Median priceⓘLast 12 months
481kk
↑ +0.5% YoY
Cowes, VIC 3922
Property data updated ·6,593 residents
Last 12 months snapshot
240 sales · 189 leases · Refreshed July 2026
Cowes property market
Most of Cowes's activity is house sales, with 188 sales (down 14.5%) at around $726k (down 0.7%) as of July 2026, taking about 79 days to sell (up a lot from 50 days last year), just over half of homes are 3-bedroom.
House rentals sit just behind, with 127 leases (down 15.3%) at $520 a week (up 8.3%), renting out in about 22 days (down from 29 days last year), with rents growing faster than most house rental markets in Victoria, with 3-bedroom the most common at around 4 in 10. Rounding it out, 62 unit rentals at $430 a week. 52 unit sales at around $549k (one of the country's least in-demand unit markets).
Low-incomeRetirement communityMostly ownersMulticulturalNewcomer-heavy
Who lives hereA low-income, mostly owner-occupied, retirement-age suburb — multicultural and newcomer-heavy.
House covers houses, duplexes, semi-detached and terraces; Unit covers apartments, units, townhouses and villas.
Census · ABS 2021
Cowes demographics & population
Population
6,593
Median age
55yrs
Avg household
2.1people
Male · Female
47% · 53%
Owner-occupied
50%
Renting
50%
Lone person
50%
Couples, no kids
50%
Born overseas
50%
Year 12+ⓘ
50%
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing and Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) 2021 · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Unlock the full report
Detailed, institutional-grade analysis — well beyond the usual suburb snapshot.
InsideWho lives here · What homes cost to buy & rent · How fast homes are selling · How much is for sale or rent · How it compares to nearby suburbs · Schools nearby
One-off
This report
$49once
- The complete Cowes report
- 30 days of live access
- Download as a PDF
- Months of supply needs the add-on
or
Best valueMembership
Full access
from$149/mo
- Unlimited suburb reports
- Near real-time + 5-year data
- 50+ dual-metric map views
- Demand cycle + market velocity
Already a member? Sign in
Census · ABS 2021
Who lives in Cowes?
The age structure, household make-up, and cultural fabric of the people who call this suburb home.
Age & sex3,380 residentsMaleFemale
Share of all residents by 5-year band · hover a band for the count + split
Life stage
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
Children0–1450%Youth15–2450%Young adults25–3450%Midlife35–5450%Mature55–6450%Seniors65+50%
Household composition
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
Lone person50%Couples, no kids50%Families with kids50%Other families50%Group / share50%
1.4 people / household0.5 persons / bedroom50% are 5+ person
Household sizepersons per dwelling
50%1
50%2
50%3
50%4
50%5
50%6+
Cultural make-upshare of residents · diversity = odds two differ
Born overseasⓘResidents born outside Australia, as a share of those who stated a birthplace.50%
Other language at homeⓘResidents who mainly speak a language other than English at home — counts the language used, not how well English is spoken.50%
Limited EnglishⓘResidents who speak English “not well” or “not at all”. A language-barrier measure, not bilingualism — many who speak another language at home still speak English well.50%
Both parents overseasⓘResidents whose mother and father were both born overseas — the Australian-born-to-migrants “second generation”, distinct from being born overseas yourself.50%
Australian citizensⓘResidents who are Australian citizens — both Australian-born and people who have since naturalised.50%
Birthplace diversity28%
Chance two random residents were born in different countries
Language diversity14%
Chance two random residents speak different languages at home
Religious diversity37%
Chance two random residents follow different religions
Where residents were borntop birthplaces
Afghanistan50%
Australia50%
Bangladesh50%
Bosnia & Herzegovina50%
Brazil50%
Cambodia50%
Canada50%
Chile50%
Languages at hometop languages
English only50%
Afrikaans50%
Arabic50%
Australian Indigenous50%
Cantonese50%
Mandarin50%
Other Chinese50%
Croatian50%
Ancestry% reporting · multi-response
Australian50%
Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander50%
Chinese50%
Croatian50%
Dutch50%
English50%
Faith & belieftap Christianity
No religion50%
▸Christianity50%
Islam50%
Buddhism50%
Hinduism50%
Judaism50%
Other religions50%
Family originsparents’ birthplace
50%
50%
50%
Both parents overseas50%One parent overseas50%Both parents in Australia50%
A strongly multicultural community with deep migrant heritage.
When migrants arrivedshare of overseas-born
Before 198150%
1981-200050%
2001-201050%
2011-201550%
2016-202150%
2020–21 understated — COVID border closures.
