Cowes, VIC: suburb profile

The population of Cowes VIC is 6,593 according to the 2021 Census. The median personal income in Cowes is $586 per week ($30,472 per year). Median rent in Cowes is $331 per week ($1,434 per month). Cowes has a median age of 55 years, older than the national median of 38. Cowes has a population density of 316 people per km².

The most common overseas birthplace in Cowes is England. The most common religion is No religion (46.3% of residents). After English, the most spoken language is Italian. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cowes is $1,550.

There were 639 recorded offences in Cowes in 2025-25, a rate of 97 offences per 1,000 people. The most common offence category was theft (148 offences).

Population
6,593
Census 2021
Median income
$586/wk
Personal, Census 2021
Median rent
$331/wk
Weekly, Census 2021
Median age
55years
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.

Cowes vs the typical VIC suburb

The median personal income in Cowes is $586 a week, 24% below the typical VIC suburb ($767). That ranks 1,130th of 1,274 VIC suburbs with 200 or more residents. Median rent is $331 a week, $15 more than the typical VIC suburb. Rent takes 32.3% of the median household income here, against 19.1% in the typical VIC suburb. The median resident is 55, 12 years older 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.
MeasureCowesTypical VICDifferenceTypical Australia
Personal income$586/wk$767/wk −24%$766/wk
Household income$1,026/wk$1,687/wk −39%$1,637/wk
Rent$331/wk$316/wk +5%$330/wk
Mortgage repayment$1,550/mo$1,723/mo −10%$1,733/mo
Median age5543 +12 yrs42
Rent share of household income32.3%19.1% +13.2 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 Cowes, the typical VIC suburb and the typical Australian suburb.

Cowes Population

6,593 residents at the 2021 Census.

Cowes Median Income & Rent

Median Income
$586/wk
$30,472 per year
Ranked 7,279 of 14,663
Median Rent
$331/wk
$1,434 per month
Ranked 3,795 of 14,663
Median Age
55years
17 years older than the national median
Mortgage
$1,550/mo
Avg household size: 2.1 · 0.7 per bedroom

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

Cowes Rent Prices & Affordability

32% of median household income goes on median rent

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

Household income $1,026/wk
Median rent $331/wk
Rent to income 32.3%

Rent is between 25% and 35% of household income: moderate housing costs.

Median rent in Cowes against your income

About $4,446 a month
Median rent $331/wk
Left after rent $695/wk
Rent share 32.3%

Cowes Schools

2
schools nearby
1
government
1007
avg ICSEA score
633
total students
Cowes Primary School Government
Primary · Prep-6 · 523 students
1019
ICSEA
Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School Catholic
Primary · Prep-6 · 110 students
995
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 Cowes, with a map

Cowes Map

Cowes, Victoria Map data: OpenStreetMap
Loading map…

Cowes, Victoria: 38.4714°S, 145.2302°E

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

People in Cowes

Demographics

Gender Split

Male 47.0% (3,100) Female 53.0% (3,495)

Population Density

316
people per km²
6,593 people · 20.9 km²

Households

2.1
Avg household size
0.7
Persons per bedroom
$1,339
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
6.4%
New Zealand
1.6%
India
1.2%
Italy
0.9%
Scotland
0.7%
Germany
0.6%
South Africa
0.6%

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

Most common languages at home other than English

Italian
1.0%
Punjabi
0.8%
Greek
0.6%
Mandarin
0.6%
Spanish
0.5%
German
0.4%
Cantonese
0.4%

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

Ancestry

English
43.5%
Australian
35.6%
Scottish
12.0%
Irish
11.8%
Italian
4.2%
German
3.6%
Dutch
2.4%
Chinese
1.3%
Greek
1.0%
Indian
1.0%
Maltese
1.0%

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
46.3%
Catholic
16.1%
Anglican
13.2%
Not stated
7.8%
Uniting Church
4.0%
Christian (other)
2.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed
2.0%
Baptist
2.0%

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
49.5% 2,806
Separated
4.9% 275
Divorced
12.4% 702
Widowed
8.8% 496
Never married
24.5% 1,385

Source: ABS Census 2021, G05 Marital Status by SAL

Family Structure

Couple: no children
43.2%
Couple: children under 15
32.6%
Couple: no children under 15
8.8%
One parent: children under 15
8.8%
One parent: no children under 15
6.5%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G29 Family Composition by SAL

Household Size

1 person
34.9%
2 persons
40.9%
3 persons
10.2%
4 persons
8.3%
5 persons
4.3%
6+ persons
1.4%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G35 Household Size by SAL

Homes in Cowes

Housing Tenure

Of the 2,747 occupied private dwellings in Cowes at the 2021 Census, 26.5% were rented, 46.3% owned outright and 22.1% owned with a mortgage.

