Suburb profile · Greater Melbourne
Cockatoo (Vic.) has an estimated 4,619 residents, up 4.8% since the 2021 Census, with 28 projects tracked in the area around Cockatoo (Vic.).
Updated 14 Oct 2026.
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01Profile
The analysis, national rankings and who lives there.
Located 48 kilometres east-southeast from Melbourne CBD, the suburb of Cockatoo (Vic.) offers a picturesque rural-residential setting within the scenic Emerald - Cockatoo area, well known for its vibrant community spirit, lush green forests, serene waterfalls, and beautiful lakes. Visitors and residents frequently enjoy outdoor leisure at Emerald Lake Park, along with historic journeys on the iconic Puffing Billy Railway and visits to charming local cafes and shops. Demographically, the community is anchored by families, exhibiting an elevated proportion of children aged 0 to 4yo and a high proportion of couples with children, accommodated within a detached housing led built form where dwellings are heavily backed by a strong mortgage holder representation.
As of August 2026, the population of the suburb of Cockatoo (Vic.) is estimated at around 4,619, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of aggregated yearly SA2-level Estimated Resident Population (ERP) counts alongside quarterly updates from national address file data.
Estimated resident population by year (ABS, not Census counts): 4,372 in 2006 and 4,611 in 2025. The dashed segment ends at the AreaSearch estimate for Aug 2026: 4,619 (ABS June 2025 base).
Share of residents in each age band (ABS age profile, scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate). Largest: 35 to 44, 14.8%.
Share of households in each weekly household income band (2021 Census). Largest: $1,500 - 2,999, 42.8%.
Cockatoo (Vic.) ranks in the 72nd percentile nationally for employment drivers and the 70th for infrastructure drivers.
Each bar and spoke is a national percentile; the dashed ring is the typical area. 99th = higher than 99 in every 100 neighbourhood-sized areas across Australia (ABS SA2 areas). Higher means more of the measure, not necessarily better. Orange marks the top three measures where a higher percentile is better; not Age, Housing or Housing Cost.
02Market and pipeline
Rents, sale prices and what is being built.
The median rent in Cockatoo (Vic.) is $578 a week, for the 12 months to Sep 2025 and 2% below Greater Melbourne.
2% below Greater Melbourne on median weekly rent
Median weekly rent by year, lodged bonds. Houses (solid line): $378 in 2017, $587 in 2025; Units (dashed orange line): $308 in 2017, $492 in 2025. The latest is to Sep 2025.
The change over 12 months, by dwelling type, is charted in Full.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $578 a week | Rental bond lodgements, median for the 12 months to Sep 2025 | |
| Median rent, houses | $587 a week | Rental bond lodgements, median for the 12 months to Sep 2025 | |
| Median rent, units | $492 a week | Rental bond lodgements, median for the 12 months to Sep 2025 | |
| Median rent, Cardinia | $560 a week | Rental bond lodgements, median for the 12 months to Sep 2025 | |
| Median rent, Melbourne - South East | $580 a week | Rental bond lodgements, median for the 12 months to Sep 2025 |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent, Greater Melbourne | $587 a week | Rental bond lodgements, median for the 12 months to Sep 2025 | |
| Median rent, VIC | $560 a week | Rental bond lodgements, median for the 12 months to Sep 2025 |
AreaSearch tracks 28 projects in and around Cockatoo (Vic.), 14 of them under construction.
Large masterplanned residential community in Pakenham East delivering 3,000+ lots with a future town centre, schools, community facilities…
Boutique greenfield subdivision in central Pakenham delivering 202 house and land lots alongside an 11,000 sqm local commercial precinct.
Masterplanned residential community in Pakenham East for approximately 3,200 residents.
Masterplanned residential community offering over 660 lots across four precincts including Robert's Run, the newest precinct now available.
