East Geelong
With 44.9% of residents holding university qualifications, East Geelong sits 14.8 percentage points above the national average, an unusually high figure for a suburb where house prices remain well below Melbourne inner-ring levels. The median reached $820,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, recovering from a peak of $990,000 in 2023 and now sitting 17.2% below that peak. Population is 4,012 in a 3.37 km2 area, and 85.3% of dwellings are separate houses. Household income falls in the 63rd percentile nationally, a middle-income profile that pairs with a mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7%, below the 30% stress threshold.
Population
4,012
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,782/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
5
Median House
$820K
Apr-Jun 2024
The $820,000 median in Apr-Jun 2024 reflects a 17.2% correction from the Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $990,000, offering buyers a re-entry point into a suburb that gained 82.2% from its 2013 base of $450,000. The long-run CAGR is 4.4% over 14 years. Separate houses dominate at 85.3% of stock, with 51.6% having 3 bedrooms and 20.5% having 4 or more, so families have genuine choice. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,827 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress level compared to many Melbourne suburbs. Outright owners at 33.4% slightly outnumber renters at 31.4%, suggesting an established owner base rather than a transient rental market.
For Buyers
The $820,000 median in Apr-Jun 2024 reflects a 17.2% correction from the Apr-Jun 2023 peak of $990,000, offering buyers a re-entry point into a suburb that gained 82.2% from its 2013 base of $450,000. The long-run CAGR is 4.4% over 14 years. Separate houses dominate at 85.3% of stock, with 51.6% having 3 bedrooms and 20.5% having 4 or more, so families have genuine choice. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,827 and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 23.7%, comfortably below the 30% stress level compared to many Melbourne suburbs. Outright owners at 33.4% slightly outnumber renters at 31.4%, suggesting an established owner base rather than a transient rental market.
For Investors
A 31.4% renter share and $350 weekly rent give landlords a workable tenant pool, though the 5.2% vacancy rate indicates moderate competition for tenants compared to tighter inner-city markets. Against the $820,000 median, $350 weekly rent implies a gross yield around 2.2%. Net overseas migration of 217 per year is the primary population driver, outweighing net internal outflow of 179, a pattern that sustains rental demand from newly arrived residents. Development activity is low at 3 applications in 12 months, so new supply is not a short-term threat. Rent grew 36.0% over the measurement period, well above general inflation, supporting the case for rental income escalation over time.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
5
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$1.2M
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Geelong iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Margaret's School
Prep-6 · 241 students
Geelong High School
7-12 · 976 students
Demographics
The median age of 40 matches the national figure exactly, though the suburb is on an aging trajectory: the senior share rose 3.7 percentage points while the young-adult share fell 1.9 points over the decade. University qualifications at 44.9% run 14.8 points above the national average, the highest signal of educational attainment in the brief. Overseas-born residents account for 14.6%, which is 7.0 points below the national figure, reflecting the predominantly Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile: English (1,637), Irish (754) and Scottish (589) ancestry dominate. Average household size is 2.3, slightly below the national figure. The volunteering rate of 18.0% is notable, and 31.3% of families are couples without children, consistent with the older demographic skew.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.3%
Houses
14.5%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure splits into three near-equal segments: 33.4% own outright, 35.2% hold a mortgage and 31.4% rent. The separate-house rate of 85.3% is high compared to most urban VIC suburbs, leaving apartments absent from the brief and semi-detached homes at 14.5%. The bedroom distribution centres on 3-bedroom homes at 51.6%, followed by 2-bedroom at 23.4% and 4-plus at 20.5%. Prices have moved from $450,000 in 2013 to a peak of $990,000 in Apr-Jun 2023 and then corrected to $820,000 by Apr-Jun 2024, a 17.2% decline from peak. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% and rent-to-income of 19.6% both sit below standard stress thresholds, meaning housing costs are manageable relative to incomes at the current median.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,827
Rent / wk
$350
HH Size
2.3
Personal Income / wk
$943
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
5.2%
Unoccupied
93
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
31.3%
Couples, no children
2,975
