East Geelong
A compact 3.37 sq km suburb with 4,012 residents, East Geelong combines a detached-home profile with an aging trajectory. The median age is 40, matching the national average, while 44.9% of residents hold a university qualification, 14.8 percentage points above the national comparison. Healthcare employs 25.2% of workers, helping explain the suburb's professional and service orientation. For buyers weighing East Geelong against nearby Newtown or South Geelong, the key distinction is its 85.3% separate-house share and household income at the 63.1st percentile.
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
2
Median House
$902K
October to December 2025
Separate houses account for 85.3% of dwellings, with 51.6% having 3 bedrooms and 20.5% having 4 or more, so the market is suited mainly to established households rather than small apartment buyers. Estimated mortgage payments of $1,827 a month equal 23.7% of household income, below the stated mortgage-stress threshold. Compared with denser nearby options, the housing form is a defining advantage.
For Buyers
Separate houses account for 85.3% of dwellings, with 51.6% having 3 bedrooms and 20.5% having 4 or more, so the market is suited mainly to established households rather than small apartment buyers. Estimated mortgage payments of $1,827 a month equal 23.7% of household income, below the stated mortgage-stress threshold. Compared with denser nearby options, the housing form is a defining advantage.
For Investors
The investment case rests on a 31.0% renting share, a median weekly rent of $350 and a 5.2% vacancy rate. That tenant base is meaningful because nearly one in three households rents, although vacancy is not as tight as in a highly constrained market. Only 2 development applications were recorded over 12 months, including a proposal for a second dwelling and 2-lot subdivision, limiting the immediate supply pipeline. Growth is forecast at 0.61% annually and is primarily driven by overseas migration, while the 36.0% rent growth signal supports longer-term income attention. Compared with rapid-development suburbs, East Geelong is a lower-supply, established-market proposition.
Development Activity
Total DAs
3
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in East Geelong
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Geelong High School
Demographics
East Geelong has a median age of 40, in line with the national average, but its trajectory is aging as the senior share has risen 3.7 percentage points and the young share has fallen 1.9 points. University attainment is 44.9%, 14.8 points above the national comparison, while overseas-born residents account for 14.6%, 7 points below the national figure. English ancestry is most common at 1,637 people, followed by Irish at 754 and Scottish at 589, reinforcing an Anglo-leaning profile. Average household size is 2.3, or 0.2 below national average, because couples without children make up 43.1% of households. No religion is recorded for 1,902 residents, compared with 1,759 identifying with Christianity.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
85.3%
Houses
14.5%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Compared with the earlier cycle, the current market is substantially higher despite the recent pullback. Tenure is split between 33.1% owned outright, 34.9% with a mortgage and 31.0% rented. The detached form dominates at 85.3%, while 3-bedroom homes account for 51.6%, making family-sized houses the central housing type.
Mortgage / mo
$1,827
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$350
Census 2021
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
40.7%
Couples with children
43.1%
Couples, no children
14.2%
Single parent
1,077
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is East Geelong's largest industry at 25.2% of employment, followed by Education at 10.8%, Professional and Technical services at 9.8%, Public Administration at 9.0% and Construction at 8.7%. Professionals number 686, ahead of Managers at 280, Clerical and Administrative workers at 278, Trades at 276 and Community and Personal Service workers at 252. The unemployment rate is 3.5% and participation is 67.5%, supporting a labour market that is stronger than a high-unemployment profile. Education and occupation sit above the midpoint at IEO decile 7, but IER is only decile 3, an anomaly suggesting occupational capacity runs ahead of measured economic resources. IRSD and IRSAD are both decile 6, while household income ranks at the 63.1st percentile.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
2,289
Unemployed
80
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.9%
Part-time
36.4%
Participation
67.5%
Employed
2,209
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
44.9%
Postgraduate
10.6%
Born Overseas
14.6%
Dwellings
1,686
Transport to Work
Daily travel is car-oriented: 59.2% drive, compared with 2.1% using public transport and 7.4% walking or cycling. Working from home is relatively common at 27.6%, which may reduce commuting pressure for some households. School access includes Geelong High School, a government secondary school, and families should check enrolment zones against the exact address because boundaries can cut across suburb edges. Recorded crime totals 256 offences, including 173 property and deception offences and 46 crimes against the person, producing a rate of 63.8 per 1,000 residents. IRSAD is decile 6, above the midpoint, while the 1,188.8 people per sq km density supports a compact urban setting. Compared with a transit-led suburb, private-car dependence is the clearest practical limitation.
Drive
59.2%
Public Transport
2.1%
Walk / Cycle
7.4%
Work from Home
27.6%
Population Forecast
+0.61%/yr
(+83 people/yr)
EstablishedEast Geelong has an established forecast profile, with annual growth of 0.61% driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 12.0% over 10 years, a measured trajectory compared with faster-growth corridors. The shift trajectory is Aging, supported by a 3.7 percentage point rise in the senior share and a 1.9 point fall in the young share. Signals on neighbourhood change are mixed: the headline gentrification score is 13 and classified as Not gentrifying, while the shift measure records a score of 36 at the Early signs stage. Affordability is marked Improving, moving from 42.7 in 2011 to 40.3 in 2021, while real income growth reached 17.2%.
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
What schools are in East Geelong?
Geelong High School is the identified local school, operating as a government secondary school. Families should confirm the current enrolment zone for any address because school boundaries can affect eligibility. The suburb's population is 4,012, so nearby regional options may also be relevant.
Is East Geelong safe?
East Geelong recorded 256 offences, equivalent to 63.8 crimes per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 173, followed by 46 crimes against the person. Buyers should review the exact street and recent local conditions rather than relying on a single suburb-wide rate.
Is East Geelong good for property investment?
East Geelong has a 31.0% renting share, a median weekly rent of $350 and a 5.2% vacancy rate. The development pipeline recorded 2 applications over 12 months, while annual growth is forecast at 0.61%. These figures point to an established market where tenant demand and purchase price need careful assessment.
How is East Geelong's population changing?
The wider-area forecast records 12.0% population change over 10 years and an annual trend of 0.61%, driven primarily by overseas migration. East Geelong's trajectory is Aging, with the senior share up 3.7 percentage points and the young share down 1.9 points. The suburb's current population is 4,012.
How do people get around East Geelong?
East Geelong is mainly car-based, with 59.2% driving to work compared with 2.1% using public transport and 7.4% walking or cycling. Working from home accounts for 27.6%. The 3.37 sq km area is compact, but buyers should compare the exact address with their preferred route and transport mode.
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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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