Premium residential development with 301 homes featuring six-leaf EnviroDevelopment certification, the only project in Cardinia Shire to…
A 630 hectare masterplanned greenfield community on the eastern edge of Pakenham delivering around 7,200 homes for more than 22,000…
Stockland Averley is a masterplanned residential community in the Pakenham East growth corridor comprising around 1,555 homesites.
Stage 1 delivers the Main Street Gateway streetscape upgrade between Drake Place and the Henty Street roundabout.
Critical repair works to address landslide damage caused by severe weather in July 2024.
Golden Win Estate is a 36-lot residential subdivision on 3.53 hectares in central Officer.
Major redevelopment and extension of the Cardinia Cultural Centre into a state-of-the-art performing arts and cultural venue.
Permit approved 4.05 hectare residential subdivision site in Officer's high-growth corridor featuring endorsed plans for 55 residential…
Images marked AI impression are illustrative only and not photographs of the project; follow the project links for actual imagery. Original imagery? Contact us.
Estimated completion year of the 17 projects in and around the area that are not yet completed and have one: 2025 1, 2026 6, 2027 5, 2028 2, 2029 0, 2030 3. 3 have no completion year.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABS building approvals | 1.1 per 1,000 people | ABS building approvals | 12th percentile nationally |
| Average approvals a year | 5 | ABS building approvals | 12th percentile nationally |
Key infrastructure and planning changes likely to influence the suburb of Cockatoo include: South East Melbourne Recycled Water Supply Infrastructure Upgrades (Proposed); Yarra Ranges Council Drainage Infrastructure Program (Planning); and Additional VLocity Trains (Construction). These projects represent significant developments that will shape the area's future infrastructure landscape.
Key infrastructure sectors impacting the suburb of Cockatoo include Environmental & Disaster Management and Transport & Logistics.
While specific investment values are not publicly disclosed for all projects impacting the suburb of Cockatoo, the area shows active development across multiple infrastructure categories within 15km.
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On AreaSearch's development drivers ranking, residential development activity in Cockatoo is exceptionally low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally.
Dwelling approval activity in the suburb of Cockatoo area has seen 3 residential approvals over the past two financial years, based on AreaSearch's SA2 aggregation method. The suburb of Cockatoo's current population of 4,619 has been supported by 5 approvals on average over recent years.
The suburb of Cockatoo has seen 1.1 approval per 1,000 people in recent years, compared to 8.7 approvals in Greater Melbourne. This means that one dwelling has been approved for every 3069 people in the suburb of Cockatoo, compared to one for every 121 in Greater Melbourne.
The long-run outlook for development is part of AreaSearch Operator and Pro. Log in to see the forecast detail in Full.
Looking at development activity over the past five years, the suburb of Cockatoo's approval levels have been significantly below the yearly average of 5, showing a notable downturn in recent development.
Over the past five years, the suburb of Cockatoo has seen 26 residential approvals while population has remained stable or declined, indicating potential market oversupply.
03People
Population, age, income, work, education and more.
99th = higher than 99 in every 100 neighbourhood-sized areas across Australia (ABS SA2 areas). Higher means more of the measure, not necessarily better.
Cockatoo is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 4,619 | AreaSearch estimate, Aug 2026, from the ABS June 2025 base | |
| Growth since 2021 Census | +4.8% | AreaSearch estimate, Aug 2026, against the 2021 Census | 38th percentile nationally |
| Population density | 163 per km² | AreaSearch estimate, Aug 2026, from the ABS June 2025 base | 32nd percentile nationally |
| Average yearly growth, 2020 to 2025 | 0.0% | ABS estimated resident population series to June 2025 | |
| Average yearly growth, 2015 to 2025 | +0.1% | ABS estimated resident population series to June 2025 |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population at the 2021 Census | 4,408 | 2021 Census | |
| Residents added since the 2021 Census | 211 | AreaSearch estimate, Aug 2026, against the 2021 Census | |
| Average yearly growth, 2022 to 2025 | +0.3% | ABS estimated resident population series to June 2025 | |
| Population growth, 2024 to 2025 | +0.3% | ABS estimated resident population series to June 2025 | |
| Land area | 28.42 km² | AreaSearch boundary analysis |
Total population for the suburb of Cockatoo was estimated to be approximately 4,619 as at Aug 2026. This is based upon an estimated resident population of 4,611 from the ABS up to June 2025.
