VIC 3217 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Armstrong Creek

At 30, Armstrong Creek reads younger than the national age profile and is built around new-family scale rather than inner-urban density. Its 11,247 residents sit in a suburb where 95.0% of homes are separate houses and 70.7% have 4 or more bedrooms, a clearer detached pattern than older Geelong areas such as Waurn Ponds and Grovedale. Household income sits at the 83.6 percentile nationally, while 54.0% of homes carry a mortgage, so the suburb has a strong mortgage-belt feel backed by above-average incomes.

Armstrong Creek urban fabric map

Population

11,247

Median Age

30.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$2,200/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

25

Median House

$655K

Apr-Jun 2024

18.34 km²· 613.2 people/km²· Family income $2,285/wk

Buyers are paying a median house price of $655,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, which is lower than the $720,000 peak reached in 2022 but still 40.1% above the 2013 level of $467,500. The appeal is space: 95.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 70.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage costs average $1,800 a month and take 18.9% of household income, below common stress thresholds, because local household income is high at $2,200 a week.

For Buyers

Buyers are paying a median house price of $655,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, which is lower than the $720,000 peak reached in 2022 but still 40.1% above the 2013 level of $467,500. The appeal is space: 95.0% of dwellings are separate houses and 70.7% have 4 or more bedrooms. Mortgage costs average $1,800 a month and take 18.9% of household income, below common stress thresholds, because local household income is high at $2,200 a week.

For Investors

Armstrong Creek has a sizeable rental pool, with 34.9% of homes rented compared with 54.0% under mortgage. Weekly rent is $420 and the vacancy rate is 4.3%, so cash flow expectations need to allow for more leasing competition than a tighter market. The investment case is tied to scale and formation of new households: 21 development applications were recorded in 12 months, including a 33 lot subdivision sample, while large 4-plus bedroom homes dominate supply at 70.7%.

Development Activity

Total DAs

83

Last 12 Months

25

YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements

+31.6%

Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year

N/A

Monthly DA Lodgements

DA Categories

Other
36
Subdivision
7
Change of Use
1

Schools in Armstrong Creek iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged

Geelong Lutheran College

ICSEA 1101 Combined Independent

Prep-12 · 1317 students

St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School

ICSEA 1070 Primary Catholic

Prep-6 · 504 students

Oberon High School

ICSEA 1023 Secondary Government

7-12 · 1074 students

Armstrong Creek School

ICSEA 1023 Combined Government

U, Prep-6 · 905 students

Demographics

Armstrong Creek is notably young, with a median age of 30, which is 10.0 years below the national comparison. Education levels are stronger than average: 37.4% hold a university qualification, 7.3 percentage points above national. The population is less migrant-heavy than many growth suburbs, with 19.4% born overseas, 2.2 points below national. English ancestry leads at 4,401 people, followed by Irish at 1,305 and Scottish at 1,185, while Punjabi is the largest listed non-English language at 132 speakers.

Age Distribution

0-14
25.9%
15-24
11.9%
25-44
41.5%
45-64
14.0%
65+
6.7%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
0.2%
2 bed
1.5%
3 bed
27.6%
4+ bed
70.7%

Dwelling Structure

95.0%

Houses

5.0%

Townhouse

N/A

Apartment

Tenure

Own 11.1% Mortgage 54.0% Rent 34.9%

The housing market is detached and family-sized, with 95.0% separate houses, 5.0% semi-detached homes and 70.7% of dwellings having 4 or more bedrooms. Prices have moved from $467,500 in 2013 to $655,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 40.1% rise, although the latest median is 9.0% lower than the $720,000 peak in 2022. Tenure shows the suburb is still maturing: only 11.1% are owned outright, while 54.0% have a mortgage and 34.9% are rented.

