SEIFA places education and occupation at decile 6, economic resources at 10, disadvantage at 9 and advantage at 7. The high resources score alongside university attainment of 20.2% suggests household financial strength is not solely explained by graduate-level qualifications.
Unemployment
3.2%
Labour Force
2,290
Unemployed
74
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.8%
Part-time
32.5%
Participation
67.2%
Employed
2,216
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.2%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
13.3%
Dwellings
1,427
Transport to Work
Day-to-day life is car-oriented: 72.3% drive to work, compared with 1.2% who walk or cycle, while 22.4% work from home. That pattern suits larger blocks and dispersed services but makes access to jobs and shopping more dependent on a vehicle. Cockatoo has 1 local school, Cockatoo Primary School, a government primary campus. Families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cross nearby communities. Crime totalled 231 incidents, including 110 property and deception offences, 52 crimes against the person and 40 justice procedures offences, for a rate of 52.4 per 1,000 residents. Social conditions are comparatively strong, with IRSAD decile 7 and IRSD decile 9; the latter is higher than the former. Volunteering is 16.2%, supporting local participation.
Drive
72.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.2%
Work from Home
22.4%
Population Forecast
+0.37%/yr
(+71 people/yr)
EstablishedCockatoo is forecast to grow at 0.37% a year, a slow pace compared with faster-growth markets, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 6.4% over 10 years, while the trajectory is labelled Aging, supported by a 4.9-point rise in the senior share and a 2.3-point fall in the working share. Gentrification is classified as score 0, Not gentrifying, although the shift profile records a score of 36 and Early signs. Affordability is marked Improving, moving from 45.8 in 2011 to 42.5 in 2021, while real income growth reached 17.7%. Compared with a high-growth redevelopment corridor, Cockatoo's outlook is steadier and more mature.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+72
Net Internal / yr
-97
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
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
What schools are in Cockatoo?
Cockatoo Primary School is the local school listed, providing 1 government primary option. Families seeking secondary schooling or a different sector should check the exact enrolment zone and travel options, because school access can differ from nearby Emerald and Gembrook. Compare address-level boundaries before buying.
Is Cockatoo safe?
Cockatoo recorded 231 offences, equal to a reported rate of 52.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 110, higher than crimes against the person at 52. Safety can vary by street and time, so compare local conditions and standard precautions rather than relying on one annual rate.
Is Cockatoo good for property investment?
Investment prospects are mixed. The $370 weekly rent and 5.5% vacancy rate provide a basis for rental analysis, but only 7.7% of households rent, limiting the size of the tenant pool. Prices rose 126.1% from 2013 to Oct-Dec 2025 yet sat 1.3% below peak, so compare cash flow with long-term growth expectations.
How is Cockatoo's population changing?
Cockatoo's current population is 4,408, with forecast growth running at 0.37% a year. The wider area's 10-year population change is 6.4%, and the trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 4.9 points. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so change is likely to be gradual compared with a high-growth corridor.
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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