suburb.guide

VIC · Bass Coast Council

Cowes, 3922

Est. population · Jun 2025

7,112

Growth (1 yr)

+2.0%

Growth (5 yr)

+13.1%

Median age

55

Median income

$1,026/wk

Employment rate

41.8%

Median house price · 4th Quarter 2025

$680,000

Languages at home

8.5%non-English

Most common: Italian, Punjabi, Greek

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

44/100
Average

Top 49% of Victoria's suburbs

Verified 100% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Coastal
  • Green suburb
  • Excellent transport
  • Education hub
  • High desirability
What Cowes is known for: Coastal, Green suburb, Excellent transport, Education hub, High desirability

Suburb profile

Cowes wears its coastal identity openly, a mid-sized suburb built around sand, sea and an easy outdoor rhythm. The wider metro area and neighbouring suburbs stay within easy reach when you want a change of scene. A mature community gives the area a calm, settled social fabric, with families and grandchildren still a visible part of community life.

Green space punches above what many coastal suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Strong connections via buses keep the wider area accessible. Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state.

Active development is adding new homes and refreshed pockets throughout the suburb.

The desirability picture is around average, weighed down by softer community and employment, plus safety relative to similar coastal suburbs. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Cowes snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

$680k

-24% change

Median rent

—

No data available

Population (ERP)

7,112

+2.0% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

51.7%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#37

among Coastal & beach · Mature

Safety

71st

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

87th

percentile in VIC

Advantage (IRSAD)

3/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

50th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
44.0/100 — Average
State standing
Top 49% of Victoria's suburbs
National rank
3078th in Australia
State rank
621st in VIC
Peer rank
#37 among Coastal & beach · Mature suburbs
Cohort rank
#74 among Coastal & beach suburbs
Data confidence
100%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

Median house price (4th Quarter 2025)
$680,000
Median price change
-24.3%

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

7,112(June 2025)

+2.0% annual · +13.1% over 5 years · 87th percentile in VIC

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+2.0%
5-year growth
+13.1%
Change in 1 year
+140
Change in 5 years
+826
Growth rank in VIC
87th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~8,300), extrapolated at +3.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
6,593
Median age
55
Median household income / week
$1,026
Dwelling vacancy
51.7%
Unoccupied private dwellings
2,939 of 5,689
Median monthly mortgage
$1,550
Employment rate
41.8%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
2,290 / 324 / 111 (+ 10 other)

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2026)
610
Against the person
129
Against property
279
Rate per 1,000 residents
85.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 51 residents
State safety percentile
70.8th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate)
+7.2%

Most common offence types

  • B21 Criminal Damage59
  • B43 Steal From A Retail Store31
  • B49 Other Theft33
  • B53 Obtain Benefit By Deception41
  • E21 Breach Family Violence Order132

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
2
Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
1,007
Median ICSEA percentile
50th
School list
  • Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 995 · 45th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 110 students · Top SEA quarter 6% · 1.6 km awayView on My School →
  • Cowes Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 1019 · 55th percentile · LBOTE 10% · 523 students · Top SEA quarter 16% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Childcare

1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap

  • Island Kids Early Learning CentreIndustrial Waychildcare

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

Childcare centre count

Data sources & freshness

  • Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated

Public transport

29 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Dolphin Dr/Back Beach Rd
  • Ventnor Beach Rd/Gap Rd
  • Ventnor Beach Rd/Gap Rd
  • Walton St/Thompson Ave
  • Walton St/Thompson Ave

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

37 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

1 restaurants · 1 cafes · 1 places of worship · 1 playgrounds · 2 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily errands
  • Great for outdoor family life — 14 parks mapped in suburb, 1 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport — 29 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
34/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0.15
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.3
Parks per 1,000 residents
2.12
Food & drink(2)
  • Cafe
  • Bedrock Family RestaurantRestaurant
Community(1)
  • Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary SchoolSchool

    6 Cowes-Rhyll Road

Health & services(3)
  • Cowes Dental SurgeryDentist

    236 Thompson Avenue

  • Denture ClinicDentist

    232 Thompson Avenue, Cowes

  • Phillip Island Family Dental CareDentist

    187 Thompson Avenue

Sport & outdoors(5)
  • Park
  • Playground
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (2)
Transport(3)

