Cockatoo, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Cockatoo VIC is 4,408 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Cockatoo is $853 per week ($44,356 per year). Median rent in Cockatoo is $370 per week ($1,603 per month). Cockatoo has a median age of 36 years, younger than the national median of 38. Cockatoo has a population density of 156 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Cockatoo is England. The most common religion is No religion (60.7% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is German. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cockatoo is $1,742.

There were 237 recorded offences in Cockatoo in 2025-25, a rate of 54 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was assault (47 offences).

Population
4,408
Census 2021
Median income
$853/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$370/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
36years
Census 2021

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021; offences from Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au), 2025-25.

Cockatoo vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Cockatoo is $853 a week, 11% above the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 366th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $370 a week, $54 more than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 18.6% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 36, 7 years younger than in the typical VIC suburb (43).

The typical suburb is the median across suburbs with 200 or more residents. ABS Census 2021, calculated by GDP.com.au.
MeasureCockatooTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$853/wk$767/wk +11%$766/wk
Household income$1,991/wk$1,687/wk +18%$1,637/wk
Rent$370/wk$316/wk +17%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,742/mo$1,723/mo +1%$1,733/mo
Median age3643 −7 yrs42
Rent share of household income18.6%19.1% −0.5 pts20.3%
Income, rent and mortgage against the typical suburb Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS, calculated by GDP.com.au
Bar chart of median income, rent and mortgage repayment in Cockatoo, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Cockatoo Population

4,408 residents at the 2021 Census.

Cockatoo Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$853/wk
$44,356 per year
Ranked 2,727 of 14,663
Median Rent
$370/wk
$1,603 per month
Ranked 2,711 of 14,663
Median Age
36years
2 years younger than the national median
Mortgage
$1,742/mo
Avg household size: 2.8 · 0.8 per bedroom

Valid: Census 2021 · Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing.

Cockatoo Rent Prices & Affordability

19% of median household income goes on median rent

Marks at 25% and 35%. Band: affordable.

Household income $1,991/wk
Median rent $370/wk
Rent to income 18.6%

Rent is under 25% of household income, generally considered affordable.

Median rent in Cockatoo against your income

About $8,628 a month
Median rent $370/wk
Left after rent $1,621/wk
Rent share 18.6%

Cockatoo Schools

2
schools nearby
1
government
1029
avg ICSEA score
384
total students
Fernbrook School Independent
Combined · Prep-10 · 78 students
1049
ICSEA
Cockatoo Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 306 students
1009
ICSEA

Source: Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025. ICSEA is the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (national average 1000).

All schools near Cockatoo, with a map

Cockatoo Map

Cockatoo, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Cockatoo, Victoria: 37.9264°S, 145.5090°E

Cockatoo Circle size: offences per 1,000 residents Schools (2)

People in Cockatoo

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 50.7% (2,232) Female 49.3% (2,174)

Population Density

156
people per km²
4,408 people · 28.2 km²

Households

2.8
Avg household size
0.8
Persons per bedroom
$2,196
Family income/wk

Age Distribution

0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-69
70-74
75-79
80-84
85+
Male Female

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Most common overseas birthplaces

England
4.1%
New Zealand
1.3%
Netherlands
0.5%
Scotland
0.5%
Poland
0.4%
United States of America
0.4%
Italy
0.3%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G09 Country of Birth by SAL

Most common languages at home other than English

German
0.4%
Spanish
0.4%
Polish
0.2%
Thai
0.2%
Greek
0.2%
Russian
0.2%
Sinhalese
0.1%

Shares are of all residents. Source: ABS Census 2021, G13 Language Used at Home by SAL

Ancestry

Australian
43.6%
English
40.2%
Irish
10.8%
Scottish
9.7%
German
4.5%
Dutch
3.9%
Italian
3.6%
New Zealander
1.4%
Polish
1.0%
Greek
0.9%
Australian Aboriginal
0.9%

Shares are of the suburb population. People can report up to two ancestries, so shares add to more than 100%. Source: ABS Census 2021, G08 Ancestry by SAL

Religion

No religion
60.7%
Catholic
10.1%
Not stated
9.7%
Anglican
7.9%
Christian (other)
2.2%
Uniting Church
2.0%
Buddhism
1.2%
Baptist
1.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G14 Religion by SAL

