Charlemont
A 29 year median age and 486.2% population change across the wider area define Charlemont as a young, high growth market. The suburb has 2,612 residents, a 98.2% separate house share and household income at the 79.6th percentile. Its age profile is 11 years below the national comparison, while 36.3% hold university qualifications, 6.2 percentage points higher than nationally. Compared with nearby Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed, Charlemont sits within the same expanding Geelong corridor, with a mortgage led tenure mix: 60.4% of homes are owned with a mortgage. That combination supports family demand, but buyers should test repayments against changing rates and staged estate delivery.
Local council: Greater Geelong
Population
2,612
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,102/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
17
Median House
$630K
October to December 2025
The entry point is shaped by detached housing: 98.2% are separate houses, with 51.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 45.4% containing 3 bedrooms. That mix suits buyers needing space, although larger dwellings can lift total purchase costs compared with compact housing elsewhere in Geelong. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,733, while mortgage stress is not flagged and payments equal 19.0% of household income. Mortgage ownership at 60.4% is higher than outright ownership at 10.4%, so rate sensitivity matters. Compared with nearby Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed, buyers should check estate stage, road access and exact inclusions rather than relying on suburb medians alone.
For Buyers
The entry point is shaped by detached housing: 98.2% are separate houses, with 51.9% containing 4 or more bedrooms and 45.4% containing 3 bedrooms. That mix suits buyers needing space, although larger dwellings can lift total purchase costs compared with compact housing elsewhere in Geelong. The monthly mortgage figure is $1,733, while mortgage stress is not flagged and payments equal 19.0% of household income. Mortgage ownership at 60.4% is higher than outright ownership at 10.4%, so rate sensitivity matters. Compared with nearby Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed, buyers should check estate stage, road access and exact inclusions rather than relying on suburb medians alone.
For Investors
Charlemont's rental case combines 28.6% renting households with a $415 weekly median rent and a 7.6% vacancy rate. Compared with the 10.4% outright ownership share, the rental proportion is material, supporting a tenant pool as new households enter the area. Eighteen development applications in 12 months, including a 26 lot subdivision and a 2 lot plan, indicate ongoing supply activity; that can improve rental choice while also increasing competition between landlords. The annual growth trend of 5.53%, driven by internal migration, is stronger than a no growth setting, but the 7.6% vacancy rate suggests conservative assumptions for leasing time. Rent growth of 40.0% supports the income story, although investors should allow for estate competition, maintenance and changing supply.
Development Activity
Total DAs
34
Last 12 Months
17
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+325.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Charlemont
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Iona College Geelong
Demographics
With a median age of 29, Charlemont is 11 years younger than the national comparison, helping explain its large family and working age base. Couples with children account for 42.4% of families, couples without children 41.5%, and average household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison. University attainment is 36.3%, 6.2 percentage points higher than nationally, while 19.3% were born overseas, 2.3 points below the national level. English ancestry counts 892, Irish 309, Scottish 250 and Indian 173. No religion is recorded for 1,217 residents, compared with 944 identifying with Christianity. Turnover is 53.4%, higher than the 46.6% who stayed, so the population is young and mobile rather than deeply settled. Punjabi 32 and Malayalam 25 are the leading listed non English languages.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
98.2%
Houses
1.8%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Charlemont is overwhelmingly detached, with 98.2% separate houses and 1.8% semi detached dwellings. The stock is weighted to larger homes: 51.9% have 4 or more bedrooms, compared with 45.4% with 3 bedrooms and 2.3% with 2 bedrooms. Tenure is mortgage led, with 60.4% paying a mortgage, 28.6% renting and only 10.4% owning outright. Mortgage payments take 19.0% of household income, below the 19.7% rent to income share, and neither stress flag is triggered. Compared with nearby Armstrong Creek and Mount Duneed, buyers should assess lot size, dwelling age and estate completion because new development can make suburb medians uneven.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$415
Census 2021
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$1,048
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
7.6%
Unoccupied
79
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.0%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
42.4%
Couples with children
41.5%
Couples, no children
14.1%
Single parent
686
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Charlemont's largest listed industry at 25.3% and 296 workers, followed by construction at 13.7% or 160, education at 12.5% or 146, retail at 8.2% or 96, and public administration at 7.3% or 86. The occupation mix is broader than that industry ranking alone suggests: professionals number 372, community and personal service workers 287, trades 272 and clerical or administration workers 192. A 78.5% participation rate and 2.3% unemployment rate point to strong labour engagement, while 61.2% work full time and 501 work part time. Household income ranks at the 79.6th percentile, above the midpoint. SEIFA deciles are mixed: IER and IRSD are 8, higher than IEO and IRSAD at 6, indicating stronger results on some economic and disadvantage measures than on broader advantage. That pattern fits a suburb with professional, service and trades employment rather than one reliant on a single industry.