The suburb of cockatoo has added approximately 211 people and shown a 4.79% increase from the 4,408 people recorded at the 2021 Census period.
The population density in the suburb of Cockatoo is estimated at 163 persons per square kilometre based on the latest population estimate.
Over the past 10 years, the population in the suburb of Cockatoo has shown a compound annual growth rate of 0.1% per annum.
Population growth in the suburb of Cockatoo is driven by: Natural increase (56.00000000000001%), Overseas migration (44.0%), Interstate migration (0.0%). The primary driver is Natural increase, contributing 56.00000000000001% of overall population gains.
Cockatoo's population is slightly younger than the national pattern.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36 years | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | 30th percentile nationally |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.3% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Children under 15 | 22.0% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 15 to 34 | 24.0% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 25 to 64 | 53.0% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age at the 2021 Census | 36 years | 2021 Census | |
| Aged 0 to 4 | 7.9% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 5 to 14 | 14.1% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 15 to 24 | 12.4% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 25 to 34 | 11.6% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 35 to 44 | 14.8% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 45 to 54 | 13.8% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 55 to 64 | 12.8% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 65 to 74 | 8.6% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 75 to 84 | 3.9% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate | |
| Aged 85 and over | 0.8% | ABS estimated resident population age profile (June 2025), scaled to the Aug 2026 AreaSearch estimate |
AreaSearch estimates the median age in the suburb of Cockatoo at 36 years as at August 2026. That is in line with the 2021 Census figure of 36 years, on an age profile AreaSearch re-estimates for population change recorded since the Census.
At an estimated 36 years as at August 2026, Cockatoo is comparable to the Greater Melbourne 2021 Census average (37 years) and 2 years younger than the national Census average (38 years).
On AreaSearch estimates updated to August 2026, the most over-represented age group in the suburb of Cockatoo compared to the Greater Melbourne region is the 55 - 64 group, making up 12.8% of the population.
On AreaSearch estimates updated to August 2026, the most under-represented age group in the suburb of Cockatoo compared to the Greater Melbourne region is the 25 - 34 group, making up 11.6% of the population.
Yes, certain age groups in the suburb of Cockatoo show significant variance compared to Greater Melbourne. The most over-represented age group is 0-4 year-olds (7.9% vs 5.6%). The most under-represented age group is 85+ year-olds (0.8% vs 2.1%).
AreaSearch estimates children aged 0-14 years at 22.0% of the population in the suburb of Cockatoo as at August 2026.
AreaSearch estimates people aged 65 and over at 13.3% of the population in the suburb of Cockatoo as at August 2026.
The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median taxable income (ATO) | $59,342 a year | ATO FY-24, annual | 51st percentile nationally |
| Average taxable income | $77,581 a year | ATO FY-24, annual |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Census household income / week | $1,991 | 2021 Census, weekly | 64th percentile nationally |
| Census personal income / week | $853 | 2021 Census, weekly | 59th percentile nationally |
| High-income households | 21.0% | 2021 Census | |
| Census family income / week | $2,196 | 2021 Census, weekly | |
| Low-income households | 15.8% | 2021 Census |
Based on Wage Price Index adjustments to June 2026, the estimated median taxable income in the suburb of Cockatoo is approximately $63,259. The official ATO data from FY-24 recorded a median of $59,342.
Based on Wage Price Index adjustments to June 2026, the estimated average taxable income in the suburb of Cockatoo is approximately $82,701. The official ATO data from FY-24 recorded an average of $77,581.
Based on Wage Price Index adjustments to June 2026, the estimated median taxable income in the suburb of Cockatoo is approximately $63,259 compared to $63,783 in Greater Melbourne. The official ATO data from FY-24 shows $59,342 and $59,834 respectively.