Indigenous Population

1.0%
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

Source: ABS Census 2021, G07 Indigenous Status by SAL

Marital Status

Married
47.1% 1,604
Separated
2.8% 97
Divorced
9.6% 327
Widowed
2.8% 96
Never married
37.6% 1,281

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: children under 15
48.9%
Couple: no children
21.5%
Couple: no children under 15
16.9%
One parent: children under 15
7.0%
One parent: no children under 15
5.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
18.4%
2 persons
30.5%
3 persons
18.0%
4 persons
20.3%
5 persons
9.3%
6+ persons
3.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Cockatoo

Housing Tenure

Of the 1,431 occupied private dwellings in Cockatoo at the 2021 Census, 7.5% were rented, 24.2% owned outright and 65.6% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
0.9% 13 dwellings
Owned outright
24.2% 346 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
65.6% 939 dwellings
Rented
7.5% 108 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
1.8% 26 dwellings

Source: ABS Census 2021, Suburb and Locality (SAL)

Dwelling Types

Separate house
100.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
2.0%
2 bedrooms
8.8%
3 bedrooms
51.7%
4 bedrooms
28.9%
5 bedrooms
7.6%
6+ bedrooms
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G41 Number of Bedrooms by SAL

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
4.3%
$300-$449/mo
1.8%
$450-$599/mo
1.5%
$600-$799/mo
3.0%
$800-$999/mo
5.7%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
18.0%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
18.9%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
29.3%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
12.2%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
5.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
1.2%
1 vehicle
21.1%
2 vehicles
43.7%
3 vehicles
19.1%
4+ vehicles
14.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G34 Motor Vehicles per Dwelling by SAL

Work, income and education in Cockatoo

Employment

Employed full-time
44.5% 1,303 people
Employed part-time
24.4% 713 people
Unemployed
2.6% 76 people
Not in labour force
28.5% 833 people

Source: ABS Census 2021, G46 Labour Force Status by SAL

Occupation

Technicians & Trade Workers
25.6%
Professionals
20.6%
Community & Personal Service
13.8%
Managers
12.7%
Clerical & Administrative
11.5%
Labourers
6.4%
Sales Workers
4.8%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
4.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Industry of Employment by Occupation

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
0.8%
$1-$149/wk
0.3%
$150-$299/wk
0.7%
$300-$399/wk
1.8%
$400-$499/wk
5.2%
$500-$649/wk
1.8%
$650-$799/wk
5.2%
$800-$999/wk
4.9%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
7.7%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
7.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
6.5%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
7.3%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
16.2%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
12.8%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
9.6%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
4.8%
$4,000+/wk
6.7%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
10.3%
$1-$149/wk
5.3%
$150-$299/wk
6.2%
$300-$399/wk
2.8%
$400-$499/wk
2.7%
$500-$649/wk
3.0%
$650-$799/wk
9.7%
$800-$999/wk
10.1%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
13.0%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
10.7%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
9.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
5.8%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
9.1%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.1%
$3,500+/wk
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
75.6%
Did not go to work
16.3%
Car (passenger)
4.3%
Truck
1.4%
Walked only
1.2%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.7%
Other
0.3%
Taxi/Rideshare
0.2%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G62 Method of Travel to Work by SAL

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
57.1%
Year 10 or equivalent
20.1%
Year 11 or equivalent
16.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
5.9%

Shares are of people whose highest year of school is Year 9 to 12 only. Source: ABS Census 2021, G16 Highest Year of School by SAL

Qualifications

Certificate III/IV
48.5%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
20.6%
Bachelor Degree
19.7%
Postgraduate Degree
4.8%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.4%
Certificate I/II
2.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G49 Non-School Qualification by SAL

Field of Study

Engineering
20.8%
Society & Culture
14.1%
Management & Commerce
12.6%
Architecture & Building
11.5%
Health
11.0%
Education
10.4%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
6.3%
Creative Arts
4.7%
Agriculture & Environment
3.7%
Natural & Physical Sciences
3.2%
Information Technology
1.6%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G51 Field of Study by SAL

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
39.9%
Secondary: Government
25.5%
Pre-school
12.4%
Vocational Education
10.3%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
6.0%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
3.3%
Secondary: Catholic
1.6%
Primary: Catholic
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G15 Type of Educational Institution by SAL

More from the 2021 Census

Need for Assistance

Does not have need for assistance
87.1%
Has need for assistance
4.7%
Need for assistance not stated
8.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G18 Core Activity Need for Assistance by SAL