3 bus stops

Other(17)
  • The Avenue ApartmentsApartment

    204 Thompson Avenue

  • Bench
  • Phillip Island CFA Fire StationFire station

    Ventnor Road, Cowes

  • Mingara GalleryGallery

    240-242 Thompson Avenue, Cowes

  • Woodbyne CottagesGuest House
  • Phillip Island RSLLicensed Club

    225-243 Thompson Avenue, Cowes

  • Arthur Phillip Motor InnMotel

    2-12 Redwood Drive

  • BlueCross Grossard CourtParking
  • Parking (6)
  • Ramada Resort PhillIp IslandParking
  • Parking Space (2)
  • Picnic Table
  • St. Mary's Catholic ChurchPlace of worship

    6 Cowes-Rhyll Road

  • Coastal Health PodiatryPodiatrist

    182 Thompson Avenue

  • Shelter
  • Waste Basket
  • Phillip Island Wildlife ParkZoo

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

6 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Dunsmore ParkPark
  • Phillip Island Coast ReservePark
  • Seaberry Creek ParkPark
  • Seagrove ParkPark
  • Shearwater ReservePark
  • Willoughby ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
31
Parks (OSM)
14

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Places of worship

1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

  • St. Mary's Catholic Church

    6 Cowes-Rhyll Road

From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
11
Nearest hospital
Hospital (2.4 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
On site
  • AudikaAudiologist
  • Bass Coast Community HealthWarley AvenueYes
  • Coastal Health PodiatryThompson AvenuePodiatrist
  • Denture ClinicThompson AvenueDentist
  • Gippsland Physiotherapy Group CowesThompson AvenuePhysiotherapist
  • HospitalWarley AvenueHospital
  • Phillip Island Family Dental CareThompson AvenueDentist
  • Phillip Island Medical CentreDoctor
  • Priceline PharmacyThompson AvenuePharmacy
  • Supreme Dental CowesDentist

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
169
Participants per 1,000 residents
23.8

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
24° / 13°
Rainfall
155 mm · ~19 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
20° / 11°
Rainfall
186 mm · ~23 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
14° / 6°
Rainfall
203 mm · ~25 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
18° / 9°
Rainfall
207 mm · ~26 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Planning & development

Development applications from PPARS statewide register (lodged 2020–2022). Free public PPARS MapServer — applications through ~2022 (service last updated Feb 2024).

137 planning-related records

2021· 40 proposals

  • September 2021

  • Removal of 1 tree in the VPO2
    1 CARISBROOKE COURT COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Four lot subdivision in a LDRZ
    1-11 JEURY COURT COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of one tree in a VPO
    ROAD RESERVE , LAND ADJACENT TO 2 WAGTAIL WAY (LOMANDRA DRIVE SIDE) COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for a mixed use development (retail shop and eight dwellings) in C1Z and DDO11 and reduction in car parking requirement
    77 CHAPEL STREET COWES 3922NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Partial demolition of an existing building in the HO
    THE ESPLANADE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of a tree in the VPO2
    26 YARRAMUNDI WAY COWES 3922Withdrawn
  • Development of land for 3 dwellings in GRZ1
    28 MONASH AVENUE COWES 3922Withdrawn
  • Amendment to plans - Second dwelling amended to be double storey Original preamble amended - Construction of a Second Dwelling (retention of existing dwelling and construction of double storey dwelling)
    2 TI TREE DRIVE COWES 3922NOD issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and works to an existing restricted retail premise in a CZ1 and DDO and reduction in car parking (three spaces)
    90 & 92 THOMPSON AVENUE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of land for industry and warehouse in the IN3Z, and reduction of car parking requirements under Clause 52.06
    2 HARVEY DRIVE COWES 3922Lapsed

  • August 2021

  • Subdivision into 9 lots in the IN3Z
    13 SHORLAND WAY COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of Native Vegetation under Clause 52.17
    110 VENTNOR ROAD COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of vegetation under Clause 52.17
    DUNSMORE ROAD COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Develop the land for a Warehouse in the Industrial 3 Zone - Application to amend what the permit allows & amendment to plans
    23 SHORLAND WAY COWES 3922Withdrawn
  • Subdivision of land into 4 lots
    9 WALPOLE STREET COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amendment to Planning Permit 190036 ¿ Development of the land for 3 dwellings in the GRZ1 ¿ Change to endorsed plans
    122 CHURCH STREET COWES 3922Withdrawn
  • Development of land for a dwelling 7 metres and higher in the DDO1 and BMO1
    364 CHURCH STREET COWES 3922NOD issued by a delegate
  • Buildings and works associated with a dwelling in the DDO1
    22 CHILLINGWORTH ROAD COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for a replacement dwelling 7 metres or higher in the DDO1
    2 LANGARD ROAD COWES 3922NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Car parking requirement waiver in association with proposed place of assembly (Cowes Cultural & Community Centre)
    91-97 THOMPSON AVENUE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • July 2021