Other tenure type
2.4% 66 dwellings
Owned outright
46.3% 1,272 dwellings
Owned with mortgage
22.1% 606 dwellings
Rented
26.5% 727 dwellings
Tenure type not stated
2.6% 71 dwellings

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

Dwelling Types

Separate house
87.7%
Semi-detached (1 storey)
9.5%
Semi-detached (2+ storey)
2.8%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G36 Dwelling Structure by SAL

Number of Bedrooms

1 bedroom
3.7%
2 bedrooms
16.9%
3 bedrooms
44.5%
4 bedrooms
29.9%
5 bedrooms
4.2%
6+ bedrooms
0.8%

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

Monthly Mortgage Repayments

$0-$299/mo
6.8%
$300-$449/mo
3.0%
$450-$599/mo
3.0%
$600-$799/mo
4.1%
$800-$999/mo
8.3%
$1,000-$1,399/mo
19.0%
$1,400-$1,799/mo
24.0%
$1,800-$2,399/mo
18.1%
$2,400-$2,999/mo
7.4%
$3,000-$3,999/mo
6.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G38 Mortgage Repayment by SAL

Car Ownership

0 vehicles
5.8%
1 vehicle
44.9%
2 vehicles
36.5%
3 vehicles
9.0%
4+ vehicles
3.8%

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

Work, income and education in Cowes

Employment

Employed full-time
22.0% 1,086 people
Employed part-time
20.4% 1,007 people
Unemployed
2.2% 110 people
Not in labour force
55.4% 2,740 people

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

Occupation

Professionals
22.9%
Technicians & Trade Workers
18.7%
Community & Personal Service
14.6%
Managers
14.5%
Clerical & Administrative
9.7%
Labourers
9.2%
Sales Workers
8.2%
Machinery Operators & Drivers
2.3%

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

Weekly Household Income

Nil/Negative/wk
2.3%
$1-$149/wk
1.5%
$150-$299/wk
1.7%
$300-$399/wk
3.9%
$400-$499/wk
10.2%
$500-$649/wk
8.4%
$650-$799/wk
11.3%
$800-$999/wk
9.7%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
9.4%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
9.1%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.4%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
6.1%
$2,000-$2,499/wk
6.8%
$2,500-$2,999/wk
4.2%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
3.2%
$3,500-$3,999/wk
1.9%
$4,000+/wk
4.9%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G33 Household Income by SAL

Personal Weekly Income Distribution

$0 or less/wk
9.4%
$1-$149/wk
5.3%
$150-$299/wk
7.5%
$300-$399/wk
7.7%
$400-$499/wk
6.2%
$500-$649/wk
6.4%
$650-$799/wk
12.3%
$800-$999/wk
11.5%
$1,000-$1,249/wk
10.3%
$1,250-$1,499/wk
6.8%
$1,500-$1,749/wk
5.0%
$1,750-$1,999/wk
2.9%
$2,000-$2,999/wk
5.0%
$3,000-$3,499/wk
1.3%
$3,500+/wk
2.3%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G17 Personal Income by SAL

How People Get to Work

Car (driver)
67.0%
Did not go to work
17.7%
Walked only
5.9%
Car (passenger)
5.6%
Bicycle
1.6%
Truck
1.0%
Other
0.7%
Bus
0.3%
Motorbike/Scooter
0.2%

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

Education Level

Year 12 or equivalent
51.5%
Year 10 or equivalent
22.4%
Year 11 or equivalent
17.9%
Year 9 or equivalent
8.2%

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
39.9%
Advanced Diploma/Diploma
23.9%
Bachelor Degree
22.4%
Postgraduate Degree
5.7%
Graduate Diploma/Certificate
4.8%
Certificate I/II
3.3%

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

Field of Study

Management & Commerce
19.2%
Society & Culture
14.2%
Health
12.9%
Engineering
12.1%
Architecture & Building
10.3%
Education
10.1%
Food, Hospitality & Personal Services
9.7%
Creative Arts
3.9%
Agriculture & Environment
3.4%
Natural & Physical Sciences
2.2%
Information Technology
1.8%

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

School & University Attendance

Primary: Government
33.0%
Secondary: Government
18.8%
Secondary: Other Non-Govt
12.7%
Pre-school
10.8%
Vocational Education
10.3%
Primary: Other Non-Govt
8.0%
Primary: Catholic
5.3%
Secondary: Catholic
1.2%

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
85.6%
Has need for assistance
8.4%
Need for assistance not stated
5.9%

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

Long-term Health Conditions

Mental health
755
Arthritis
346
Heart disease
253
Asthma
249
Diabetes
249
Lung condition
209
Cancer
162
Stroke
123
Kidney disease
92
Dementia
40