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Census · ABS 2021
Housing & affordability in Cowes
What it costs to live here, who owns versus rents, and the shape of the housing stock.
Affordability at a glance
LowMedianHighPercentile
Median weekly rentⓘMiddle weekly rent paid by renting households.Bottom 38%Median weekly rent · $255/wk — below average: in the bottom 38%, lower rent than 62% of Aussie suburbs.
Median monthly mortgageⓘMiddle monthly mortgage repayment among households with a mortgage.Bottom 33%Median monthly mortgage · $1,331/mo — below average: in the bottom 33%, lower mortgages than 67% of Aussie suburbs.
Rent stress (rent ÷ income)ⓘMedian weekly rent as a share of median weekly household income — a rough rental-affordability gauge. Higher = rent takes a bigger bite.Top 50%Rent stress · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Mortgage stress (repay ÷ income)ⓘMedian mortgage repayment (converted to weekly) as a share of median weekly household income. Higher = repayments take a bigger bite.Top 50%Mortgage stress · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
High mortgage (≥$3k/mo)ⓘMortgaged households repaying $3,000 or more per month.Top 50%High mortgage · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Social housingⓘHouseholds renting from a state housing authority or community housing provider.Top 50%Social housing · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Unoccupied on census nightⓘDwellings recorded as unoccupied on Census night — holiday homes, between-tenant rentals, etc.Top 50%Unoccupied on census night · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Large dwellings (4+ bed)ⓘOccupied dwellings with 4 or more bedrooms.Top 50%Large dwellings · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
This suburb Typical range (middle 50%) Median suburb
Bedrooms per dwellingshare of dwellings
50%0
50%1
50%2
50%3
50%4
50%5
50%6+
Who owns vs rentsoccupied dwellings
50%
50%
50%
50%
Owned outright50%Mortgage50%Renting50%Other50%
What’s built heredwelling types
50%
50%
50%
50%
House50%Townhouse50%Apartment50%Other50%
50% separate houses50% apartments50% high-rise
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Census · ABS 2021
Income & employment in Cowes
Incomes, employment, and the occupation mix of the people who live here.
Income & work at a glance
LowMedianHighPercentile
Median personal incomeⓘMiddle weekly income of individuals aged 15+.Bottom 14%Median personal income · $388/wk — well below average: in the bottom 14%, lower personal income than 86% of Aussie suburbs.
Median family incomeⓘMiddle weekly income of families.Bottom 8%Median family income · $980/wk — among the lowest: in the bottom 8%, lower family income than 92% of Aussie suburbs.
Managers & professionalsⓘEmployed residents who work as managers or professionals.Top 50%Managers & professionals · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
High earners (≥$2k/wk)ⓘResidents earning $2,000 or more per week.Top 50%High earners · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
This suburb Typical range (middle 50%) Median suburb
Occupations
LowMedianHighPercentile
Managers & professionalsⓘEmployed residents who work as managers or professionals.Top 50%Managers & professionals · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Clerical & adminⓘEmployed residents in clerical and administrative jobs.Top 50%Clerical & admin · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Community & personal serviceⓘEmployed residents in community and personal-service jobs — care, hospitality, security and similar.Top 50%Community & personal service · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Sales workersⓘEmployed residents in sales jobs.Top 50%Sales workers · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Technicians, trades & labourersⓘEmployed residents in technical/trade, machinery-operating and labouring jobs.Top 50%Technicians, trades & labourers · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Household incomeheight = share of households · weekly
Personal incomeheight = share of residents 15+ · weekly
A typical household earns about 1.8× the typical individual here.
Labour forceemployment status · residents 15+
50%
50%
50%
50%
50%
Employed full-time50%Employed part-time50%Employed (away/other)50%Unemployed50%Not in labour force50%
LowMedianHighPercentile
Full-time workersⓘResidents in the labour force who are employed full-time.Top 50%Full-time workers · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Part-time workersⓘEmployed residents working part-time, of all employed.Top 50%Part-time workers · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Unemployment rateⓘShare of the labour force (people working or actively looking) who are unemployed — not a share of all residents.Top 50%Unemployment rate · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Not in labour forceⓘResidents 15+ neither working nor looking for work — retirees, students, carers.Top 50%Not in labour force · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Labour-force participationⓘResidents 15+ who are in the labour force — working or looking for work.Top 50%Labour-force participation · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
This suburb Typical range (middle 50%) Median suburb
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Census · ABS 2021
Getting around Cowes
How people get to work, and how car-dependent the suburb is — the clearest tell of inner-urban versus outer-suburban living.
