Lara
A 169.8% population rise over 10 years is the headline for Lara, turning a large 89.35 sq km township into one of Geelong's clear growth fronts. Compared with closer-in neighbours such as Corio and Norlane, Lara still reads as lower density at 212.8 people per sq km, with 89.6% separate houses and only 0.9% apartments. Household income sits at the 74.1 percentile, so the suburb has above-average earning capacity, while the $676,500 median house price keeps it below many inner Melbourne alternatives.
Population
19,014
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,969/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
30
Median House
$676K
Apr-Jun 2024
For buyers, Lara is mainly a detached-house market: 89.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 44.0% have 4 or more bedrooms and another 43.2% have 3 bedrooms. The $676,500 median house price in Apr-Jun 2024 is 4.0% below the $705,000 peak, which gives buyers a little more room than at the 2023 high. Mortgage costs are relatively contained at 20.3% of income, because household income is $1,969 a week and mortgage repayments sit at $1,733 a month.
For Buyers
For buyers, Lara is mainly a detached-house market: 89.6% of dwellings are separate houses, 44.0% have 4 or more bedrooms and another 43.2% have 3 bedrooms. The $676,500 median house price in Apr-Jun 2024 is 4.0% below the $705,000 peak, which gives buyers a little more room than at the 2023 high. Mortgage costs are relatively contained at 20.3% of income, because household income is $1,969 a week and mortgage repayments sit at $1,733 a month.
For Investors
Lara is more owner-occupied than rental-led, with 22.1% renting compared with 31.2% owned outright and 46.7% under mortgage. The median rent is $370 a week, while the 4.5% vacancy rate means investors need to price carefully rather than assume immediate tenant pressure. The upside is growth: 24 development applications in 12 months, 15.4% rent growth in the shift indicators and average internal migration of 1,124 people a year point to demand being driven by new households rather than only local churn.
Development Activity
Total DAs
67
Last 12 Months
30
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+87.5%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Lara iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Anthony's School
Prep-6 · 477 students
Lara Primary School
Prep-6 · 439 students
Lara Secondary College
7-12 · 658 students
Demographics
Lara's median age is 37, which is 3.0 years below the national comparison, and the average household size of 2.7 is 0.2 above national. The population is relatively locally born, with 18.0% born overseas, 3.6 percentage points below national, and university attainment of 26.6%, 3.5 points below national. English ancestry is the largest recorded group at 6,870 people, followed by Irish at 2,086 and Scottish at 1,953, because the suburb has grown from a long-standing Anglo-leaning base rather than a migrant-majority profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
89.6%
Houses
9.4%
Townhouse
0.9%
Apartment
Tenure
Lara's housing cycle shows strong long-run gains with a recent pullback. The median moved from $350,000 in 2013 to $676,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, a 93.3% rise at a 4.8% CAGR over 14 years. It peaked at $705,000 in Apr-Jun 2023 and is now 4.0% lower, while the trough was $340,000 in 2014. Tenure is stable, with 31.2% owned outright, 46.7% mortgaged and 22.1% renting. Affordability is supported by rent at 18.8% of income and mortgage costs at 20.3%, below stress levels.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$370
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$834
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.5%
Unoccupied
301
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.2%
Couples, no children
15,062
Total families
Economy & Employment
Lara's workforce is broad rather than tied to one employer. Healthcare is the largest industry at 17.3% and 1,027 workers, followed by Construction at 12.3%, Education at 11.8%, Public Admin at 9.4% and Manufacturing at 7.7%. Professionals lead occupations at 1,633 people, ahead of Community and Personal Service at 1,236 and Clerical/Admin at 1,139. Unemployment is 4.4%, with a 58.0% participation rate. SEIFA is mixed: IEO decile 5, IER decile 8, IRSD decile 6 and IRSAD decile 5, so economic resources rank higher than education and occupation status.
Unemployment
6.5%
Labour Force
4,448
Unemployed
288
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.1%
Part-time
29.5%
Participation
58.0%
Employed
8,506
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.6%
Postgraduate
5.4%
Born Overseas
18.0%
Dwellings
6,348
Transport to Work
Daily life in Lara is car-based: 90.2% of commuters drive, while only 2.4% use public transport and 1.5% walk or cycle. That works for households wanting space, but it makes location within the suburb more important than in higher-transit areas. There are 3 local schools, with ICSEA scores from 975 to 1040; St Anthony's School is highest at 1040, while government options cover primary and secondary levels. Safety is moderate, with 1,144 recorded offences and 60.2 per 1,000 people, led by 640 property and deception offences. IRSAD decile 5 signals average socio-economic advantage.
Drive
90.2%
Public Transport
2.4%
Walk / Cycle
1.5%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+5.17%/yr
(+858 people/yr)
High GrowthLara is forecast as high growth, with an annual trend of 5.17% or 858 people. Migration is the main engine: average net internal migration is 1,124 people a year compared with 154 from overseas, so demand is being pulled from within Australia more than from international arrivals. The medium projection rises from 15,705 in 2026 to 19,993 in 2031. The shift profile is Mixed, with 15.4% rent growth, 7.0% real income growth and affordability improving from 51.9 in 2011 to 45.5 in 2021. Gentrification is scored 0 and staged as New development.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+154
Net Internal / yr
+1,124
Gentrification Signal
New development
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
1,144
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
60.2
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 Lara compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lara a good suburb to live in?
Lara suits buyers wanting space, schools and a township setting, with 89.6% separate houses and 3 local schools. It is car-dependent, with 90.2% driving to work, so it works best for households comfortable with driving.
What is the median house price in Lara?
The median house price in Lara is $676,500 for Apr-Jun 2024. That is 4.0% below the $705,000 peak recorded in Apr-Jun 2023, after a longer rise from $350,000 in 2013.
What schools are in Lara?
Lara has 3 local schools: St Anthony's School, Lara Primary School and Lara Secondary College. ICSEA scores range from 975 to 1040, with Catholic and government sectors both represented.
Is Lara safe?
Lara recorded 1,144 offences, equal to 60.2 per 1,000 people. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 640, so buyers should check street-level context rather than rely on suburb-wide averages alone.
Is Lara good for property investment?
Lara has investment appeal through growth, with 5.17% annual population growth and 24 development applications in 12 months. The 4.5% vacancy rate means rental pricing and property selection still matter.
How is Lara's population changing?
Lara is growing quickly, with a 169.8% population change over 10 years. Forecast growth is 5.17% a year, and the medium projection reaches 19,993 people by 2031.
Is there much new development in Lara?
Yes. Lara recorded 24 development applications in 12 months, including medical, second-dwelling and multi-dwelling proposals. That aligns with its New development growth stage and strong internal migration.
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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