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Altona (Western Metropolitan) vs Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

Name: Altona (Western Metropolitan) vs Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

State Electorate comparison ≈ 18 km apart · Altona (Western Metropolitan) profile · Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) profile

Altona (Western Metropolitan) Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

Altona (Western Metropolitan) and Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) are two large, nearby areas with very different living patterns. Altona (Western Metropolitan) is a family-oriented place where 23.5% of people are children under 15 and 83.6% of homes are separate houses. In contrast, Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) is a high-density hub where 79.6% of residents live in flats or apartments, and 42.5% of people live alone. Education and beliefs also differ sharply; Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) has a far higher share of adults with a bachelor degree (53.7%) and people with no religion (51.0%).

Both areas sit near the national figure for the share of households that rent, with Altona (Western Metropolitan) at 30.8% and Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) at 67.3%—though this gap remains a major divide. They are also very similar in terms of typical weekly personal income, which is around $895 to $898. While both are walkable, Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) is a walker's paradise compared to the very walkable Altona (Western Metropolitan). Over time, the gap in university qualifications and the proportion of people living alone have both widened.

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Where they differ most

Renting: 36.5 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) Separate houses: 80.7 pts higher in Altona (Western Metropolitan) 3+ bedrooms: 68.3 pts higher in Altona (Western Metropolitan) No car: 43.6 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) Recent arrivals: 24.3 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

Demographics & Identity

Population in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +15,672 larger in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) gap narrowing

108,534 93rd pct 124,206 97th pct

Median age in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +5 yrs older in Altona (Western Metropolitan) gap narrowing

35 yrs 21st pct 30 yrs 0th pct

Age structure

33.9% Young adults (25–44) +15.5 pts ▸ 49.4%

23.5% Children (0–14) ◂ +16.5 pts 7.0%

10.6% Youth (15–24) +12.1 pts ▸ 22.7%

21.9% Older adults (45–64) ◂ +8.0 pts 13.9%

10.1% Seniors (65+) ◂ +3.0 pts 7.0%

Marital status

32.6% Never married +34.2 pts ▸ 66.8%

54.0% Married ◂ +30.2 pts 23.8%

6.9% Divorced ◂ +1.3 pts 5.7%

3.4% Widowed ◂ +1.8 pts 1.6%

3.1% Separated ◂ +1.0 pts 2.1%

Age & sex structure

Altona (Western Metropolitan) Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