Transport at a glance
LowMedianHighPercentile
Public transport to workⓘCommuters who travelled to work by train, bus, ferry or tram, of those who travelled.Top 50%Public transport to work · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Walked or cycled to workⓘCommuters who walked or cycled to work, of those who travelled.Top 50%Walked or cycled to work · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Worked from homeⓘEmployed residents who worked from home in the Census week — elevated by COVID in 2021.Top 50%Worked from home · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
No motor vehicleⓘHouseholds with no motor vehicle.Top 50%No motor vehicle · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Vehicles per dwellingⓘAverage number of motor vehicles per household.Bottom 11%Vehicles per dwelling · 1.00 — well below average: in the bottom 11%, fewer vehicles per home than 89% of Aussie suburbs.
This suburb Typical range (middle 50%) Median suburb
Journey to workamong commuters · top modes
Car (driver)50%
Car (passenger)50%
Train50%
Bus50%
Tram/light rail50%
Ferry50%
Walked50%
Vehicles per dwellingshare of households
50%0
50%1
50%2
50%3
50%4+
Census data sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics — © Commonwealth of Australia, 2021 Census of Population and Housing · Shares, ratios and percentiles shown are Micromarkets transformations of that data · licensed CC BY 4.0.
Education · ACARA My School 2025
Schools in and around Cowes
2 schools inside Cowes, plus the closest options around it. Families can choose from 2 primary schools in Cowes and its surrounds — no high school sits within this radius. Distances are straight-line from the suburb centre and are not enrolment catchments — always confirm zones with the school.
Within Cowes2schools in the suburb itself
Primary schools2within 5 km · nearest in suburb
Secondary schools0within 5 km · nearest 7.5 km
Median ICSEA rank50thenrolment-weighted
What is ICSEA Rank?
ICSEA is ACARA’s official measure of a school’s socio-educational advantage — based mainly on parents’ education and occupation, plus the school’s location and student mix.
Nearby within2 schools
- Within Cowes · 2Order by
- 1Cowes Primary SchoolGovernment · Primary · Co-ed · Years Prep-6 · Within suburbState RankTop 50%English★★★★★★★★★★Maths★★★★★★★★★★Students200Multilingual50%ICSEA Rank50th
- 2Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary SchoolCatholic · Primary · Co-ed · Years Prep-6 · Within suburbState Rank—English—Maths—Students200Multilingual50%ICSEA Rank50th
GovernmentCatholic
Why are some State Rank and star ratings blank? Schools can choose not to publish their results. In practice, schools that score well above their state average almost always publish theirs — so a blank rating more often reflects a school opting out than a top result being hidden. Academic results also tend to rise with ICSEA Rank, so higher-ICSEA schools more often carry a strong State Rank as well.
School profile and ICSEA data sourced from ACARA — © Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (data year 2025) · State Rank & star columns are Micromarkets-compiled academic ratings from publicly available school results · Distances are straight-line from the suburb centre, not catchments.
Census · ABS 2021
Turnover
How settled or transient the community is — and where newcomers came from.
Settledness at a glance
LowMedianHighPercentile
Settled 5+ yearsⓘResidents living at the same address as five years ago — how settled the community is.Top 50%Settled 5+ years · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Moved in past yearⓘResidents living at a different address one year earlier.Top 50%Moved in past year · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
Arrived from overseas (5 yr)ⓘResidents who arrived in Australia from overseas within the past five years.Top 50%Arrived from overseas · 50% — typical: right around the median for Aussie suburbs.
This suburb Typical range (middle 50%) Median suburb
Where residents lived 5 years agoof those who stated
50%
50%
50%
50%
Same address50%Moved within area50%From elsewhere in Australia50%From overseas50%
Residential paceshare of residents
Moved in the past yearⓘResidents living at a different address one year earlier.50%
Moved in the past 5 yearsⓘResidents not living at the same address as five years ago.50%
Arrived from overseas (5 yr)ⓘResidents who arrived in Australia from overseas within the past five years.50%
Property market
Market snapshot
Cowes median house price & rent
Headline price, rent, yield and time on market for Cowes — choose a property type and size below.
Active segment
Houses
Units
Days on marketⓘLast 12 months
89
↓ 40 days YoY
SoldⓘLast 12 months
33
↑ +0.5% YoY
Months of supplyⓘLast 12 months
5.3mo
Median rentⓘLast 12 months
$325/w
↑ +50.0% YoY
Days to leaseⓘLast 12 months
13
↑ 2 days YoY
LeasedⓘLast 12 months
29
↑ +0.5% YoY
Gross yieldⓘLast 12 months
3.42%
Annualised
Data confidenceSales sample45StrongLease sample25Strong
Segment breakdown
House & unit prices by bedroom
Every segment this suburb tracks — sales and rentals side by side, ranked by total activity over the last twelve months.