Based on Wage Price Index adjustments to June 2026, the estimated average taxable income in the suburb of Cockatoo is approximately $82,701 compared to $83,612 in Greater Melbourne. The official ATO data from FY-24 shows $77,581 and $78,435 respectively.
As per the 2021 Census, the weekly household income bracket containing the largest proportion of the suburb of Cockatoo's households (~42.8% / 612 households) is the $1,500 - 2,999 cohort.
The largest weekly household income cohort in the suburb of Cockatoo is the $1,500 - 2,999 group, representing about 42.8% of households. In comparison, Greater Melbourne's largest household income cohort is the $1,500 - 2,999 group, representing 32.8% of its households, according to the 2021 Census.
The 2021 Census data indicates that the median household income in the suburb of Cockatoo is $1,991/wk.
According to the 2021 Census, the median family income in the suburb of Cockatoo is $2,196/wk.
The 2021 Census shows that the median personal income in the suburb of Cockatoo is $853/wk.
As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-24, the suburb of Cockatoo's median income among taxpayers is $59,342, with an average of $77,581. This is higher than average nationally, and compares to Greater Melbourne's median of $59,834 and average of $78,435. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 6.6% since FY-24, current estimates would be approximately $63,259 (median) and $82,701 (average) as of June 2026.
The estimated disposable income in the suburb of Cockatoo is $7,330 per year according to AreaSearch analysis.
The suburb of cockatoo's disposable income is $7,330 compared to $6,948 for Greater Melbourne, based on AreaSearch analysis.
Employment conditions in Cockatoo demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 28% of areas assessed nationally.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate | 3.1% | ABS and DEWR labour data, compiled by AreaSearch | |
| Workforce participation | 77.2% | ABS and DEWR labour data, compiled by AreaSearch | |
| Employed residents | 2,713 | ABS and DEWR labour data, compiled by AreaSearch | |
| Daytime population | 3,410 | AreaSearch estimate of residents and workers present on a weekday | |
| Labour force | 2,798 | ABS and DEWR labour data, compiled by AreaSearch |
As of March 2026, the suburb of Cockatoo has approximately 2,713 employed residents with an unemployment rate of 3.1%. This healthy unemployment rate suggests a well-functioning labour market. Employment performance is above the national median, showing positive labour market dynamics.
As of March 2026, the unemployment rate in the suburb of Cockatoo stands at 3.1%, which is 1.7 percentage points below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. This lower unemployment rate suggests stronger local employment conditions. For comparison, the national unemployment rate is 4.2%.
The employment landscape in the suburb of Cockatoo is dominated by several key sectors. The largest employers are construction (17.8% of employment), health care & social assistance (14.0%), and manufacturing (10.4%). Other significant employers include education & training and retail trade.
Over the past year to March 2026, the suburb of Cockatoo has experienced employment growth, with total employment increasing while the labour force increased. As a result, the unemployment rate has fallen. By comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment increased and its unemployment rate rose.
The workforce participation rate in the suburb of Cockatoo is 77.2%, which represents the proportion of working-age residents who are either employed or actively seeking work. This high participation rate indicates strong workforce engagement and economic vitality. The local rate leading the Greater Melbourne average of 70.1%, indicating stronger workforce attachment in the local area.
The suburb of cockatoo shows notable specialisation in construction, which employs 17.8% of the local workforce compared to 9.7% across Greater Melbourne. This concentration suggests the area has developed competitive advantages in this sector. The area also shows above-average employment in 2 other sectors, contributing to a distinctive economic profile.
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The suburb of cockatoo's employment market shows above-average performance nationally, placing in the top half of areas assessed. Employment indicators suggest healthy labour market conditions relative to other regions. Recent job advertisement trends show the broader employment region saw a 2.6% decline, ranking 28th out of 37 regions nationally.