50.5% Australia ◂ +10.8 pts 39.7%

4.5% China +6.9 pts ▸ 11.4%

10.9% India ◂ +4.7 pts 6.2%

3.1% New Zealand ◂ +1.1 pts 2.0%

2.6% England ◂ +0.4 pts 2.2%

1.3% Vietnam +0.8 pts ▸ 2.1%

2.0% Philippines ◂ +0.6 pts 1.5%

1.0% South Africa ◂ +0.7 pts 0.4%

0.7% Italy +0.2 pts ▸ 0.8%

0.3% Nepal +0.3 pts ▸ 0.6%

Ancestry

10.5% Chinese +12.6 pts ▸ 23.1%

19.7% English +0.2 pts ▸ 19.9%

17.7% Australian ◂ +3.3 pts 14.4%

12.4% Indian ◂ +6.3 pts 6.0%

5.8% Irish +2.7 pts ▸ 8.5%

5.1% Scottish +1.3 pts ▸ 6.5%

4.8% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 4.4%

2.9% Filipino ◂ +1.0 pts 1.9%

2.3% German +0.5 pts ▸ 2.8%

1.7% Vietnamese +0.8 pts ▸ 2.5%

2.4% Greek ◂ +1.1 pts 1.3%

1.0% Dutch +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

Language

Language used at home

52.0% English only ◂ +4.8 pts 47.2%

6.2% Mandarin +8.4 pts ▸ 14.6%

4.4% Hindi ◂ +2.3 pts 2.1%

1.6% Cantonese +1.8 pts ▸ 3.4%

2.4% Punjabi ◂ +2.1 pts 0.3%

1.6% Vietnamese +0.7 pts ▸ 2.3%

1.5% Arabic ◂ +0.3 pts 1.2%

1.1% Greek ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

1.0% Italian +0.1 pts ▸ 1.1%

0.9% Tagalog ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

Religion

Religious affiliation

31.0% No religion +20.0 pts ▸ 51.0%

40.1% Christianity ◂ +17.7 pts 22.4%

11.4% Hinduism ◂ +5.7 pts 5.7%

6.1% Not stated +3.4 pts ▸ 9.5%

3.2% Buddhism +3.2 pts ▸ 6.4%

5.7% Islam ◂ +1.8 pts 3.9%

2.4% Other religions ◂ +1.7 pts 0.7%

0.1% Judaism +0.3 pts ▸ 0.3%

Education & Qualifications

Schools/1k kids in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +1.17 more in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

0.90 2nd pct 2.07 58th pct

Schools ≤3 km in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +5 more in Altona (Western Metropolitan)

23 60th pct 18 43rd pct

Students in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +8,359 more in Altona (Western Metropolitan)

18,382 89th pct 10,023 55th pct

Avg size in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +242 larger in Altona (Western Metropolitan)

799 90th pct 557 64th pct

ICSEA in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) even

1,078 75th pct 1,078 76th pct

Highest year of school

69.1% Year 12 +13.1 pts ▸ 82.2%

9.3% Year 10 ◂ +6.2 pts 3.0%

8.1% Year 11 ◂ +4.3 pts 3.8%

8.0% Year 9 or below ◂ +5.2 pts 2.8%

Highest qualification level

32.2% Bachelor degree +9.6 pts ▸ 41.8%

16.3% Postgraduate degree +7.3 pts ▸ 23.6%

18.5% Certificate III / IV ◂ +12.2 pts 6.3%

15.1% Advanced diploma / diploma ◂ +4.8 pts 10.3%

4.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.2 pts 3.9%

1.1% Certificate I / II ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

Field of qualification

23.2% Management & commerce ◂ +1.8 pts 21.4%

14.8% Engineering & related ◂ +5.6 pts 9.2%

10.4% Society & culture +3.1 pts ▸ 13.5%

9.0% Information technology ◂ +1.6 pts 7.5%

3.4% Creative arts +4.9 pts ▸ 8.3%

7.9% Health ◂ +0.3 pts 7.6%

6.2% Education ◂ +2.2 pts 4.0%

3.6% Natural & physical sciences +2.5 pts ▸ 6.1%

4.7% Food, hospitality & personal services ◂ +0.9 pts 3.8%

4.2% Architecture & building ◂ +0.2 pts 4.0%

0.9% Agriculture & environment ◂ +0.1 pts 0.8%

Income

Personal income in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +$3 higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) gap narrowing

$895 72nd pct $898 72nd pct

Household income in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +$514 higher in Altona (Western Metropolitan) gap widening

$2,123 79th pct $1,609 40th pct

Family income in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +$7 higher in Altona (Western Metropolitan) gap narrowing