Demand percentile 0–100 · last 12 months12-mo change
Sales
Rental
Demand
Segment
Sold
Price
DOM
Leased
Rent
DOM
Yield
SalesRent
01
Houses · 2 bed45 sales · 25 leases
Sold33▲+50.0%
Price$481k+0.5%
Sales DOM89 days▲+40d
Leased29+0.5%
Rent$325/wk▲+50.0%
Rental DOM13 days−2d
3.42%
Sales50/100
Rent—
02
Houses · 3 bed45 sales · 25 leases
Sold33+0.5%
Price$481k▲+50.0%
Sales DOM89 days▲+40d
Leased29+0.5%
Rent$325/wk▲+50.0%
Rental DOM13 days−2d
3.42%
Sales50/100
Rent50/100
03
Houses · 4 bed45 sales · 25 leases
Sold33+0.5%
Price$481k+0.5%
Sales DOM89 days▲+40d
Leased29+0.5%
Rent$325/wk▲+50.0%
Rental DOM13 days−2d
3.42%
Sales50/100
Rent50/100
04
Units · 1 bed45 sales · 25 leases
Sold33+0.5%
Price$481k+0.5%
Sales DOM89 days▲+40d
Leased29+0.5%
Rent$325/wk▲+50.0%
Rental DOM13 days−2d
3.42%
Sales—
Rent—
05
Units · 2 bed45 sales · 25 leases
Sold33▲+50.0%
Price$481k+0.5%
Sales DOM89 days▲+40d
Leased29▲+50.0%
Rent$325/wk▲+50.0%
Rental DOM13 days−2d
3.42%
Sales1/100
Rent50/100
06
Units · 3 bed45 sales · 25 leases
Sold33▲+50.0%
Price$481k+0.5%
Sales DOM89 days▲+40d
Leased29▲+50.0%
Rent$325/wk▲+50.0%
Rental DOM13 days−2d
3.42%
Sales1/100
Rent50/100
All houses
Sold33+0.5%
Price$481k+0.5%
Sales DOM89 days▲+40d
Leased29+0.5%
Rent$325/wk▲+50.0%
Rental DOM13 days−2d
3.42%
Sales50/100
Rent50/100
All units
Sold33+0.5%
Price$481k+0.5%
Sales DOM89 days▲+40d
Leased29▲+50.0%
Rent$325/wk▲+50.0%
Rental DOM13 days−2d
3.42%
Sales50/100
Rent50/100
Where each segment ranks
Cowes property growth
Where each segment sits against its peers in the chosen geography — past the midline means it's outperforming the rest.
Metric
Ranked against
Market demandHow fast this market is moving — a velocity index built from trailing-year transaction volume and median days on market. Strong volume lifts the score; days on market drags it down, with the drag growing sharply once listings start lingering. Ranked against peers in the chosen geography.
Houses
4/4above median
02550 · MEDIAN75100
Percentile vs VIC
Value
Units
1/3above median
02550 · MEDIAN75100
Percentile vs VIC
Value
The buy-versus-rent equation
Buying vs renting in Cowes
What it costs each week to own a property versus renting the same one — positive means buying carries the premium, negative means rent covers the mortgage.
Property
Compare to
Houses · 3 bed: +50%
Houses · 4 bed: +50%
Houses · Total: +50%
Units · 2 bed: +50%
Units · 3 bed: +50%
Units · Total: +50%
VIC MEDIAN · +38%
Rent covers itRenting matches or beats the cost of owning−10% to 0%
BalancedMortgage roughly matches asking rent+30% to +60%
Far pricier to ownBuying costs much more than renting+100% to +130%+
BreakdownLast 12 months
Holding cost
Mortgage
Rent
Premium
Band
01
Houses · 3 bed33 sales · 29 leases
−$167/wk
$492/wk
$325/wk
+50%
Typical premium
02
Houses · 4 bed33 sales · 29 leases
−$167/wk
$492/wk
$325/wk
+50%
Typical premium
03
Units · 2 bed33 sales · 29 leases
−$167/wk
$492/wk
$325/wk
+50%
Typical premium
04
Units · 3 bed33 sales · 29 leases
−$167/wk
$492/wk
$325/wk
+50%
Typical premium
Assumes 80% LVR·6.0% rate·30y P&I
Premium = (weekly mortgage − weekly rent) ÷ weekly rent. Band thresholds are national breakpoints across ~11,400 eligible Australian segments — the Typical premium band spans national P25 to P75, so it’s literally what’s typical.
