Suburb profile · ABS Census 2021
Cowes suburb profile
Cowes, VIC · Postcode 3922
This Cowes suburb profile summarises official Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2021 data for Cowes, VIC (postcode 3922). Use it as a free suburb report covering population, median rent, household income, age, housing tenure and employment, plus how those figures changed since Census 2016— then compare Cowes with nearby suburbs.
Cowes at a glance
Population
6,593
Median rent
$331/wk
Household income
$1,026/wk
Median age
55
Cowes trends (2016 → 2021)
Change since the previous Census. Historical figures are mapped from State Suburbs (SSC) to today's suburb boundaries.
Population
Census 2011 → 2016 → 2021
+53.4% over 10 years
Population
6,593
was 4,839 in 2016
+1,754 · +36.2%
Median rent
$331/wk
was $250/wk in 2016
+$81 · +32.4%
Household income
$1,026/wk
was $840/wk in 2016
+$186 · +22.1%
Median age
55
was 54 in 2016
+1 · +1.9%
Dig deeper: Cowes population growth · Cowes then and now
Cowes vs nearby & VIC
Median Census 2021 figures for Cowes, nearby suburbs (8), and the VIC state median (suburbs with 1,000+ people).
Rent
-9.6% vs area
- Cowes$331/wk
- Nearby$324/wk
- VIC$366/wk
Household income
-43.4% vs area
- Cowes$1,026/wk
- Nearby$1,375.5/wk
- VIC$1,813/wk
Median age
+37.5% vs area
- Cowes55
- Nearby44.5
- VIC40
Personal income
-27% vs area
- Cowes$586/wk
- Nearby$728.5/wk
- VIC$803/wk
Nearby uses the same postcode first, then larger suburbs in VIC.
Socio-economic profile
How Cowes compares to other Australian suburbs on income, education and occupation — from official ABS SEIFA 2021 data.
Cowes sits below average for socio-economic advantage compared with suburbs Australia-wide. It shows limited economic resources.
Relative disadvantage (IRSD)
Decile 3974.1
Lower score / decile = more relative disadvantage
Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)
Decile 3943.5
Higher score / decile = more relative advantage
Economic resources (IER)
Decile 3969.7
Access to economic resources (income, housing)
Education & occupation (IEO)
Decile 4951
Education and occupational skill levels
Source: ABS SEIFA 2021. See methodology.
Cowes on the map
OpenStreetMap outline for Cowes, VIC.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary matching is approximate.
Cowes people
- Population
- 6,593
- Median age
- 55
- Born overseas
- 19.9%
- Average household size
- 2.1
Total usual residents (Census 2021)
Median age of residents in years
Percentage born outside Australia
Average number of people per household
Cowes income
- Median household income
- $1,026/wk
- Median personal income
- $586/wk
Median total weekly household income
Median total weekly personal income
Cowes housing
- Median rent
- $331/wk
- Median mortgage repayment
- $1,550/mo
- Separate houses
- 40.3%
- Flats & apartments
- 2%
- Owned outright
- 22.4%
- Mortgaged
- 10.7%
- Rented
- 12.8%
- Unoccupied dwellings
- 51.7%
Median weekly rent for rented dwellings
Median monthly mortgage repayment
Percentage of dwellings that are separate houses
Percentage of dwellings that are flats or apartments
Percentage of dwellings owned without a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings with a mortgage
Percentage of dwellings rented
Percentage of private dwellings unoccupied on Census night
Cowes work
- Employment to population
- 41.8%
- Unemployment rate
- 4.4%
- Year 12 or above
- 44.2%
Employed persons as a percentage of population aged 15+
Unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force
Percentage with Year 12 or equivalent as highest school level
Nearby suburb profiles (near 3922)
Compare Cowes with nearby suburbs
Cowes in numbers
Cowes had 6,593 residents at the 2021 Census, making it the 306th most populous suburb or locality in VIC out of 2,835. The median age is 55, 34% above the typical VIC suburb. The average household has 2.1 people. 19.9% of residents were born overseas.
Among occupied homes, 22.4% own their home outright, 10.7% are paying a mortgage, 12.8% rent. Separate houses make up 40.3% of dwellings, with 2% in flats or apartments. Median rent was $331/wk, 5% below the typical VIC suburb.
Median household income was $1,026/wk, 42% below the typical VIC suburb. The unemployment rate on Census night was 4.4%. 44.2% of adults had completed Year 12 or above. On the ABS SEIFA index of relative socio-economic disadvantage it sits in decile 3 nationally (1 is most disadvantaged, 10 least).
Between the 2016 and 2021 Censuses the population grew 36.2% (from 4,839 to 6,593). Median rent moved from $250/wk to $331/wk (+32.4%).
Cowes suburb FAQs
- What is the median rent in Cowes, VIC?
- The median weekly rent in Cowes was $331/wk at the 2021 Census (ABS).
- How many people live in Cowes, VIC?
- Cowes had 6,593 residents at the 2021 Census, up 36.2% from 2016.
- What is the median household income in Cowes?
- Median household income in Cowes was $1,026/wk at the 2021 Census.
- Do most people rent or own in Cowes?
- 12.8% of occupied homes in Cowes were rented, 22.4% were owned outright and 10.7% were owned with a mortgage.
About this Cowes suburb profile
Figures are from the ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (General Community Profile) for the Suburbs and Localities boundary matching Cowes. Where shown, 2016 values come from the 2016 State Suburbs (SSC) profile, linked via ABS geographic correspondence — boundaries are not always identical. Medians may be suppressed for very small areas. This is not financial or relocation advice — use it alongside current market data.
Source: ABS Census 2021. Methodology