Unemployment
2.3%
Labour Force
1,651
Unemployed
38
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.2%
Part-time
31.1%
Participation
78.5%
Employed
1,613
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
36.3%
Postgraduate
7.5%
Born Overseas
19.3%
Dwellings
951
Transport to Work
Charlemont is car oriented: 75.0% travel as car drivers, compared with 1.2% using public transport, while 18.8% work from home. That pattern makes local road access important and may reduce the convenience of a rail or bus commute. Families have 1 named secondary option in the local area, Iona College Geelong, a Catholic provider, so enrolment zones and nearby government options should be checked against the exact address. Recorded crime is 139 offences, or 53.2 per 1,000 residents; property and deception offences account for 92, compared with 28 crimes against the person. Social measures are relatively solid but uneven: IRSD is in decile 8, higher than IRSAD decile 6, while the suburb covers 10.83 square kilometres at 241.2 residents per square kilometre. Compared with a denser inner suburb, the detached layout provides more space but can mean longer trips for services.
Drive
75.0%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
N/A
Work from Home
18.8%
Growth Outlook
Charlemont's growth settings are firmly expansionary: the annual trend is 5.53%, and the primary migration driver is internal migration. Across the wider area, population change over 10 years is forecast at 486.2%, while the shift trajectory is labelled Rejuvenating. The young share has risen 5.1 percentage points and the senior share has fallen 15.2 points, consistent with new households entering a developing corridor. The forecast gentrification score is 0 and the stage is New development, compared with a mature, established suburb where redevelopment rather than estate delivery would dominate. Eighteen development applications in 12 months, including a 26 lot subdivision, provide a practical reason for the high growth label. Buyers and investors should expect construction activity, changing streetscapes and staged infrastructure, with timing varying between estates.
Population trend: Greater Geelong council area
Charlemont sits in the Greater Geelong council area. These are the council area's residents, not Charlemont's.
Residents 2025
295,052
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
139
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
53.2
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Charlemont compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charlemont a good suburb to live in?
Charlemont suits households seeking newer detached housing, with 98.2% separate houses, 51.9% homes containing 4 or more bedrooms and a median age of 29. Car dependence is high at 75.0%, while public transport use is 1.2%, so lifestyle fit depends on commute patterns. Compared with denser Geelong suburbs, space comes with greater reliance on roads.
What schools are in Charlemont?
Iona College Geelong is the 1 named secondary school option in the local area and operates in the Catholic sector. Families should check enrolment zones, year level availability and travel requirements for the exact address. Compared with suburbs that have a broader school mix, Charlemont buyers may need to plan for access to additional primary or government choices.
Is Charlemont safe?
Charlemont recorded 139 offences, equal to 53.2 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 92, compared with 28 crimes against the person. Buyers should review the specific street and recent local conditions, because suburb wide figures can vary between new estates and established pockets.
Is Charlemont good for property investment?
Charlemont has 28.6% renting households, a $415 weekly median rent and a 7.6% vacancy rate. The annual growth trend is 5.53% and internal migration is the primary driver, while 18 development applications in 12 months indicate continuing supply. Compared with a low growth market, the outlook is stronger, but investors should allow for competition from new dwellings.
How is Charlemont's population changing?
Charlemont has 2,612 residents today and a median age of 29, which is 11 years below the national comparison. Population change across the wider area is forecast at 486.2% over 10 years, with a Rejuvenating trajectory, a 5.1 percentage point rise in the young share and a 15.2 point fall in the senior share. Turnover is 53.4%, higher than the 46.6% who stayed.
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), Valuer-General Victoria (house prices), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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