Median House Price Trend

Source: State Valuer-General

Mortgage / mo

$1,800

Rent / wk

$420

HH Size

2.9

Personal Income / wk

$997

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.3%

Unoccupied

169

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

19.1%

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

18.9%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Punjabi
132
Malayalam
60
Hindi
40
Mandarin
37
Sinhal
35
Urdu
26

Ancestry

English
4,401
Irish
1,305
Other
1,199
Scottish
1,185
German
545
Italian
494

Household Composition

21.4%

Couples, no children

9,271

Total families

Economy & Employment

The local workforce leans into public-service and population-serving jobs. Healthcare is the largest industry at 22.9% and 1,081 workers, followed by Education at 12.6%, Construction at 11.1%, Public Admin at 8.3% and Retail at 7.7%. Professionals are the largest occupation group with 1,486 people, ahead of Community/Personal roles at 1,042. Unemployment is low at 3.5% and participation is high at 73.7%. SEIFA scores confirm above-average advantage: IEO decile 8, IER decile 9, IRSD decile 9 and IRSAD decile 8.

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
8
Disadvantage
9
Economic resources
9
Education & occupation
8

Full-time

61.8%

Part-time

34.7%

Participation

73.7%

Employed

5,932

Occupations

Professionals 1,486
Community/Personal 1,042
Clerical/Admin 738
Managers 681
Sales 561
Labourers 534
Machinery/Drivers 334

Top Industries

Healthcare 22.9%
Education 12.6%
Construction 11.1%
Public Admin 8.3%
Retail 7.7%

University

37.4%

Postgraduate

8.4%

Born Overseas

19.4%

Dwellings

3,724

Transport to Work

Daily life is car-based, with 92.2% driving to work compared with only 1.7% using public transport and 0.9% walking or cycling. School access is a strength for families: 4 local schools span Independent, Catholic and Government sectors, with ICSEA scores from 1023 to 1101. Geelong Lutheran College leads at 1101 and 1,317 enrolments, while St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary records 1070. Safety is mixed, with 544 offences and a crime rate of 48.4 per 1,000, led by 303 property and deception offences.

Drive

92.2%

Public Transport

1.7%

Walk / Cycle

0.9%

Work from Home

N/A

Safety & Crime

Total Offences

544

Year ending June 2024

Rate per 1,000 People

48.4

Offence Categories

Property and deception offences
303
Justice procedures offences
110
Crimes against the person
102
Drug offences
14

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Armstrong Creek compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 4%
Household Income
Top 16%
Rent Level
Top 13%
Renters
Top 21%
Uni Educated
Top 22%
Public Transport
Bottom 29%
Born Overseas
Top 31%
Density
Top 18%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Armstrong Creek a good suburb to live in?

Yes for buyers wanting newer family housing, larger homes and schools nearby. The median age is 30, 70.7% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms and household income sits at the 83.6 national percentile.

What is the median house price in Armstrong Creek?

The median house price is $655,000 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 9.0% below the 2022 peak of $720,000, but still 40.1% higher than the 2013 median of $467,500.

What schools are in Armstrong Creek?

Armstrong Creek has 4 local schools: Geelong Lutheran College, St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School, Oberon High School and Armstrong Creek School. ICSEA scores range from 1023 to 1101.

Is Armstrong Creek safe?

Recorded crime is 544 offences, equal to 48.4 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences are the largest category at 303, so home security and street-by-street checks matter.

Is Armstrong Creek good for property investment?

It can suit investors seeking family rentals, with 34.9% of homes rented and weekly rent at $420. The 4.3% vacancy rate is higher than a very tight market, so pricing and presentation matter.

How is Armstrong Creek's population changing?

Armstrong Creek is still forming as a growth-area suburb, with 11,247 residents, a young median age of 30 and 21 development applications in 12 months, including a 33 lot subdivision sample.

Is there much development in Armstrong Creek?

Yes. There were 21 development applications in 12 months, including a subdivision sample for 33 lots. That level of activity supports further housing supply but can also mean construction disruption.

How to read these comparisons

Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.

Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.

Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.

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