Moving to Cape Paterson VIC 3995
What the official numbers say about living in Cape Paterson — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Budget around $845,000 for a median house (based on 2024 sales). Sale prices moved up about 155% between 2014 and 2024.
Renting? The census median is $300 a week, against a median household income of $1,285 a week.
About 80% of homes are owner-occupied and 17% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Cape Paterson grew 55% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (718 → 1,111 people).
Around 66% of households are families, averaging 2.2 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, New Zealand, Scotland; most spoken languages besides English: Italian, Spanish, Greek.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Cape Paterson scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (71% of workers), while 27% work from home.
The Melbourne CBD is roughly 111 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 2 parks · 8 beaches — see them all on the Cape Paterson profile.
What's actually nearby
Parks and reserves: Cape Farm 350 m · Allan Birt Reserve 650 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Cape Paterson, most often seen first: Silver Gull · Pacific Gull · Hooded Plover · Australian Magpie · Common Starling · Eurasian Blackbird.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Cape Paterson, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Paterson here | 1,111 | $845,000 | 7/10 | 10% |
| Wonthaggi | 5,215 | $545,000 | 1/10 | 24% |
| North Wonthaggi | 3,475 | $552,000 | 2/10 | 4% |
| Inverloch | 6,526 | $850,000 | 7/10 | 6% |
| Dalyston | 843 | $540,000 | 2/10 | 4% |
| Kilcunda | 578 | $965,000 | 7/10 | 9% |
| Venus Bay | 904 | $511,000 | 3/10 | 36% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Bass Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Monash — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 3995 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Cape Paterson profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
A house in Cape Paterson has a median sale price of $845,000 (2024 sales). Renters pay a median $300 a week, and about 17% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 55% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 718 people to 1,111. It sits about 111 km from the Melbourne CBD in a straight line. Local government is Bass Coast council, and the federal seat is Monash.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Cape Paterson vs Wonthaggi · Cape Paterson vs North Wonthaggi.
Nearby guides: Wonthaggi · North Wonthaggi · Inverloch · Dalyston · Kilcunda · Venus Bay.
Keep an eye on Cape Paterson
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