$2,336 71st pct $2,329 70th pct

Household income distribution

32.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +3.4 pts 29.5%

21.4% $650–$1,499 +3.7 pts ▸ 25.1%

11.3% Under $650 +8.6 pts ▸ 19.9%

14.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +2.1 pts 12.7%

13.6% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +5.3 pts 8.3%

Personal income distribution

37.5% Under $650 ◂ +1.5 pts 36.0%

29.9% $650–$1,499 ◂ +0.8 pts 29.1%

21.5% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +1.6 pts 19.9%

5.3% $3,000 or more +1.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

6.3% Mental health +2.3 pts ▸ 8.6%

6.7% Asthma ◂ +0.2 pts 6.5%

6.7% Other condition ◂ +0.6 pts 6.1%

5.2% Arthritis ◂ +2.1 pts 3.1%

4.4% Diabetes ◂ +2.6 pts 1.9%

2.4% Heart disease ◂ +0.9 pts 1.6%

1.7% Cancer ◂ +0.3 pts 1.4%

0.8% Lung condition ◂ +0.3 pts 0.5%

0.6% Stroke ◂ +0.2 pts 0.4%

0.3% Dementia even 0.3%

Number of long-term health conditions

72.3% None ◂ +0.2 pts 72.1%

15.3% One condition ◂ +0.6 pts 14.7%

3.8% Two conditions ◂ +0.7 pts 3.2%

1.8% Three or more ◂ +0.7 pts 1.1%

Community Participation

Family & Households

Household size in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +1.0 larger in Altona (Western Metropolitan) gap widening

2.9 86th pct 1.9 0th pct

Family composition

68.6% Couples with children ◂ +34.9 pts 33.7%

18.3% Couples without children +32.5 pts ▸ 50.8%

12.1% One-parent families ◂ +1.9 pts 10.2%

1.0% Other families +4.3 pts ▸ 5.2%

Household size

18.2% 1 person +24.3 pts ▸ 42.5%

27.1% 2 people +11.6 pts ▸ 38.7%

22.7% 4 people ◂ +17.1 pts 5.6%

20.7% 3 people ◂ +9.3 pts 11.3%

7.5% 5 people ◂ +6.1 pts 1.3%

3.8% 6 or more ◂ +3.3 pts 0.5%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +$3 higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) gap narrowing

$387 62nd pct $390 64th pct

Mortgage in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) even gap narrowing

$2,002 69th pct $2,000 68th pct

People / bedroom in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +0.20 higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) gap steady

0.80 29th pct 1.00 93rd pct

How homes are owned or rented

30.8% Rented +36.5 pts ▸ 67.3%

42.6% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +26.9 pts 15.7%

24.1% Owned outright ◂ +10.2 pts 13.9%

1.3% Other tenure +0.6 pts ▸ 2.0%

1.2% Not stated ◂ +0.1 pts 1.2%

Types of homes

83.6% Separate house ◂ +80.7 pts 2.9%

3.8% Flat or apartment +75.8 pts ▸ 79.6%

12.5% Townhouse / semi-detached +4.5 pts ▸ 17.0%

0.1% Other dwelling +0.2 pts ▸ 0.3%

Bedrooms per home

10.7% 2 bedrooms +38.9 pts ▸ 49.6%

42.4% 4 bedrooms ◂ +39.3 pts 3.1%

38.5% 3 bedrooms ◂ +23.9 pts 14.6%

1.0% 1 bedroom +27.1 pts ▸ 28.1%

5.9% 5 or more ◂ +5.1 pts 0.8%

0.1% Studio / none +2.4 pts ▸ 2.5%

Weekly rent distribution

66.6% $350–$549 ◂ +19.4 pts 47.2%

20.5% $200–$349 +7.2 pts ▸ 27.7%

5.0% $550–$749 +5.7 pts ▸ 10.8%

3.2% Under $200 +2.9 pts ▸ 6.1%

1.2% $750 or more +4.4 pts ▸ 5.6%

Monthly mortgage distribution

42.6% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +11.8 pts 30.8%

23.4% $1,000–$1,799 +4.5 pts ▸ 27.9%

16.4% $3,000 or more +7.0 pts ▸ 23.4%

11.0% Under $1,000 +1.7 pts ▸ 12.7%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +214 more in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

290 58th pct 504 88th pct

Stops/1k in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +1.39 more in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

2.67 14th pct 4.06 38th pct

Departures/1k in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +3,888.2 more in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

783.7 41st pct 4,671.8 100th pct

PT routes in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +116 more in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