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
515
Asthma
212
Arthritis
140
Diabetes
100
Heart disease
77
Lung condition
77
Cancer
58
Stroke
31
Kidney disease
26

Source: ABS Census 2021, G19 Long-term Health Conditions by SAL

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
14.8% 460
Did not provide
85.2% 2,656

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
16.3% 507
Not a volunteer
83.8% 2,613

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Current ADF: Regular
0.2% 5
Current ADF: Reserves
0.2% 6
Previously served
2.4% 75
Never served
97.3% 3,056

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
28.8%
1 child
13.3%
2 children
30.4%
3 children
18.4%
4 children
8.1%
5+ children
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G28 Children Ever Born by SAL

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
8
1951: 1960
34
1961: 1970
98
1971: 1980
73
1981: 1990
96
1991: 2000
49
2001: 2010
81
2011: 2015
47
2016
6
2017
4
2018
8

Source: ABS Census 2021, G10 Year of Arrival by SAL

Population Mobility

9.3%
moved in the last year
32.6%
moved in the last 5 years
3.4%
unemployment rate (Census)
67.2%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
3,610
Moved from VIC
275
Moved: same area (SA2)
69
Moved from NT
7
Moved from overseas
6
Moved from TAS
5
Moved from QLD
5
Moved from NSW
3

Source: ABS Census 2021, G44 Address 1 Year Ago by SAL

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
23.1%
5: 14 hours
31.6%
15: 29 hours
15.3%
30+ hours
12.2%
Did not do domestic work
17.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G24 Unpaid Domestic Work by SAL

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
85.2%
Step family: no other children
9.7%
Blended family: no other children
5.1%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cockatoo Crime Statistics

237 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Assault
47
Justice Procedures
42
Weapons
39
Theft
38
Property Damage
27
Break & Enter
27
Fraud
10
Drug Offences
4
Public Order
3

Total offences by year

2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (crimestatistics.vic.gov.au).

Cheaper alternatives with similar incomes

Herne Hill (Vic.)
Income: $870/wk Rent: $270/wk $100/wk less rent
Brown Hill (Vic.)
Income: $875/wk Rent: $290/wk $80/wk less rent
Mount Helen
Income: $808/wk Rent: $345/wk $25/wk less rent
Woori Yallock
Income: $743/wk Rent: $346/wk $24/wk less rent
Geelong West
Income: $974/wk Rent: $350/wk $20/wk less rent
Cardigan
Income: $883/wk Rent: $350/wk $20/wk less rent
Mount Pleasant (Vic.)
Income: $690/wk Rent: $280/wk $90/wk less rent
North Bendigo
Income: $707/wk Rent: $285/wk $85/wk less rent

Suburbs near Cockatoo

The closest suburb to Cockatoo is Emerald (Vic.), 6.6 km away.

Emerald (Vic.)
6.6 km away · income $851/wk · rent $400/wk
Pakenham Upper
9.2 km away · income $880/wk · rent $255/wk
Monbulk
9.5 km away · income $759/wk · rent $369/wk
Kallista
9.7 km away · income $821/wk · rent $347/wk
The Patch
9.9 km away · income $874/wk · rent $415/wk
Beaconsfield Upper
10.9 km away · income $1,001/wk · rent $368/wk

Compare Cockatoo (Vic.)

Frequently Asked Questions About Cockatoo

What is the population of Cockatoo VIC?

The population of Cockatoo VIC is 4,408 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 156 people per km². Cockatoo is ranked #1,758 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Cockatoo?

The median personal income in Cockatoo VIC is $853 per week, or $44,356 per year. The median household income is $1,991 per week. Family income is $2,196 per week. Cockatoo is ranked #2,727 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Cockatoo?

Median rent in Cockatoo VIC is $370 per week ($1,603 per month). Rent represents 18.6% of household income, which is considered affordable. Cockatoo ranks #2,711 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Cockatoo?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cockatoo VIC is $1,742. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Cockatoo?

The median age in Cockatoo VIC is 36 years. This is younger than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Cockatoo a good suburb to live in?

Cockatoo is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 4,408. The median income is $853/wk, which is above the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as affordable (18.6% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Australian Average Salary Australian House Prices Melbourne Cost of Living

Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 20600. All dollar figures in AUD.