Altona (Vic.)

Population growth drivers in Altona are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Altona's population is estimated at around 12,439 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase from the 2021 Census figure of 11,490 people, marking an 8.3% rise in population over five years. The current resident population stands at 12,377, with 292 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 743 persons per square kilometer. Altona's growth rate exceeds that of its SA3 area (6.8%), making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 76.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch projects an above median population growth for the suburb, expecting it to expand by 1,731 persons to reach around 14,170 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 13.4% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Altona among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Altona has had approximately 107 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 537 homes were approved, with an additional 53 in FY-26 so far. This suggests supply is meeting or exceeding demand, supporting potential population growth above projections.

The average construction value for new properties is $602,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. Commercial approvals this year totalled $92.2 million, showing strong commercial development momentum. In terms of dwelling types, recent construction in Altona comprises 30.0% detached houses and 70.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a shift from the current housing pattern of 61.0% houses. This change may reflect diminishing developable land availability and evolving lifestyle preferences. With around 118 people per dwelling approval, Altona exhibits characteristics of a growth area.

Looking ahead, AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate projects Altona to grow by 1,669 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Altona has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects that may affect the region. Notable initiatives include Maidstone Street Level Crossing Removal (Altona), Level Crossing Removal - Maidstone Street Altona, Altona / Racecourse Road Ford Crossing Rebuild, and Altona Pier Redevelopment. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment conditions in Altona demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Altona has a highly educated workforce with prominent professional services. Its unemployment rate was 2.3% in the past year, showing an estimated employment growth of 4.3%. As of December 2025, 7,080 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.4%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.

Workforce participation is at 69.9%, similar to Greater Melbourne. Home workership is high at 40.6% but may be influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. The area specializes in public administration & safety with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level, but has lower representation in health care & social assistance at 11.3% compared to the regional average of 14.2%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.7, indicating above-average local employment opportunities. In the year ending December 2025, employment increased by 4.3%, labour force by 4.8%, raising unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. Greater Melbourne saw lower growth rates in employment and labour force with a smaller rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's May-25 forecasts project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth varies significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Altona's mix suggests local employment could increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

Altona suburb has a median taxpayer income of $65,033 and an average income of $80,800 based on the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is among the highest in Australia when compared to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. By March 2026, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $71,289 and an average income of $88,573, factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census figures, personal income ranks at the 73rd percentile ($947 weekly), while household income sits at the 54th percentile. The largest segment of income earners comprises 28.8%, earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (3,582 residents). High housing costs consume 15.3% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 56th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Altona displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Altona's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 61.1% houses and 38.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In contrast, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Altona stood at 37.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.0% and rented ones at 31.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,197, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Altona was $385, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Altona's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,197 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were also higher at $385 compared to the national figure of $375.

Altona features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 65.6% of all households, including 27.8% couples with children, 26.9% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.4%, with lone person households making up 32.1% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Altona shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's university qualification rate is 35.6%, exceeding the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region average of 32.0%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 23.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 29.8% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas comprising 11.1% and certificates 18.7%.

Educational participation is high, with 26.7% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary, 6.2% in secondary, and 4.8% in tertiary education.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Altona has 70 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops are served by 10 different bus routes that collectively facilitate 3,658 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 177 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most Altona residents commute outward for work or other purposes. The car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 81% of residents, while only 10% opt for the train. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling in Altona, which is lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant proportion of residents, specifically 40.6%, work from home, which may be partially attributed to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 522 trips per day, translating to approximately 52 weekly trips per individual stop.

Altona's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Altona residents show positive health outcomes, according to data analysis by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks.

Common health conditions' prevalence is low across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover stands at 59% of Altona's total population (7,301 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 8.0% and 7.8% respectively. 68.9% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. Under-65 population has better-than-average health outcomes. Altona has 20.9% residents aged 65 and over (2,599 people), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Senior health outcomes are above average, matching national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Altona was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Altona's cultural diversity was notable, with 29.6% of its population born overseas and 20.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Altona, comprising 49.2% of the population. Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.1% versus 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.8%), Australian (20.3%), and Irish (8.8%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Maltese at 4.4% in Altona versus 1.1% regionally, Croatian at 1.3% versus 0.7%, and Polish at 1.1% versus 0.8%.

Altona's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Altona is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years, and also considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 45-54 age group comprises 14.6% of the population in Altona, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 10.4%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has increased from 8.0% to 9.5% of the population. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has decreased from 12.0% to 10.4%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Altona. Notably, the 55-64 age group is expected to grow by 33%, reaching 1,959 people from a previous count of 1,467. Conversely, the 0-4 and 35-44 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.