The educational profile of Cockatoo ranks above average relative to locations nationally, based on AreaSearch's ranking of qualification and academic performance metrics.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor qualifications | 12.5% | 2021 Census | 29th percentile nationally |
| Postgraduate qualifications | 3.0% | 2021 Census | 30th percentile nationally |
| University qualifications | 18.2% | 2021 Census | |
| Vocational qualifications | 33.7% | 2021 Census | 91st percentile nationally |
| Graduate diploma or certificate | 2.7% | 2021 Census | 60th percentile nationally |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced diploma or diploma | 13.0% | 2021 Census | 92nd percentile nationally |
| No post-school qualification | 35.2% | 2021 Census | |
| Residents attending an educational institution | 32.8% | 2021 Census | |
| Residents attending university or other higher education | 3.7% | 2021 Census | 38th percentile nationally |
| Residents attending primary school | 12.7% | 2021 Census | 86th percentile nationally |
| Residents attending secondary school | 9.3% | 2021 Census | 79th percentile nationally |
18.2% of people aged 15 and over in the suburb of Cockatoo have university qualifications, compared to 37.0% in Greater Melbourne.
35.2% of people aged 15 and over in the suburb of Cockatoo have no formal qualifications, compared to 35.2% in Greater Melbourne.
The suburb of cockatoo ranks in the 64th percentile nationally for education based on AreaSearch's analysis of qualification and performance metrics.
The most common qualifications in the suburb of Cockatoo are: Certificate (33.7%), Advanced Diploma (13.0%), Bachelor Degree (12.5%).
32.8% of the population in the suburb of Cockatoo is currently engaged in formal education, including 12.7% in primary school, 9.3% in secondary school, 3.7% at university (all shares of total residents).
The average ICSEA (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) score for schools in the suburb of Cockatoo is 1022, indicating average socio-educational advantage (national average is 1000).
There are 2 schools within the suburb of Cockatoo, with a combined enrollment of approximately 368 students.
The suburb of cockatoo includes 1 primary school, 1 combined school.
Cockatoo features high concentrations of couples with children and family households but relatively few lone person households, with a larger average household size than Greater Melbourne.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household size | 2.8 people | 2021 Census | 79th percentile nationally |
| Lone-person households | 18.4% | 2021 Census | 22nd percentile nationally |
| Couples with children | 41.9% | 2021 Census | 83rd percentile nationally |
| Couples without children | 25.2% | 2021 Census | 36th percentile nationally |
| One-parent families | 11.6% | 2021 Census | 62nd percentile nationally |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group households | 2.3% | 2021 Census | 35th percentile nationally |
| Households at the 2021 Census | 1,431 | 2021 Census | |
| Estimated households | 1,499 | AreaSearch estimate, Aug 2026 | |
| Family households | 79.3% | 2021 Census | 80th percentile nationally |
| Average children per family | 1.7 per family | 2021 Census | 61st percentile nationally |
As of the 2021 Census, the suburb of Cockatoo had 1,431 households. Based on population growth patterns, this has grown by approximately 4.8% to an estimated 1,499 households today.
The average household size in the suburb of Cockatoo is 2.8 people. This compares to 2.6 in Greater Melbourne and reflects the area's household composition mix.
Family households dominate at 79.3% of all households. Non-family households consist of lone person households (18.4%), group households (2.3%), and other household types (0.0%).
Of the 1,135 family households, couples with children account for 41.9% of all households, couples without children at home 25.2%, and single parent families 11.6%. This mix shapes local demand for schools, family services, and housing types.
Compared to Greater Melbourne, the suburb of Cockatoo shows distinct household patterns. Family households are notably over-represented at 79.3% (versus 70.9% in Greater Melbourne). Conversely, lone person households are under-represented at 18.4% compared to 24.8% in Greater Melbourne. This family-oriented profile influences local demand for family homes, schools, and children's services.
Families in the suburb of Cockatoo have an average of 1.7 children, slightly above the Greater Melbourne average of 1.4. This influences local demand for child-related services and larger family homes.