  • Removal of a tree in the VPO2
    312 Settlement RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Two Lot Subdivision in the GRZ
    51 WALTON STREET COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use of land to sell and consume liquor associated with a food and drink premises
    CARPARK, 119-135 THOMPSON AVENUE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Development of land for signage in the C1Z
    24-26 THOMPSON AVENUE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Variation to a liquor license
    69 THOMPSON AVENUE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Varying of a restriction on the building envelope
    35 JEURY COURT COWES 3922NOD issued by a delegate
  • Extension to a dwelling on common property with two of more dwellings on the lot in the GRZ
    1/1 DEVON AVENUE COWES 3922Refusal issued by a delegate
  • Development of land for 2 warehouses in the INZ3
    14 HARVEY DRIVE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of one tree in VPO
    28 RED ROCKS ROAD COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

  • June 2021

  • Extension to liquor licence
    8 THOMPSON AVENUE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construct twelve (12) double storey dwellings
    14-20 REDWOOD DRIVE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Change of use to restricted recreation facility (yoga studio) - Amendment - change of hours
    2 Hollydene CourtPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of one tree in the GRZ1 and VPO2
    64a Walton StreetPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Amendment to Plans Development of the land for three dwellings in the GRZ1
    124 CHURCH STREET COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Removal of one tree
    28 Red Rocks RoadPermit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Subdivision of land into two lots in the GRZ1 and creation of a restriction
    6 JAMES STREET COWES 3922NOD issued by a delegate

  • May 2021

  • Use of the land for an education centre and reduction in associated car parking requirements
    16 WARLEY AVENUE COWES 3922NOD issued by the Resp. Authority
  • Removal of trees in VPO2
    OFF/2-3 THE ESPLANADE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Construction of two dwellings on a lot
    12 SANCTUARY DRIVE COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA
  • Use and development of a storage facility
    16 SHORLAND WAY COWES 3922Permit issued by a delegate of the RA

Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)

Development and planning activity

Data sources & freshness

Roadworks & transport

6 active roadworks / incidents

  • Council Works activities occurring between 27/06/2026 and 30/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Weekends 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be Nil and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.CHAPEL STREET, THOMPSON AVENUE26 Jun 2026 – 29 Oct 2026
  • Council Works activities occurring between 27/06/2026 and 30/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Weekends 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be Nil and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.THOMPSON AVENUE, CHAPEL STREET26 Jun 2026 – 29 Oct 2026
  • Council Works activities occurring between 27/06/2026 and 30/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM, Weekends 12:00 AM to 12:00 AM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be Nil and the traffic delay is expected to be Nil.THOMPSON AVENUE, THE ESPLANADE26 Jun 2026 – 29 Oct 2026
  • Council Works activities occurring between 27/06/2026 and 30/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be Nil and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.THOMPSON AVENUE, CHAPEL STREET26 Jun 2026 – 29 Oct 2026
  • Council Works activities occurring between 27/06/2026 and 30/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be Nil and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.CHAPEL STREET, THOMPSON AVENUE26 Jun 2026 – 29 Oct 2026
  • Council Works activities occurring between 27/06/2026 and 30/10/2026 during the following times: Weekdays 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Weekends 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Impact to traffic will be lanes closed multiple directions. Altered speed limit during operation will be Nil and the traffic delay is expected to be 0 to 5 min.THOMPSON AVENUE, THE ESPLANADE26 Jun 2026 – 29 Oct 2026

Data sources & freshness

  • Road incidents & closures — State road authority open-data feeds · current · Updated

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Victorian Bushfire Management Overlay mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Monash
Member of Parliament
Mary ALDRED (Liberal)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
116,463
Turnout (2025)
93.5%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
-1.2 pp toward Coalition

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 54.1%Labor 45.9%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 26.6 km away).

Coalition 43.8%Labor 56.2%

10.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: 0.0 pp

Nearest polling places

  • CowesLabor 56.5% · Coalition 43.5% TPP (2025)1.8 km away
  • RhyllLabor 55.4% · Coalition 44.6% TPP (2025)5.9 km away
  • NewhavenLabor 64.2% · Coalition 35.8% TPP (2025)11.5 km away
  • San RemoLabor 40.4% · Coalition 59.6% TPP (2025)13.0 km away
  • CorinellaLabor 47.0% · Coalition 53.0% TPP (2025)18.0 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
3/10
IRSD decile (2021)
3/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

More in Bass Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Victoria.