Geelong
A compact inner urban market of 5,811 residents, Geelong combines a median age of 40 with a 47.7% university-educated share, 17.6 percentage points above the national figure. Renting is prominent at 44.4%, while vacancy is a notably high 17.8%, creating more choice for tenants but a softer landlord setting. The housing mix is less purely detached than a conventional suburban market, with 52.1% separate houses, 25.5% apartments and 21.6% semi-detached homes. Compared with nearby Newtown's more detached-home profile, Geelong suits buyers and renters who value central access and smaller dwellings, but the 610.6 crimes per 1,000 people rate warrants careful street-level comparison.
Population
5,811
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,670/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$960K
October to December 2025
Buyers can choose among 52.1% separate houses, 21.6% semi-detached dwellings and 25.5% apartments. Two-bedroom homes lead at 36.2%, followed by three-bedroom stock at 34.8%, which suits smaller households better than a large-family-only market. A $2,000 monthly mortgage equals 27.7% of income, while household income ranks at the 58th percentile, above the national midpoint. Compared with a detached-only market, Geelong provides more formats to weigh against price and location.
For Buyers
Buyers can choose among 52.1% separate houses, 21.6% semi-detached dwellings and 25.5% apartments. Two-bedroom homes lead at 36.2%, followed by three-bedroom stock at 34.8%, which suits smaller households better than a large-family-only market. A $2,000 monthly mortgage equals 27.7% of income, while household income ranks at the 58th percentile, above the national midpoint. Compared with a detached-only market, Geelong provides more formats to weigh against price and location.
For Investors
Geelong's investor case is shaped by a 44.4% rental share, $370 weekly median rent and a high 17.8% vacancy rate. Vacancy can reduce near-term rent competition compared with tighter markets, so leasing assumptions should allow for gaps rather than rely on headline rent alone. Development activity is light at 2 applications in 12 months, while Overseas migration is the forecast's primary growth driver. Annual growth of 0.91% points to a steadier demand story than a rapid-growth corridor. Apartments account for 25.5% and semi-detached homes 21.6%, broadening tenant options, but the 610.6 offences per 1,000 people rate makes street selection more important than a simple suburb-wide return comparison.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
2
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
-33.3%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Geelong
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Mary's School
Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College
Demographics
Geelong's median age of 40 matches the national figure, but its 47.7% university-educated share is 17.6 percentage points above national. Overseas-born residents account for 24.0%, 2.4 points above the national comparison. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 2,053, 829 and 664, while no religion is recorded for 2,506 people versus 2,483 identifying with Christianity. Households are compact at 2.0 people on average, 0.5 below national, because couples without children make up 53.2% of families versus 33.1% with children. Turnover is 36.1%, with 63.9% staying, pointing to a mobile but not transient base. Compared with nearby Newtown, Geelong reads as the more central small-household option.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
52.1%
Houses
21.6%
Townhouse
25.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure is split between 33.6% owning outright, 20.5% with a mortgage and 44.4% renting. The dwelling mix is also varied, with 52.1% separate houses, 25.5% apartments and 21.6% semi-detached homes. Two-bedroom dwellings lead at 36.2%, followed by three-bedroom homes at 34.8%. Compared with nearby Newtown's more traditional detached emphasis, Geelong offers greater variety, so buyers should compare building type and vacancy as well as price.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (year ending Sep 2025), Homes Victoria bond data (year-ending median). Census 2021 median: $370.
$470
Bond data year ending Sep 2025 · houses $480 · units $460
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$865
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
17.8%
Unoccupied
540
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
27.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.1%
Couples with children
53.2%
Couples, no children
11.4%
Single parent
1,346
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads Geelong's industry base at 26.2%, followed by Education at 12.0%, Professional/Tech at 10.3%, Hospitality at 8.3% and Construction at 7.6%. Occupations are led by 1,019 Professionals, 415 Managers and 395 Community/Personal workers, supporting a service-heavy local economy. Unemployment is 5.2%, participation 63.5% and full-time work 54.5%, while 1,586 people are outside the labour force. Household income is $1,670 weekly at the 58th percentile, above the national midpoint. SEIFA is mixed: education and occupation sit in decile 7, economic resources in decile 3, and disadvantage and advantage in decile 6. Compared with a high-income professional enclave, this split points to solid employment depth but uneven household capacity.
Unemployment
5.2%
Labour Force
3,310
Unemployed
172
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.5%
Part-time
38.6%
Participation
63.5%
Employed
3,138
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
47.7%
Postgraduate
13.7%
Born Overseas
24.0%
Dwellings
2,482
Transport to Work
Geelong's compact 3.31 sq km footprint and density of 1,755.2 people per sq km support walking and cycling, with 18.3% using those modes and 25.4% working from home. Car driving remains dominant at 50.1%, while public transport is 2.5%, so convenience depends on destination and route. Two local schools provide a Catholic primary and a government secondary option; check enrolment zones against the exact address. Safety is the main trade-off: 3,548 offences equal 610.6 per 1,000 people, led by 1,677 property and deception offences. Compared with quieter residential settings, that rate merits street-level checking. IRSAD is decile 6, a middle position on relative advantage.
Drive
50.1%
Public Transport
2.5%
Walk / Cycle
18.3%
Work from Home
25.4%
Population Forecast
+0.91%/yr
(+203 people/yr)
EstablishedGeelong's forecast annual growth is 0.91%, with Overseas migration named as the primary driver. The wider-area trajectory is Stable, alongside 12.3% population change over ten years, so momentum looks measured rather than boom-like. The gentrification indicator is at score 20 and stage Early signs, while the shift profile records an Improving affordability trend, with values of 41.1 in 2011 and 36.5 in 2021, alongside rent growth of 42.6%. These signals suggest gradual change rather than an established transformation stage. Compared with a high-growth corridor, 0.91% is restrained, while 12.3% over a decade still represents meaningful expansion. The combination of overseas migration and a stable trajectory favours incremental renewal over a sudden population surge.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+200
Net Internal / yr
-88
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +16% since 2011, Accelerating: 4% → 12%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
3,548
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
610.6
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 Geelong compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Geelong a good suburb to live in?
Geelong suits residents seeking a compact, central setting with 18.3% walking or cycling and 25.4% working from home. The 44.4% rental share and 17.8% vacancy rate provide choice, but 610.6 offences per 1,000 people means safety should be compared street by street.
What schools are in Geelong?
Geelong has 2 local schools: St Mary's School, a Catholic primary school, and Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College, a government secondary school. Families should confirm enrolment zones for the exact address because school access can differ across nearby streets.
Is Geelong safe?
Safety is a significant consideration, with 3,548 recorded offences and a rate of 610.6 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences accounted for 1,677 cases, compared with 378 crimes against the person. Review the specific street, building and surrounding routes rather than relying only on the suburb-wide rate.
Is Geelong good for property investment?
Geelong has a 44.4% rental share and $370 weekly median rent, but the 17.8% vacancy rate is high compared with tighter rental markets. Overseas migration is the primary forecast growth driver and annual growth is 0.91%. The 2 development applications in 12 months suggest limited immediate new supply activity.
How is Geelong's population changing?
Geelong has 5,811 residents today. Population change across the wider area is 12.3% over 10 years, while the forecast trend is 0.91% annually and the trajectory is Stable. Overseas migration is the primary driver, pointing to measured growth rather than a sudden population surge.
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.
Explore Geelong on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map