Altona Meadows (Vic.)

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Based on demographic assessments of ABS regional updates, alongside physical address updates verified by Districts since the Census, the suburb of Altona Meadows is estimated to have a population of 18,800 as of May 2026. This represents an addition of 321 people (1.7%) compared to the 2021 Census, when the count was 18,479 people. The calculation is derived from the resident population of 18,783, calculated by Districts using the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 27 validated new addresses added after the Census date. This population level translates to a density of 1,783 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the national average for locations analyzed by Districts. The primary driver of this population growth was overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 77.0% of the overall population gains in recent times.

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The suburb of Altona Meadows is characterized by a workforce with diverse skills across multiple sectors, presenting an unemployment rate of 5.0% and an estimated annual job growth rate of 1.9%, according to Districts regional aggregations. As of March 2026, there are 10,112 employed residents, with the local unemployment rate sitting 0.2% higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%. Workforce participation is slightly lower than the metropolitan standard, standing at 67.3% compared to Greater Melbourne's 70.2%. Census data indicates that a high proportion of residents, 26.6%, worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

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Based on Districts aggregations of ATO tax return statistics from financial year 2023, the suburb of Altona Meadows recorded a median taxpayer income of $51,989 and an average income of $59,472. These amounts are below the national average and compare to medians and averages of $57,688 and $75,164 across Greater Melbourne. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $56,990 for median income and $65,193 for average income. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in the area were modest, falling between the 34th and 39th percentiles. Income distribution data shows that 34.3% of the population (6,448 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is similar to the broader metropolitan distribution where fall into this range. Discretionary income stands at of total income after housing costs, and the local SEIFA income index ranks in the th decile.

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The distribution of housing types in the suburb of Altona Meadows, as recorded in the latest Census, was 85.1% separate houses and 14.9% other dwellings (including semi-detached properties, apartments, and alternative structures), compared to Melbourne metro's mix of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. The rate of outright home ownership in the suburb of Altona Meadows was significantly higher than the metropolitan average at 38.5%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (34.3%) or occupied by tenants (27.1%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the locality was notably below the metropolitan average at $1,700, and the median weekly rent was recorded at $341, compared to Melbourne metro figures of $2,000 and $390. On a national level, mortgage repayments in the suburb of Altona Meadows are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rents are below the national median of $375.

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Families make up the majority of households at 70.5%, consisting of 31.5% couples with children, 24.1% couples without children, and 13.7% single parent households. The remaining 29.5% are non-family households, which are dominated by single-person households at 27.0%, while group households account for 2.5%. The average household size of 2.5 individuals is slightly smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

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The locality presents educational characteristics where university qualification levels (24.2%) are notably below the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This indicates both an area of need and a potential focus for targeted education programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 16.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees (5.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Vocational and technical training is prominent, with 31.7% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (21.0%).

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Public transport systems in the suburb of Altona Meadows include 46 active stops, which consist of bus services. These stops are connected by 6 separate routes, providing a combined total of 788 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is considered good, with residents living an average of 261 meters from the nearest stop. Because of the residential nature of the area, most workers travel outside the suburb, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 88%, followed by trains at 7%. Car ownership stands at an average of 1.3 vehicles per household. A high percentage of residents, 26.6%, worked from home (2021 Census; potentially reflecting pandemic restrictions).

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Based on assessments of mortality and chronic illness rates, health indicators point to below-average outcomes in the suburb of Altona Meadows. While the prevalence of standard health conditions in the broader population is typical, it is elevated among older age groups compared to national averages. The rate of private health insurance coverage is relatively low, held by approximately 50% of the population (~9,473 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

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The suburb of Altona Meadows displays high levels of cultural diversity, with 34.9% of the population born outside Australia and 33.3% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, representing 55.2% of residents. The most distinct relative overrepresentation is for Islam, which accounts for 4.7% of the population, compared to 5.6% across Greater Melbourne.

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The median age in the suburb of Altona Meadows is 41 years, which is older than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and higher than the Australian median of 38. Compared to metropolitan averages, the 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 11.7% of the local population, whereas the 15 - 24 age bracket is underrepresented at 9.6%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 5.0% to 6.9%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.3% to 12.1%. Age structure modeling indicates significant shifts by 2041, with the 75 to 84 group projected to grow by , adding people to reach a total of . The aging trend is reflected by the fact that residents aged and older are expected to make up of total population growth, while declines are projected for the to and to cohorts.

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Altona Meadows currently has an estimated 1,015 children under 5 years old, comprising approximately 612 children aged 0-2 and 407 children aged 3-4. This cohort declined by an estimated 8% since the previous census. while population forecasts indicate future decline, with an anticipated decrease of 10% by 2041 (to approximately 915 children). Meanwhile the 5-12 cohort currently amounts to 1,554. Birth rates in the area have averaged 10.8 per 1,000 residents over the latest two-year period, a moderate rate (within the middle tier nationally). This rate has slowed down slightly in recent years however.