Marriage patterns reveal 47.1% of the adult population are currently married, while 37.6% have never married. This compares to 47.0% married and 38.0% never married across Greater Melbourne.
Single-person households represent 18.4% of all households in the suburb of Cockatoo, notably lower than the average for Greater Melbourne of 24.8%. This affects demand for smaller dwellings and single-person accommodation.
Group households (unrelated people sharing) account for 2.3% of households, below the Greater Melbourne average of 4.3%. This lower rate suggests less student or young professional shared accommodation.
Cockatoo is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Born overseas | 13.3% | 2021 Census | 24th percentile nationally |
| Speak another language at home | 4.2% | 2021 Census | 17th percentile nationally |
| English only at home | 95.8% | 2021 Census | 82nd percentile nationally |
| Australian citizens | 87.5% | 2021 Census | 56th percentile nationally |
| Born in Australia | 86.7% | 2021 Census | 76th percentile nationally |
| Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents | 0.7% | 2021 Census | 30th percentile nationally |
Cockatoo was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 87.5% of its population being citizens, 86.7% born in Australia, and 95.8% speaking English only at home.
Christianity is the most commonly reported religion in Cockatoo, at 29.5% of people, although more residents (68.1%) reported no religion. Christianity accounts for 43.0% across Greater Melbourne.
In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Cockatoo are Australian, comprising 32.1% of the population, which is substantially higher than Greater Melbourne's 18.4%, English, comprising 29.6% of the population, which is substantially higher than Greater Melbourne's 20.1%, and Irish, comprising 7.9% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Dutch is notably overrepresented at 2.9% of Cockatoo (vs 1.2% across Greater Melbourne), Hungarian at 0.5% (vs 0.3%) and Russian at 0.5% (vs 0.4%).
13.3% of the suburb of Cockatoo population was born overseas, compared to 37.3% across Greater Melbourne.
4.2% of the population in the suburb of Cockatoo speaks a language other than English at home, compared to 35.9% in Greater Melbourne.
0.7% of the suburb of Cockatoo population identifies as Australian Aboriginal, compared to 0.5% in Greater Melbourne.
87.5% of the suburb of Cockatoo population holds citizenship, compared to 81.1% in Greater Melbourne.
04Place
Housing, health, transport, local services and the reports on them.
Cockatoo is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to Greater Melbourne.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rented homes | 7.8% | 2021 Census | 2nd percentile nationally |
| Owned outright | 24.9% | 2021 Census | 24th percentile nationally |
| Detached houses | 100.0% | 2021 Census | 99th percentile nationally |
| Median mortgage repayment | $1,742 a month | 2021 Census, monthly | 46th percentile nationally |
| Owned with a mortgage | 67.3% | 2021 Census | 99th percentile nationally |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median weekly rent paid, 2021 Census | $370 | 2021 Census, weekly | 50th percentile nationally |
| Median rent as a share of median household income | 18.6% | 2021 Census, ratio calculated by AreaSearch | 29th percentile nationally |
| Median mortgage repayment as a share of household income | 20.2% | 2021 Census, ratio calculated by AreaSearch | 16th percentile nationally |
| People per bedroom | 0.8 per bedroom | 2021 Census | 72nd percentile nationally |
In the suburb of Cockatoo, 24.9% of homes are owned outright, 67.3% are owned with a mortgage, and 7.8% are rented.
According to the latest data, 100.0% of dwellings in the suburb of Cockatoo are houses.
In the suburb of Cockatoo, 0.0% of dwellings are apartments or units, with an additional 0.0% being semi-detached dwellings.
Outright home ownership in the suburb of Cockatoo stands at 24.9%, compared to 30.7% in Greater Melbourne.
The median monthly mortgage repayment in the suburb of Cockatoo is $1,742, compared to $2,000 in Greater Melbourne.
The aggregate monthly housing cost in the suburb of Cockatoo is $1,297, which represents the average monthly cost across all housing types.
In the suburb of Cockatoo, households with mortgages typically spend 20.2% of their income on mortgage repayments, while renters spend 18.6% of their income on rent.
