Leopold
Detached housing defines Leopold more than almost anything else: 92.3% of dwellings are separate houses and only 0.1% are apartments. On the Bellarine side of Geelong, it reads differently from closer-in areas such as Newcomb because its 13,272 residents sit at a lower density of 475.2 people per sq km. The median age is 41, 1.0 year above the national figure, while household income sits at the 52.1 percentile. That mix points to a mortgage-belt, family and downsizer market rather than a high-turnover renter suburb.
Population
13,272
Median Age
41.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,589/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
18
Median House
$664K
Apr-Jun 2024
Homebuyers are buying space first: 48.0% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 40.1% have 4 or more, supported by a 92.3% separate-house share. The median house price was $663,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, lower than the 2022 peak of $709,000 but still 84.3% above the 2013 level of $360,000. Mortgage pressure looks contained at 23.3% of income, so the suburb suits buyers who want a detached home compared with apartment-led inner markets, while accepting car-based living.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are buying space first: 48.0% of homes have 3 bedrooms and 40.1% have 4 or more, supported by a 92.3% separate-house share. The median house price was $663,500 in Apr-Jun 2024, lower than the 2022 peak of $709,000 but still 84.3% above the 2013 level of $360,000. Mortgage pressure looks contained at 23.3% of income, so the suburb suits buyers who want a detached home compared with apartment-led inner markets, while accepting car-based living.
For Investors
Leopold is a steadier investor market than a high-renter suburb. Only 18.6% of households rent, compared with 38.5% owned outright and 42.8% with a mortgage, so tenant demand is narrower but often family-oriented. Median rent is $375 per week, and the 4.6% vacancy rate is the key risk because it signals more available stock than a tight market. The pipeline is moderate, with 15 development applications in 12 months, while forecast migration averages 83 net internal and 54 net overseas residents a year.
Development Activity
Total DAs
27
Last 12 Months
18
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+500.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
$108K
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Leopold iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Leopold Primary School
Prep-6 · 873 students
Demographics
Leopold is older and more locally rooted than the national profile. The median age of 41 is 1.0 year above national, while 13.9% born overseas is 7.7 percentage points below national. University attainment is 24.6%, 5.5 points below national, which aligns with a workforce shaped by trades, care and administration as much as professional jobs. English ancestry is the largest count at 5,604, followed by Irish at 1,614 and Scottish at 1,609, while household size is 2.5, matching the national comparison.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.3%
Houses
6.5%
Townhouse
0.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing market is detached and owner-heavy. The latest median house price of $663,500 is 6.4% lower than the 2022 peak of $709,000, but the long run gain from $360,000 in 2013 to 2024 is 84.3%, equal to a 4.5% CAGR over 14 years. Tenure explains the feel: 38.5% own outright, 42.8% are paying a mortgage and 18.6% rent. Compared with inner Geelong settings, buyers get more conventional family stock, with 3 bedroom homes at 48.0% and 4 plus bedroom homes at 40.1%.
Median House Price Trend
Source: State Valuer-General
Mortgage / mo
$1,603
Rent / wk
$375
HH Size
2.5
Personal Income / wk
$757
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
4.6%
Unoccupied
244
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.6%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
23.3%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
28.7%
Couples, no children
10,881
Total families
Economy & Employment
Leopold's economy leans toward essential services and practical employment. Healthcare is the largest industry at 22.9% or 991 workers, followed by construction at 12.7% and education at 11.4%. Professionals are the top occupation count at 1,180, but community and personal service roles at 919 and clerical or admin at 804 are also prominent. Unemployment is 4.2% with participation at 58.1%. SEIFA ranks are mixed: IEO decile 5, IER decile 7, IRSD decile 6 and IRSAD decile 5, because resources are stronger than education and advantage measures.
Unemployment
3.5%
Labour Force
7,406
Unemployed
260
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
58.9%
Part-time
36.9%
Participation
58.1%
Employed
6,048
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.6%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
13.9%
Dwellings
5,020
Transport to Work
Leopold suits car-based households more than public-transport commuters. Driving accounts for 91.7% of journeys, while public transport is 1.4% and walking or cycling is 2.0%, so convenience depends heavily on road access. The school base is compact, with 1 local Government primary: Leopold Primary School, ICSEA 1016 and enrolment 873. Safety is a practical consideration, with 461 recorded offences and a crime rate of 34.7 per 1,000 residents, led by 236 property and deception offences. IRSAD decile 5 places amenity and advantage around the middle.
Drive
91.7%
Public Transport
1.4%
Walk / Cycle
2.0%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.59%/yr
(+221 people/yr)
EstablishedGrowth is steady rather than speculative. The forecast trend is 1.59% a year, or about 221 extra residents annually, taking the medium trend-continuation population path to 15,471 by 2031. Migration is balanced, with average net internal migration of 83 people a year and net overseas migration of 54. The gentrification score is 22 and the stage is Early signs, so change is present but not advanced. Aging is the bigger structural shift: the senior share is up 4.3 points while the young share is down 2.4 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+54
Net Internal / yr
+83
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +36% since 2011, Net internal migration +83/yr
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
461
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
34.7
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 Leopold compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leopold a good suburb to live in?
Leopold works well for households wanting detached space, with 92.3% separate houses and 88.1% of homes having 3 or more bedrooms. The trade-off is car reliance, since 91.7% drive to work and only 1.4% use public transport.
What is the median house price in Leopold?
The median house price in Leopold was $663,500 in Apr-Jun 2024. That is 6.4% below the 2022 peak of $709,000, but still 84.3% higher than the 2013 level of $360,000.
What schools are in Leopold?
Leopold has 1 local school listed: Leopold Primary School, a Government primary with ICSEA 1016 and enrolment of 873. Families needing secondary options generally look beyond the suburb.
Is Leopold safe?
Leopold recorded 461 offences, equal to 34.7 offences per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences were the largest category at 236, followed by crimes against the person at 107.
Is Leopold good for property investment?
Leopold is better suited to patient investors than yield chasers. Rent is $375 per week, renters make up 18.6% of households, and vacancy is 4.6%, so demand needs to be assessed carefully.
How is Leopold's population changing?
Leopold is forecast to grow by 1.59% a year, or about 221 people annually. The medium path reaches 15,471 residents by 2031, with aging evident as the senior share rises 4.3 points.
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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