Market data
How strong is demand, and which way is it heading?
Two questions on one chart — how strong demand is right now, and which way it's heading year-on-year.
Side
View
Property
Bedrooms
Radius
Compared against
Sales market velocity
4 nearby suburbs · 10km · Total house · sales
risingfalling
DOM change YoYis demand rising or falling?
median
median
Recoveryweak but rising
Boomstrong and rising
Troughweak and falling
Peakstrong but easing
Nearby suburb
Demand index
7 / 100vs VIC
Days on market
50 days▲ +8 days YoY
Median price
$684k▼ −2.0% YoY
Sold (last year)
13▲ +108.0% YoY
Nearby suburb
Demand index
1 / 100vs VIC
Days on market
99 days▲ +66 days YoY
Median price
$679k▼ −6.8% YoY
Sold (last year)
14▼ −19.3% YoY
Nearby suburb
Demand index
2 / 100vs VIC
Days on market
73 days▲ +3 days YoY
Median price
$462k▲ +1.1% YoY
Sold (last year)
14▲ +57.7% YoY
Nearby suburb
Demand index
10 / 100vs VIC
Days on market
66 days▼ −1 day YoY
Median price
$509k▼ −10.6% YoY
Sold (last year)
14▼ −6.7% YoY
Cowes · this suburb
Demand index
20 / 100vs VIC
Days on market
89 days▲ +40 days YoY
Median price
$481k▲ +0.5% YoY
Sold (last year)
33▲ +0.5% YoY
weakSales market velocityhow strong sales demand isstrong
This suburb Neighbouring suburbs · coloured by market phaseHover a point for its figures
Market data
Cowes against the neighbourhood
Eight diagnostic views cutting the data a different way each time — Cowes in blue, peers in colour.
Pair
View
Property
Bedrooms
Radius
How fast — and is it getting faster?
No peer suburbs · 10km · Total house
fasterslower
DOM change YoYvs 12 months ago
median
median
Recoveringquiet but accelerating
Boomingbusy and accelerating
Stalledquiet and slowing further
Coolingbusy but slowing
Cowes · this suburb
Demand index
50 / 100vs Australia
Days on market
89 days▲ +40 days YoY
Median price
$481k▲ +0.5% YoY
Sold (last year)
33▲ +0.5% YoY
Gross yield
3.42%
slowDays on marketmedian days to sellfast
This suburb Neighbouring suburbs · coloured by market phaseHover a point for its figures
How much is available right now?
Housing supply & months of stock
How long current listings would take to clear at the recent rate of sales or leases. Critical shortage and Oversupply only fire at the genuine tails of the national distribution — sales tip in under 0.7 months, rentals far faster, under 0.3.
View
Sales market
| Segment | Band | Months of supply left | YoYYoY change12-month change in months of supply. Down means stock is tightening (fewer months than a year ago); up means stock is loosening. | ListedListedActive listings in this segment right now, derived from months of supply multiplied by the recent transaction rate. | SoldSold (last year)Total sold transactions completed in this segment over the last 12 months. | Per monthPer monthAverage monthly absorption — how many properties are sold each month in this segment, over the last 12 months. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe shortage | 1.1 | ▼ -5.9 | 3 | 33 | 2.8 | |
| Balanced | 2.7 | ▼ -1.3 | 7 | 33 | 2.8 | |
| Slightly loose | 3.4 | ▼ -4.3 | 9 | 33 | 2.8 | |
| Loose | 4.0 | ▲ +0.1 | 11 | 33 | 2.8 | |
| Loose | 5.3 | ▲ +0.8 | 15 | 33 | 2.8 | |
| Loose | 5.5 | ▲ +1.8 | 15 | 33 | 2.8 | |
| Loose | 5.6 | ▲ +1.6 | 15 | 33 | 2.8 | |
| Loose | 6.6 | ▼ -1.6 | 18 | 33 | 2.8 |
median
Rental market
| Segment | Band | Months of supply left | YoYYoY change12-month change in months of supply. Down means stock is tightening (fewer months than a year ago); up means stock is loosening. | ListedListedActive listings in this segment right now, derived from months of supply multiplied by the recent transaction rate. | LeasedLeased (last year)Total leased transactions completed in this segment over the last 12 months. | Per monthPer monthAverage monthly absorption — how many properties are leased each month in this segment, over the last 12 months. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tight | 0.4 | ▼ -1.4 | 1 | 29 | 2.4 | |
| Tight | 0.5 | ▼ -2.3 | 1 | 29 | 2.4 | |
| National typical | 0.7 | ▲ +0.2 | 2 | 29 | 2.4 | |
| Loose | 1.3 | ▼ -1.8 | 3 | 29 | 2.4 | |
| Loose | 1.5 | ▲ +1.5 | 4 | 29 | 2.4 | |
| Oversupply | 2.0 | ▲ +0.2 | 5 | 29 | 2.4 | |
| Oversupply | 2.1 | ▲ +0.2 | 5 | 29 | 2.4 | |
| Oversupply | 2.5 | ▲ +1.0 | 6 | 29 | 2.4 |
median
Severe
Very Tight
Tight
Balanced
Loose
Very Loose
Saturated
Under-suppliedOver-supplied
Market data
Who's transacting — buyers or tenants?