The average persons per bedroom ratio in the suburb of Cockatoo is 0.8, indicating the level of household density.
Housing affordability in the suburb of Cockatoo shows mortgage holders spending 20.2% of income on repayments (vs 24.3% in Greater Melbourne), while renters spend 18.6% of income on rent (vs 20.5% in Greater Melbourne).
The dwelling mix in the suburb of Cockatoo consists of 100.0% detached houses, 0.0% semi-detached dwellings, 0.0% apartments, and 0.0% other dwelling types.
Housing in Cockatoo consumes approximately 15.0% of median household income ($8,621 monthly), indicating costs are highly affordable. The generally accepted benchmark is that housing should not exceed 30% of household income.
Development activity remains minimal in this area with fewer than 5 recent applications recorded.
Health performance in Cockatoo is lower than the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private health cover | 55.9% | ATO FY 2024, private health cover | 61st percentile nationally |
| No long-term health condition | 66.5% | 2021 Census | 34th percentile nationally |
| Need help with daily activities | 4.7% | 2021 Census | 38th percentile nationally |
| No long-term health condition, under 65 | 70.5% | 2021 Census | 13th percentile nationally |
| Three or more long-term health conditions, under 65 | 1.7% | 2021 Census | 65th percentile nationally |
Around 55.9% of people in the suburb of Cockatoo are covered by private health insurance, which compares to 56.5% in Greater Melbourne.
In the suburb of Cockatoo, 4.7% of the population is identified as requiring ongoing medical assistance. By comparison, 5.5% of people in Greater Melbourne require similar assistance.
9.5% of people in the suburb of Cockatoo are diagnosed with asthma. In comparison, 7.3% of the population across Greater Melbourne is affected by asthma.
Diabetes affects 3.5% of the suburb of Cockatoo population, while in Greater Melbourne, 4.1% of people are diagnosed with diabetes.
2.4% of people in the suburb of Cockatoo have heart disease. Across Greater Melbourne,3.1% of the population is affected by heart disease.
In the suburb of Cockatoo, 55.9% of the population are estimated to have private health insurance. Comparatively, Greater Melbourne sees an estimated private health coverage rate of 56.5%.
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport access | 45 out of 100 | AreaSearch transport analysis of timetable data | 45th percentile nationally |
| Public transport stops | 18 | Public transport timetable (GTFS) data, compiled by AreaSearch | 18th percentile nationally |
| Weekly public transport trips | 681 | Public transport timetable (GTFS) data, compiled by AreaSearch | 29th percentile nationally |
| People per public transport stop | 258 | Public transport timetable (GTFS) data, compiled by AreaSearch | |
| Public transport routes | 7 | Public transport timetable (GTFS) data, compiled by AreaSearch |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per dwelling | 2.0 per dwelling | 2021 Census | |
| Working residents who worked from home | 21.7% | 2021 Census, taken during COVID-19 restrictions |
There are 18 public transport stops within the suburb of Cockatoo.
The suburb of Cockatoo has 681 weekly trips across 7 routes, averaging 97 trips per day.
On average, residential properties are 593 metres from the nearest transport stop.
From the typical resident, the nearest school is 1.1 km away and the nearest child care centre 1.1 km.
Distance from the typical resident to the nearest of each service. Every bar starts at 0 m. The nearest is orange.
Public transport 18 stops nearby, 681 weekly trips, access rating 45 out of 100.
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amenity score | 7 out of 100 | AreaSearch proximity analysis | 7th percentile nationally |
| Nearest school | 1.1 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest child care | 1.1 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest GP | 1.3 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest pharmacy | 1.3 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident |
| Measure | Value | Source and date | National percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nearest supermarket | 1.3 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest dentist | 1.6 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest bank | 4.9 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest fitness centre | 12.4 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest government service | 12.8 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest hospital | 15.4 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident | |
| Nearest shopping centre | 15.7 km | AreaSearch proximity analysis, from the typical resident |
Sector reports that go deeper on these services: child care, medical, retail, aged care and specialist disability accommodation (SDA). There is 1 long day care centre with 53 places in Cockatoo (Vic.), about 4.8 children aged 0-4 per place.