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

Unpaid Carers

Provided unpaid assistance
15.0% 777
Did not provide
85.0% 4,386

Source: ABS Census 2021, G25 Unpaid Assistance by SAL

Volunteering

Volunteer
19.0% 986
Not a volunteer
81.0% 4,207

Source: ABS Census 2021, G23 Voluntary Work by SAL

Military Service

Previously served
4.5% 234
Never served
95.5% 5,006

Source: ABS Census 2021, G22 ADF Service by SAL

Children Ever Born

No children
22.5%
1 child
11.8%
2 children
35.3%
3 children
21.7%
4 children
7.9%
5+ children
0.8%

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

When Migrants Arrived

Before 1951
55
1951: 1960
169
1961: 1970
251
1971: 1980
166
1981: 1990
147
1991: 2000
93
2001: 2010
149
2011: 2015
97
2016
23
2017
22
2018
29
2019
31
2020
17
2021
3

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

Population Mobility

19.3%
moved in the last year
55.3%
moved in the last 5 years
4.4%
unemployment rate (Census)
43.8%
labour force participation

Source: ABS Census 2021, G43 Summary by SAL

Where Residents Moved From

Same address
4,863
Moved from VIC
572
Moved: same area (SA2)
513
Moved from overseas
23
Moved from NSW
13
Moved from WA
6
Moved from QLD
6
Moved from SA
4
Moved from NT
4
Moved from TAS
3
Moved from ACT
3

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

Unpaid Domestic Work

Less than 5 hours
18.2%
5: 14 hours
29.7%
15: 29 hours
15.7%
30+ hours
12.3%
Did not do domestic work
24.1%

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

Family Blending

Intact family: no other children
84.6%
Step family: no other children
7.5%
Blended family: no other children
5.5%
Intact family: other children present
1.4%
Other couple: children only
1.0%

Source: ABS Census 2021, G31 Family Blending by SAL

Cowes Crime Statistics

639 reported offences in 2025-25, by category.

Theft
148
Justice Procedures
134
Assault
132
Property Damage
73
Break & Enter
59
Fraud
40
Public Order
28
Drug Offences
12
Weapons
7
Robbery
3
Other
2
Traffic
1

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

Cohuna
Income: $594/wk Rent: $185/wk $146/wk less rent
Lakes Entrance
Income: $514/wk Rent: $252/wk $79/wk less rent
Wonthaggi
Income: $515/wk Rent: $270/wk $61/wk less rent
Cape Paterson
Income: $656/wk Rent: $300/wk $31/wk less rent
Coleraine
Income: $502/wk Rent: $140/wk $191/wk less rent
Rushworth
Income: $486/wk Rent: $190/wk $141/wk less rent
Charlton (Vic.)
Income: $545/wk Rent: $200/wk $131/wk less rent
Koondrook
Income: $538/wk Rent: $200/wk $131/wk less rent

Suburbs near Cowes

The closest suburb to Cowes is Sunset Strip (Vic.), 4.1 km away.

Sunset Strip (Vic.)
4.1 km away · income $636/wk · rent $350/wk
Silverleaves
4.8 km away · income $733/wk · rent $335/wk
Hmas Cerberus
10.3 km away · income $1,087/wk · rent $260/wk
Somers
11.8 km away · income $874/wk · rent $391/wk
Cape Woolamai
12.7 km away · income $732/wk · rent $340/wk
Crib Point
13.0 km away · income $730/wk · rent $340/wk

Compare Cowes

Frequently Asked Questions About Cowes

What is the population of Cowes VIC?

The population of Cowes VIC is 6,593 according to the ABS Census 2021. The suburb has a population density of 316 people per km². Cowes is ranked #1,156 out of 14,663 suburbs by population.

What is the median income in Cowes?

The median personal income in Cowes VIC is $586 per week, or $30,472 per year. The median household income is $1,026 per week. Family income is $1,339 per week. Cowes is ranked #7,279 by income out of 14,663 Australian suburbs.

How much is rent in Cowes?

Median rent in Cowes VIC is $331 per week ($1,434 per month). Rent represents 32.3% of household income, which is considered moderate. Cowes ranks #3,795 out of 14,663 suburbs by rent.

What are mortgage repayments in Cowes?

The median monthly mortgage repayment in Cowes VIC is $1,550. This data comes from the ABS Census 2021 and reflects mortgage repayments for owner-occupied dwellings.

What is the median age in Cowes?

The median age in Cowes VIC is 55 years. This is older than the national median age of 38 years.

Is Cowes a good suburb to live in?

Cowes is a suburb in Victoria with a population of 6,593. The median income is $586/wk, which is below the typical VIC suburb ($767/wk). Rent affordability is rated as moderate (32.3% of household income). See the full suburb profile above for detailed statistics.

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Data: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. SA2 area: 20657. All dollar figures in AUD.