Out of every property transaction in this suburb, what share are sales versus leases — each point a rolling twelve-month window.
Property
Cowes — Units & Houses, all bedrooms
Jul 2021 – Jun 2026 · each point = a 12-month window
0%25%50%75%100%20222023202420252026
Sales · buyer transactions
Leases · tenant transactions
Five-year arc
Cowes median house price & rent history
Each tape traces one metric across sixty months for the selected segment — every point a trailing twelve-month figure, matching the headline KPIs above.
Five-year summaryAs of Jun 2026, the median house sale price in Cowes rose from $486k (Jul 2021) to $575k (Jun 2026) — +18.2% growth over five years — peaking at $733k between May 2021 and Apr 2022. Median house rent went from $218/wk to $408/wk (+87.2%) over the same period. For units, the median sale price fell from $356k to $275k (−22.7%), with rent down from $256/wk to $230/wk (−10.2%) over the same period.
PropertyBedrooms
Median price (trailing year)
Jun 2026
$575k+41.3%
5y median $521kvs last year $407k
Total sales (trailing year)
Jun 2026
118-23.4%
5y median 135vs last year 154
Days on market (trailing year)
Jun 2026
62 days-9
5y median 62 daysvs last year 71 days
Median rent (trailing year)
Jun 2026
$408/wk+17.6%
5y median $347/wkvs last year $347/wk
Total leases (trailing year)
Jun 2026
86-32.3%
5y median 95vs last year 127
Days on market (rental) (trailing year)
Jun 2026
17 days+1
5y median 22 daysvs last year 16 days
Gross yield (trailing year)
Jun 2026
3.02%+0.96 pt
5y median 2.32%vs last year 2.05%
Months of supply
Jun 2026
4.8 months+6.9%
5y median 6.4 monthsvs last year 4.5 months
Months of supply (rental)
Jun 2026
2.4 months+29.8%
5y median 1.7 monthsvs last year 1.8 months
Nearby markets
Suburbs near Cowes: prices compared
The nearest suburbs to Cowes, ranked by distance — each lined up against Cowes on the same measures, so the differences jump out at a glance.
Market
Property
Bedrooms
Radius
Colour by
This marketCowesVIC 3922 · Houses · Total
Price$481k
DOM89 days
Sold33
5 markets within 5kmLast 12 months
01
Wimbledon HeightsVIC 3922 · 1.1km · Houses · Total
Price$335k
DOM53 days
Sold6
much cheapermuch faster
02RhyllVIC 3923 · 2.6km · Houses · Total
Price$679k
DOM99 days
Sold14
much pricierslower
03SilverleavesVIC 3922 · 2.7km · Houses · Total
Price$684k
DOM50 days
Sold13
much priciermuch faster
04Smiths BeachVIC 3922 · 2.8km · Houses · Total
Price$509k
DOM66 days
Sold14
priciermuch faster
05Sunset StripVIC 3922 · 3.0km · Houses · Total
Price$462k
DOM73 days
Sold14
cheapermuch faster
Houses · TotalSales market
Stat colourHow each suburb's stat compares to Cowes
Much lowerLowerSimilarHigherMuch higher
Similar markets
Suburbs like Cowes
Suburbs anywhere in VIC that behave like Cowes — matched on price, growth, selling speed and demand, not on distance. A shortlist of markets that move the same way — including ones far away you'd never think to compare. (Want the suburbs right next door instead? See Nearby markets above.)
Cowes vs St Leonards: the closest sales-market match trades at a median of $622k against Cowes's $481k — about 29% higher, with homes selling in 52 days versus 89 days here.