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates the local workforce at 25.2% (424 workers), nearly double the contribution of the second sector, Education at 10.8% (181 workers). Professional/Tech at 9.8% and Public Admin at 9.0% follow, with Construction at 8.7%. By occupation, Professionals number 686, the largest group, with Managers (280) and Clerical/Admin (278) behind them. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, and the full-time employment rate is 61.0%. SEIFA deciles show a split picture: the IEO (education and occupation advantage) scores decile 7, above average nationally, but the IER (economic resources) sits at decile 3, below average, reflecting that income and wealth are moderate even though educational attainment is high. Real income grew 17.2% over the decade.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
8,221
Unemployed
420
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
35.3%
Participation
63.1%
Employed
2,061
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.9%
Postgraduate
10.6%
Born Overseas
14.6%
Dwellings
1,686
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high at 81.7% of commuters driving, while 10.3% walk or cycle, above average for a VIC suburb of this density. Public transport use is low at 2.9%, reflecting the suburb's distance from Melbourne rail infrastructure. No schools are recorded within the East Geelong boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby institutions. The crime rate is 63.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences accounting for 173 of 256 total incidents. The IRSAD decile of 6 sits at about average nationally, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 23.7% means housing stress is lower than in many comparable VIC suburbs. Need-for-assistance sits at 5.6% of the population, or 215 residents, in line with national norms.
Drive
81.7%
Public Transport
2.9%
Walk / Cycle
10.3%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+83 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 12.0% over the past 10 years and sits at around 13,719 in the broader statistical area as of 2025, with annual growth of 0.61% adding roughly 83 persons per year. Medium forecasts project the area reaching approximately 14,290 by 2031. Overseas migration averaging 217 arrivals per year is the primary driver, more than offsetting net internal outflow of 179 per year. The gentrification score of 13 places the suburb in the not gentrifying category, consistent with a stable, established area where prices have largely tracked inflation. Affordability improved slightly from 42.7% in 2011 to 40.3% in 2021, suggesting gradual relative improvement compared to higher-growth VIC markets over the same period.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+217
Net Internal / yr
-179
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
Population +10% since 2011, Net internal outflow -179/yr, Strong overseas inflow +217/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
256
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
63.8
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 East Geelong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Geelong a good suburb to live in?
East Geelong suits educated, mid-income households: 44.9% of residents hold university qualifications, 14.8 points above the national average, and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 23.7%, below stress levels. The suburb scores decile 6 on IRSAD nationally. The main trade-off is low public transport use at 2.9%, requiring most residents to drive.
What is the median house price in East Geelong?
The median house price was $820,000 in Apr-Jun 2024, down 17.2% from the peak of $990,000 in Apr-Jun 2023. From a 2013 base of $450,000, the long-run CAGR is 4.4% over 14 years. Weekly rent averages $350 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,827.
What schools are in East Geelong?
No schools are recorded inside the East Geelong boundary in this dataset. However, the suburb's population is highly educated at 44.9% university-qualified, which is 14.8 points above the national average, and families rely on schools in neighbouring Geelong suburbs.
Is East Geelong safe?
East Geelong recorded 256 crimes in the measurement period, a rate of 63.8 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences account for 173 incidents, the dominant category. Crimes against the person numbered 46. The IRSAD decile of 6 places the suburb at about the national average for relative advantage.
Is East Geelong good for property investment?
The 31.4% renter share and $350 weekly rent support a tenant market, and rent grew 36.0% over the period. Net overseas migration of 217 per year underpins demand. The gross yield implied by $350 weekly rent against an $820,000 median is around 2.2%, with a vacancy rate of 5.2%, moderate compared to tighter Melbourne markets.
How is East Geelong's population changing?
The suburb grew 12.0% over the past decade, with annual growth of 0.61% adding about 83 persons per year. Overseas migration of 217 per year is the primary driver, offsetting internal outflow of 179. Medium forecasts project continued steady growth to around 14,290 by 2031.
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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