Marshall
A 43-year median age, a population of 2,299 and a forecast annual change of -1.03% give Marshall an established, aging profile rather than a high-growth one. Housing is mainly detached, with separate houses making up 70.2% of dwellings and semi-detached homes a further 28.7%. Marshall sits within a relatively advantaged setting, with an IRSAD decile of 9, although household income is only at the 22nd percentile. Compared with Grovedale and Waurn Ponds, its appeal is more closely tied to established housing, lower turnover and access to the wider Geelong area than to major new development.
Local council: Greater Geelong
Population
2,299
Median Age
43.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,154/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
3
Median House
$658K
October to December 2025
Only a handful of houses sold here in this period, so this median can jump sharply from one quarter to the next for reasons that have nothing to do with the market. Treat it as a rough guide, not a settled price.
Marshall suits buyers seeking established housing, with 70.2% of dwellings being separate houses and 28.7% semi-detached. Mortgage costs absorb 32.0% of household income, so affordability requires more care than the price alone suggests. Two-bedroom homes account for 39.6% and three-bedroom homes 38.4%, creating more choice for downsizers and smaller households than in a purely family-sized market.
For Buyers
Marshall suits buyers seeking established housing, with 70.2% of dwellings being separate houses and 28.7% semi-detached. Mortgage costs absorb 32.0% of household income, so affordability requires more care than the price alone suggests. Two-bedroom homes account for 39.6% and three-bedroom homes 38.4%, creating more choice for downsizers and smaller households than in a purely family-sized market.
For Investors
Marshall offers a mixed investment case. Weekly rent is $390 and 23.2% of residents rent, while the vacancy rate is 9.0%, which gives tenants more choice and can make leasing conditions less urgent than in tighter markets. Rents have grown 76.1%, but affordability has worsened from 22.0% in 2011 to 33.8% in 2021, meaning further rent increases may face household limits. The forecast trend is -1.03% annually, slower than a growth suburb, and only 2 planning permits were recorded over 12 months. Natural increase is the primary migration driver, so investors should prioritise property quality and tenant demand over rapid capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
4
Last 12 Months
3
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
Demographics
Marshall has 2,299 residents and a median age of 43, which is 3.0 years above the national comparison. Average household size is 2.1 people, below the national figure by 0.4, helping explain the large share of couples without children at 51.3% of families. Overseas-born residents account for 18.3%, or 3.3 percentage points below the national comparison, while university participation is 30.1%, level with the national comparison. English ancestry is prominent at 949 people, followed by Irish at 322 and Scottish at 260. Residential stability is relatively strong, with 72.1% staying and 27.9% turning over, supporting an older, established profile compared with faster-changing parts of Geelong.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
70.2%
Houses
28.7%
Townhouse
1.1%
Apartment
Tenure
Marshall's housing market has delivered long-term growth but has cooled from its peak. Tenure is split between outright owners at 28.3%, mortgage holders at 29.4% and renters at 23.2%, with 19.0% in other tenure categories. Two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes dominate at 39.6% and 38.4%, while four-bedroom homes represent 21.2%.
Mortgage / mo
$1,600
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$390
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$625
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.0%
Unoccupied
95
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
33.8% stressed
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
32.0% stressed
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.5%
Couples with children
51.3%
Couples, no children
12.8%
Single parent
556
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is Marshall's largest industry at 27.4%, employing 184 people, followed by construction at 12.2% and 82 people, retail at 9.8% and 66, education at 9.4% and 63, and manufacturing at 6.7% and 45. This mix supports demand across care, trades and service work because employment is not dependent on one single sector. The unemployment rate is 5.1%, participation is 50.3% and the full-time rate is 56.4%. Occupations include 182 professionals, 153 community and personal service workers and 151 trades workers. Household income is at the 22nd percentile, lower than the suburb's SEIFA advantage, with IEO, IER, IRSD and IRSAD all at decile 9.
Unemployment
5.1%
Labour Force
996
Unemployed
51
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.4%
Part-time
37.2%
Participation
50.3%
Employed
945
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
30.1%
Postgraduate
7.1%
Born Overseas
18.3%
Dwellings
969
Transport to Work
Marshall is strongly car-oriented, with 74.5% driving to work compared with only 1.7% using public transport and 0.6% walking or cycling. A further 17.1% work from home, which may reduce daily travel for some households. Recorded crime totals 61 incidents at 26.5 per 1,000 residents, with property and deception offences at 44 compared with 12 crimes against the person. That distribution supports a lower-personal-risk profile, although normal property security remains sensible. The suburb's IRSAD decile of 9 places it in the top decile for relative advantage. Families should check exact school enrolment zones and nearby Geelong campus access before buying, while the 13.5% volunteering rate adds evidence of local participation.
Drive
74.5%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
0.6%
Work from Home
17.1%
Growth Outlook
Marshall is following an aging and slow-growth path. The forecast annual trend is -1.03%, while population change across the wider area is -10.0% over ten years, placing future momentum below a growth-oriented suburb. The primary migration driver is natural increase, but the trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 10.5% and the young share down 4.8%. Affordability has worsened from 22.0% to 33.8%, while real income growth is -6.6%, making new price surges harder to sustain. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage is Not gentrifying. These conditions point to gradual change rather than a rapid transformation, with rental growth of 76.1% a notable exception.
Population trend: Greater Geelong council area
Marshall sits in the Greater Geelong council area. These are the council area's residents, not Marshall's.
Residents 2025
295,052
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.2%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
61
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
26.5
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 Marshall compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marshall a good suburb to live in?
Marshall can suit households wanting established housing, a quieter aging profile and access to wider Geelong services. Its IRSAD decile is 9 and the crime rate is 26.5 per 1,000 residents, while car dependence is high at 74.5%. Buyers should weigh the limited public transport share of 1.7% against their daily travel needs.
What schools are in Marshall?
School access should be checked against the exact property address because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. Marshall covers 2.04 square kilometres, so nearby Geelong campuses may be practical depending on the street and transport available. Confirm current zones, sector, travel time and placement conditions directly before committing.
Is Marshall safe?
Marshall recorded 61 offences at a rate of 26.5 per 1,000 residents. Property and deception offences accounted for 44 incidents, compared with 12 crimes against the person, so property security deserves more attention than personal safety concerns. Conditions can vary by street, and recent local checks remain worthwhile.
Is Marshall good for property investment?
Marshall has a $390 weekly median rent, 23.2% renting households and a 9.0% vacancy rate. Rents have grown 76.1%, but the forecast annual trend is -1.03% and only 2 planning permits were recorded in 12 months. It may suit a yield-focused strategy, but investors should not assume rapid capital growth.
How is Marshall's population changing?
Marshall has 2,299 residents and an aging trajectory. Population change across the wider area is -10.0% over ten years, with a forecast annual trend of -1.03%. The senior share has increased 10.5% while the young share has fallen 4.8%, and natural increase is the primary migration driver.
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).
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