Colour by
Property
Bedrooms
Market
This marketCowesVIC 3922 · Houses · Total
Price$481k
DOM89 days
Sold33
Most similar sales markets · within 3.7–103 kmLast 12 months
0102030405
St LeonardsVIC 3223 · 47km · 54% match
Price$622k
DOM52 days
Sold108
CastlemaineVIC 3450 · 103km · 45% match
Price$432k
DOM54 days
Sold152
CorinellaVIC 3984 · 16km · 45% match
Price$495k
DOM48 days
Sold31
Surf BeachVIC 3922 · 4km · 55% match
Price$450k
DOM45 days
Sold13
Cape WoolamaiVIC 3925 · 7km · 45% match
Price$397k
DOM24 days
Sold35
Stat colourHow each suburb's stat compares to Cowes
Much lowerLowerSimilarHigherMuch higher
Comparable sales markets to Cowes: St Leonards (VIC 3223), Castlemaine, VIC property market, Corinella property growth, Surf Beach property market and Cape Woolamai house prices.
Cowes's closest rental-market twins: St Leonards, VIC property market, Castlemaine median house price, Cape Woolamai average house price, Surf Beach property market and Corinella house prices. Each link opens that suburb's full market report.
Market data
Frequently asked · Cowes
26 data-driven answers about Cowes's property market — every one computed from the metrics above.
What things cost
Prices, rent, yield, ownership costWhat is the median house price in Cowes?
#The median house price in Cowes, VIC 3922 is $481k as of June 2026, based on 45 sales over the past 12 months. Houses there have moved +0.5% year-on-year. Prices vary by bedroom count, from compact two-bedroom homes to larger four-bedroom houses. See the bedroom-level breakdown below for 2-, 3- and 4-bedroom medians.
What is the median unit price in Cowes?
#The median unit price in Cowes, VIC 3922 is $481k as of June 2026, based on 45 sales over the past 12 months. Units have moved +0.5% year-on-year and currently trade at roughly 100% of the median house price.
How much does it cost to rent in Cowes?
#The median weekly house rent in Cowes is $325 as of June 2026, drawn from 25 leases over the past 12 months. Units rent for around $325 per week. House rents have moved +50.0% year-on-year. Current vacancy pressure is shown in the supply section above.
How much is rent for a 3 bedroom house in Cowes?
#A 3 bedroom house in Cowes rents for a median $325 per week as of June 2026, drawn from 25 leases over the past 12 months. Across other house sizes: 2-bedroom $325/week, 4-bedroom $325/week. Unit rents: 1-bedroom $325/week, 2-bedroom $325/week, 3-bedroom $325/week. Figures cover only segments with enough recent leases to be statistically meaningful; sparse segments are excluded. The segment breakdown covers rent, yield and days on market for every property type and bedroom count.
What is the gross rental yield in Cowes?
#Gross rental yield in Cowes is 3.42% for houses and 3.42% for units as of June 2026, compared with the VIC unit median of 4.11%. Gross yield is annual rent divided by purchase price — it doesn't account for ownership costs like council rates, strata, maintenance or vacancy.
How much is a 3 bedroom house in Cowes?
#As of June 2026, Cowes medians by bedroom count:
| Property | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4 bed | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houses | — | $481k | $481k | $481k | $481k |
| Units | $481k | $481k | $481k | — | $481k |
Figures cover only segments with enough recent transactions to be statistically meaningful; sparse segments are excluded.
What does it cost to own versus rent at the Cowes median?
#At the median Cowes house ($481k purchase, $325/week rent), weekly mortgage repayments sit at roughly $492 — about $167 more per week than renting. That gap is the ownership premium. For the median unit ($481k purchase, $325/week rent), repayments run about $492 per week. Figures assume 80% LVR, a 6.0% interest rate and a 30-year principal-and-interest loan.
How the market is moving
Speed, supply, growth, cycle phaseWhat are Cowes's property market trends?
#Cowes's property market trends to June 2026: house prices rose +0.5% year-on-year and units +0.5%; weekly house rents moved +50.0%; homes now sell in a median 89 days — slower than a year ago by 40; sales supply sits at 5.3 months (very loose). Read together — price, rent, selling speed and supply — they show which way the Cowes market is leaning. The 5-year tape and demand cycle charts above plot the full trajectory.
What does the data say about Cowes as an investment?
#As of June 2026 in Cowes, house prices rose +0.5% over the year, gross rental yield is 3.42% against a VIC median of 3.36%, houses take a median 89 days to sell, sales supply is 5.3 months (very loose). Capital growth, rental yield, selling speed and supply are the signals investors weigh — but these figures describe the market, not a recommendation. This is data, not financial advice; always do your own research and consider a licensed adviser.
How quickly do houses sell in Cowes?