21 35th pct 137 90th pct

How people get to work

46.3% Car (driver) ◂ +32.5 pts 13.8%

31.5% Worked at home +6.7 pts ▸ 38.2%

0.8% Walked +11.1 pts ▸ 11.9%

2.5% Train +1.6 pts ▸ 4.1%

3.7% Car (passenger) ◂ +2.5 pts 1.2%

0.3% Bicycle +2.3 pts ▸ 2.7%

0.4% Bus +0.5 pts ▸ 0.8%

Motor vehicles per home

4.4% No vehicle +43.6 pts ▸ 48.0%

42.5% 2 vehicles ◂ +32.4 pts 10.1%

36.9% 1 vehicle +2.9 pts ▸ 39.8%

11.2% 3 vehicles ◂ +9.7 pts 1.5%

5.0% 4 or more ◂ +4.4 pts 0.6%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

10.0% Professional & technical +7.5 pts ▸ 17.5%

5.6% Accommodation & food +8.2 pts ▸ 13.7%

11.0% Health care & social assistance ◂ +0.2 pts 10.8%

7.8% Education & training +1.3 pts ▸ 9.1%

8.8% Retail trade ◂ +0.8 pts 8.0%

8.4% Construction ◂ +5.1 pts 3.4%

7.4% Transport & warehousing ◂ +4.4 pts 3.0%

6.4% Finance & insurance ◂ +0.1 pts 6.4%

6.4% Manufacturing ◂ +3.4 pts 3.0%

6.2% Public administration & safety ◂ +1.0 pts 5.2%

3.4% Administrative & support +0.3 pts ▸ 3.7%

3.2% Wholesale trade ◂ +1.6 pts 1.6%

Occupations people work in

26.3% Professionals +13.6 pts ▸ 39.9%

13.9% Clerical & administrative ◂ +3.2 pts 10.7%

13.7% Managers ◂ +1.3 pts 12.5%

10.0% Community & personal service +1.5 pts ▸ 11.5%

11.4% Technicians & trades ◂ +3.6 pts 7.8%

8.0% Sales workers ◂ +0.9 pts 7.1%

7.2% Labourers ◂ +1.0 pts 6.2%

7.2% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +4.8 pts 2.4%

Walkability

Walk score in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +3.2 higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

6.4 63rd pct 9.5 100th pct

Types ≤15 min in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +2.0 more in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

6.0 59th pct 8.0 100th pct

15-min city in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +23.8 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

76.1% 59th pct 99.9% 100th pct

Walk to shops in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +21.6 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

78.3% 65th pct 99.9% 100th pct

Walk to transit in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +4.9 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

95.1% 62nd pct 100.0% 99th pct

Walk to school in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +12.7 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

85.6% 65th pct 98.3% 95th pct

Walk to a park in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +0.7 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

99.2% 66th pct 99.9% 82nd pct

Walk to health in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +43.7 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

55.8% 58th pct 99.5% 100th pct

Amenities/1k in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +11.3 more in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

10.6 15th pct 21.9 86th pct

Intersections/km² in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +515 higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

253 85th pct 767 100th pct

Mean slope in Altona (Western Metropolitan)in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) +7.1 pts higher in Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

2.5% 0th pct 9.6% 93rd pct

Compare Altona (Western Metropolitan) with nearby areas

Tarneit (Western Metropolitan) Williamstown (Western Metropolitan) Footscray (Western Metropolitan) St Albans (Western Metropolitan) Niddrie (Western Metropolitan) Kororoit (Western Metropolitan) Albert Park (Southern Metropolitan) Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)

Compare Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) with nearby areas

Albert Park (Southern Metropolitan) Richmond (Northern Metropolitan) Brunswick (Northern Metropolitan) Prahran (Southern Metropolitan) Northcote (Northern Metropolitan) Essendon (Western Metropolitan) Williamstown (Western Metropolitan) Pascoe Vale (Northern Metropolitan)

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Altona (Western Metropolitan) vs Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sed/SED20207/altona/vs/SED24703/melbourne