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05Reports and tools
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06About this profile
Where the figures come from, downloads and nearby areas.
On AreaSearch's development drivers ranking, residential development activity in Cockatoo is exceptionally low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally.
Cockatoo has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49th percentile nationally.
No headline figures are reported for this area.
Median rent in Cockatoo (Vic.) is $578 a week for the 12 months to Sep 2025.
Cockatoo is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends.
Cockatoo's population is slightly younger than the national pattern.
The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment.
Employment conditions in Cockatoo demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 28% of areas assessed nationally.
The educational profile of Cockatoo ranks above average relative to locations nationally, based on AreaSearch's ranking of qualification and academic performance metrics.
Cockatoo features high concentrations of couples with children and family households but relatively few lone person households, with a larger average household size than Greater Melbourne.
Cockatoo is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics.
Cockatoo is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to Greater Melbourne.
Health performance in Cockatoo is lower than the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility.
Amenity provision was found to be below the typical area assessed nationally by AreaSearch, based on counts and proximity analysis.
Cockatoo (Vic.) has an estimated 4,619 residents, up 4.8% since the 2021 Census, with 28 projects tracked in the area around Cockatoo (Vic.).
Latest estimate as at Aug 2026; other figures from the 2021 Census, ATO FY-24 and AreaSearch estimates where labelled. Updated 14 Oct 2026.
Sources: ABS Census 2021, ABS estimated resident population, ATO taxation statistics, state rental bonds and property sales records where published, and AreaSearch analysis for Cockatoo (Vic.).
Data currency
Refreshed . Rents to Sep 2025, population and age estimated to Aug 2026 and taxable income FY 2024. Housing, households and cultural diversity are from the 2021 Census (next update with the 2026 Census results).
Infrastructure projects and development applications also include sites in the surrounding area, and are labelled as such. Other sections were compiled 15 Oct 2026 from sources that update on their own cycles; "See the evidence" lists each source and its cycle.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For a complete picture, consider both boundary types where available.
Main sources: ABS, Geoscience Australia, GNAF, ATO, State governments, Valuer General, Rental Board and Infrastructure Australia.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL20600). QuickStats reports 2021 only; the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.
This page uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries (suburb-style geography). SAL represents commonly-known suburb names used in addresses, while Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census and statistical reporting. Even when sharing the same name, SAL and SA2 boundaries often cover different geographic areas with different populations.
AreaSearch compiles this page from official and industry sources, including ABS, Geoscience Australia, GNAF, ATO, State governments, Valuer General, Rental Board and Infrastructure Australia, then calculates statistics for the boundary shown, and ranks, growth rates and benchmarks itself. Property sales come from the state valuation authority, rents from state rental bond lodgements, development applications from council and state planning portals, school data from ACARA, and public transport from state transport departments. Infrastructure projects and development applications also include sites in the surrounding area, labelled as such.
No. Most of this page is built beyond the Census. Dated for this area: population (Aug 2026), age profile (Aug 2026) and income (FY 2024). Compiled with this profile from sources that publish on their own cycles: development and approvals, property sales and rents, infrastructure projects, employment, education, transport, health and services and amenities. Only housing, households and cultural diversity remain wholly Census-based, because no more current small-area dataset exists for those measures.
Key demographics and figures for Cockatoo (Vic.) from the 2021 Census, ATO taxpayer data and AreaSearch estimates and analysis. Each topic has its own table of key figures beside the section it belongs to, and each row names its source and date. The percentile compares Cockatoo (Vic.) with every neighbourhood-sized area across Australia (ABS SA2 areas): a higher percentile means more of that measure than most, not necessarily better.
Source: AreaSearch (areasearch.com.au) compiled from ABS Census 2021, ATO and other public sources.