#Houses in Cowes sell in a median 89 days on market as of June 2026, with units clearing slightly similarly at 89 days. Days on market have lengthened by 40 days versus a year ago. Faster clearance typically coincides with stronger buyer demand and lower supply.
Is Cowes a tight or loose property market right now?
#Cowes's sales market sits at 5.3 months of supply for houses as of June 2026 — classified as Very Loose against the Australian distribution. Under 1.7 months is Severe (extreme shortage); over 4.5 months is Loose. The rental side is tighter still at 0.4 months of supply.
Have property prices in Cowes gone up or down?
#House prices in Cowes moved +0.5% over the 12 months to June 2026, while units moved +0.5%. The 5-year tape above plots the full monthly trajectory — showing where the market changed character rather than just crossing round numbers.
How active is the rental market in Cowes?
#Cowes's house rental market sits at 0.4 months of supply as of June 2026 — classified as Severe (extreme shortage), with 29 houses leased over the past 12 months. Units sit at 2.0 months. Tighter supply typically corresponds to faster letting and upward pressure on rents.
Where is Cowes in its property market cycle?
#Cowes's house market is currently in the 'softer_weakening' phase as of June 2026 — combining above-median sales velocity nationally with year-on-year loosening in days on market. The demand cycle chart above plots all eight segments on the same demand-versus-direction axes.
How it compares
Vs state, vs nearby, vs popularHow does Cowes compare to other VIC suburbs?
#Cowes's median house price ($481k) is 24% below the VIC median ($635k) as of June 2026. On selling speed, houses clear in 89 days vs 24 days state median. On gross yield, Cowes sits at 3.42% vs 3.36% state median.
How does Cowes compare to neighbouring suburbs?
#Cowes's most-similar nearby market is St Leonards (47.4 km away) with a median house price of $622k — about 29% pricier. The Nearby and Similar markets sections above rank every peer within radius and by composite similarity across price, days on market, yield, ownership cost and cycle phase.
What's the most popular property type in Cowes?
#The most-transacted segment in Cowes over the 12 months to June 2026 is 2 bed houses with 33 sales. 3 bed houses come second at 33 sales. The buying-versus-renting section above breaks down the top segments with weekly mortgage, rent and ownership-cost detail.
How many properties were sold and leased in Cowes last year?
#Cowes recorded 33 house sales and 33 unit sales over the 12 months to June 2026 — a combined 66 transactions. On the rental side, 29 houses and 29 units were leased. Segments with statistically thin samples are excluded from displayed figures.
About the area
Population, income, who lives here, schoolsWhat postcode is Cowes in?
#Cowes is in postcode 3922, in the Gippsland region of VIC. Addresses there are written as Cowes, VIC 3922.
What is the population of Cowes?
#Cowes, VIC 3922 is home to 3,380 residents (ABS Census 2021). The median resident age is 41, and the average household holds 1.4 people. The "Who lives here" section above breaks the community down by age, life stage and tenure.
What is the median household income in Cowes?
#The median household in Cowes earns $691 per week — roughly $36k a year (ABS Census 2021). Median personal income runs $388/week. Income, rent-to-income and mortgage-to-income context sits in the "Who lives here" section above.
What is the unemployment rate in Cowes?
#The unemployment rate in Cowes is 50.0% (ABS Census 2021). That sits right around the median for Australian suburbs. The rate counts people who are working or actively looking for work — not a share of all residents. Workforce participation sits at 50%. The local economy section above covers incomes, employment status and the occupation mix.
Do people own or rent in Cowes?
#Cowes is mostly owner-occupied: about 100% of households are owner-occupiers and 50% rent (ABS Census 2021). Of owners, 50% own outright and 50% are paying off a mortgage.
What schools are near Cowes?
#Cowes has 17 schools within reach, 2 of them inside the suburb itself — including Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Cowes Primary School. The Schools section above maps each one with sector, year range, enrolment, Micromarkets-compiled academic ratings and ICSEA (ACARA).
Is Cowes a good place to live?
#Cowes, VIC 3922 has a population of 3,380, a median age of 41, a median household income around $691/week, 50% of households renting (ABS Census 2021). There are 17 schools within reach. Whether it's the right fit depends on your priorities — these figures describe the community, housing mix and amenity rather than offer a verdict.
About this data
Methodology and update cadenceWhen was this Cowes market data last updated?
#This Cowes market data was last updated July 2026, covering the 12 months to June 2026. Figures are computed monthly from 12-month rolling windows of recorded sales and leases, with five years of monthly history behind the trend charts. Methodology, glossary and data sources are linked in the footer.